U.S. forces have destroyed one of their radar stations in northeast Syria as a part of their ongoing withdrawal from the region, the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported late on October 19.
“U.S. forces destroyed their radar at the illegal mount Abdulaziz base in the western countryside of al-Hasakah before withdrawing,” the state-run agency’s reporter in al-Hasakah said.
Last year, the U.S.-led coalition deployed several radars in northeast Syria. Kurdish sources claimed that the coalition was planning to impose a “no-fly zone” over the region. This claim that has been never confirmed by Washington.
Mount Abdulaziz base. Via Google Earth
Besides destroying the mount Abdulaziz radar station, U.S. forces “booby-trapped” their military posts near the town of Qasrak on the Tell Tamr-Qamishli highway, according to the SANA.
U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper announced last week that the U.S. military is “preparing to evacuate” about 1,000 troops from northern Syria “as safely and quickly as possible.” Since then, U.S. troops have evacuated several positions in the region.
Earlier today, units of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) entered a former U.S. base in Qasir Yalda in northern al-Hasakah. The army deployment in the region is being carried out under an agreement with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
Good. But even when US leaves all N Syria, it will still have their top tier stations in Iraq, and Israel, plus in Turkey. Also Turkey will be connected again to NATO surveillance network, and will relay all SIGINT to US in real time anyway.
US may pull out so Donald can claim he brought less than 1% of all US Army forces home in his campaign, but they made sure the Turks will take their place and do their bidding in NATO as per the deal.
We celebrated too soon, me included.
With the blog post i quoted in the other articles, Turkey is in for a long occupation, and has already declared informally and also officially they will not pull out when Putin asks him. The meeting with Putin and Erdogan is now obsolete anyway. Erdogan will say he wont move out, Putin will ask him too, then Erdogan will say no, just like he recently declared.
Those who doubt this, a summary with all recent statements of Erdogan and his entourage and all recent events concerning this: https://indianpunchline.com/us-stokes-the-fires-of-turkish-revanchism/
The statement, “A Turkish withdrawal from Syrian territory can now be virtually ruled out.” is the author’s opinion. Whatever he thinks (and I generally like his articles), that opinion does not stand up to what Turkey and Russia have been saying for quite some time.
First, from right after the meeting between Turkey and the US.
““There will be a meeting with Putin in Sochi on Tuesday. Our aim is to identify an acceptable solution. We want the areas under the control of the Syrian government to be cleared of militants of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party [PKK] and the Self Defense Forces [YPG],” told a news conference in Istanbul on October 18, according to the Russian news agency TASS.”
“The Turkish President went on to state that he has no objections against placing the “safe-zone” under the Damascus government’s control.”
see: https://southfront.org/erdo…
Second, from the Sept. 16, Triparte Meeting between Turkey, Russia and Iran.
“2. Emphasized their strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic as well as to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. They highlighted that these principles should be universally respected and that no actions, no matter by whom they were undertaken, should undermine them.” See: https://www.voltairenet.org/article207651.html
I don’t see Turkey changing course at this time, and I don’t think President Trump cares as he got what he wanted, removal of US troops from NE Syria and no longer having to take care of tens of thousand ISIS prisoners.
Quoting the Astana statements, that Turkey has never been faithful too, means exactly nothing. Sadly. That has been the problem for a long time, and after the US Turkey deal, it is evident. Again, what was before the US Turkey deal is worlds apart from what is now happening, even though it is only days apart. And the deal is much bigger than Trumps campaign promise: It is to ensure the deep state gets their way still in Syria, through Turkey as a proxy. Again, everything has changed since the US Turkey deal. It is about time we face it.
Thanks for the reply. We will have to wait and see.
Yes, Erdogan is noted for sitting on the fence between east and west, be he is in too deep with Russia and China to simply back the US/NATO at this point. Besides, what does he get from NATO? Is the US going to sell him F35s? Is Russia going to give him hardware and software updates to his new S-500? Will China gave him another needed $3.6 billion loan?
