Fighting in Syria’s Idlib Province escalated substantially on Thursday, with Turkish forces attacking the Syrian military, and claiming to have killed over 50 soldiers, and Russia ultimately sending in warplanes to stop the fight, warning Turkey away from continued action.
Turkish officials said Syria had killed two Turkish soldiers who were in Idlib to “establish peace” and that their attack was in retaliation. President Erdogan has threatened strikes anywhere in Turkey over injuries to soldiers.
Turkish-backed rebels were involved in the attacks, and supported by Turkish artillery strikes. Syria ultimately requested Russian help, and a Russian Su-24 launched some strikes against attacking forces. Russia also contacted Turkey and told them to stop shelling.
While this particular flare-up is over, fighting looks to just be getting started. Russia called the situation a “worst case scenario,” and has demanded that Turkey stop backing terrorist groups in Idlib. Turkey has vowed they will not leave Idlib to Syria, and reiterated demands that Syria unconditionally cede the province to the mostly al-Qaeda-led rebels therein.
Turkey hasn’t got the necessary weight of arms to defeat Syria. Syrians are fighting for their homes and families Turkey is fighting for Washington.
Interesting numbers, Erdogan says “over 50 Syrians killed” while the Russians say it was four. Who do you believe? Who has the most to lose in this fight?
Well one claim is “escalatory” practically demanding a response, and the Russian claim isn’t. Wonder which is true.
Tomorrow Erdo will claim to have killed 50 million Syrian troops and antiwar will report that number without hesitation.
They clearly say Turkey was claiming “to have killed over 50”, which is hardly reporting that Turkey did kill over 50. Is Turkey not making said claim? Do you have links to credible journalism that refutes Turkeys claim you’d like to share too flesh out the sight? Given the sight links to journalists not employs investigative journalists sending some links might help the editor give more of the story you think they need…
Are they suppressing stories that contradict?
Just seems odd to criticize their reporting of claims, they report claims by Pompeo all the time… Are they WH stenographers?
You are correct. But some, are extremely narrow minded that they expect facts instead of tabloid to snack on.
We should all pitch in to purchase an eye of Sauron for them…
Read the headline. The headline clearly and unambiguously states that Turkey*killed* 50. It’s not the same as saying Turkey claimed to kill 50, which wouldn’t actually stretch the headline beyond usability. And this isn’t the first time antiwar has done this.
Will grant the point there, hadn’t registered it don’t typically pay attention to headlines as they are so often abused so definitely have a point.
Well, who could resist the headline?
“unconditionally cede the province”…That ain’t gonna happen. Russia will see to that, albeit there may be a protracted period of negotiation and Russian sanctions against Turkey before the situation is resolved. Might also take a bit of Russian military action against Turkey, although that could escalate to the point of a NATO Chapter 5 invocation – which is probably what the neocons in the US are hoping for.
This article at Middle East Eye suggests the neocon plan:
Turkey requests US conduct aerial patrols near Idlib as Assad’s forces close in
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/turkey-requests-us-aerial-patrols-near-idlib-intimidate-syrian-regime
But this article suggests it’s not as significant as it might seem and supports my notion that negotiation will win out with Syria and Russia coming out on top:
Idlib offensive: Turkey’s tradeoffs with Russia put it on the losing side
https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/idlib-operation-turkeys-tradeoffs-put-it-losing-side
“President Erdogan has threatened strikes anywhere in SYRIA over injuries to soldiers.”
BS.
The numbers are based on another Turkish claim/ lie that is printed in an Australian MSM paper, The Herald Sun.
Remember, none of this is confirmed. So any deaths are exaggerated until Syria acknowledges.
Maybe; 50 paramilitary militiamen wouldn’t warrant retaliation.
“Turkey Kills Over 50 Syrian Troops”……That’s a Big Lie…! Turkey is evacuating its troops from Idlib area at the moment…They should continue to do so or ask for a ceasefire to do it safely, otherwise they will be humiliated…!
This looks like a compromise is possible. Turkey wants to keep the Kurds out of Idlib. Syria wants to get al Qaeda out. They can do both.
Turkey can’t really think to take over a province of Syria, like it did Hatay Province in 1939. It would not want to get all the people there to be part of Turkey anyway, it is trying to keep them OUT of Turkey.
So it will go back to Syria, with another deal like the last one between Turkey and Syria in 1999 with Ocalan of the Kurds as the loser.