Syria

[Ryan Ruck]

[Ryan Ruck]

How F-22 Is Deconflicting U.S.-Russia Operations Over Syria

June 14, 2017

“Shell” was just days into his first deployment to U.S. Central Command (Centcom) when U.S. Navy destroyers launched a surprise strike against the Syrian regime, pummeling Shayrat Airfield with dozens of Tomahawk cruise missiles.

In the tense wake of the attack, Shell, a U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel and Raptor squadron commander who spoke on the condition that Aviation Week identify him only by his call sign, and his squadron of stealth F-22 Lockheed Martin Raptors had a critical job to do: deconflict coalition operations over Syria with an irate Russia.

The U.S.-led campaign against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria has leaned heavily on the air-superiority fighter since its debut there in 2014. The F-22, originally designed as an air-to-air platform, has become crucial to the fight, regularly striking ground targets, providing close air support (CAS) for soldiers in battle, and protecting legacy strike fighters from surface and air threats.

But one of the most critical missions the F-22 conducts in the skies over Syria, particularly in the weeks following the April 6 Tomahawk strike, is deconfliction between coalition and noncoalition aircraft, says Shell.

Of course, the F-22 is not the only asset deconflicting the crowded skies over Centcom. The Air Force’s airborne command-and-control aircraft and high-altitude intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms, as well as ground-based command-and-control forces, are also helping clear the area. But the stealth F-22’s ability to evade detection gives it a unique advantage in getting noncoalition players to cooperate, says Shell.

“It is easier to bring air dominance to bear if you know where the other aircraft are that you are trying to influence, and they don’t know where you are,” says Shell. “When other airplanes don’t know where you are, their sense of comfort goes down, so they have a tendency to comply more.”

The F-22 provided a crucial communications node when tensions between the U.S. and Russia were running high. Following the Tomahawk strikes, Moscow condemned the attack and suspended the so-called “deconfliction line” the two countries used to coordinate air operations over Syria. U.S. President Donald Trump said relations with Russia were at an “all-time low.”

But U.S. and noncoalition aircraft were still communicating directly, over an internationally recognized, unsecure frequency often used for emergencies known as “Guard,” says Shell. His F-22s acted as a kind of quarterback, using high-fidelity sensors to determine the positions of all the actors on the battlefield, directing noncoalition aircraft where to fly and asking them over the Guard frequency to move out of the way.

The Raptors were able to fly in contested areas, in range of surface-to-air missile systems and fighters, without the noncoalition players knowing their exact positions, Shell says. This allowed them to establish air superiority—giving noncoalition forces freedom of movement in the air and on the ground—and a credible deterrent.

“If we need to let them know that we are there for any reason, then we will let them know that we are there—usually to deter something that they are trying to do that we don’t want them to do,” he explains.

During those weeks after April 6, Shell and his squadron temporarily moved all of their operations into Syria. In addition to helping deconflict and deter noncoalition actors, the F-22s also provided defensive counter-air for allied forces on the ground and in the air, and occasionally conducted ground strikes and CAS, Shell says.

He stresses that the interactions with noncoalition aircraft were always “professional,” adding that his squadron experienced “nothing that raises any eyebrows.”

Two months after the strikes, Shell’s squadron is back to splitting its time between Iraq and Syria. The aircraft is performing “immaculately,” even in mission sets it was not built for, such as CAS, Shell says. As of May 28, the Raptor had conducted 1,150 sorties, including 497 CAS sorties, and employed 1,572 weapons since the beginning of Operation Inherent Resolve in 2014, according to the Air Force.

In the CAS role, the F-22 augments the platforms already conducting that mission in the region, such as the F-15E, the B-52 bomber and the A-10, Shell says. While the A-10 is renowned for the roar of its 30-mm Gatling gun and its long loiter time, the F-22 brings precision-guided munitions (PGM) such as the GBU-32 and Small-Diameter Bomb. PGMs significantly reduce civilian casualties and potential damage to buildings and other structures in the area, Shell points out.

Although the F-22 can perform CAS well, it is not built for that role as is the A-10— it is just another tool combatant commanders can use to complete the mission, Shell stresses.

Overall, the most important thing the Raptor brings to the OIR fight is air superiority, Shell says.

“Our ground troops have not been attacked from the air since April 15, 1953, and that is because of the U.S. Air Force providing air dominance,” he adds. “The F-22 is the primary provider of air superiority in Operation Inherent Resolve.”

[Volk]

How F-22 Is Deconflicting U.S.-Russia Operations Over Syria

June 14, 2017

“Shell” was just days into his first deployment to U.S. Central Command (Centcom) when U.S. Navy destroyers launched a surprise strike against the Syrian regime, pummeling Shayrat Airfield with dozens of Tomahawk cruise missiles.

In the tense wake of the attack, Shell, a U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel and Raptor squadron commander who spoke on the condition that Aviation Week identify him only by his call sign, and his squadron of stealth F-22 Lockheed Martin Raptors had a critical job to do: deconflict coalition operations over Syria with an irate Russia.

The U.S.-led campaign against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria has leaned heavily on the air-superiority fighter since its debut there in 2014. The F-22, originally designed as an air-to-air platform, has become crucial to the fight, regularly striking ground targets, providing close air support (CAS) for soldiers in battle, and protecting legacy strike fighters from surface and air threats.

But one of the most critical missions the F-22 conducts in the skies over Syria, particularly in the weeks following the April 6 Tomahawk strike, is deconfliction between coalition and noncoalition aircraft, says Shell.

Of course, the F-22 is not the only asset deconflicting the crowded skies over Centcom. The Air Force’s airborne command-and-control aircraft and high-altitude intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms, as well as ground-based command-and-control forces, are also helping clear the area. But the stealth F-22’s ability to evade detection gives it a unique advantage in getting noncoalition players to cooperate, says Shell.

“It is easier to bring air dominance to bear if you know where the other aircraft are that you are trying to influence, and they don’t know where you are,” says Shell. “When other airplanes don’t know where you are, their sense of comfort goes down, so they have a tendency to comply more.”

The F-22 provided a crucial communications node when tensions between the U.S. and Russia were running high. Following the Tomahawk strikes, Moscow condemned the attack and suspended the so-called “deconfliction line” the two countries used to coordinate air operations over Syria. U.S. President Donald Trump said relations with Russia were at an “all-time low.”

But U.S. and noncoalition aircraft were still communicating directly, over an internationally recognized, unsecure frequency often used for emergencies known as “Guard,” says Shell. His F-22s acted as a kind of quarterback, using high-fidelity sensors to determine the positions of all the actors on the battlefield, directing noncoalition aircraft where to fly and asking them over the Guard frequency to move out of the way.

The Raptors were able to fly in contested areas, in range of surface-to-air missile systems and fighters, without the noncoalition players knowing their exact positions, Shell says. This allowed them to establish air superiority—giving noncoalition forces freedom of movement in the air and on the ground—and a credible deterrent.

“If we need to let them know that we are there for any reason, then we will let them know that we are there—usually to deter something that they are trying to do that we don’t want them to do,” he explains.

During those weeks after April 6, Shell and his squadron temporarily moved all of their operations into Syria. In addition to helping deconflict and deter noncoalition actors, the F-22s also provided defensive counter-air for allied forces on the ground and in the air, and occasionally conducted ground strikes and CAS, Shell says.

He stresses that the interactions with noncoalition aircraft were always “professional,” adding that his squadron experienced “nothing that raises any eyebrows.”

Two months after the strikes, Shell’s squadron is back to splitting its time between Iraq and Syria. The aircraft is performing “immaculately,” even in mission sets it was not built for, such as CAS, Shell says. As of May 28, the Raptor had conducted 1,150 sorties, including 497 CAS sorties, and employed 1,572 weapons since the beginning of Operation Inherent Resolve in 2014, according to the Air Force.

