Representatives of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terror group and Syria’s Baath regime recently convened at the Four Seasons Hotel in Damascus
Representatives of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terror group and Syria’s Baath regime recently convened at the Four Seasons Hotel in Damascus to strike a bargain regarding a possible Idlib attack.
The so-called co-chair of PKK Ilham Ahmad, Head of the Syrian Air Force Intelligence Directorate Jamil Hassan and Bashar al-Assad’s Special Security Adviser Ali Mamlouk conducted a meeting to reach a deal based on delivering Afrin to PKK terrorists in return for them dispatching 6,000 troops to support the Syrian regime in an attack on Syria’s northwestern Idlib province.
Damascus is in preparation to attack Syria’s Idlib and has already started to harass southern Idlib, speeded up its military deployments, dispatching dozens of troops, tanks, armored vehicles, missile-launching platforms with the support of its Iran-backed Shia militia’ allies.
Idlib, located in northwestern Syria on the Turkish border, has faced intense attacks by the Bashar al-Assad regime after a vicious civil war broke out in 2011. Since March 2015, Idlib is no longer under the control of the Assad regime and has been overrun by opposition groups.
The U.S. on Monday strongly criticized the Syrian regime over "thousands" of death notices it has been releasing, saying they confirm suspicions of systematic arrests, torture and murder.State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said in a statement that over 117,000 people are believed to have been detained or forcibly disappeared in Syria since the conflict began in 2011, and "the vast majority" are suspected to be in regime custody "across a network of prisons where regime officials torture and murder civilians to intimidate and silence any opposition” to Bashar al-Assad’s rule."Extensive documentation and other evidence of this torture and murder is being collected by international organizations and support the world’s continued condemnation of the Syrian regime and prosecution of culpable officials in various courts," she said."The United States strongly reiterates its condemnation of the Assad regime’s cruel actions and calls on it to adhere to international laws and norms pertaining to the treatment of prisoners, including by allowing access for independent monitors."Syria has only just begun to emerge from a devastating conflict that began in 2011, when the Assad regime cracked down on demonstrators with unexpected ferocity.Hundreds of thousands have been killed and millions displaced in the seven-year conflict, according to UN figures. The Syrian Network for Human Rights says nearly 120,000 people have been arbitrarily arrested.'Assad regime keeping over 500,000 captives in prisons'UN awaits details of US-Russia plan on Syrian refugeesAssad regime sets sights on Syria's Turkmen Mountain
US rips Assad regime over death notices
PKK’s Afrin request from Baath Regime
Speaking to Yeni Şafak daily, Syrian Opposition Commander General Adib Shelaf stated that the negotiations are still ongoing and that the main aim of PKK terrorists is surrounding Afrin by backing an attack on Idlib.
On Jan. 20 Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch to remove YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorists from Afrin. On March 18, Turkish troops and Free Syrian Army members liberated its city center, on the 58th day of the operation.
“Turkey, Russia and Iran have been conducting peace-oriented diplomatic activities for a year but Assad (Baath regime) wants to sabotage this process,” he added.
The regime has also started using its airborne propaganda leaflets in Idlib to threaten civilians.
Regime helicopters have started dropping flyers at various points in Syria’s opposition-held Idlib to threaten civilians. The propaganda warns, “Lay down your arms and collaborate with Assad!”The Assad regime and its Iran-backed Shia militia’ allies have already started to harass southern Idlib and speeded up its military deployments, dispatching dozens of troops, tanks, armored vehicles, missile-launching platforms and Iran-backed Shia militias along the Turkmen Mountain.The regime has also used its propaganda leaflets in the areas of Dera, Homs and Ghouta which it has captured in the past few months.On the other hand, last week, two Chinese diplomats raised the possibility of Chinese military operations in Syria’s Idlib alongside the Assad regime.Idlib, located in northwestern Syria on the Turkish border, has faced intense attacks by the Bashar al-Assad regime after a vicious civil war broke out in 2011. Since March 2015, Idlib is no longer under the control of the Assad regime and has been overrun by opposition groups.Turkey has stated that any attack on Idlib would result in the country withdrawing from the Astana talks and lead to a great disaster. The Astana peace talks were launched on Jan. 23-24, 2017, with the aim of putting an end to violence and improving the humanitarian situation in war-torn Syria.
Assad uses airborne leaflets to threaten civilians in Idlib
‘Damascus is afraid of stability in the region’
“The regions within the scope of the Euphrates Shield operation took significant steps on education, agriculture and infrastructure with Turkey’s help. Damascus is worried about this progress. The regime has done nothing for Aleppo. This is why people are reacting to the Assad administration, and rightly so. The regime wants to hide its incompetence and conduct terror attacks by using terror organizations that are under its control such as the PKK and Daesh. They target the stability established in the region,” Shelaf said.