I don’t see how staying in NE Syria gets him anything. He will be staring at the PKK and the YPG. With an unfriendly border, how does he convince the 2 million Syrian refugees to move back? What is he going to do when the SAA kills off the HTS and his SDF in Idlib? He will have lost his proxies, leaving him with his own soldiers. To me Edorgan will lose big time if he stays in Syria.
His concern is to ensure the Kurds are disarmed and moved back. The best way to ensure that happens is for the Kurds to finally realize they are not going to get the US military back in. I don’t see President Trump budging on this one. It will take the 120 hrs (maybe longer) for them to realize they have to join with the Syrian government on Syria’s terms or be eliminated.
The other part to your arguement implies that the US has some strategy for Syria. I don’t believe it. They’ve know all along they were going to have to get out, even if many couldn’t admit it.
Anyway, good conversation. Thanks.
Everything that you have state is true.But what about Trump statement that their have protected and secure Syrian oil.Forget about trusting USANATO. Their are strategically aligning themselves. Actually Israel irresponsible attack on Iran forces,asset and friends have put USA NATO targets within range.Israel will as attention and disruption to get USA involvement attack Damascus. It is the initial and final strategy.This will force Israel to be corner by USANATO and and opposing side of Middle East to sign peace treaty.
Erdogan wants to master both Russia and USA defense systems just to promote his hidden evil agendas just to lay hands on most of Middle East oil.Currently Erdogan is having USA in his hands.Because USA nuclear bombs and missiles are under Turkey control.There is no way how Turkey will allow USA to removed them.Because their are unsure to whom nuclear missiles will be pointed. Just monitor and trace Pence and Pompeo footage in Turkey and Israel.Remember coup which Erdogan is aware of how it was plan was diverted against him just to remove Nuclear weapons to safety because of his arrogants.
USA,France, Britain,Turkey and Israel everyone is boss action holds a very very serious consequences in Middle East in up coming days and month.
Like it or not evil Trump is the only one who disrupts Israel,USA,Turkey and NATO hidden agendas.Oil and gas war is on. But as you stated let’s give the situation a chance and see how things unfold in coming days.
BAM. Now that Turkey has threatened to start a full blown war against SAA, MAYBE you come to realize how naive your post was.. If not, i guess the coming week will sober you up.
Me thinks you may be reading what you want into Erdogan’s recent statements. But whatever, if I am wrong, I have no problems in saying so. It’s the beuaty of being the general public making comments on the sidelines. :-)
If you you are referring to Erdogan’s most recent statements for saying, “Now that Turkey has threatened to start a full blown war against SAA”, I would disagree with your assessment. Here is what he said in bits and pieces.
“Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will focus on presence of Syrian forces in northern Syria at talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi…
“Yesterday, I held talks with US President Donald Trump. On Tuesday we will be continuing talks with Mr. Putin. In the area of the operation are forces of the regime [of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad] under Russia’s protection. We will be tackling the issue with Mr. Putin,” he stressed.
Moreover, Erdogan vowed that in case he fails to “reach agreements on that issue [with Russia], Turkey will be implementing its own plans”.
“In case the promises to Turkey are not fulfilled, we won’t be waiting as before. We will be going ahead with the operation and will keep on destroying terrorists,” he promised.” see: https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/erdogan-says-syrian-army-is-active-in-turkeys-operation-area/
Or here:
“The current protection of the Kurdish-led forces in Syria could be considered an act of war by Turkey, Turkish Presidential adviser Yasin Aktay said on Saturday.
“If the Syrian regime wants to enter Manbij, Ayn al-Arab [Kobani] and Qamishli to provide protection for the Kurdish People’s Protection Units [YPG], that will be viewed by Turkey as the declaration of war and it [Damascus] will face a relevant response,” Aktay stated.
According to Aktay, if the Syrian government assures Turkey that the Kurdish-led forces will not operate along the border, Ankara may change its position on the Syrian military’s advance in the northern part of the country.
In regards to the Turkish military presence in northern Syria, Aktay said Turkey is not planning to keep a permanent presence in Syria, adding that Ankara is not interested in land grabbing.
