Jabhat al-Nusra is back in the city of Aleppo, a year and a half after its big pullout, in mid-2014, in the wake of its resounding defeat by the Islamic State (IS) in the eastern region. This defeat forced Jabhat al-Nusra to regroup its forces to embark on the project of its leader, Abu Mohammed al-Golani, with the aim of establishing an Islamic emirate, which is what happened in Idlib province.
"And I have found both freedom and safety in my madness, the freedom of loneliness and the safety from being understood, for those who understand us enslave something in us. But let me not be too proud of my safety. Even a Thief in a jail is safe from another thief. "
Khalil Gibran (How I Became a Madman)
Khalil Gibran (How I Became a Madman)
Lübnan Marunîleri / Yasin Atlıoğlu
NEWS AND ARTICLES / HABERLER VE MAKALELER
Wednesday, February 03, 2016
Syrian army encircles Aleppo as ceasefire talks fade- Al-Jazeera
A Syrian military offensive backed by heavy Russian air strikes threatened to cut critical rebel supply lines into the northern city of Aleppo, as peace talks in Switzerland appeared to be in jeopardy on Wednesday.
The government attack north of Aleppo that began in recent days is its first major offensive there since Russian air strikes began on September 30.
Rebels described the assault as the most intense yet, with activists reporting that 45 civilians have been killed. One commander said that opposition-held areas of Syria's largest city were at risk of being encircled entirely by the government and allied militia, appealing to foreign states that back the rebels to send more weapons.
Zero hour approaches in northern Aleppo as Hezbollah, Syrian Army prepare for final attack- Al-Masdar News
The Syrian Arab Army’s 4th Mechanized Division and Hezbollah are preparing for what appears to be the final assault to lift the three year long siege that was imposed on the predominately Shi’i towns of Al-Zahra’a and Nubl by the Islamist rebels of Jaysh Al-Mujahiddeen and Jabhat Al-Nusra (Syrian Al-Qaeda group).
According to a senior officer from the Syrian Arab Army’s 4th Mechanized Division, the coming hours are going to be the most critical for the Syrian Armed Forces and their allies as they attempt to seize the strategic villages of Rityan, Bayyanoun, and Tal Mu’arasat from the Islamist rebels of Jabhat Al-Nusra, Jabhat Al-Shamiyah, Jaysh Al-Mujahiddeen, and Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham. Based on reports from the social media activists of the Syrian Opposition, a large convoy of reinforcements from Jabhat Al-Nusra has arrived to the villages of Rityan and Tal Mu’arasat in order to help drive back the advancing Hezbollah and Syrian Arab Army soldiers.
Shutting off smuggling through Turkey-Syria border key condition for ceasefire in Syria - Lavrov- RT
Ending smuggling across the Turkish-Syrian border is a key condition to make the ceasefire work in the Syrian conflict, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said, stressing that he sees no reason to stop the Russian counter-terrorist operation in Syria.
“The key component for the ceasefire to be operational is the burning issue of arms smuggling across the Turkish-Syrian border, supplying the militants [in Syria],” Lavrov said.
Cenevre'deki hayalet- Al-Jazeera Turk
Cenevre'deki Suriyeli muhaliflerin görüşmelere olan inancı sarsılsa da masadan çekilen taraf olmak istemiyorlar. Muhalifler, 1916'da imzalanan ve Ortadoğu'nun bugünkü sınırlarını önemli ölçüde belirleyen "Sykes-Picot Anlaşması"nın, 100 yıl sonra "Kerry-Lavrov anlaşması" şeklinde ortaya çıkmasından ve yalnız bırakılmaktan endişe ediyor. Ayşe Karabat’ın Cenevre izlenimleri.
Tuesday, February 02, 2016
Syria peace talks: UN envoy says 'concrete changes' needed- BBC News
UN special envoy Staffan de Mistura has said that "concrete" changes on the ground are needed in Syria in order for the peace talks in Geneva to succeed.
Mr de Mistura met government officials on Tuesday on the second day of meetings aimed at ending the conflict.
Map: The Battle for Aleppo - the "Mother of all battles"- Al-Masdar News
On February 1, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) launched their long awaited offensive in the northern Aleppo countryside. The operation’s main objective: breaking the siege of two isolated loyalist towns; Nubbol and Zahraah.
Since 2012 in this area, approximately 35,000 civilians are besieged by al-Nusra (Syria’s Al Qaida branch) and other insurgents. By reaching these two towns, SAA would also be able to cut the last supply routes running from the Turkish Border south towards Aleppo, Syria’s largest city and the country’s former commercial hub. The battle’s scale and importance led observers to name the struggle for Aleppo, The mother of all Battles. Both war parties know the side which captures Aleppo wins more than just a city. This side will win Syria’s north and therefore – most probably – the war.