In the CAS role, the F-22 augments the platforms already conducting that mission in the region, such as the F-15E, the B-52 bomber and the A-10, Shell says. While the A-10 is renowned for the roar of its 30-mm Gatling gun and its long loiter time, the F-22 brings precision-guided munitions (PGM) such as the GBU-32 and Small-Diameter Bomb. PGMs significantly reduce civilian casualties and potential damage to buildings and other structures in the area, Shell points out.

Although the F-22 can perform CAS well, it is not built for that role as is the A-10— it is just another tool combatant commanders can use to complete the mission, Shell stresses.

Overall, the most important thing the Raptor brings to the OIR fight is air superiority, Shell says.

“Our ground troops have not been attacked from the air since April 15, 1953, and that is because of the U.S. Air Force providing air dominance,” he adds. “The F-22 is the primary provider of air superiority in Operation Inherent Resolve.”

Not sure that's 'deconflicting', but as long as everybody is bombing the same head-chopper Islamists, i'm alright with it.

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Russia warns US its fighter jets are now targets over Syria

US shooting down of Syrian jet seen as ‘act of aggression’ by Russia, which will track coalition warplanes west of the Euphrates


An F/A-18 fighter shot down a Syrian air force jet on Sunday, intensifying tensions between superpowers. Photograph: Baz Ratner/Reuters

Patrick Wintour Diplomatic editor and Julian Borger in Washington Monday 19 June 2017 14.41 EDT First published on Monday 19 June 2017 09.20 EDT

The threat of direct Russian-American confrontation in Syria escalated on Monday after Moscow said it would treat any plane from the US-led coalition flying west of the Euphrates river as a potential target.

Russia said it was responding to US planes shooting down a Syrian air force jet on Sunday. The US said its planes had acted to defend US-backed forces seeking to capture the Islamic State capital of Raqqa in north-east Syria.

It was the first such US attack on a Syrian warplane since the start of the country’s civil war six years ago.

Russia’s deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov, said the US strike “has to be seen as a continuation of America’s line to disregard the norms of international law.

“What is this if not an act of aggression? It is, if you like, help to those terrorists that the US is fighting against, declaring they are carrying out an anti-terrorism policy.”



The Russian foreign ministry also said it would respond to the attack by suspending its communications channel with US forces, which is designed to prevent collisions and dangerous incidents in Syrian airspace.

Analysis ‘The war after Isis’: has Trump opened the door to conflict with Iran?

As US forces strike Syrian militias backed by Tehran, many fear delegation to the Pentagon and the looming defeat of the Islamic State could fuel a fiercer fire

The top US general, Joseph Dunford, sought to play down the repercussions of the incident, insisting the hotline established eight months ago between US central command in Qatar and its Russian equivalent in Syria was still open and functioning on Monday morning and would be used try to defuse the situation.

“I’m confident that we are still communicating between the coalition operations centre and the Russian operations centre,” Dunford, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff told the National Press Club in Washington. “I think the worst thing any of us could do would be to address this with hyperbole.”
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He added: “I’m also confident that our forces have the capability to take care of themselves.”

The Russian military threatened to close the hotline, known as the “deconfliction channel”, in April after President Trump ordered a missile strike against a Syrian air base allegedly involved in a chemical weapons attack. However, Moscow did not fulfill the threat and the channel remained open.

The prime minister, Theresa May, intervened on Monday, urging Russia not to end the “deconfliction arrangements” since it would increase the risk of an air fight breaking out inadvertently between Russian and US-led coalition warplanes.

The growing risk of a direct confrontation between the US and Russia follows a decision by Trump to grant his military chiefs untrammelled control of military strategy in Syria.

But the Pentagon insisted it was not seeking to escalate the conflict and had acted only after the Syrian jet in question had dropped bombs near US partner forces involved in the fight to wrest Raqqa from Isis control.

“It’s important to point out that the incident that took place this weekend followed a combined arms movement by pro-regime forces. Subsequently, an SU [Russian-made Syrian regime] aircraft flew into the area,” Dunford said. “We made every effort to warn those individuals not to come any closer and then the commander made a judgment that it was a threat to the forces that we are supporting and took action. The only actions that we have taken against pro-regime forces in Syria, and there have been two specific incidents, have been in self-defence and we have communicated that clearly.”

It is not clear what other incident Dunford was referring to. Apart from the April missile strike, US forces have fired on pro-regime forces, thought to include Iranian-backed Shia militia, three times in the past month in Syria’s eastern desert near the Iraqi border.

Asked about the legal basis for a US plane shooting down a Syrian aircraft in Syrian airspace, Dunford referred to the Authorisation for the Use of Military Force Act passed by Congress in 2001 in the wake of the 9/11 attack, which has been used as a blanket mandate by US administrations ever since for counter-terrorist operations abroad.

US Gen Joseph Dunford: ‘We made every effort to warn those individuals not to come any closer.’ Photograph: Aaron P Bernstein/Reuters White House spokesman Sean Spicer, speaking later, said that the US would “do what we can” to keep military communications channels open in Syria.

“While we want to de-escalate the situation there ... we will always preserve the right to self-defence,” Spicer added.

Russia stressed it will in future be tracking the coalition’s jets, not shooting them down, but added that “a threat for those jets may appear only if they take action that poses a threat to Russian aircraft”. Moscow’s foreign ministry said in a statement: “All kinds of airborne vehicles, including aircraft and UAVs [unmanned aerial vehicles] of the international coalition, detected to the west of the Euphrates river will be tracked by the Russian SAM systems as air targets.”

The US military ha confirmed that a US Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet shot down a Syrian SU-22 on Sunday. The US said the Syrian jet had dropped bombs near Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters who are aligned with US forces in the fight against Isis. Damascus said its plane had been on anti-Isis mission.

Col John Thomas, a spokesman for US Central Command, said there were no US forces in the immediate vicinity but that the SDF was under threat for more than two hours.

The SDF, an alliance of Kurdish and Arab fighters working alongside western special forces, said it would take action to defend itself from Syrian warplanes if attacks continued.

The Trump administration has promised to improve arms supplies to the SDF after it concluded that it was the force most capable of freeing Raqqa from Isis.

Growing tensions between Washington and Moscow over efforts to dislodge Isis from its Raqqa stronghold are a long way from Trump’s original plan to work with Russia in Syria to defeat the terror group.
Russia, a staunch supporter of Syria’s president, Bashar al-Assad, had been pressing the US to make the removal of Isis a joint land and air operation, but discussions over Syria’s long-term political future appear to have ground to a halt, leaving the US military to operate in a political vacuum.

Senior US lawmakers have been voicing concern at the lack of a declared Trump administration strategy for Syria beyond the crushing of Isis. Democratic senator Chris Murphy warned on Twitter: “Four direct engagements with Syria/Iran/Russia in 45 days. Trump is quietly starting a new war that Congress has not declared. Red alert.”

In a sign of how complex the Syrian peace process has become, Russian-sponsored peace talks in Astana, Kazakhstan, are scheduled to resume on the same day – 10 July – as talks convened by the UN in Geneva.
The Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, announced the date on Monday in the knowledge that it would coincide with the UN schedule. He also said that the UN’s Syria envoy, Staffan de Mistura, would take part.

A spokesman for de Mistura said “the subject is currently being discussed”.

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No More Games: Russia Vows to Track and Target Any US Aircraft 'West of the Euphrates'

Moscow sends a crystal-clear message to Washington:
The games in Syria are over

RI Staff
42 minutes ago
http://russia-insider.com/en/politic...Se2my8.twitter

We didn't believe it at first, but it's true: Russia's Defense Ministry says
it will target any aircraft from the US-led coalition flying west of
the Euphrates.

“In the areas of combat missions of Russian air fleet in Syrian
skies, any airborne objects, including aircraft and unmanned
vehicles of the [US-led] international coalition, located to the
west of the Euphrates River, will be tracked by Russian ground
and air defense forces as air targets,” the Russian Ministry of
Defense stated.