“Turkey does not grab anyone’s territories,” Aktay continued” see: https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/turkey-views-syrian-armys-protection-of-sdf-and-ypg-as-act-of-war-adviser/
No where have I seen anything that says Turkey is threatening to start a full blown war against SAA. Turkey has been wanting and talking about going after the Kurdistan Workers’ Party [PKK] and the Self Defense Forces [YPG] for a couple of years and he finally has been given the opportunity to do it. He is simply stating he doesn’t want the SAA’s recent move into the area to foil his opportunity and I don’t see Syria doing that.
Syria has not interjected itself into the main battle field between Turkey and the Kurds at Ras al-Ayn. They have said they might but only because they are telling the Turks to better control their mercenary thugs to quit terrorizing the civilians and ransacking their homes.
Look, the Syrian (and Russian military) are just now moving into Raqqa/Tabaqa and the oil and gas fields. See: https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syrian-military-begins-recovery-of-oil-and-gas-fields-in-raqqa/ and https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/russian-military-to-take-over-tabaqa-airbase-in-raqqa-source/ they have enough on their plate without fighting the Turks.
The Kurds are finally beginning to see that they have no one to protect them other than the Syrians and are giving free access to them. Even their recent cry to Israel is falling on deaf ears. see: https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/kurdish-politician-appeals-to-israel-for-help-in-northern-syria/
Syria has no desire to get inbetween the YPG and Turkey. Their interest is in protecting non-fighting civilians and they have stated as much. I don’t see or have read anything yet that would change my positition (naive post) :_-) Time will tell.
I will believe Turkey’s full support of a NATO operation when I see it.
The rift between Turkey and NATO is much deeper than their spat with the USA over the S-400 and the YPG.
Europe has refused to take Syrian refugees leaving Turkey to house 3.5 million of them.
Despite being a loyal NATO member since 1952 yet the EU has not granted Turkey membership letting countries like Poland, Romania and the Baltics into both the NATO security umbrella as well as the EU.
EU nations are now calling for Turkey to be kicked out of NATO.
The Turks aren’t fools. They know how strategically valuable their piece of real estate is to NATO and they can see for themselves how little the EU and the USA regards Turkey’s economic and security concerns.
This doesn’t mean Turkey is going to flip to the “Russian side” as the Russian side doesn’t really exist. Turkey is following it’s own independent foreign policy as is Russia.
If it’s in Turkey’s interests to go to war with Syria they’ll go to war with Syria however it is not in Turkey’s interests to alienate countries like Russia, Iran or China in support of some NATO project just out of loyalty to NATO allies who have shown no loyalty towards Turkey.
Turkey is not going to invade Syria as anyone’s pet project. There is nothing to gain for them in Eastern Syria except a belligerent population of Arabs and Kurds who will be a headache to govern. By invading Syria they will damage relations with Russia, China and all the ME neighbours as well as cause further refugee headaches with their neighbors and the EU.
Unless you believe Turkey is about to commit suicide and alienate the whole world against them they are going to stick to their stated objectives and create a PKK free border with Syria. That could easily result in bloodshed and violence between the SAA and the Turks but this will be limited because neither side can afford war with each other.
Hit the road Jack. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8Tiz6INF7I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ny-21C8xtEU&feature=push-u-sub&attr_tag=gQbWnhew1xgr-nUT%3A6
Enjoy :)
I did.
THEIR radar site? US taxpayers like ME paid for that illegally sited bitch, not the ‘US forces’. And all that stuff was trucked in from Iraqi Barzanistan – another illegal trillion-dollar bitch that needs to be destroyed when we leave..
This radar/eavesdropping site covered areas to the south – pretty much all of eastern Syria below al Hasaka all the way to Deir EzZor. The at Tanf surveillance radars look to the north and east, giving eastern Syrian coverage from that angle. Add in the Tabqa AB and Mt. Sinjar radars as well as many other secret sites. The US could see/hear everything there. That was the plan. Well, the old plan.
Americans the creators of AQ and Daesh. UK, Israel and Turkey are the onther ones who are in the game of creating and supporting terrorism. I pray every day to see the US collapsed.
Well, the most important role of these groups is not “cannon fodder” (you could say that about the SAA serving as cannon fodder for the Russians) but to give the semblance of legitimacy to Turkish action; i.e. saying: these are Syrians too.