One of the 12 demands issued by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was a complete pullout from Syria of all pro-Iranian forces. Iran hasn’t really had a chance to respond, but Syria has already chimed in, rejecting the idea.
Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mikdad said the matter isn’t even up for discussion, noting that the decision “concerns the sovereignty of Syria.” He added Syria’s government is grateful for the help of Iranian military advisers, as well as Russian troops.
Mikdad further faulted the US for its continued intervention in Syria, and its “support of terrorists in Syria and elsewhere.” The US has troops within Syria, but those troops were not invited by the Syrian government.
The US demand for an Iranian pullout likely centers on that being a major Israeli goal in Syria. Israel has repeatedly attacked Syria in recent months, and insists that it is doing so to stop Iran from having a “foothold” in Syria.
Pompeos’ dad should have “pulled out”
If only! Same for the dads of Bolton, DJTrump, Pence………..
The British should have pulled out from settling colonies in Northern America.
The rubber probably busted. Pompeo has been mistake from the very beginning.
Is Antiwar.com going to report on Russia’s demand of a US/Turkey/Iran pullout of Syria (which Iran also rebuked), or does that upset the readers’ mythical view of Putin as a hero?
Are you admitting that you view Putin as a hero, or that you aren’t a reader?
I know that 90%+ of the commenters here have that view of Putin, and that your own personal comments show little integrity.
Why should not Putin be viewed as a hero . He did a lot to stop the terrorists from taking over Syria . Certainly more than United States or NATO did . Or maybe you wanted the terrorists to win .
I think most commentators are just comparing diplomacy tactics. Putin always seems like the adult in the room while we come off sounding like arrogant spoiled brats.
Which the US/UK/NATO/Israel actually are, arrogant spoiled brats; whereas, Putin’s the adult in the room.
So you think that antiwar.com should be just like all the US MSM, full of hatred, warmaking and blaming Russia?
No. You don’t get it. I’m not blaming him for being some terrible enemy of the US. I’m blaming him for being much too soft and accommodating to the US/Israel, and being a pretty lame ally to people like the the Syrians and the Donbass Russians.
He should be called out for his cave-ins, but instead people treat him like a 13th dimensional chess master.
Russia did not demand that Iran pull out of Syria. That is a very loose interpretation of a vague statement.
“Putin said at Thursday’s meeting with Syrian President Bashar Assad that a political settlement in Syria should encourage foreign countries to pull out their troops from Syria.
Alexander Lavrentyev, Putin’s envoy for Syria, said Friday that Putin’s statement was aimed at the U.S. and Turkey along with Iran and Hezbollah.”
Putin did not demand anything.
Syria can allow any country to base troops on it’s territory and could offer Iran and China bases for their military.
What Putin and Assad want is that a) Syrian sovereignty is respected and b) that all outside forces aiming to undermine the sovereignty pull back and out.
Israel only shoots from behind the skirts of Lebanon and US. It does not enter Syrian airspace.
Primarily Syria has been a training ground for Iranian and Hezbollah militia and for the war-planning-staff of Iran, Russia and Syria.
Israel is gonna cry when next they take on ground troops, armed with more than rocks and catapults.
Seeing Putin’s tentative steps to avoid clashes and all-out war, as opposed to so many blundering “allies” whose positions change constantly, is not calling him a “hero”. After so many years you can see that Pres. Putin seems to be able to listen to others, to interact with leaders of different points of view, and to use diplomats in a courteous way, none of which applies to most of “our leaders”. Give the man his due- it is not an easy job!!
It has been reported that Russia wants all foreign soldiery to leave Syria. But Russia had not, to my knowledge set the date, for the pull-out of foreign troops from Syria.
As far as i can tell, Syria still can use any military help it can obtain. Now we await to hear what Russia has to say after it hears Syrian wishes and/or hears of it needs.
In any case, Russia has earned its right to stay at least at Tartus. As for US, it has no moral or legal right to station its troops anywhere in Syria.
It will have to leave Syria or face an attack on its troops.
The same evaluation pertains also to any Turkish projected-or feigned/sham- rights.
The Ru.ss may want to play the nice guy and the middle man but they too are not in any position to tell Suria what to do.
The Russians are actually talking to the Syrian government (whatever you say about “regime”, it is the only one now) about the future rebuilding, not pushing but offering to help.
Arrogance personified. Telling a sovereign country that it can’t have allies within its borders while staying within those same borders unwelcomed.
Obvious to anyone who is fair! As for Israel, already living on stolen Golan Heights and complaining when a plane approaches this “part of Israel”, of course it wants to destroy the rest of Syria, plus Lebanon, Iran and possibly more, but will the USA ever learn that it is actually a separate nation with different needs from the Zionist Entity?
Actually, Syria can demand U.S. troops to get the hell out of Syria who are not invited and currently in breech of international law. But, this is what happens when you become a corrupt regime that operates on the rules of law of the Jungle.