The announcement comes after the US shot down a Syrian jet near
Raqqa. Washington says the Syrian jet had dropped bombs near
US-backed forces, but Damascus insists the plane was downed while
flying a mission against Islamic State militants.

RT ✔ @RT_com
URGENT: Russian military halts Syria sky incident prevention interactions with US
as of June 19 – Moscow https://on.rt.com/8f9g pic.twitter.com/w27zQsyy5y


RT ✔ @RT_com
Coalition’s airborne objects in Russian Air Force’s Syria missions areas
to be tracked as targets – Moscow
https://on.rt.com/8f9g pic.twitter.com/PHqYQjI6Yo
6:41 AM - 19 Jun 2017

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US pilots will defend themselves
as Russia threatens aircraft over Syria,
Pentagon says

by Jamie McIntyre | Jun 19, 2017, 11:48 AM
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/us...rticle/2626381

U.S. pilots over Syria will defend themselves if attacked by Russians,
a Pentagon spokesman said Monday, following a report that Russia will
treat U.S. or coalition aircraft as targets if they fly over areas in western
Syria controlled by Russia.

The Russian Defense Ministry made the threat Monday after a U.S. F/A-18E
Super Hornet shot down a Syrian Su-22 after that plane bombed U.S.-
backed Syrian Democratic Forces that are working with the U.S. to defeat
the Islamic State on Sunday.

"Any aircraft, including planes and drones of the international coalition,
detected in the operation areas west of the Euphrates River by the Russian
air forces will be followed by Russian ground-based air defense and air
defense aircraft as air targets," the Defense Ministry said.

"We are aware of the Russian statements," Navy Capt. Jeff Davis,
a Pentagon spokesman, said Monday morning. "We do not seek conflict
with any party in Syria other than ISIS, but we will not hesitate to
defend ourselves or our partners if threatened," Davis said.

A spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition said the Russian statement
has had no effect on the operations in support of U.S.-backed Syrian
fighters moving against ISIS in Raqqa in western Syria.

"Coalition aircraft continue to conduct operations
throughout Syria, targeting ISIS forces and providing
air support for coalition partner forces on the ground,"
said Col. Ryan Dillon, chief U.S. military spokesman
in Baghdad.

He also appeared to indicate the U.S. is avoiding the parts of Syria
where Russia said U.S. planes would be tracked as potential targets
or providing additional airpower to counter threats.

"As a result of recent encounters involving pro-Syrian regime and
Russian forces, we have taken prudent measures to re-position
aircraft over Syria so as to continue targeting ISIS forces
while ensuring the safety of our aircrews given known threats
in the battlespace," Dillon said.

Russia, beyond making the threat to treat U.S. or coalition aircraft
as targets, also said its "deconfliction" line with the U.S. has been
shut down. The line was established so U.S. and Russian forces
could avoid bombing each other as they fight ISIS.

Both Davis and Dillon insisted the hotline remains the best way
to avoid future shoot-downs.

"The coalition is always available to de-conflict with the Russians
to ensure the safety of coalition aircrews and operations," Davis said.
"The de-confliction line has proven effective at mitigating strategic
miscalculations and de-escalating tense situations."

Said Dillon: "We used the de-confliction line yesterday and remain open
to using it. It has proven its worth in the past to tap down tensions."

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On the Precipice: The U.S. and Russia in Syria

By Adil Ahmad Haque
Monday, June 19, 2017 at 11:21 AM
https://www.justsecurity.org/42297/p...ia/#more-42297



A Russian air force Su-30 fighter jet in Syria.


The United States and Russia have entered a new and dangerous moment.
On Sunday, a U.S. fighter jet shot down a Syrian warplane.

This morning, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that it has terminated
its “de-confliction line” with the United States and will consider U.S. military aircraft
operating West of the Euphrates River as legitimate targets. The risks of escalation
and direct confrontation have never been higher.

The U.S. and Russia seem to disagree about both the facts and the law.

The U.S. claims that the Syrian warplane was attacking Syrian Democratic Forces,
while Russia claims that the warplane was providing air cover for Syrian ground
forces mounting an offensive against ISIS. Since Russia and Syria tend not to
distinguish between ISIS and other anti-regime armed groups, the two sides
may agree on the underlying facts but characterize them differently.

In addition, the U.S. claims that it used the proper de-confliction line
to de-escalate an earlier clash between Syrian and SDF ground forces.
However, Russia claims that the U.S. did not use the proper de-confliction line
before shooting down the Syrian warplane.

As for international law, the U.S. claims that it acted “in collective self-defense
of Coalition partnered forces,” while Russia claims that the downing of the Syrian
aircraft was “a cynical violation of Syria’s sovereignty,” “a flagrant violation of
international law,” and “actual military aggression against the Syrian Arab Republic.”


Who is right?

To set the stage, consider the U.S. Central Command’s press release, which begins
as follows:

SOUTHWEST ASIA — At approximately 4:30 p.m. Syria time, June 18,
Pro-Syrian regime forces attacked the Syrian Democratic Forces-held
town of Ja’Din, South of Tabqah, wounding a number of SDF fighters
and driving the SDF from the town.

Coalition aircraft conducted a show of force and stopped the initial
pro-regime advance toward the SDF-controlled town.

Following the Pro-Syrian forces attack, the Coalition contacted its Russian
counterparts by telephone via an established ‘de-confliction line’ to
de-escalate the situation and stop the firing.

At 6:43 p.m., a Syrian regime SU-22 dropped bombs near SDF fighters
south of Tabqah and, in accordance with rules of engagement
and in collective self-defense of Coalition partnered forces,
was immediately shot down by a U.S. F/A-18E Super Hornet.

Ja’Din sits approximately two kilometers north of an established
East-West SDF-Syrian Regime de-confliction area.

Such clashes were bound to happen eventually, if not here then near
the US garrison at Tanf.

The U.S. claims to have shot down the Syrian warplane on Sunday in collective self-
defense of Coalition partnered forces. Now, the United Nations Charter recognizes
that States have an inherent right of collective self-defense. However, under the UN
Charter, collective self-defense refers to defense of another state, not defense
of non-state actors. Of course, the SDF fights on behalf of the Democratic Federation
of Northern Syria, which is not recognized as a state, even by the United States. So the
U.S. claim that this strike is an exercise of collective self-defense of Coalition partnered
forces seems not merely false but confused.

Relatedly, the U.S. sometimes acts in “unit self-defense,” that is, in defense of U.S.
troops under armed attack. In many cases, unit self-defense is just a special case
of national self-defense. After all, U.S. troops are organs of the state, so defense
of the former may constitute defense of the latter. Presumably, SDF fighters are not
organs of the U.S., or any other state, so “unit self-defense” of them is not a form
of individual or collective self-defense either.

Indeed, were the SDF a de facto organ of the U.S., under its direction and control,
then its actions would be attributable to the U.S. under the law of state responsibility.
In principle, that could include any war crimes committed by SDF forces.

My guess is that the U.S. is not eager to claim all of the SDF’s actions as its own.

Often, the U.S. invokes self-defense without clarifying whether it refers to self-defense
under the UN Charter, self-defense under its own national rules of engagement,
or self-defense under its own national criminal law. However, since the press release
independently claims that the strike was carried out in accordance with rules of
engagement, its separate invocation of collective self-defense must refer to something
else, and the UN Charter is the most likely candidate. Indeed, even if the U.S.
complied with its own national rules of engagement, this would hardly ensure
compliance with international law.


The press release continues:

The Coalition’s mission is to defeat ISIS in Iraq and Syria. The Coalition
does not seek to fight Syrian regime, Russian, or pro-regime forces
partnered with them, but will not hesitate to defend Coalition or partner
forces from any threat.

The Coalition presence in Syria addresses the imminent threat ISIS in
Syria poses globally. The demonstrated hostile intent and actions of pro-
regime forces toward Coalition and partner forces in Syria conducting
legitimate counter-ISIS operations will not be tolerated.

