Weeks of threats by Turkish President Erdogan to retake Syria’s Idlib Province by force went extremely poorly on Thursday, when Turkish forces moved into an observation post south of Idlib City, and were immediately hammered by airstrikes from both Russia and Syria.
At least 34 Turkish soldiers were reported killed in this strike, a major number of casualties. Turkey’s Hatay Governor reported casualties were still flowing into his province from Idlib.
Turkey has put thousands of troops in Idlib recently, and Erdogan had promised to reclaim all 10 of the observation posts, while ultimately expelling Syria from Idlib. They negotiated with Russia on getting Syria to surrender, but that failed.
Turkey seemed to be under the assumption that they could overrun Syria’s military, still taxed by a long civil war, with little problem. The presence of Russian troops, however, made this very risky, and Russia seems to be underscoring their willingness to get involved.
That’s either Putin sending a message or the in-theater Russian commander exercising his prerogative to do so – which probably means he expects to be backed up by MoD and Putin – and he probably will be.
Overrun the SAA? Unlikely. The SAA will fallback and let the Turks into a kill zone. Turkey is going to get smashed badly if they keep this BS up.
If the US gives them air cover, then it will be a very different story. If they don’t, they’ll be evacuating Incirlik before you can say falafel.
There is little chance Trump will walk into that trap, I hope …
I think that particular appendage is still a bit sore and throbbing from the pounding it took at Ayn Al Assad. Not sure if the US is ready to stick it back in just yet…
Well that is exciting
Sultan Erdogan’s war criminals just got a lesson and they’ll soon turn on their master.
Good on you Russia showing some balls……
Exactly! I am so sick of russias constant whining. Now they just need to kill some Israelis next time Israel attacks
Finally Russia acts with authority!
None of this makes sense. Who is Turkey trying to protect? It cannot be HTS and their money bags, White Helmets. Those are funded by UK and US, and were the primary reason Turkey cannot peel off garden variety militants. Does Turkey want to put all on line for these militants? If we add all the groups up and multiply by 2 — maximum militant force is 60,000. That, compared to million plus population of Idlib is small potato. So, what is up? Is Turkey afraid that HTS and militants have an ace up their sleeve — create mayhem and make population flee to Turkey. That could be a serious threat. But if the militants are such high gamblers — unwilling to submit to Turkey’s command — as other militants did outside idlib. Turkey’s only choice is to bring in real forces — and take control of Idlib. But if this happens — Turkey will take over local government and control, and militants will no longer provide cover for HTS.
What makes no sense is this high stakes threat to Syria — why this bravado? Who is Turkey trying to impress.
You told us a few days ago that this would blow over. I thought it was all “just noise?”
I sure did. I still cannot see what is in it for Turkey. Until I see some logic, some value in this to someone — I cannot make assumptions. But bodies are piling up, and that creates a new reality. Whatever that is.
What’s in it for Turkey? It depends what you mean by “Turkey.” If you mean the glory of the future rulers of a great PanTurkic Empire https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/asia-and-africa/middle-eastern-history/pan-turkism
then they have everything to gain from it. If you mean the citizens of the country of Turkey, then they have nothing to gain from it.
If neither side can back down the future is set in stone.
https://www.ghostsofhistory.wordpress.com/
Hopefully the NATO alliance will fall apart on this mad turn of events. A country like Turkey should never have been allowed to join in the first place. NATO to all intents nd purposes should not exist anymore.
Turkey and Syria are well within their rights under international law, to repel the Turkish forces.
I just hope this is not another Iran Iraq war scenario, where the US is using Turkey to try to overthrow Assad.
I know that Russia was invited into Syria, but how does Turkey figure that they can just waltz into another sovereign nation? Other than seeing the USA pull the same crap.
I think you have hit the nail on the head there.
Russia launching lethal airstrikes on the regular armed forces of a NATO member – and Western countries largely go silent. This is all very interesting.
Like an accident on the hiway is interesting…
{munches popcorn}
Turkey is not keeping to the agreement and they are, believe it or not, USA, in Syria where you should not be at all. Syria wants Syrian land and not terrorists. Get it???
Thank God for Russia