Devs March28 >SAA now controls 87% of E Ghouta; currently awaiting Jaysh Al-Islam’s response to deal which has recently expired >Putin, Erdogan discuss preparations for Russia-Turkey-Iran summit in Ankara >SAA raises flag in Tal Rifaat, states YPG has no intention of turning over town to Turkish forces and that none have arrived yet either >E Ghouta; Underground hospital used by Faylaq al-Rahman discovered by SAA in Kafr Batna town >At least ten buses filled with 566 people departed E Ghouta for N Syria, less than 24 hours remain for evac deal >W Idlib; RuAf targeted and destroyed an HTS ammo storage depot inside the town of Al-Hamamah >SAA begins preparations to reopen Damascus-Homs Highway after years of closure, has cleared several barriers around Zamalka >Ru troops enter town of Babila in S Damas to negotiate with rebels inside >Iraqi official states Turkish ground troops in Iraq would warrant response from Iraqi forces, Turk PM assures Abadi they have no plans for this >Afghan AF confirms first use of laser guided bomb against Taliban last week, destroy compound in town of Farah
>Spread of Wahhabism was done at request of West during Cold War – Saudi crown prince
The Saudi-funded spread of Wahhabism began as a result of Western countries asking Riyadh to help counter the Soviet Union during the Cold War, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told the Washington Post. Speaking to the paper, bin Salman said that Saudi Arabia's Western allies urged the country to invest in mosques and madrassas overseas during the Cold War, in an effort to prevent encroachment in Muslim countries by the Soviet Union.
He added that successive Saudi governments had lost track of that effort, saying "we have to get it all back." Bin Salman also said that funding now comes mostly from Saudi-based "foundations," rather than from the government.
The crown prince’s 75-minute interview with the Washington Post took place on March 22, the final day of his US tour. Another topic of discussion included a previous claim by US media that bin Salman had said that he had White House senior adviser Jared Kushner "in his pocket."
Bin Salman denied reports that when he and Kushner – who is also Donald Trump's son-in-law – met in Riyadh in October, he had sought or received a greenlight from Kushner for the massive crackdown on alleged corruption which led to widespread arrests in the kingdom shortly afterwards. According to bin Salman, the arrests were a domestic issue and had been in the works for years. >He said it would be "really insane" for him to trade classified information with Kushner, or to try to use him to advance Saudi interests within the Trump administration. He stated that their relationship was within a normal governmental context, but did acknowledge that he and Kushner "work together as friends, more than partners." He stated that he also had good relationships with Vice President Mike Pence and others within the White House.
CONT
Adrian Taylor
The crown prince also spoke about the war in Yemen, where a Saudi-led coalition continues to launch a bombing campaign against Houthi rebels in an attempt to reinstate ousted Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi as president. The conflict has killed thousands, displaced many more, driven the country to the brink of famine, and led to a major cholera outbreak.
Although the coalition has been accused of a large number of civilian deaths and disregard for civilian lives - an accusation which Riyadh denies - the crown prince said his country has not passed up "any opportunity" to improve the humanitarian situation in the country. “There are not good options and bad options. The options are between bad and worse,” he said.
The interview with the crown prince was initially held off the record. However, the Saudi embassy later agreed to led the Washington Post publish specific portions of the meeting. rt.com/news/422563-saudi-wahhabism-western-countries/
>PM Abadi says Iraq wants to ‘keep away’ from US-Iran conflict Baghdad wants to “keep away” from the US-Iran conflict, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said on Wednesday. Speaking at an energy conference in Baghdad, he said that Iraq wants to maintain a “balance” in its relations with Washington and Tehran, adding that this policy was in Iraq’s interest. “I’m keeping away from it,” Abadi said, referring to tension between Iran and the United States. He also expressed hope that the deal to restrain Iran’s nuclear program would be maintained by Washington, Reuters reported.
>US-led coalition admits to killing 855 civilians in airstrikes in Iraq, Syria in 4 years The US-led coalition fighting Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS) on Wednesday admitted to killing at least 855 civilians in airstrikes in Iraq and Syria in the past four years. “To date, based on information available, CJTF-OIR assesses at least 855 civilians have been unintentionally killed by coalition strikes since the start of Operation Inherent Resolve,” the US Central Command said in its monthly civilian casualty report. The coalition conducted a total of 29,225 strikes between August 2014 and the end of February 2018, and during this period the total number of reports of possible civilian casualties was 2,135. The total number of credible reports of civilian casualties during this time period was 224, according to the statement. It said that 522 reports are still open.