In its Operation Euphrates Shield which began in August 2016 and ended in March 2017, Turkey cleared the northern Syrian regions of Jarablus, Al-Rai, Al-Bab, and Azaz of YPG/PKK terrorists.
The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the European Union and the United States. The PKK has been conducting armed violence in the southeastern part of Turkey since 1984. More than 40,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in the three-decade long conflict.
The Bashar al-Assad regime and its supporters have begun striking Turkmen Mountain in northwestern Syria’s Latakia province to capture the region, which falls within a network of de-escalation zones.Artillery units of the regime forces on Friday night carried out intense attacks to the opposition’s frontline to seize the Turkmen Mountain region.After seizing the previously opposition-held areas of Daraa and Quneitra, the Assad regime is attempting to gain full control of Turkmen Mountain, where Turkmens of Latakia reside, according to Anadolu Agency correspondents on the ground in Idlib.Assad uses airborne leaflets to threaten civilians in IdlibArtillery units of the regime forces on Friday night carried out intense attacks to the opposition’s frontline to seize Turkmen Mountains.Over the past month, the regime, Iran-backed militia groups, and the pro-Syrian regime militia THKP-C led by Mihrac Ural have been conducting reconnaissance patrols, military build-up and artillery shootings for determining location at the frontline.Amid shifts, terrorist YPG controlling more of SyriaAccording to opposition sources, Turkmen Mountain carries great importance since it is on the Idlib-Latakia route, and if it is seized, the regime will have full control of Latakia.The regime also conducted land- and airstrikes in two villages and a town in Idlib Friday night, east of the Turkmen Mountains. 'UN will request Turkey to keep borders open for Syrians fleeing Idlib'In 2015, the regime -- backed by Russian air power -- captured some 85 percent of Latakia’s Turkmen Mountain region, forcing some 20,000 of the area’s Turkmen and Arab inhabitants to flee northward to Turkey.Assad regime takes awaychildren’s right to educationUnder and earlier agreement endorsed by Turkey, Russia and Iran, Turkmen Mountain falls within a network of de-escalation zones in which acts of aggression are expressly forbidden.
Assad regime begins strikes on Syria's Turkmen Mountain
Turkish presence is our only hope
“Security and stability was established in the region thanks to Turkey. The regime wants to take Idlib and they often attempt to harass the region. People are worried, but the only source of our safety is Turkey’s 12 observations point set up in the region. We see these points as security and peace centers. Millions of Syrians have this trust,” Shelaf stated.
“We are ready to shield any attack against the Turkish stations. The Aleppo district cannot be separated from Turkey despite all the problems.”
“Turkey will emerge much more powerful from this period,” he concluded.
Special Advisor to the UN Special Envoy for Syria Jan Egeland on Thursday said that the UN will request Turkey to keep its borders open for civilians to flee if a battle breaks out in Syria’s opposition-held Idlib.The United Nations also warned that an offensive in the northwestern province could force 2.5 million people towards the Turkish border in the event of an offensive. “Russia, Iran and Turkey told a meeting of the Syria humanitarian taskforce on Thursday that they would do their utmost to avoid a battle that would threaten millions of civilians in opposition-held Idlib,” Egeland added.Amid shifts, terrorist YPG controlling more of SyriaThe Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also said that additional government forces were arriving for a possible attack in an area to the southwest of Idlib city that overlaps with Latakia and Hama provinces.The Assad regime and its Iran-backed Shia militia’ allies have already started to harass southern Idlib and speeded up its military deployments, dispatching dozens of troops, tanks, armored vehicles, missile-launching platforms and Iran-backed Shia militias along the Turkmen Mountain.Assad uses airborne leaflets to threaten civilians in IdlibThe regime has also started using its airborne propaganda leaflets in Idlib to threaten civilians."Your cooperation with the Syrian Arab Army will release you from the rule of militants and terrorists, and will preserve your and your families' lives. We call upon you to join local reconciliation (agreements) as many others in Syria have done," the leaflets read.Idlib, located in northwestern Syria on the Turkish border, has faced intense attacks by the Bashar al-Assad regime after a vicious civil war broke out in 2011. Since March 2015, Idlib is no longer under the control of the Assad regime and has been overrun by opposition groups.
'UN will request Turkey to keep borders open for Syrians fleeing Idlib'
Under the Astana agreement, Turkish forces are present at 12 points from Idlib's north to south.
Turkey has stated that any attack on Idlib would result in the country withdrawing from the Astana talks and lead to a great disaster.
On the other hand, UN Special Envoy for Syria Jan Egeland on Thursday said that the UN will request Turkey to keep its borders open for civilians to flee if a battle breaks out in Syria’s opposition-held Idlib.