IPFS

Turkey's Erdogan, Enemy of Regional Peace and Stability

Written by Subject: Turkey

Turkey's Erdogan, Enemy of Regional Peace and Stability

by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org - Home - Stephen Lendman)

Erdogan is a fascist thug, hostile to peace, equity, justice, and the rule of law, might over right his policy.

His longstanding aim is annexing northern Syrian and Iraqi territory, notably their oil producing areas.

Russia has its hands full dealing with him, part of the regional problem, not its solution.

Contemptuous of the rights of his own people and Syrians, he lied accusing government and Russian forces of killing civilians — how he operates, not Moscow and Damascus.  

Pentagon spokesman Dmitry Peskov politely refuted him, saying strikes by Russian and Syrian forces in Idlib province target terrorists, "aim(ing) to neutralize them" — elements his regime supports, supplying them with heavy and other weapons, using them as proxies to advance his imperial aims.

According to Russia's Investia, the Erdogan regime supports jihadists rebranded as the Syrian National Army.

Given safe haven in Turkey, they were deployed cross-border in Idlib as proxy fighters, operating in cahoots with al-Nusra terrorists against Syrian troops and civilians.

According to Russian military expert Vladislav Shurygin, "Turkish proxies are better equipped than the Idlib Islamists." 

"They have been provided not only with advanced weapons and equipment, but also with M113 armored personnel carriers." 

They "won't be able to (defeat Syrian forces) unless the Turkish army joins the conflict." 

Their (current) situation (with government troops advancing) may change only if they secure artillery and air support, like when they fought against the Kurds."

Russian International Affairs Council's Timur Akhmetov believes if confrontation between Syrian and Turkish proxies continues, it'll be limited.

Moscow and Damascus want the scourge of terrorists in Idlib eliminated, peace and stability restored to the province and nation.

Russia is trying to convince Turkey to ally with its operation against jihadists in Idlib, not support it, its efforts unsuccessful so far, more talks likely in Moscow and Ankara.

On Wednesday,  Erdogan said the following:

"If there is the smallest injury to our soldiers on the observation posts or other places, I am declaring from here that we will hit (Syrian) forces everywhere from today, regardless of Idlib's borders or the lines of the Sochi agreement."

As long as his troops and jihadist proxies operate alongside al-Nusra terrorists, aiding them attack civilians and government forces, they're retaliate with heavy ground and airpower, supported by Russia.

On Tuesday, he said he'd announce new anti-Syria measures the following day, during a speech to parliament on Wednesday, roaring:

"I announce that we will strike (Syrian) forces anywhere starting from today…if our soldiers at the lookout posts or elsewhere suffer any harm."

As long as they're in cahoots with anti-Syria jihadists, they're vulnerable to attack in harm's way.

According to a Syrian Foreign Ministry source on Tuesday:

"The Turkish regime continues its aggression against the sovereignty and integrity of Syrian lands through further deployment of forces to Idlib and its countryside as well as Aleppo countryside, targeting populated areas and some military points in a bid to save its (jihadist) proxies from terror outfits who have been defeated in the wake of Syrian army advances," adding:

"Such acts of aggression will not succeed in saving terrorist organizations as the Syrian Arab Army will continue to pursue their members until they are completely eliminated, and every inch of the Syrian territories is retaken."

Turkey and its proxies operate in Syria illegally — in cahoots with the US and NATO against Syrian sovereignty and territorial integrity.

On Wednesday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused the Erdogan regime of breaching the September 2018 Sochi memorandum.

It established a demilitarized zone in terrorist controlled northern Idlib province, agreed to by Putin and Erdogan — the agreement breached straightaway by Turkish supported jihadists, using the area as platform to attack Syrian forces and civilians.

Moscow remains committed to the agreement Erdogan breached, further evidence that he can never be trusted.

On Wednesday, Southfront reported that Turkish forces "shell(ed) positions of the Syrian Army in western Aleppo…in support of" al-Nusra terrorists.

AMN News issued a similar report, saying the attack by Turkey came after government troops "captured three towns in the southwest countryside of Aleppo."

Turkish aggression is all about wanting advances by Syrian forces halted and rolled back from northern Syrian territory Erdogan wants annexed.

As long as Russia supports Syria's liberating struggle, its airpower will continue striking jihadist positions, helping government troops liberate areas they control.

VISIT MY WEBSITE: stephenlendman.org (Home - Stephen Lendman). Contact at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

My newest book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

www.universityofreason.com/a/29887/KWADzukm