>1st since Soviet times: Russian anti-sub aviation flies to N. American shores via North Pole Russian anti-submarine aviation has conducted the first training flight over the North Pole to North American shores since the Soviet era, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu says. “For the very first time since the Soviet era, we’ve conducted anti-submarine aviation flights over the North Pole to the shores of the North American continent,” Shoigu said on Wednesday.
The development and modernization of the Northern Fleet, as well as the Arctic in general, remains among the main priorities of the MoD. As of the beginning of this year, the share of modern weaponry and military equipment in the fleet has reached almost 50 percent, the minister stated.
>‘Russia has lots of tentacles’: US says it needed no proof, only UK’s word to expel diplomats
Russia must confess to the Salisbury ‘chemical attack’ in order to mend relations with the US and NATO, said the US State Department, adding that the only evidence the US needs for Moscow’s culpability was the word of its UK ally. “If Russia wants to improve relations, it needs to first acknowledge its responsibility for this attack and cease its recklessly aggressive behavior,” State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert told reporters on Tuesday.
At one point, the newly promoted acting undersecretary for public diplomacy and public affairs channelled horror writer H.P. Lovecraft to describe Russia as a “beast from the deep sea.”
“Russia has long arms, Russia has lots of tentacles,” Nauert told reporters.
>“We certainly know that Russia is responsible for that attack. That is something that is not in question,” Nauert declared. Pressed for evidence, however, she said that the US stood by the word of its British allies.
“When the UK tells us they have proof, that they know Russia was responsible, we have every reason to believe them,” Nauert said.
>Syria will expel US and Turkey from country: Shaaban
Syrian Presidential Adviser Boutaina Sha’aban stated on Wednesday that Syria will expel both the Turkish and U.S. forces from the country.
“We are determined to liberate all of Syria’s territory from terrorists and Turkish and U.S. occupation forces,” Sha’aban told the crowd at the cultural symposium held by the Al-Quds International Foundation.
Sha’aban’s comments come just two days after Turkey announced that they were going to continue their operations in northern Syria.
The Syrian government has called on both the U.S. and Turkey to immediately withdraw from Syria; however, both nations maintain they are fighting terrorists.
>IRAQI SECURITY FORCES DETAINED TOP ISIS MEMBER ANBAR GOVERNORATE IN SUCCESSFUL AIR LANDING OPERATION
Iraqi security forces (ISF) have arrested a senior ISIS member and his aide in a successful air landing operation in the province of Anbar, the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service said in a statement.
According to the statement, its troops carried out a successful air landing operation and detained two terrorists. One of them was the so-called desert emir of ISIS, Saab Abdullah al-Issawi. He was responsible for preparing ISIS car bombs used in attacks on military and civilian targets.
Recently, ISF has intensified its counter-terrorism efforts against remaining ISIS cells operating in northern Iraq. On March 27, ISF killed six ISIS militants in the Hawija area in the province of Kirkuk. On March 18, ISF conducted a successful operation against ISIS cells in the Hawija area southwest of the city of Kirkuk securing 14 villages.
>RUSSIA, LOCAL FIGURES NEGOTIATING WITH REMAINING MILITANTS SOUTH OF DAMASCUS
On March 28, Russia started negotiating with the remaining militants of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and the Free Syrian Army (FSA) south of the Syrian capital of Damascus, according to the Syrian pro-opposition news outlet Madar Daily.
The Madar Daily reported that the Russian side wants the militants to withdraw from their remaining positions in the districts of Yalda, Babbila, and Beit Sahm to the northern governorate of Idlib or to join the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and to fight ISIS in the nearby Yarmouk refugee camp.
Commanders of the militants in Yalda, Babbila, and Beit Sahm held a meeting to discuss the Russian proposals, according to Madar Daily. During the meeting, most of the commanders refused to join the fight against ISIS. However, all FSA commanders positively reacted to an idea of withdrawing towards Idlib governorate.
Meanwhile, Syrian pro-government sources said that local figures and religious scholars from the SAA-held areas around the districts of Yalda, Babbila, and Beit Sahm, have contacted the militants in order to convince them to accept the Russian offer.
The vast majority of the civilians in Yalda, Babbila, and Beit Sahm districts are actually supporters of the Damascus government. On January 25, thousands of civilians, including women and children, protested in the three districts against the militants and called on them to withdraw. >Due to the public support for the Damascus government in southern Damascus, the militants will likely accept an evacuation agreement soon.
