Turkey vs. Russia in the Mideast (III)

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Of course, the resumption of hostility between Russia and Turkey – which on common geopolitical (Black Sea) and economic interests (the export of Russian natural gas for a Turkish economy on an incredible upward trend in recent years) had experienced a remarkable recession in the post-Cold War period, reaching an unexpected Entente – is not the only consequence of the current developments in the Mideast. Even this Russia vs.

Turkey file is not determined solely by developments in this region. Turkey’s assertiveness in the former Soviet republics in Central Asia had caught, for some time, the attention of Moscow, willing to maintain its historical primacy over this vast region, and careful observers were wondering when the conflict between the historical adversaries would surface.

Experts are increasingly talking about the emergence in recent years of two axes of conflict in the Mideast, the first including Sunni powers (Turkey, Saudi Arabia, the Persian Gulf Emirates, as well as other states in Asia and Africa) and the second Iran and its prominently Shiite allies (Iraq, Syria and Lebanon through Hezbollah). The Sunni axis was even formalized in a way in December last year, when Riyadh hosted, at Saudi Arabia’s initiative, a meeting of the representatives of these powers, who decided on joint action in Syria in parallel with the coalition formed and led by the US for this purpose (over 60 states), but also with the Shiite one which Russia effectively joined (the backer of Assad’s regime, while the previous two are in favour of its immediate removal).

Such a formalization was precipitated by the speeding-up of preparations for a UN Security Council meeting on the start of a process of peace negotiations in Syria and the defining of a post-conflict reconstruction roadmap (Resolution 2254 from 18 December 2015 was unanimously adopted).

http://www.nineoclock.ro/turkey-vs-russia-in-the-mideast-iii/

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1. Turkey vs. Russia in the Mideast (IV)

Two are the big issues in the near future, issues that are bound to have an impact on the developments on the ground in Syria, but also on the regional and global situation.

Namely, the Kurdish file and the refugees file. In what concerns the Kurdish file, what has to be pointed out is that it is becoming increasingly prominent in light of the latest events. A sign of this growing visibility is also the opening in Moscow, on February 10, at President Putin’s invitation, of an official representation of the Kurdish administration in northern Syria, the first of its kind abroad (which is another explanation of the urgency with which Ankara sought to contact Moscow at the highest level in the first days of February).

According to Stanislav Inanov, a Russian analyst, the Syrian Democratic Unity Party’s (PYD) choice of Moscow as the headquarters of such an office abroad shows “that Russia believes the crises in both Syria and Iraq will not lead to a solution without Kurdish participation.” This PYD premiere – the opening of the office took place in the presence of Russian diplomacy officials, as well as representatives of other states – is the result of a rapid development in the file of the hostility recently installed between Turkey and Russia.

Apart from the fact that the Turkish air force’s shooting down of the Russian fighter-bomber in Syria on November 24 marked the start of this new episode of hostility between two great historical adversaries, it was followed, apart from mutual sanctions that experienced rapid escalation, by other mutual disagreements between Ankara and Moscow.

http://www.nineoclock.ro/turkey-vs-russia-in-the-mideast-iv/

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2. Syrian army captures thermal station in east of Aleppo

DAMASCUS, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian army on Tuesday captured the thermal station in the eastern countryside of the northern province of Aleppo, following battles with the Islamic State (IS) group, which had been in control of this facility, a military source told Xinhua.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-02/16/c_135103956.htm

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3. Turkey seeks allies' support for ground operation as Syria war nears border

Turkey is asking allies including the United States to take part in a joint ground operation in Syria, as a Moscow-backed government advances nears its borders, raising the possibility of direct confrontation between the NATO member and Russia.

A large-scale joint ground operation is still unlikely: Washington has ruled out a major offensive. But the request shows how swiftly a Russian-backed advance in recent weeks has transformed a conflict that has drawn in most regional and global powers.

The offensive, supported by Iranian-backed Shi'ite militias as well as Russian air strikes, has brought the Syrian army to within 25 km (15 miles) of Turkey's frontier. Kurdish fighters regarded by Turkey as hostile insurgents have also exploited the collapse of positions held by other rebel groups to seize ground and extend their presence along the border.

The advances have increased the risk of a military confrontation between Russia and Turkey. Turkish artillery returned fire into Syria for a fourth straight day on Tuesday, military sources said, targeting the Kurdish YPG militia which Ankara says is being backed by Moscow.

http://in.reuters.com/article/mideast-crisis-syria-turkey-idINKCN0VP1AR?rpc=401

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4. Syria: Assad warns Turks, Saudis against intervention

(ANSAmed) - BEIRUT, FEBRUARY 16 - Syrian President Bashar al Assad has warned Turkey and Saudi Arabia against any land operation in Syria, noting that such action would have ''global repercussions'' and once again refused a ceasefire with armed rebel groups which he defined as ''terrorists''. In a speech held last night at the lawyers' association and reported by State media, Assad said that ''ceasefires are made between armies and states but never between a state and terrorists''.