The Coalition calls on all parties to focus their efforts on the defeat of ISIS,
which is our common enemy and the greatest threat to regional and
worldwide peace and security.

Now, if the Coalition’s sole mission were to defeat ISIS in Iraq and Syria,
then it might have a novel but plausible legal position. On this view, the Coalition
is acting in collective self-defense of its member states (including Iraq, for example)
from imminent or ongoing armed attack by ISIS.

Accordingly, the U.S. is not defending SDF forces for its own sake, but merely as a
means of sustaining its collective self-defense of its member states.

Importantly, so long as the Coalition uses no more force than necessary
and proportionate to achieve its legitimate defensive aims, Syria and its allies
would have no legal right to interfere. After all, as the International Military
Tribunal at Nuremberg proclaimed, “there can be no self-defense against self-defense.”

The most obvious problem with this rationale is that it is far from clear that
the Coalition’s sole mission is to defeat ISIS.

Both Rex Tillerson and Nikki Haley have indicated that regime change remains
a U.S. strategic objective. We should therefore question whether the SDF’s presence
in Ja’Din was a necessary and proportionate means of achieving a legitimate defensive
aim.

As for the SDF, its strategic objectives seem to include creating an autonomous region,
if not an independent state. So, even if the U.S. partnered with the SDF exclusively
to defend its member states from ISIS, the SDF may be pursuing its own agenda,
exceeding what would be necessary and proportionate to defend coalition member
states.

To the extent that SDF forces pursue their own political aims, rather than
—or in addition to—the defensive aims of the coalition, defense of SDF fighters
may not be a necessary and proportionate means of sustaining our own defensive
aims.

In plain terms, the U.S. may have a legal right to protect non-state partner forces
who are exclusively “conducting legitimate counter-ISIS operations,” but has no
legal right to protect non-state partner forces who are pursuing regime change
or other political objectives.

There is no right of collective self-defense of non-state actors, and the right of
collective self-defense of other states only justifies measures that are necessary
and proportionate means of achieving legitimate defensive aims.

For this reason, among others, the mixed motives of the U.S.-led
coalition and its non-state partners compromise the legal basis
of their military operations and draw them into conflict with
Russia —both legally and militarily.


Image: Wikimedia Commons (Russian Ministry of Defense)

Tags: collective self-defense, Jus ad Bellum, Russia, self-defense, Syria, Tanf

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Armed Russian Jet Comes Within 5 Feet of US Recon Jet



An armed Russian fighter jet buzzed a U.S. Air Force reconnaissance aircraft in the Baltic Sea on Monday, two U.S. officials told Fox News.

The Russian Su-27 jet had air-to-air missiles under its wings and approached the U.S. Air Force RC-135 recon jet "rapidly," coming within five feet of the American aircraft, the officials said.

Once alongside, the Russian jet was “provocative” in its flight maneuvers and flying “erratically,” according to another official.http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/06...recon-jet.html

[vector7]

Syria conflict: Australia suspends military air operations
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle...alflow_twitter

An F/A-18E Super Hornet (similar to the one pictured) shot down the Syrian plane. Getty Images


Andrey Davydov‏ @FarEasterner 19m1
US jets confined themselves to Eastern Syria
on border with Iraq yesterday after escalation of standoff
with Russia located in Western Syria


Prime Source‏ @PrimeSourceME 3h
The growing competition for eastern Syria
puts the US, Assad and his allies on a collision course

[Ryan Ruck]

Armed Russian Jet Comes Within 5 Feet of US Recon Jet

Russian Fighter Jet Warns Off NATO Aircraft By Displaying Its Weapons After The F-16 'Buzzed' Plane Carrying Moscow Defence Minister Over Baltic Sea

June 21, 2017

A Russian fighter jet chased off a NATO aircraft after it buzzed a plane carrying defence minister Sergei Shoigu over the Baltic Sea, Russian news agencies have said.

The F-16 had tried to approach the aircraft carrying the defence minister even though it was flying over neutral waters, agencies said today, before a Russian Sukhoi-27 turned up to warn it off.

Shoigu was reported to be en route to the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad for a meeting to discuss how well Russia's western flank was defended.

In dramatic footage appearing to show the incident unfolding, a Sukhoi-27 can be seen flying between an F-16 and another plane before tilting its wings. The F-16 then seems to fly off.


Dramatic footage captured the moment a a Russian fighter jet (left) chased off a NATO aircraft after it buzzed a plane carrying defence minister Sergei Shoigu over the Baltic Sea


In the video said to have been taken of the incident, the F-16 (pictured right) can be seen being chased off by the Sukhoi-27 (left)


Pictured: The F-16 coming very close to the plane containing defence minister Sergei Shoigu

The report comes as Sweden summoned Russia's ambassador today after a fighter jet flew unusually close to a Swedish reconnaissance plane in international airspace above the Baltic Sea, a further sign of rising military tensions in the region.

Swedish Defence Minister Peter Hultqvist slammed Russia as 'unprofessional' and urged Moscow to avoid incidents like this again.

During the incident involving the Russian defence minister, it was reported that the Russian jet sent to warn off the NATO fighter inserted itself between Shoigu's plane and the NATO fighter and tilted its wings from side to side to show the weapons it was carrying.

After that, agencies said the F-16 left the area.


Pictured: A map showing the possible route the defence minister's plane could freely take over the Baltic Sea

Recently the Baltic Sea has become an area of rising tensions between Moscow and NATO.

The Swedish incident - which occurred on Monday - prompted a strong reaction from Sweden's government.

The Swedish Armed Forces said in a statement that it was not unusual for Russian planes to approach and identify Swedish surveillance missions.

'This time, however, the Russian aircraft behaved in such a way that it has to be considered noteworthy, among other things the distance between the aircraft was at times very short,' it said.

Earlier this month, Russia scrambled a fighter jet to intercept a nuclear-capable US B-52 strategic bomber it said was flying over the Baltic near its border, in an incident that had echoes of the Cold War.

The Kremlin referred questions about the latest incident to the defence ministry, which did not immediately comment.

It has said in the past that all Russian flights over the Baltic are conducted in strict accordance with international law.

The incident occurred a day after the Russian defence ministry said an RC-135 US reconnaissance plane had swerved dangerously in the proximity of a Russian fighter jet over the Baltic.

The ministry said at the same time that another RC-135 had been intercepted by a Russian jet in the same area.

The Pentagon had a different version of events.

Apparently referring to the same episode, Pentagon spokesman Navy Captain Jeff Davis said the U.S. aircraft 'did nothing to provoke this behaviour.'

The Pentagon said the intercept had been unsafe and accused the Russian pilot of flying too fast and having 'poor control' over his SU-27 fighter jet.

[vector7]

Video: Plane of Russian Defense Minister Buzzed by NATO Jet

June 21, 2017



One day after Russia flew within 5 feet of United States recon plane flying over the Baltic, NATO buzzed past Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu’s plane while carrying the Russian defense minister.

A plane carrying Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu was buzzed by a NATO F-16 fighter jet as it flew over the Baltic Sea, but was seen off by a Russian Sukhoi-27 military jet, Russian news agencies reported on Wednesday.

The F-16 had tried to approach the aircraft carrying the defense minister even though it was flying over neutral waters, agencies said.

Shoigu was reported to be en route to the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad for a meeting to discuss how well Russia's western flank was defended.

One of the Russian fighter jets escorting Shoigu's plane had inserted itself between the defense minister's plane and the NATO fighter and tilted its wings from side to side to show the weapons it was carrying, Russian agencies said.

After that, agencies said the F-16 left the area.

The Baltic Sea has become an area of rising tensions between Moscow and NATO. Earlier this month, Russia scrambled a fighter jet to intercept a nuclear-capable U.S. B-52 strategic bomber it said was flying over the Baltic near its border, in an incident that had echoes of the Cold War.