Best of luck, but at this point it seems that the post-war borders have been decided already.
Ryan Collins
VIDEO
>GOVERNMENT TROOPS CAPTURED ISIS WAREHOUSE IN DEIR EZZOR PROVINCE
Syrian government forces have seized a large warehouse belonging to ISIS in the province of Deir Ezzor, according to a video released by the country’s defense ministry on March 28. The warehouse is located in the village of Mahkan north of the town of Mayadin.
According to some reports, the warehouse was a part of the factory used by ISIS to produce poisonous substances.
Appearing reports about ISIS warehouses, weapon depots and shelters appearing from the province of Deir Ezzor show a lack of security efforts conducted by government forces in the province.
A wide network of warehouses and weapon depots still allows ISIS sleeper cells to operate in the area. This network has to be detected and destroyed if government forces seek to improve the security situation in the area soon.
The Syrian state-run news agency SANA released photos confirming that the northern town of Tell Rifaat is still under control of government forces and the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG).
On March 27, reports appeared that Turkish forces launched an effort and entered the town. However, by March 28, these reports have appeared to be untrue. Pro-Turkish sources say that the Turkish Army and Turkish-backed militants reached the town but then withdrawn because negotiations between Turkey and the Syrian-Iranian-Russian alliance are still ongoing on the issue.
The so-called Islamic State (ISIS) has launched a massive offensive in the countryside of the Deir Ezzor Governorate, today, targeting the Syrian Arab Army’s (SAA) positions near the key town of Al-Mayadeen.
ISIS launched this new offensive in order to take advantage of the large dust storm that is sweeping through eastern Syria at the moment.
No gains have been reported.
According to a military report from this front, ISIS began today’s assault by detonating a car bomb in the southwestern countryside of Al-Mayadeen; this would result in a series of intense clashes that are still ongoing.
Tonight’s attack by ISIS is considered their largest assault against the Syrian Army since their brief counter-offensive after losing Al-Sukhnah.
>Haley: Assad, Iran and Russia making a mockery of the UN demanded cease-fire
U.N. Security Council members vented frustrations and traded blame Tuesday over their unheeded demand for a 30-day cease-fire in Syria, with the U.S. envoy calling it 'a day of shame.' With a unanimous Feb. 24 vote, the council called for a 30-day break in hostilities 'without delay' to enable humanitarian aid and medical evacuations as Syria enters its eighth year of civil war. But bombings didn't stop in the besieged Damascus suburbs known as eastern Ghouta. 'History will not be kind when it judges the effectiveness of this council in relieving the suffering of the Syrian people,' U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley said, adding that it 'should be a day of shame for every member.' Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok, whose country holds the council presidency, called it 'a humiliation' for the U.N.'s most powerful body to be unable to enforce an order for humanitarian aid access. Since the resolution passed, the U.N. and other groups have delivered aid to about 137,000 people around Syria — an improvement since earlier this year but still 'crumbs' compared to what is needed, U.N. humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock said. And '5.6 million Syrians in acute need cannot live on crumbs,' he added. More than 1,600 civilians have been killed in the recent government offensive, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Over 120,000 people have left eastern Ghouta. Critics say the evacuations amount to forced displacement, and the U.N. and the International Committee of the Red Cross have refused to facilitate them. Haley accused the Syrian government, Russia and Syrian ally Iran of making 'a mockery' of the cease-fire demand and said Russia had used its veto-wielding seat to stop the Security Council from doing more. The cease-fire resolution's sponsors, Kuwait and Sweden, said they were disappointed in the outcome but determined to keep trying to achieve its goals.
Josiah Kelly
BASED 26 years old girlfriendless kissless handholdless waifuless meguminposter avatarfag exclamation point abuser(like a 12 years old girl) pillow fucker non-white ugly fat amerimutt kurdophobe roach-rapebaby autistic socially awkward NEET virgin weeb you are my graedesd ally :DDDDDDDDD
Lindsey sounds so dissapointed with them, all those goyim wasted billions and billions of dollars just for Assad to win the war and Iran to enter the region in full force.
Dozens of former rebels have their statues settled, join the Syrian Army ranks in Harasta district of eastern ghouta region.
According to a video released by Al-Ikhbariyah Tv, more than 170 – as the number is able to increase – rebels took arms to join the Syrian Arab Army ranks following reconciliation with the government.
The video also emerges interviews with the former rebels chanting for president Bashar Al-assad and holding the Syrian Army flag.
The place of video is located at Tropicana junction in northern Damascus city.
