Despite an agreement with Turkey for a demilitarized zone in northwest Syria, Russia is maintaining its disinformation campaign of a “false flag” chemical attack planned by rebels and White Helmets rescuers.
Using the same tactics employed in the reoccupations of eastern Aleppo city in late 2016 and of East Ghouta near Damascus this spring, Russia has put out weeks of false claims — then amplified by conspiracy theorists and pro-Assad and pro-Kremlin activists on social media.
On several occasions, Russian officials have said the “false flag” attack is imminent. When that attack does not occur, Moscow merely re-asserts the alert, choosing a different location for the supposed operation.
The campaign was in part to justify a pro-Assad offensive against Idlib and northern Hama Provinces, and in part to cover for any Assad regime chemical attacks similar to those on Douma in East Ghouta in April.
Even though Monday’s accord between Vladimir Putin and Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdoğan suspended any pro-Assad offensive in the northwest, Russia’s UN Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya told the Security Council on Tuesday:
Militants and activists of the White Helmets continue fabricating the sham scenes that will feature the alleged use of chemical weapons inside the Idlib zone of de-escalation.
The filming of these fakes has already taken place in some Syrian districts. Notably, the organizers forced the Syrians abducted previously in Idlib and Aleppo Governorates to take part in the filming.
Nebenzya produced no evidence for the claims.
I must admit I am curious as to how the professor knows the allegations by the Russians are false. The fact the attacks have not taken place might be explained by the fact the Russians and Syrians have postponed the offensive on Idlib, thuse denying the rebels the opportunity to stage an attack which can be blamed on Assad.
“The fact the attacks have not taken place might be explained by the fact the Russians and Syrians have postponed the offensive on Idlib, thuse denying the rebels the opportunity to stage an attack which can be blamed on Assa”
A comedian.
Dragan,
Well, as the Russians and the Assad regime made the same claims for Aleppo 2016 and East Ghouta 2018, and those proved to be false….
I think suitable track record has been established.
S.
Agreed but that doesn’t make something that has yet to take place automatically false.
The US lied about Iraq WMD and Gadaffi supplying a Viagara to his soldiers, and now they claim Assad has given the order to use CWs in Idlib, which also has not taken place, but I haven’t noticed any similarly scathing headlines maligning the US
The US….the US… the US. Anything more in your life appart that? Guess not.
“Despite an agreement with Turkey for a demilitarized zone in northwest Syria, Russia is maintaining its disinformation campaign of a “false flag” chemical attack planned by rebels and White Helmets rescuers.”
.
This must mean that Assad still has some chemical weapons and intends to use them on Idlib. Obviously, the Israelis did not knock out all of the remaining facilities. This time it is the coalitions turn to make a strike but I doubt if they have the balls to do it! Of course, it is in the Israelis interest to knock out any remnant facilities as well because Hezbollah/Iran may make use of their availability on Israel.
“This must mean that Assad still has some chemical weapons and intends to use them on Idlib.”
Why when the only people who would benefit from a chemical weapons attack would be opposition groups?
“Obviously, the Israelis did not knock out all of the remaining facilities.”
What do you mean? Not even Israel is claiming it targeted CW facilities.
“This time it is the coalitions turn to make a strike but I doubt if they have the balls to do it!”
What Are they afraid of?
“Of course, it is in the Israelis interest to knock out any remnant facilities as well because Hezbollah/Iran may make use of their availability on Israel.”
Israel has attacked Syria over 200 times. Hezbollah/Iran have hit Israel zero times.
Don’t you find it odd how the U