The Kremlin referred questions about the latest incident to the defense ministry, which did not immediately comment. It has said in the past that all Russian flights over the Baltic are conducted in strict accordance with international law.

The incident occurred a day after the Russian defense ministry said an RC-135 U.S. reconnaissance plane had swerved dangerously in the proximity of a Russian fighter jet over the Baltic. The ministry said at the same time that another RC-135 had been intercepted by a Russian jet in the same area.

The Pentagon had a different version of events.

Apparently referring to the same episode, Pentagon spokesman Navy Captain Jeff Davis said the U.S. aircraft "did nothing to provoke this behavior."

The Pentagon said the intercept had been unsafe and accused the Russian pilot of flying too fast and having "poor control" over his SU-27 fighter jet.

[vector7]

First Russian base for SE Syria - near US garrison



The Russian engineering corps has started building a new base in southeastern Syria at a small village called Khirbet Ras Al-Wa’r in the Bir al-Qasab district. Until now, Moscow adhered to a policy of restricting its military presence to the western part of the country along the Mediterranean coast; no Russian troops were based further east than Palmyra.

The new facility is the first to be established since Moscow’s initial military intervention in the Syrian war in September, 2015. debkafile’s military sources say it will provide Russia with a lever of control over the volatile Syrian southeast and its borders, where US-backed and Iranian-backed forces are fighting for dominance. . Russian forces will also stand closer than ever before to the Israeli border - 85 kilometers from central Golan and 110 kilometers from southern Golan, not far from IDF military positions.

The new Russian foothold will be located strategically 96 kilometers from northern Jordan and 185 kilometers from the American and Jordanian special forces garrison at the al-Tanf crossing inside the Syrian, Jordanian and Iraqi border triangle.

Placing the new base just 50 kilometers from Damascus serves another primary function, that of securing the strategic crossroads leading from eastern and southern Syria to the capital - in other words, propping up the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Our intelligence sources note that construction on the new Russian base began concurrently with the resumption his week of secret US-Russian talks in the Jordanian capital, Amman. They are led by Michael Ratney, the special US envoy for Syrian affairs and Aleksandr Lavrentiev, for Moscow.

There were reports on Thursday, June 22 of a trilateral accord reached between the US, Russia and Jordan for creating a demilitarized zone in southern Syria, that would also cover the Israeli and Jordanian borders. debkafile sources assert that no such accord has been reached. According to our information, the Russians put on the table a three-part plan for de-conflicting the incendiary situation in southeast Syria. We can reveal its main points:

1. American forces will continue to hold the al-Tanf crossing. In return, they will agree to Iranian, Syrian and Hizballah forces capturing from ISIS - and holding - the border town of Abu Kamal, further to the north.

2. Moscow will guarantee the withdrawal of Iranian troops, pro-Iranian militias and Hizballah forces from southeastern Syria region at some point in the process.

3. A joint US-Russian administration will be established to conduct the day-to-day affairs of southeastern Syria, including the areas along the Israeli and Jordanian borders.


Washington has so far turned Moscow down on this plan for two reasons: First, the Syrian army’s conquest of Abu Kamal would strengthen Iran’s grip on the Syria-Iraq border area, the prevention of which is a primary US objective. And second, the Americans want Iranian and Hizballah forces out of the region before any other steps are taken - instead of later, as per the Russian guarantee.

This, the Russian negotiators were not prepared to concede.

www.debkafile.com

[Ryan Ruck]

Syria Could Be Planning Chemical Attack, White House Says

June 27, 2017

The Trump administration said late Monday that it had discovered evidence that the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad could be planning another chemical weapons attack.

Press Secretary Sean Spicer said in a statement that "The United States has identified potential preparations for another chemical weapons attack by the Assad regime that would likely result in the mass murder of civilians, including innocent children."

Spicer added that the activities resembled preparations for an April chemical weapons attack that was blamed on Damascus.

"As we have previously stated, the United States is in Syria to eliminate the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria," Spicer concluded. "If, however, Mr. Assad conducts another mass murder attack using chemical weapons, he and his military will pay a heavy price."

The White House did not detail what prompted the warning. Several State Department officials typically involved in coordinating such announcements told the Associated Press they were caught completely off guard by the warning, which didn't appear to be discussed in advance with other national security agencies.

Typically, the State Department, the Pentagon and U.S. intelligence agencies would all be consulted before the White House issued such a declaration.

However, a non-governmental source with close ties to the White House told AP the administration had received intelligence that the Syrians were mixing precursor chemicals for a possible sarin gas attack in either the east of south of the country, where government troops and their proxies have faced recent setbacks.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley later said that "any further attacks done to the people of Syria will be blamed on Asaad, but also on Russia & Iran who support him killing his own people."

Earlier Monday, Trump dined with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster and other top officials as he hosted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House.

Tillerson and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov talked earlier Monday about the need to secure a cease-fire in Syria, fight extremist groups and prevent the use of chemical weapons, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

Assad had denied responsibility for the April attack on the town of Khan Sheikhoun in the rebel-held Idlib province that killed dozens of people, including children. Victims show signs of suffocation, convulsions, foaming at the mouth and pupil constriction.

Days later, Trump launched a cruise missile strike on a Syrian government-controlled air base where U.S. officials said the Syrian military had launched the chemical attack.

It was the first direct American assault on the Syrian government and Trump's most dramatic military order since becoming president months before.

Trump said at the time that the Khan Sheikhoun attack crossed "many, many lines," and put the blame squarely on Assad's forces.

Syria, meanwhile, maintained it hadn't used chemical weapons and blamed opposition fighters for stockpiling the chemicals. Russia's Defense Ministry said the toxic agents were released when a Syrian airstrike hit a rebel chemical weapons arsenal and munitions factory.

Chemical weapons have killed hundreds of people since the start of the conflict, with the U.N. blaming three attacks on the Syrian government and a fourth on the ISIS terror group.

On June 18, a U.S. Navy fighter jet shot down a Syrian Su-22 after it attacked U.S.-backed fighters in northern Syria near ISIS' de facto capital, Raqqa. Ten days earlier, U.S. officials reported that a drone likely connected to Iranian-supported Hezbollah forces fired on U.S.-backed troops in southern Syria and was shot down by an American fighter jet.

[Volk]

Syria Could Be Planning Chemical Attack, White House Says

June 27, 2017

The Trump administration said late Monday that it had discovered evidence that the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad could be planning another chemical weapons attack.

Press Secretary Sean Spicer said in a statement that "The United States has identified potential preparations for another chemical weapons attack by the Assad regime that would likely result in the mass murder of civilians, including innocent children."

Spicer added that the activities resembled preparations for an April chemical weapons attack that was blamed on Damascus.

"As we have previously stated, the United States is in Syria to eliminate the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria," Spicer concluded. "If, however, Mr. Assad conducts another mass murder attack using chemical weapons, he and his military will pay a heavy price."

The White House did not detail what prompted the warning. Several State Department officials typically involved in coordinating such announcements told the Associated Press they were caught completely off guard by the warning, which didn't appear to be discussed in advance with other national security agencies.

Typically, the State Department, the Pentagon and U.S. intelligence agencies would all be consulted before the White House issued such a declaration.

However, a non-governmental source with close ties to the White House told AP the administration had received intelligence that the Syrians were mixing precursor chemicals for a possible sarin gas attack in either the east of south of the country, where government troops and their proxies have faced recent setbacks.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley later said that "any further attacks done to the people of Syria will be blamed on Asaad, but also on Russia & Iran who support him killing his own people."

Earlier Monday, Trump dined with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster and other top officials as he hosted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House.

Tillerson and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov talked earlier Monday about the need to secure a cease-fire in Syria, fight extremist groups and prevent the use of chemical weapons, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

Assad had denied responsibility for the April attack on the town of Khan Sheikhoun in the rebel-held Idlib province that killed dozens of people, including children. Victims show signs of suffocation, convulsions, foaming at the mouth and pupil constriction.