Former Egyptian president, Dr Mohamed Morsi, could die a slow death from torture if he continues to be denied medical attention.
Dr Maha Azzam, President of the Egyptian Revolutionary Council, told MEMO today that the denial of medication to Dr Morsi constitutes a form of torture and urged the international community to intervene urgently to ensure his safety and well-being. Dr Azzam explained that torture is systematic in the Egyptian prison system, responsibility for which must be taken by the current Egyptian regime.
Dr Morsi, who is diabetic and suffers from hypertension and liver disease, is being held in dire conditions at Tora prison in Cairo. He has been sentenced on a range of charges, which include harming national security by leaking state secrets to foreign countries and the killing of protesters during public demonstrations in 2012. He has appeared in three trials since his initial arrest, and a death sentence, which was handed to him in a fourth case, was overturned in November 2016.
A recent report by a panel of British MPs and lawyers announced that “if Dr Morsi isn’t provided with medical attention, the damage to his health may be permanent or terminal.” The panel, which was led by Crispin Blunt, former chairman of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, told The Times “responsibility for [damage to his health] goes all the way up the chain of command.”
>TURKEY ESTABLISHES HIGH ALTITUDE MILITARY INSTALLATION NEAR BORDER WITH IRAQ TO COMBAT PKK
The Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) are establishing a new military base in a high altitude area in the province of Hakkari, which borders Iraq, the Turkish state-run Anadolu Agency reported on March 28 citing security sources.
According to the report, the installation is being established in the framework of operations against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). It’s located at Balkaya Mountain at the altitude of 2,400 meters in the Semdinli district.
Earlier this month, Turkish top officials, including President Erdogan, threatened that the TAF may start a military operation against the PKK in northern Iraq in the near future.
The PKK is a Kurdish armed separatist group. It operates in northern Iraq, northern Syria and southern Turkey and is involved in a long-standing insurgency against the Turkish state. The PKK de-facto seeks to establish an independent Kurdish state, that will include large areas of Turkey, Syria and Iraq.
Just recently, the TAF captured the Syrian northern city of Afrin from the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), which Ankara describes as a PKK branch.
Don't see how this is a good idea;why would you want the guys who helped ruin your country join your army... is this just for show, so they can keep an eye on them and deal with them later, away from public eyes?
Bentley Garcia
>SYRIA IS DETERMINED TO RETAKE OCCUPIED GOLAN HEIGHST, AFRIN, RAQQA AND IDLIB – UN AMBASSADOR
Syria is determined to retake control over other its terroritores occupied by terrorists or hostile foreign powers, according to the country’s Permanent Representative to the UN Bashar al-Jaafari, during a session of the UN Security Council on the situation in Syria.
Al-Jaafari added that Syria rejects any “armed presence” and “occupying forces” on its territory and accused Israel, Qatar, Turkey, the US, the UK and France of waging a “terrorist war” against Syria.
The Syrian diplomat noted that Eastern Ghouta is about to be liberated from militants and praised efforts of the Syrian Arab Army and help from the country’s allies.
Despite being in a complicated situation, the Syrian government stays strong on its goal to pursue the country’s territorial integritiy and to oppose foreign forces operating within its borders. youtu.be/BzyrrAHEZMQ
>Four photos showing alleged Russia-linked private military contractors (PMCs) involved in the ongoing security operations in the Damasucs subrub of Eastern Ghouta are circulating online.
Photos show the allleged PMCs escorting a group of men. Most likely, the photos show a security effort aimed at searching terrorists hiding among the civilians that have left the militant-held part of Eastern Ghouta via a humanitarian corridor.
>sensitive mission for security in all of damascus >fuck it let's give it to the PMC boy I wonder if they take orders from the kremlin
Henry Cox
it's called probability *rd*n* ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4259868/ > Anyone who is overweight and/or obese has some kind of insulin resistance, but diabetes only develops in those individuals who lack sufficient insulin secretion to match the degree of insulin resistance confirms diabeetus (diabe[tes mell]itus) is a strict subset of hamplanetism
They will probably use them as front line troops hoping most of them gets killed.
Leo Powell
t. cucaracha
Lucas Carter
I think by now we are all in agreement that Assad was a terrible and incompetent dictator of Syria, and that his actions kept the country poor and dysfunctional, and his inactions led to ISIS establishing a network in Syria as he preferred that they use Syria to establish a network to funnel arms and fighters into Iraq, and his rash decision to send in the military to stop the protests is what started this war. He should step down and let someone that is capabale take charge.