Russia and the US reached an agreement last week on a ceasefire that should come into force on Friday. ''But who will talk to a terror organization if it refuses the ceasefire? Who will punish it?''. (ANSAmed)

http://www.ansamed.info/ansamed/en/news/sections/politics/2016/02/16/syria-assad-warns-turks-saudis-against-intervention_94a3b290-dde5-499c-8e39-67e0221fbaba.html

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5. U.S. and Russia both deny bombing Syrian clinic

BEIRUT -- Russia on Tuesday rebuffed claims that its warplanes struck a hospital supported by Doctors Without Borders in northern Syria in airstrikes the previous day that killed at least nine as Syrian government forces and a predominantly Kurdish coalition made gains against rivals in the country's north.

In Moscow, President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters the hospital report was another case in which those who make accusations against Russia cannot back them up.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights had said Russian warplanes targeted the hospital in Idlib province on Monday, destroying it and killing nine people.

The makeshift clinic was supported by the international aid group, also known by its French acronym MSF. France said that such attacks "could constitute war crimes."

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/russia-syria-blame-us-airstrike-msf-hospital-clinic-idlib-aleppo-civilians/

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6. Russia-led security body says regional states may be dragged into Syria war

Feb 16 Heavy artillery bombardment of Syrian targets by Turkey and talks of a ground operation by Ankara and Saudi Arabia risk leading to direct military clashes between regional states, a Russia-led security body, the CSTO, said on Tuesday.

"Further fanning of the conflagration in Syria in close proximity to the zone of responsibility of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation is a threat to the security of its member states," CSTO Secretary General Nikolai Bordyuzha said in a statement.

The CSTO's members are Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. (Reporting by Christian Lowe; Writing by Alexander Winning and Dmitry Solovyov)

http://www.reuters.com/article/mideast-crisis-russia-syria-idUSR4N15Q00F?rpc=401

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7. Iran stands by ceasefire in Syria

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has announced Iran’s readiness to stand by ceasefire in Syria.

“I called for a ceasefire in Syria three months ago and we are ready to stand by a ceasefire in Syria today,” Zarif said, speaking at a Joint press conference with Elmar Brok, Chairman of the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs, in Brussels.

Zarif denied that Iran has boots on the ground in Syria saying there is a legitimate government in Syria recognized by the United Nations and those who are operating in Syria without the authority of the sovereign government of Syria are violating the international law.

“We have military advisors in Syria as we have them in many other places on the invitation of the local government,” the foreign minister said.

http://en.trend.az/iran/politics/2495256.html

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8. Is Saudi Arabia waffling on sending troops to Syria?

After announcing its willingness to deploy ground forces in Syria last week, Saudi Arabia’s officials now appear to be more hesitant about their initial plans.

Saudi Arabia's foreign minister, Adel al-Jubeir, said on Sunday that the decision whether to have a ground component on the ground is up to the US-led coalition.

“We said that if the US-led coalition is going to send ground troops into Syria, we are prepared to send special forces, so now we are waiting to see what the plan looks like,” Jubeir said in an interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour. “But we have said yes, we’re prepared to provide special forces as part of the ground operations in Syria.”

The Kingdom pledged to send troops last week, amid an international campaign to fight the Islamic State.

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Global-News/2016/0215/Is-Saudi-Arabia-waffling-on-sending-troops-to-Syria

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9. Members of Russia-led security alliance do not back Moscow’s action in Syria

MOSCOW: Although the post-Soviet security alliance, Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), is dominated by Russia, other member states appear to be reluctant to support Moscow’s inroads into Syria.

The CSTO general secretary, Russian general Nikolai Bordyuzha announced the organization’s rapid reaction forces would not be deployed overseas. CSTO does not invade other countries, Bordyuzha said on Feb. 12. The organization’s military forces can only be used inside the borders of member states, and CSTO cannot deploy its forces in Syria, he said.

However, the organization’s head would not rule out Syrian membership eventually. If Syria opts to seek CSTO membership, this application will be considered, Bordyuzha said.

The post-Soviet security alliance also apparently preferred not to get involved in Russia’s spat with Turkey. Bordyuzha said that CSTO had no intentions to increase military presence in Armenia near the border with Turkey. The existing forces there, including Russia’s 102nd base, remain sufficient, he said. Bordyuzha also voiced hope that the ongoing conflict between Russia and Turkey would not entail any direct military action.

http://atimes.com/2016/02/members-of-russia-led-security-alliance-do-not-back-moscows-action-in-syria/

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10. Rebel commander: Turkish artillery strikes ‘have not and will not’ stop SDF advance to Azaz

AMMAN: The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are gaining ground in their advance toward the border city of Azaz despite Turkish shelling on their positions, a commander with the SDF told Syria Direct on Monday.

“The Turkish strikes have not and will not affect us, and the proof is that we're still advancing,” Jaish al-Thuwwar spokesman Tareq Abu Zeid told Syria Direct Monday. Jaish al-Thuwwar is a member of the SDF coalition.

The SDF captured two villages from rebels over the past two days in the belt of opposition territory stretching 25km from Nubl and Zahraa north to Azaz, 6km from the Turkish border, backed by heavy Russian airstrikes. They are moving northeast up the stretch of territory and aim to take Azaz, which Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said his country would not allow to fall into Kurdish hands, reported state-owned Anadolu Monday.

“The world has to realize that Turkey will not allow Azaz to fall,” Davutoğlu was quoted by Anadolu as saying on Monday.

http://syriadirect.org/news/rebel-commander-turkish-artillery-strikes-not-enough-to-stop-sdf-advance/