Days later, Trump launched a cruise missile strike on a Syrian government-controlled air base where U.S. officials said the Syrian military had launched the chemical attack.

It was the first direct American assault on the Syrian government and Trump's most dramatic military order since becoming president months before.

Trump said at the time that the Khan Sheikhoun attack crossed "many, many lines," and put the blame squarely on Assad's forces.

Syria, meanwhile, maintained it hadn't used chemical weapons and blamed opposition fighters for stockpiling the chemicals. Russia's Defense Ministry said the toxic agents were released when a Syrian airstrike hit a rebel chemical weapons arsenal and munitions factory.

Chemical weapons have killed hundreds of people since the start of the conflict, with the U.N. blaming three attacks on the Syrian government and a fourth on the ISIS terror group.

On June 18, a U.S. Navy fighter jet shot down a Syrian Su-22 after it attacked U.S.-backed fighters in northern Syria near ISIS' de facto capital, Raqqa. Ten days earlier, U.S. officials reported that a drone likely connected to Iranian-supported Hezbollah forces fired on U.S.-backed troops in southern Syria and was shot down by an American fighter jet.

Why the hell would the Syrian military start up a chemical attack, when they're winning slowly but surely against the Jihadis? Chemical weapons are an ' area denial' weapon, if anything, it would be something that the al-Qaida types would use to slow down the advance of the Syrian Army. I don't have much use for the Fascistic Baathists, but I have even less for the anti-government forces. Fact is, no matter what else is said, if it hadn't been for Russian intervention, Syria would have fallen to Jihadis by now, and Syria's Orthodox Christians would have been exterminated. And that's a fact.

[vector7]

BREAKING: White House accuses Syrian government of preparing a chemical weapons attack

Conflict News‏ @Conflicts 2h
BREAKING: White House accuses Syrian government
of preparing a chemical weapons attack - @jeneps





Conflict News‏ @Conflicts 2h
MORE: US warns Assad that if chemical weapons attack is conducted,
"he and his military will pay a heavy price."



Conflict News‏ @Conflicts 1h
SYRIA: US Ambassador to UN Haley says
"any further attacks done to the people of Syria
will be blamed on Assad," as well as Russia & Iran.



Nikki Haley‏ Verified account @nikkihaley 1h
Any further attacks done to the people of Syria will be blamed on Assad,
but also on Russia & Iran who support him killing his own people.

]
Bradd Jaffy Verified account

@BraddJaffy
NBC News •
Senior news editor and writer, NBC Nightly News.
The more em dashes — the merrier.
New York
Joined May 2011



Bradd Jaffy ‏Verified account @BraddJaffy 1h
“Several military officials who were reached late Monday
said they had been caught off guard by the WH statement”
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/26/u...gtype=Homepage



White House Says Syria May Be Preparing
Another Chemical Attack,
Warns Assad Will "Pay A Heavy Price"

Five US defense officials said they did not know where the potential chemical attack
would come from and were unaware the White House was planning a statement.

Originally posted on June 26, 2017, at 9:06 p.m.
Updated on June 26, 2017, at 9:41 p.m.

Claudia Koerner BuzzFeed News Reporter
Nancy A. Youssef BuzzFeed News World Reporter
https://www.buzzfeed.com/claudiakoer...qWw#.emMEeWvBg


Syria appears to be preparing a new chemical weapons attack against its citizens,
the White House said Monday, warning that if the weapons are again used, the US
will make the Syrian government "pay a heavy price."

White House press secretary Sean Spicer announced the news in a statement
late Monday.

"The United States has identified potential preparations for another
chemical weapons attack by the Assad regime that would likely result
in the mass murder of civilians, including innocent children.
The activities are similar to preparations the regime made before
its April 4, 2017 chemical weapons attack.

As we have previously stated, the United States is in Syria to eliminate
the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. If, however, Mr. Assad conducts
another mass murder attack using chemical weapons, he and his
military will pay a heavy price."

Five US defense officials reached by BuzzFeed News said they did not know where
the potential chemical attack would come from, including one US Central Command
official who had "no idea" about its origin. The officials said they were unaware
the White House was planning to release its statement; usually such statements
are coordinated across the national security agencies and departments before they
are released.


A Pentagon spokesperson declined to comment on the matter and referred questions
to the White House statement. A State Department spokesperson also referred
BuzzFeed News to the White House statement and said the agency did not have
anything to add.

Secretary of Defense James Mattis departed earlier Monday evening for a three-day
trip to Germany and Belgium, and Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Joseph Dunford
was in Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley tweeted that Russia and Iran
would share the blame of any future attack by Assad against the Syrian people.

The White House did not specify what form any US retribution would take,
or what intelligence suggested that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was
preparing to once again deploy chemical weapons on his own people.

A major chemical attack against civilians in April prompted the US to launch
air strikes against Syrian forces. It was the first time the US military had targeted
the Syrian government since the country's civil war began six years ago.

Graphic images of the attack's devastation moved Trump to order the strike,
he later said.

"Even beautiful babies were cruelly murdered at this very barbaric attack,"
he said from his Florida club Mar-a-Lago. "No child of God should ever suffer
such horror."

[vector7]

Kremlin: U.S. warning to Syria
over possible chemical attack unacceptable


Tue Jun 27, 2017 | 6:18am EDT
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mi...KBN19I14D?il=0

White House warnings to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad
and his military not to conduct a chemical weapons attack
are unacceptable, the Kremlin said on Tuesday.

"I am not aware of any information about a threat that
chemical weapons can be used," Kremlin spokesman
Dmitry Peskov told a conference call with reporters.

The White House warned Assad on Monday that he
and his military would "pay a heavy price" if it conducted
a chemical weapons attack and said the United States
had reason to believe such preparations were underway.

"Certainly, we consider such threats to the legitimate
leadership of the Syrian Arab Republic unacceptable,"
Peskov said.

(Reporting by Dmitry Solovyov; Editing by Christian Lowe)


zerohedge‏ @zerohedge 22m
U.S. INTELLIGENCE HAD SEEN INCREASED ACTIVITY
AT SYRIA'S SHAYRAT AIRFIELD OVER SEVERAL DAYS
-CBS NEWS, CITING PENTAGON SPOKESMAN


Leith Abou Fadel ‏Verified account @leithfadel 53m
Breaking: Assad has arrived at Hmaymim Airbase.

^^^ Assad is in a very safe place: The Russian airbase...


Leith Abou Fadel ‏Verified account @leithfadel 32m
Photos of President Bashar Al-Assad
at the Hmaymim Airbase outside of Jableh.







Leith Abou Fadel ‏Verified account @leithfadel 46m
First picture of Assad at the Hmaymim Airbase:




Al-Masdar News‏ Verified account @TheArabSource 37m
Breaking: Syrian President visits Russian airbase after US regime threats
https://aml.ink/HZBbg Assad Syria


AFP news agency‏ Verified account @AFP 13m
BREAKING US says suspect 'activity' at Syria airfield
linked to April chemical attack

Leith Abou Fadel‏ Verified account @leithfadel 1m
Here we go again

Ali Özkök‏ @A_Ozkok 3h
A reaction to US, Jordanian & Israeli activities:
Unconfirmed sources claim Russia builds a new military base
in southern Syria.