Although the SAA’s offensive was predictable and the fact that the insurgents had years to entrench in the area, Government forces were able to gain ground early in their offensive. Following heavy artillery preparation fire that commenced in the early morning hours, elements of the elite 4th Mechanized Division supported by crack Hezbollah units commenced their assault. The village of Duwayr al-Zeytoun was swiftly secured. The SAA also liberated the farming areas nearby and near the village of Bashkuy. The loss of Government forces was relatively low. Only a couple of BMPs and tanks were knocked out by insurgents TOW missiles or got trapped in tank ditches. Although many observers thought this push would just be a preliminary offensive with limited goals, in order to launch the main assault some days later, the SAA pushed on. The important village of Tall Jibbin was liberated in the early afternoon. Simultaneously to this attack, the SAA also assaulted the areas between Aleppo and the liberated areas to the north and expanded their control in the Al-Mallah farming area. Al -Mallah lies directly north of the strategic Castello-ring road, which represents the last insurgent supply route into Aleppo.
Caferi: Suriye'de federalizm söz konusu değil- BBC Türkçe
Cenevre'deki Suriye görüşmelerinde hükümet heyetinin başkanlığını yapan Suriye'nin Birleşmiş Milletler Büyükelçisi Beşar el Cafer, Kürtlerin federalizm talepleriyle ilgili bir soruya, 'ortak katılımlı bir ulusal projeleri olduğunu, gündemlerinde federalizmin bulunmadığını' söyledi ve 'ülkenin bölünmesini hayal edenlere ateş düşürücü' tavsiye etti.
Cenevre'de kimler var?- Al-Jazeera
Suriye iç savaşına çözüm bulma iddiasındaki Cenevre görüşmeleri başladı. Taraflar şimdilik aynı oda ve masa etrafında değil. BM Özel Temsilcisi Mistura arabuluculuğunda dolaylı görüşmeler yapıyorlar. Kim kimi temsil ediyor, heyetlerdeki isimler ne anlama geliyor?
Önkoşulsuz Geldik Hiç Bir Önkoşul da Kabul Etmiyoruz- SANA Türkçe
CENEVRE – Cenevre III görüşmelerinde Suriye Arap Cumhuriyeti heyeti bugün BM Suriye özel temsilcisi Staffan de Mistura ile BM binasında resmi bir toplantı düzenledi.
Toplantının ardından basına açıklama yapan Suriye Arap Cumhuriyeti heyeti başkanı Beşşar el Caferi de Mistura ile görüşmelerinde Suriye’deki insani durumların yanı sıra dolaylı olarak yapılacak diyalog görüşmelerine katılacakların listesini ele aldıklarını söyledi. Caferi Suriyeliler arasındaki dolaylı diyalog görüşmelerin şu ana dek resmi olarak başlamadığını ifade ederken, şu ana dek yapılan tüm temasların hazırlık amaçlı olduğunu belirtti. Muhalefeti kimlerin temsil ettiğinin bilinmediğini belirten Caferi; de Mistura’dan dolaylı görüşmelerde muhalefet adına bulunacak şahsiyetlerin listesini istediklerini açıkladı.
Birkaç gün önce Şam kırsalı Seyyide Zeynep Beldesinde meydana gelen ve onlarca sivil insanın şehit, onlarcasının da yaralı düşmesine yol açan bombalı eylemlerin sözde Suriye halkını temsil ettiğini ve bu halkın kanlarının akıtılmasına özen gösterdiğini iddia eden ‘muhalefet heyet’i tarafından kınanmadığına dikkat çeken Caferi, BM Güvenlik Konseyinin de kınadığı bu terör eylemlerin ‘muhalefet heyeti tarafından kınanmasına de Mistura ile toplantıda işaret ettiklerini açıkladı. Caferi toplantıda İslam Ordusu ve Ahrar el Şam İslami Hareketi terör örgütlerinin görüşmelere katılma meselesine dikkat çektiklerini, de Mistura’nın da bu meseleyi diğer taraflarla değerlendirme vaadinde bulunduğunu söyledi.
Suriye Arap Cumhuriyeti heyetinin Cenevre’ye belirlenen zamanda ulaştığına dikkat çeken Caferi, kamuoyunun kandırılmaması ve belirlenen icraatsal koşullara başlı kalma babından basına hiçbir açıklama yapmadığını belirtti. Caferi Suriye Arap Cumhuriyeti heyetinin de Mistura’nın gönderdiği davetteki koşulların yanı sıra BM Güvenlik Konseyinin 2254 sayılı kararının ilkelerine tam bir bağlılık gösterdiğinin altını çizerken, diğer tarafın ise bu meseleye profesyonel politikacılar olarak değil, amatörler olarak davrandıklarına dikkat çekti
Caferi Suriye Arap Cumhuriyeti heyetinin Cenevre’ye hiçbir önkoşulu olmadan geldiğini ve istisnasız hiç kimseden önkoşul kabul etmeyeceğinin altını çizdi.
