UPDATE 0915 GMT: Turkey has bolstered its line against any Russian-Assad offensive, bringing a total of about 50 vehicles, including tanks and other armor, to two of its 12 observation posts around Idlib, northern Hama, and western Aleppo Province.
The reinforcements were deployed south of Jisr al-Shughour in northwest Idlib and in northern Hama — both areas expected to be among the first attacked by any Russian-regime assault.
#Syria: large Turkish convoy crossed border at dawn, bringing APCs & tanks to the Observation Post in Jebal Shashabo (NW. #Hama). https://t.co/ANDpCRAsP8 pic.twitter.com/sFNSLpdHfR
— Qalaat Al Mudiq (@QalaatAlMudiq) September 15, 2018
#Turkish military convoy of tanks and armored vehicles will be stationed at point #Sher_magar in the outskirts of #Hama within #Syrian territory pic.twitter.com/hvwk8wHJwi
— MOHAMMED GHORAB (@MGhorab3) September 15, 2018
ORIGINAL ENTRY: For the third Friday in a row, tens of thousands of Syrians have rallied across Idlib Province, in the northwest of the country, against a Russian-Assad regime offensive to overrun the area.
The demonstrations, said to be the largest since almost of Idlib was taken by the opposition in 2015, were held in more than two dozen towns and villages. They promoted the Syrian Revolution and welcomed the Turkish political and military line that has staved off Moscow and Damascus.
In Ma’arat al-Num’an alone, 25,000 people gathered after Friday prayers, according to local sources.
“We want to send a message to the rest of the world that we are just an oppressed people who want freedom,” said Mahmoud Harkawi, who works in a printing house. “Our goal is the to.ling of the Assad regime and stopping Russian aggression on our city.”
Ahmad al-Youssef, a carer providing psychological support to children, explained, “The demonstration aimed to prove to the international community, Russia and the regime that this is a popular revolution and not terrorism, as they claim.”
In Idlib city, there were rival demonstrations. The larger, with more than 5,000 people, at the Martyrs’ Square featured the Syrian Revolution flag and slogans against the Assad regime. The smaller at the Clock Square was marked by flags for the jihadist bloc Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham.
Rebel factions and local councils have been in conflict with HTS, which controls part of Idlib Province after pushing out rebels in 2017. Russia has used HTS as the “terrorist” pretext to attack Idlib, while Turkey is proposing a resolution in which other groups are supported to take control away from the jihadists.
During last Friday’s protests in Idlib city, HTS members opened fire on protesters after they shouted slogans against group. No incidents were reported yesterday.
Photos: Mohammed al-Daher/Al Jazeera
Holding Off the Offensive
Russia and the Assad regime had built up their forces for the assault on Idlib, which has an estimated 3 million people, and northern Hama Provinces. But Ankara has had military forces alongside rebels in the northwest since August 2016, and it fears an attack which — according to the UN — would be a “humanitarian catastrophe” and displace up to 800,000 residents. Last weekend Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, having failed to reach agreement at a summit with Russian and Iranian counterparts days earlier, wrote, “A regime assault would…create serious humanitarian and security risks for Turkey, the rest of Europe and beyond.”
Syria Daily, Sept 13: Turkey Takes Stand in Northwest Against Russia-Regime Offensive
There has been Russian or Assad regime bombing and shelling since Monday.
On Friday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said Erdoğan will meet President Vladimir Putin on Monday in Russia’s Black Sea resort of Sochi.
“We are ready to cooperate with everyone in the fight against terror groups but the killing of civilians, women and children under the guise of fighting against terror is not correct,” Çavuşoğlu said during a press conference in Pakistan.
And after a meeting between representatives of Turkey, France, Germany, and Russia, President Erdoğan’s spokesman İbrahim Kalın said, “Everyone’s common point is that the solution must be political rather than military. Turkey expects more open and direct support from international community and leaders.”
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov tried to maintain a pretext for bombing, saying that Moscow will attack “terrorist” drone workshops: “We have intelligence information where drones are assembled in Idlib from components smuggled there. As soon as we get such information, we will be eliminating such underground workshops that make lethal weapons.”
Hoping to disrupt Russian aerial operations, rebels have flown drones over Moscow’s main airbase, Hmeimim, in western Syria.