Statement and warning sent back:

Within Syria‏ @WithinSyriaBlog 1h
President Assad inside Hemiem Air Base operation room




Military Advisor‏ @miladvisor 2h
The Chief of the General Staff, Gen. V. Gerasimov
and president Assad inside command centre
of Group of Russian Forces in Syria, Hmeymim AB



zerohedge‏ @zerohedge 21m
WHITE HOUSE OFFICIAL SAYS
ALL RELEVANT AGENCIES, INCLUDING STATE, DEFENSE, AND CIA,
WERE INVOLVED IN PROCESS OF WHITE HOUSE WARNING TO SYRIA



Moon of Alabama‏ @MoonofA 2h
Something is up?
Or are these games "to frighten" the Russian air defense?









zerohedge‏ @zerohedge 21m
WHITE HOUSE OFFICIAL SAYS
ALL RELEVANT AGENCIES, INCLUDING STATE, DEFENSE, AND CIA,
WERE INVOLVED IN PROCESS OF WHITE HOUSE WARNING TO SYRIA



Moon of Alabama‏ @MoonofA 2h
Something is up?
Or are these games "to frighten" the Russian air defense?






Statement and warning sent back:

Within Syria‏ @WithinSyriaBlog 1h
President Assad inside Hemiem Air Base operation room




Military Advisor‏ @miladvisor 2h
The Chief of the General Staff, Gen. V. Gerasimov
and president Assad inside command centre
of Group of Russian Forces in Syria, Hmeymim AB


CivMilAir ✈ ��‏ @CivMilAir 2h
NOTAM & navigation warnings in force around Cyprus tomorrow
- Russian Navy exercise area off the Syria coast.




The Aviationist‏ @TheAviationist 3h
U.S. Intelligence Gathering Aircraft Amass Off Syria
As Assad Visits Russian Detachment Near Latakia.
Story: https://wp.me/p2TYIs-b70



U.S European Command‏ Verified account @US_EUCOM 9h
USS George H.W. Bush conducts flight ops in support of Operation Inherent Resolve
@CJTFOIR, we are ReadyForces! @DeptofDefense


Naval Forces Europe‏ Verified account @USNavyEurope Jun 26
FA18E Super Hornet landing aboard #USSGeorgeHWBush
while conducting naval operations in support of Operation Inherent Resolve,
June 25 #OIR







Simon Cousins‏ @sicodaddy 35m
BREAKING: Hearing from Pentagon sources
that USS George H.W. Bush Battle Group
has been issued "Extraordinary Orders" relating to Afrin.

^^^ WAR WITH TURKEY!!!



Massoud Mohammed‏ @M1Massoud Jun 26
Breaking USA Armored Corps are going toward Tal_Abyad
on Turkish border to prevent Turkish army attacking
on the city after threats



Syrian Civil War Map‏ @CivilWarMap 3h
Turkish artillery started to hit Tall Rifaat, Sheikh Issa and Harbul
Map: http://syriancivilwarmap.com




Ali Özkök‏ @A_Ozkok 2h
Unconfirmed sources claim that Turkish army could start an offensive
against YPG in Efrin tomorrow. Syria



Syrian Civil War Map‏ @CivilWarMap 16m
Turkish Artillery is also shelling Maranaz, Minaq and Ayn Daqnah in Afrin Canton now
Interactive Map: http://syriancivilwarmap.com





-GEROMAN ���� -‏ @GeromanAT 3h
Syria North Aleppo Azaz Afrin Manbij
- Situation Map Update -
Sh*t is going wild in Afrin:

[vector7]

Why is President Trump Threatening Assad Over Chemical Weapon Use?…

Posted on June 28, 2017 by sundance

There are people on all sides of the political continuum entirely missing the reason for President Trump to threaten Bashir Assad publicly. Key word to understanding the Trump motive is: “publicly“.

President Trump, according to all high-brow punditry, is breaking diplomatic and national security norms by announcing the threat of punishment publicly instead of directly to Assad via a back-channel like Russia. However, that approach appears entirely by design; not by some arbitrary dispatch or happenstance breech of security protocol.

Here’s the big picture.
♦ FIRST – Who benefits from the U.S. attacking, weakening or taking out Assad?
Four primary groups:
 #1) Assad’s political opposition.
 #2) Islamic Extremist groups (ISIS, al-Qaeda, al-Nusra et al) ie. The Muslim Brotherhood.
 #3) Turkey and Recep Erdogan; and
 #4) John McCain, Evan McMullin, Adam Kinzinger, the industrial war complex and neo-cons etc.

♦ SECOND – President Trump doesn’t want to engage in Syria beyond the elimination of ISIS (al-Qaeda, al-Nusra) etc. Trump’s announced strategy is to defeat the Islamic extremists, ISIS; and then work on a regional governorship type structure toward a diplomatic internal political solution (Rex Tillerson).

[…] In terms of the future of Bashar al-Assad, it is important to us that we undertake a political process that leads to the final conclusion of how Syria will be governed. It is our policy for a unified Syria that is governed by the people of Syria.
I think it is clear to all of us that the reign of the Assad family is coming to an end; but the question of how that ends and the transition itself could be very important, in our view, to the durability, the stability inside of a unified Syria, and its stability and durability of the outcome going forward.
So that’s why we are not presupposing how that occurs, but I think it is clear that we see no further role for the Assad regime longer-term given that they have effectively given up their legitimacy with these type of attacks. (more) ~ Rex Tillerson

However, all of the four aforementioned vested interests want a civil war type military conflict and the mutually beneficial opportunities arising therein.

♦ THIRD – Bashir Assad, and by extension Vladimir Putin and Iran, don’t want to see ISIS defeated (leading to space for a political opposition within the country). So long as the fire that is ISIS remains, the fireman that is Assad has a purpose. Assad has a vested interest in containing, but not necessarily defeating, ISIS.

That’s why Russia and Assad made so much initial progress crushing ISIS then paused and preferred to just contain them. For several months Assad/Putin have NOT been working to eliminate ISIS or the Muslim Brotherhood. ISIS has become the shield for Assad to remain in power with a purpose to sell to the rest of the world.

All of Assad/Putin’s recent military engagements have been targeted attacks against Assad’s political opposition, not extremists and jihadists.

• President Trump wants ISIS defeated; Assad/Putin, notsomuch.

•ISIS, Turkey, the EU and John McCain want Assad defeated (regime change); President Trump, notsomuch.

Who has a vested interest in using Chemical Weapons that will draw the U.S. into removing Assad? Answer: ISIS, al-Qaeda, al-Nusra, Turkey, Recep Erdogan, John McCain, Evan McMullin, Deep State CIA and EU counterparts etc.

To counteract this interest President Trump tells the world publicly:
“If, however, Mr. Assad conducts another mass murder attack using chemical weapons, he and his military will pay a heavy price.” (link)

In essence any entity that uses chemical weapons will trigger an attack against Assad.

So what’s Assad’s best play now?

Stop anyone from using Chemical Weapons.
What does that mean?
It means Assad/Putin needs to fight ISIS, al-Qaeda, al-Nusra etc. to ensure chemical weapons are not used.

This forces Assad to fight the and defeat forces he and Putin, in actuality, don’t want to fight (but Trump does).

If Assad doesn’t fight to defeat ISIS (al-Qaeda, al-Nusra etc.) he runs the risk of those people using chemical weapons to initiate Assad’s own demise. Ergo it is now in Assad’s best interest to fight ISIS (al-Qaeda, al-Nusra etc.).

♦ Lastly, by making the threat as big, loud and unusually public as possible, it stops the rogue industrial war machine: CIA, Senator John McCain, Evan McMullin, Adam Kizinger and the Muslim Brotherhood crew, from using chemical weapons to force Trump’s hand.

The unusually public broadcast by President Trump makes it transparently clear that Bashir Assad wouldn’t be the most likely suspect, and increases the likelihood any covert false-flag operator would be fingered.

The McCain crew customarily prefer shadows, not sunlight.


In essence, Trump presents protection to Assad from the rogue Deep State CIA operatives who work with John McCain and crew on all of their regime change operations on behalf of the Muslim Brotherhood.

That’s why President Trump used the *unusual* public announcement approach.
If chemical weapons are used, the global community will question the motives of the user. As a consequence, if chemical weapons are used President Trump has also given himself space to question the motives of the user.