Syrian army launches Aleppo offensive amid Geneva talks- Al-Jazeera
The Syrian government launched a major offensive from the north of Aleppo and captured several strategically important towns, as talks in Geneva on a ceasefire continued on Tuesday.
Monday's advance opened the way for President Bashar al-Assad's forces to retake Aleppo, Syria's largest city, as troops marched through the towns of Hardatnein, Tal Jibbeen, and Deir Zaitoun.
Hundreds of families were reportedly fleeing their homes because of heavy Russian air strikes on the area assisting the Syrian government's advance.
Gemayel Not Seeking 'Understanding Paper' with Hizbullah, Says Alliances among March 14 Parties Have Collapsed- Naharnet
Kataeb Party chief MP Sami Gemayel announced Tuesday that his party is not seeking a so-called "paper of understanding" with Hizbullah, downplaying recent media reports about the ties between the two parties.
"We're not seeking an understanding paper with Hizbullah," Gemayel said during a meeting with a group of reporters that he invited to Kataeb's headquarters in Saifi.
“The communication started three years ago and we do not sever ties with anyone,” Gemayel noted.
He also described the media reports about Kataeb's relation with Hizbullah as a “media campaign against Kataeb's stance on the presidential issue.”
“It aims to tarnish Kataeb's image and give the impression that it has a hidden agenda that contradicts with its public statements,” Gemayel added.
Berri Accuses Geagea of Manipulation after Aoun's Endorsement- Naharnet
Speaker Nabih Berri has accused Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea of manipulating politicians after he became incapacitated to launch verbal attacks on his long-time rival Free Patriotic Movement founder MP Michel Aoun.
“Geagea is sitting up there and manipulating us,” he said about the LF chief's residence in the mountainous town of Maarab.
“He is no longer capable of attacking Aoun as he used to do,” Berri told pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat published on Tuesday.
Last week, Geagea's support for the candidacy of Aoun sparked a war of words between the LF chief and the Speaker.
New Mobilization Call from Azaz: Translation & Analysis (Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi- aymennjawad.org)
Introduction and Analysis
Though the regime offensives backed by Russian airpower and Iranian-backed militias to supplement the manpower on the ground initially seemed to make little headway territorially, it is apparent that they have triggered manpower problems within the ranks of the rebels, most notably as several prominent leaders in a number of formations have been taken out. Combined with gradual regime advances in Aleppo and Latakia, these developments have prompted a number of mobilization calls and appeals for help. For example, in December 2015, Kata'ib Ansar al-Sham- one of the factions that have lost leaders in the recent offensives- issued a call for help in light of the high attrition being suffered on the Sahel [coastal] front. Sure enough, that statement proved to foreshadow the recent string of advances for the regime in Latakia, such that the insurgency now risks losing all footholds in the province.
In addition, and perhaps most controversially, the Idlib-based coalition Jaysh al-Fatah issued a general mobilization call very clearly advocating for foreign fighters. For factions with a more national framework, such as the Ikhwani Faylaq al-Sham, this call likely went too far, and so Faylaq al-Sham announced its withdrawal from Jaysh al-Fatah, ostensibly because Jaysh al-Fatah had fulfilled its objectives in Idlib and that the focus should be on the Aleppo fronts. However, this pretext is somewhat undermined by the fact that Jaysh al-Fatah has sent substantial reinforcements from Idlib to the south/west Aleppo countryside.
Heyet 3 Noktanın Aydınlatılmasını İstedi- SANA
CENEVRE – BM’de bir kaynak Suriye Arap Cumhuriyeti heyetinin BM Suriye özel temsilcisi Staffan de Mistura aracılığı ile ‘Riyad muhalefeti’ heyetinden iki gün önce Şam kırsalı Seyyide Zeynep Beldesinde meydana gelen bombalı terör eylemlerini kınamasını talep ettiğini belirtti.
Kaynak Suriye Arap Cumhuriyeti heyetinin ‘Riyad muhalefeti’ heyetinden ayrıca BM Güvenlik Konseyinin uluslar arası terör örgütleri listesinde yer alan IŞİD ve Nusra Cephesine ek olarak bu örgütlere tabi olan tüm grupların nerede olursa olsun işledikleri tüm terör eylemlerini kınamasını talep ettiklerini aktardı.
Aynı kaynak de Mistura’nın diyalog görüşmelerine katılacak şahsiyetlerin listesini yarın Suriye Arap Cumhuriyeti heyetine teslim etme vaadinde bulunduğunu belirtti.
