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The U.S.-led anti-Daesh coalition began war games Friday in eastern Syria in what it said are exercises aimed at honing "warfighting skills for counterterrorism operations".
The games were launched out of the at-Tanf garrison near the Iraqi border and included an aerial assault and about 100 U.S. troops who will conduct a live fire exercise before departing the airbase.
“Our forces will demonstrate the capability to deploy rapidly, assault a target with integrated air and ground forces and conduct a rapid exfiltration anywhere in the OIR [Operation Inherent Resolve] combined joint operations area,” Navy Capt. Bill Urban, spokesman for the U.S. Central Command, said in a statement.
"Exercises like this bolster our defeat-ISIS capabilities and ensure we are ready to respond to any threat to our forces.”
Urban was using another name for Daesh.
The U.S. is de-conflicting the exercises with Russia using established protocols, the command said.
Despite the stated "counterterrorism" aim of the exercises, CNN reported they are actually a direct response to Russian military threats.
Moscow reportedly sent a written note to the U.S. on Thursday warning that it would carry out "precision strikes" on militants around the at-Tanf area despite a roughly 55-kilometer (34-mile) deconfliction zone around the base.
"The United States does not seek to fight the Russians, the government of Syria or any groups that may be providing support to Syria in the Syrian civil war. However, the United States will not hesitate to use necessary and proportionate force to defend U.S., coalition or partner forces, as we have clearly demonstrated in past instances," CNN quoted Pentagon spokesman Cmdr. Sean Robertson as saying.
It is unclear how long the exercises will last, but the outlet reported they could go on for days.
Syrian regime and Iran-backed militants continue to train YPG/PKK and various far-left terror groups in northwestern Syria, according to local sources.A rural area in northern Latakia, a northwestern Syria province across Turkey’s southern border province Hatay, is a post for five terrorist training camps, said the sources on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media.A group of nearly 200 terrorists joined the camps from Afrin, Manbij, Tal Abyad and Raqqa, it added.The terrorists use a fire brigade building and military positions as camp areas in Gabara town.Backed by Assad regime forces, YPG/PKK, far-left DHKP-C and United Freedom Forces (UFF) terror groups plot terror attacks against Turkmens and Turkey, sources said.Muhammad Yavuz, a military spokesman to Free Syrian Army-affiliated group said the terrorist PKK and numerous revolutionary groups cooperate against Turkey.The YPG is a Syrian branch of the PKK - recognized as a terrorist group by the US, EU, and Turkey.In Turkey, the PKK has claimed some 40,000 lives, including many women and children in its more than 30-year terror campaign.Turkish forces 'neutralize' three PKK terrorists in N. IraqSyria's Idlib residents concerned about new attacksAssad regime, Russia shell Syria’s Idlib‘Assad tries to sabotage Tehran summit with help of US’
Regime trains YPG/PKK, leftist terrorists in NW Syria
A joint statement has been issued after a trilateral summit meeting held between Turkey, Iran, and Russia in Iran's capital Tehran on Friday.The joint statement said, "There could be no military solution to the Syrian conflict and it can only end through a negotiated political process."The leaders expressed their "satisfaction with the achievements" of the Astana format since January 2017, in particular, the progress made in "reducing violence across the Syrian Arab Republic and contributing to peace, security, and stability in the country."Erdoğan says it is important to end bombardments in Syria's Idlib, ensure cease-fireIran, Turkey and Russia "emphasized strong and continued the commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Syria, as well as to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and highlighted that they should be respected by all."The leaders "rejected all attempts to create new realities on the ground under the pretext of combating terrorism," while expressing determination to stand against separatist agendas aimed at undermining the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria and national security of neighboring countries.Video: Turkish, Russian, Iranian presidents meet in TehranThe joint statement said leaders highlighted the "need to create conditions for the safe and voluntary return of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their original places of residence in Syria."Russia, Iran, and Turkey also called for the United Nations and its humanitarian agencies to help Syria by providing additional humanitarian aid.Erdoğan meets Putin on sidelines of trilateral Syria summitTurkish aid officials fear mass migration from IdlibTurkish, Iranian presidents meet in TehranAssad regime, Russia shell Syria’s Idlib‘Assad tries to sabotage Tehran summit with help of US’
Tehran summit joint statement calls for political solution in Syria