Those who initiate war and regime change are usually successful. Look at their success with the ‘vast Russian conspiracy’ in the U.S. election. President Trump has no ambitions to be manipulated into such a position. So,… go loud:

What I am saying is stay out of Syria.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 4, 2013
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

https://theconservativetreehouse.com...al-weapon-use/

[Ryan Ruck]

Turkey Leaks Secret Locations of U.S. Troops in Syria

Ankara has long been angered by the alliance between Washington and Kurdish factions. But a new report exposing secret American bases is a dangerous way to strike back.

July 19, 2017



In the latest display of Turkish anger at U.S. policy in Syria, the state news agency has divulged the locations of 10 U.S. military bases and outposts in northern Syria where the U.S. is leading an operation to destroy the so-called Islamic State in its self-styled capital of Raqqa.

The list published by the Anadolu news agency points to a U.S. presence from one end to the other of the Kurdish self-administration region—a distance of more than 200 miles. The Anadolu news agency even listed the number of U.S. troops in several locations and in two instances stipulated the presence of French special forces.

Turkey has openly criticized the Trump administration—and the Obama administration before it—for relying in the battle against ISIS on a militia led by Kurds affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers Party or PKK. A separatist movement now at war with Turkey, the PKK has been listed by the U.S., EU, and Turkey as a terror organization.

To avoid the appearance of allying with such a group, the U.S. military set up the Syrian Democratic Forces, which have a large component of Arab recruits. But they are led by officers from the People’s Protection Units (YPG), the Syrian affiliate of the PKK.

Although Turkey’s powerful president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, regularly vents his anger at the U.S., it is still highly unusual for a NATO ally to reveal details of a U.S. military deployment during active operations in a war zone. But the U.S. operation in Syria is in many respects an unusual case. Not only is the United States acting against the express wishes of NATO ally Turkey, which says its national security is directly endangered, it’s also operating without the permission of the Assad regime.

After a meeting Monday evening, Turkey’s National Security Council charged that weapons provided to the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia had come into the possession of the PKK. “This shows that both are the same organization,” it said, adding that other countries were using a “double standard” for terror groups, an apparent reference to the U.S. alliance with the YPG militia.

The U.S. has denied repeatedly that arms it is supplying to the Kurdish fighters have seeped into the PKK war against the Turkish state, and the Turkish government did not back up its allegations with evidence.

Two U.S. bases in Syria—in Rmeilan, in northern Hasaka province, and Kharab Ishq, near Kobani in Aleppo province—already were well-known before Anadolu published them. Anadolu said Rmeilan, in Syria’s oil-producing district, was set up in November 2016, and is big enough to handle transport aircraft, while the base south of Kobani, set up in March 2016, is used only by military helicopters.

The eight outposts, often hidden behind signs warning of a “prohibited area,” are being used both for active military operations, such as shelling into the city of Raqqa, and for desk jobs such as training and operational planning, the report said.

It claimed bases used for military operations house artillery batteries with high maneuverability, multi-barrel rocket launchers, various mobile equipment for intelligence, and armored vehicles for general patrols and security.

In Hasaka province, the U.S. has three outposts, all used to train Kurdish militia members, according to Turkish security officials. Anadolu even gave the number of U.S. Special Forces troops it believed were stationed at two of the three outposts.

There are three U.S. military outposts in Syria’s Raqqa province, Anadolu said. French special forces troops are stationed at two of them. It said one of the locations serves as a communication center for the International Coalition fighting ISIS and is also used to disrupt ISIS communications.

In Manbij, which the Kurdish YPG militia captured last August, the U.S. now has two outposts. The U.S. sends out patrols, the agency noted acerbically, to protect the Kurdish People’s Protection Unit (YPG) forces from Syrian rebels operating out of the Turkish controlled part of Syria known as the Jarablus pocket.

Turkish security officials confirmed the accuracy of the Anadolu list to The Daily Beast.

The publication is certain to spark ire in the U.S. military, which is leading the operation against ISIS.

Spokesmen for Operation Inherent Resolve, the U.S.-led coalition fighting ISIS, and for the U.S. Central Command in Tampa, Florida, asked The Daily Beast not to publish the detailed information reported by Anadolu.

“The discussion of specific troop numbers and locations would provide sensitive tactical information to the enemy which could endanger Coalition and partner forces,” wrote Col. Joe Scrocca, coalition director of public affairs.

“Publishing this type of information would be professionally irresponsible and we respectively [sic] request that you refrain from disseminating any information that would put Coalition lives in jeopardy.”

Col. John Thomas, spokesman at the Central Command, also asked The Daily Beast to refrain from publishing details of coalition operations, on the grounds it would be “potentially harmful to the lives of those involved.”

In fact, Anadolu had already published the information Monday on its Turkish language service and then issued it on its English language services Tuesday. In addition, some of the locations on the Anadolu list were already known in public. The Iranian Tasnim news agency, for example, last November published the names of two bases and two outposts, and the Jusour Center, a Syrian think tank, published the locations of two additional outposts in April.

[Ryan Ruck]

Russia Warns U.S. It Will Target U.S.-Backed Fighters In Syria If Provoked

September 21, 2017

Russia said on Thursday it had warned the United States it would target areas in Syria where U.S. special forces and U.S.-backed militia were operating if its own forces came under fire from them, something it said had already happened twice.

Russia was referring to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), an alliance of Kurdish and Arab militias fighting with the U.S.-led coalition, which Moscow said had diverted from the battle to take Raqqa to Deir al-Zor, where Russian special forces are helping the Syrian army push out Islamic State militants.

The Russian Defence Ministry said the SDF had taken up positions on the eastern banks of the Euphrates with U.S. special forces, and had twice opened fire with mortars and artillery on Syrian troops who were working alongside Russian special forces.

"A representative of the U.S. military command in Al Udeid (the U.S. operations center in Qatar) was told in no uncertain terms that any attempts to open fire from areas where SDF fighters are located would be quickly shut down," Major-General Igor Konashenkov said in a statement.

"Fire points in those areas will be immediately suppressed with all military means."

In Deir al-Zor province of eastern Syria, Islamic State is battling two separate offensives, launched by the SDF on one side and the Syrian army and its allies on the other.

TENSIONS

The Syrian army, backed by Russian and Syrian war planes, has captured about 100 km (160 miles) of the west bank of the Euphrates this month, reaching the Raqqa provincial border on Wednesday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported.

Syrian troops also crossed to the eastern side of the river on Monday. The SDF's advances have been on the eastern bank of the river.

The convergence of the two rival offensives has increased tensions in Deir al-Zor. The U.S.-backed militia said on Saturday they had come under attack from Russian jets and Syrian government forces, something Moscow denied.

The SDF warned on Monday against any further Syrian army advances on the eastern riverbank.

On Tuesday Russia's Defence Ministry said the waters of the Euphrates had risen as soon as the Syrian army began crossing it, suggesting this could only have happened if upstream dams held by the U.S.-backed opposition had been opened.

Konashenkov, in his Thursday statement, questioned the nature of SDF's relationship with Islamic State (IS). Russian drones did not detect any clashes between the two groups when SDF fighters approached Deir al-Zor, he said.

[Ryan Ruck]

Good use of the F-22! Sure would be great if we had a few more...

US F-22 Raptors Fire Flares, Chase Russian Fighters Out Of Deconfliction Zone Over Syria

December 14, 2017

A pair of U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor stealth fighters fired flares to chase two Russian Su-25 fighter jets out of restricted airspace over Syria on Wednesday, a Pentagon official confirmed Thursday.

The aerial encounter occurred when the Russian jets strayed into airspace east of the Euphrates River, putting them on the wrong side of a "deconfliction zone" established between Moscow and Washington to avoid confrontation in the skies over Syria.

The Russian jets immediately left the area after the intercept and warning flares from the F-22s, an official confirmed to the Washington Examiner.

The Pentagon could not provide an account of how many or how often Russian violations of the deconfliction zone occur.