Diğer yandan Suriye Arap Cumhuriyeti heyetine yakın bir kaynak; bugün düzenlenen oturumda de Mistura’nın şu ana dek yapılanların, Suriyeliler arasında dolaylı diyalog görüşmelerine hazırlık süreci olduğunu belirttiğini ifade etti. Kaynak de Mistura’nın BM binasında aynı anda iki heyetin bulunduğu ve aracının eş zamanlı olarak iki heyetle görüşmeye başladığı zamanda diyalog görüşmelerinin resmi olarak başlamış sayılacağını da bildirdiğini ifade etti.
Syrian Army advances inside Jobar after destroying rebel command center- Al-Masdar News
Over the last 72 hours, the Syrian Arab Army’s 105th Brigade of the Republican Guard – backed by the National Defense Forces (NDF) – has been advancing inside the dilapidated city of Jobar in the East Ghouta region of rural Damascus, seizing a number of building blocks from the Islamist rebels of Jaysh Al-Islam (Army of Islam) and Faylaq Al-Rahman (Al-Rahman Corps). The Syrian Armed Forces began their small-scale offensive over the weekend, when the Syrian Arab Army’s 105th Brigade and their allies detonated a tunnel bomb under the Faylaq Al-Rahman headquarters inside the eastern district of Jobar, destroying the entire building and killing several militants from the aforementioned Islamist group. Following the destruction of the Islamist rebel headquarters, the Syrian Arab Army’s 105th Brigade and their allies imposed full control over the Al-‘Arabiya Neighborhood of Jobar after a violent battle with the Faylaq Al-Rahman and Jaysh Al-Islam militants on Monday morning.
New photos show damage to urban structure around Aleppo Citadel caused by terrorism- SANA
Damascus, SANA – The Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums (DGAM) published on its website photos taken during the last week of January 2016, showing the extent of the damage caused by terrorist attacks to the urban structure surrounding Aleppo Citadel.
Director of the World Heritage Sites department at the DGAM Lina Qtaifan told SANA that by reviewing photos provided by the local community and mass media throughout the years of the war imposed in Syria, it becomes clear that 130 real estate properties around Damascus Citadel have sustained damage ranging from partial to full.
Monday, February 01, 2016
Farklı düşünseler de rejime karşı birlikteler- Al-Jazeera Turk
Rusya ve rejim, Cenevre'deki Suriye muhalefetinin temsil yetkisinin yetersiz olduğunu iddia ediyor ama Yüksek Müzakere Konseyi’nde farklı gruplar da var. Onlardan biri de Ulusal Koordinasyon Heyeti. Şam merkezli grubun temsilcisi Ahmet Asravi’ye göre Suriye’de çözüm artık daha yakın çünkü artık farklı muhalif gruplar işbirliği yapıyor. Asravi, PYD konusunda ise “PYD ile hemfikir değilim ama varlıklarını da inkâr edemem” diyor.
Syrian Army, Hezbollah capture Duwayr Al-Zeitoun in northern Aleppo- Al-Masdar News
Moments ago in the northern countryside of the Aleppo Governorate, the Syrian Arab Army’s 4th Mechanized Division – alongside Hezbollah, the National Defense Forces (NDF), Harakat Al-Nujaba (Iraqi paramilitary), and Kata’eb Hezbollah (Iraqi paramilitary) – imposed full control over the village of Duwayr Al-Zeitoun after a violent battle with the Islamist rebels of Jabhat Al-Nusra (Syrian Al-Qaeda group), Jaysh Al-Mujahiddeen, and Jabhat Al-Shamiyah this morning. In addition to the advance at Duwayr Al-Zeitoun, the Syrian Armed Forces and their allies have advanced into the Afghan Farms of Bashkoy, killing several enemy combatants from the Islamist rebel groups positioned at this axis in northern Aleppo. This recent offensive by the Syrian Armed Forces in northern Aleppo is likely to remain on a very small-scale; it does not appear they are attempting to seize the villages of Harditineen and Rityan that are situated to the east of the besieged towns of Al-Zahra’a and Nubl.
U.N. declares ‘official beginning’ to Syria talks- Al-Arabiya
The U.N. special envoy for Syria has announced the official start of peace talks between the Syrian government and opposition leaders.
Staffan di Mistura made the comments on Monday after hosting envoys from the main Syrian opposition group at the U.N. offices in Geneva. He had previously met with a government delegation on Friday.
De Mistura laid out the positions of the opposition group. He said he planned to take up further talks in a new meeting with government representatives on Tuesday. He said his first goal is to keep the talks going.
He also said it was not his role to discuss ceasefires at peace negotiations in Geneva and called on major powers to immediately begin talks on how to enforce them across the country.
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