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called for a joint stance over Syria’s territorial integrity and unity, and said that he believes the results of trilateral summit in Tehran will contribute to peace in Syria.“The results of this summit are being anxiously awaited by the entire world. I believe that with the decisions we make, we will not let their expectations fall short of reality. The guarantors must send the message from this summit that they will not allow a new wave of violence or a humanitarian crisis in Syria,” Erdoğan said.The presidents of Iran, Russia and Turkey - the main outside players in Syria’s long war - were meeting in Tehran on Friday to discuss the fate of the opposition-held province of Idlib as rival factions there prepared for what could be the conflict’s last great battle.Video: Erdoğan says Turkey cannot leave Syria's Idlib to Assad’s mercyErdoğan meets Putin on sidelines of trilateral Syria summit“Idlib is critically important not just for Syria’s political future but also for our national security and the peace and stability of the region. Turkey does not want Idlib to turn into a blood bath. We expect our allies to support our efforts. We must find a reasonable solution that meets our joint concerns,” he added.The Turkish president stated that it is important to end bombardments in Idlib, and added that he believes one of most important steps of the trilateral summit would be announcing a cease-fire.Turkey agreed with Russia and Iran last year to make Idlib a “de-escalation zone” of reduced conflict and sent in army units to erect a string of observation posts along the frontlines between the opposition and the army.Turkish aid officials fear mass migration from IdlibIdlib attack will lead to massacre“Turkey has reached its refugee-hosting capacity. An attack on Idlib will result in a massacre. In an area where many factors are intertwined, an effective struggle against terrorists requires different methods that entail time and patience,” Erdoğan said.“Turkey is determined to maintain its presence in the region until Syria’s political, geographical and social integrity is truly ensured. Turkey cannot leave Idlib to the mercy of Assad regime,” he added.Turkey has 12 observation points in Syria's northwestern Idlib province in accordance with the Astana agreement.Turkish, Iranian presidents meet in Tehran“We must put forth a joint stance against all forms of terror arising from Syria, including the PYD/YPG, and initiatives that target Syria’s territorial integrity,” Erdoğan said.“Turkey is extremely disturbed by the fact that the U.S. continues to strengthen another terror group in the area even though the threat posed by Daesh no longer exists,” he added.Putin calls for UN-monitored constitutional committeeRussian President Vladimir Putin in his turn called for a UN-monitored constitutional committee to be established for Syria.“A political solution in Syria must be promoted by successfully implementing agreements,” Putin added.Assad regime, Russia shell Syria’s IdlibU.S. must leave Syria if peace is to prevail“Civilians should not be harmed in the fight in Idlib. All three countries should respect Syria’s territorial integrity to ensure that Syria finds peace. The U.S. must leave Syria for the country to be secure. The cooperation of these three countries must be respected for the Syria crisis to be resolved and for peace to prevail in the country,” Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said.The first tripartite summit regarding Syria was held in Russia’s Black Sea resort of Sochi on Nov. 22, 2017 to discuss progress made in the Astana peace talks and changes in de-escalation zones across Syria.The second trilateral meeting was hosted by Erdoğan in April in the Turkish capital Ankara.Video: Turkish, Russian, Iranian presidents meet in Tehran‘Assad tries to sabotage Tehran summit with help of US’Syria's Idlib residents concerned about new attacksChemical weapons 'being prepared' in Syria: US envoy
Erdoğan says it is important to end bombardments in Syria's Idlib, ensure cease-fire
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met his Russian and Iranian counterparts on Friday to discuss Syria.The meeting between Erdoğan, Vladimir Putin and Hassan Rouhani in the Iranian capital Tehran was held to discuss joint efforts as part of the Astana process and political efforts for finding a lasting solution to the Syrian conflict.The leaders will hold a news conference after the summit.Galeri: Erdoğan meets Rouhani, Putin on sidelines of Syria summitErdoğan meets Putin on sidelines of trilateral Syria summitTurkish aid officials fear mass migration from IdlibTurkish, Iranian presidents meet in TehranAssad regime, Russia shell Syria’s Idlib‘Assad tries to sabotage Tehran summit with help of US’
Trilateral Syria summit between Turkish, Russian, Iranian leaders begins
The Syrian regime and Russia on Friday shelled parts of the Idlib region in northwest Syria, the country's last major opposition stronghold.According to preliminary reports, two Assad regime warplanes and three Russian jets conducted airstrikes in Idlib’s Kafr, Zeyte, Hobait and Abdin regions.At least 10 civilians were killed and 20 wounded in the west and south-west of Idlib during the last three days by Russian warplanes. Russian, Turkish and Iranian leaders met on Friday in Iran’s Tehran and to discuss the situation in northwestern Syria.Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called for a joint stance over Syria’s territorial integrity and unity, and said that he believes the results of trilateral summit in Tehran will contribute to peace in Syria.Erdoğan says Idlib assault would be ‘a grave massacre’Turkey’s Erdoğan arrives in Tehran for trilateral summit‘Assad tries to sabotage Tehran summit with help of US’
Assad regime, Russia shell Syria’s Idlib