In a meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin slammed the presence of foreign forces in Syria, referring to US and Turkish troops occupying areas of the country.
Turkey occupies areas along Syria’s northern border and backs opposition fighters in the Idlib province, which is primarily controlled by al-Qaeda-linked Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). Ankara does not openly support HTS, but Turkish-backed groups have fought alongside the al-Qaeda affiliate, and there have been reports of Turkey coordinating with HTS.
There are approximately 900 US troops occupying northeast Syria. On paper, the US forces are there to back the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) against ISIS. In reality, the US occupation is a part of Washington’s economic warfare against Syria. The region where US troops are located is where most of Syria’s oil fields are located, and the US presence keeps the vital resource out of the hands of the Syrian government.
While Russia has troops in Syria, they are in the country at the invitation of Damascus. Putin said the presence of other foreign troops violates international law and is preventing Syria from rebuilding after 10 years of war.
“This clearly violates international law and doesn’t allow you to make maximum efforts to consolidate the country,” Putin said. “Only a consolidation of all forces in Syria will allow the country to get on its feet and start steady development, moving forward.”
Washington’s sanctions regime against Syria specifically targets the energy and construction sectors to prevent the country from rebuilding. The economic warfare and the years of war have had a devastating impact on the people of Syria. According to the UN, the number of Syrians that are close to starvation is at 12.4 million, or 60 percent of the population.
Talk …
What you say, think, feel, believe means nothing, the only consequence is what you do.
Putin … talk.
Anti war … talk, same as write.
Putin has not sold, or even loaned, leased or permitted SS 400s in Syria.
During all this time “Israel,” “United States,” “Turkey” … attack and occupy the “sovereign” nation of Syria.
Talk …
dennis hanna
Putin talks far too much!
International law are empty words. It means nothing to the US . They violate international laws on a daily basis. Russia is dealing with a Maffia state.
The law of the jungle!
I have been lied to by every cheating US president since Johnson tried to send me to Vietnam to kill commies for Christ, I back Russia, China, Iran, Cuba, Venezuela, Bolivia and anybody else who is sick and tired of ugly Americans.
How can stationing troops in a nation other than yours, without permission, NOT be a crime?
The US/Israel is allowed under “the international rules-based order”.
Rules for thee, but not for me!
Me too, … and still awaiting the Revolution.
In the “rules-based world” that Pompeo was referring to only NATO was allowed to break them.
Israel also gets a pass.
A Gold Card pass.
As the US is pushed out of the region, such isolated remnants become untenable. These 900 (plus uncounted contractors and CIA and Israelis pretending to be Americans) will go the way of all the rest in Iraq and Afghanistan.
There was talk of only 2,500 American troops had remained in Afghanistan. There were 18,000 “contractors” in Afghanistan.
Why doesn’t Putin put on a no-fly zone over Syria???
Right on the money!
It is reasonable to say most of Syria is a no fly zone for both American and Israeli aircraft attacking Syrian or Russian soldiers.
Because he likes his planes and equipment and prefers keeping them to having them turned into smoking hulks, maybe?
American troops in Syria are little more than human shields that keep Syria from obliterating the Kurdish fighters currently stealing oil.