ارفع راسك فوق أنت سوري حر … ثوار #دارة_عزة #لا_بديل_عن_إسقاط_النظام pic.twitter.com/Tptfv8wyZG
— Anas Al Hage (@AnasAlhage) September 14, 2018
Kafranbel: 14 Sep 2018
8 years and still the same Expression, millions voices : Step Down Assad" pic.twitter.com/1tf7hEQE8G— Hamza (@X00996) September 14, 2018
A message from a female protester:
No matter what you do
No matter how far you go with your weapons
We will continue
No matter how many of us you kill #Assad!
We will go on
as long there is a woman
as long there is a child.YOU WILL GO DOWN
I PROMISE YOU !#EyesOnIdlib #Idlib #Syria pic.twitter.com/T8WNue4K2M— Veronica Gereda (@VeronicaGereda) September 14, 2018
Scott Ritter warns of new fake chemical weapons attack in Syria: https://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/u-s-again-cries-chemical-attack-in-syria-russia-assad-idlib/
He also debunks the claim that sarin-chrlone hybrid bombs were used in Douma and Khan Sheykoon: “The SAMS report makes clear that its evaluation of the clinical symptoms present among the Douma victims are also linked to chlorine exposure. The problem with the SAMS/White Helmet narrative is that sarin and chlorine don’t mix, a fact known to chemical warfare experts and duly documented in a U.S. Army study. In short, chlorine serves as a catalyst that promotes the decomposition of sarin nerve agent, meaning that if both substances were either combined or released together, the sarin would rapidly decompose. ”
Meanwhile, the White Helmets are alleged to be preparing another CW false flag attack: https://www.mintpressnews.com/white-helmets-chemical-attack-idlib/249121/
what a pile of rubbish
Since the doctors in Douma were not claiming sarin and chlorine after initial evaluations, Ritter’s post is nonsense.
As is anything from Mint Press News.
The SAMS and White Helmets both claimed the alleged attack in Douma involved an organophosphate and chlorine: https://reliefweb.int/report/syrian-arab-republic/sams-syria-civil-defense-condemn-chemical-attack-douma
“Patients have shown signs of respiratory distress, central cyanosis, excessive oral foaming, corneal burns, and the emission of chlorine-like odor…….The reported symptoms indicate that the victims suffocated from the exposure to toxic chemicals, most likely an organophosphate element.”
The U.S Government says it is confident both sarin and chlorine were used: https://edition.cnn.com/2018/04/14/politics/us-chlorine-sarin-syria/index.html
However, it is not claimed if they were used separately or collectively. Two different sites in Douma were reportedly struck. The OPCW has not yet found any evidence to substantiate that any chemical attack occurred.
1st of all, organophosphate doesn’t mean sarin. 2nd, you’ll note this was based on evaluation of initial symptoms in conditions with high casualty rate. So, for understandable reasons, medics thought an agent stronger than chlorine was involved.
All very logical and all under current investigation by OPCW — which appears to have confirmed chlorine use, although we are awaiting final report.
I think it’s pretty clear that the reference to organophosphates does indeed imply sarin. In the case of Khan Shaykhun, the OPCW and France also alluded to the evidence of organophosphate. What other organophosphate CW agent could this allude to? And the footage of the basement distributed by the White Helmets showed numerous victims with foam around their mouths, which is is not a symptom associated with chlorine exposure.
“All very logical and all under current investigation by OPCW — which appears to have confirmed chlorine use, although we are awaiting final report.”
The current OPCW interim report appear to be reticent to make that claim. It is the first time I can remember references being made to “various chlorinated organic chemicals” which suggest the chlorine traces are knot from weaponised chlorine gas, but the release of a domestic chlorinated compound.
You probably shouldn’t comment again on the OPCW report until you understand their procedures and the nature of an interim, as opposed to a final, report.
“You probably shouldn’t comment again on the OPCW report until you understand their procedures and the nature of an interim, as opposed to a final, report.”
Admittedly I am not familiar with procedures, but that should be irrelevant. Be it an interim or final report, any report worth the paper it’s written on should stand on it’s own merits and be self explanatory. And furthermore, an interim report should be largely consistent with what we should expect to read in the final publication.
cut the crap please
No. The OPCW has not confirmed chlorine use in Douma. As Ritter mentions, it stated it had found “chlorinated organic compounds” many of which occur as a result of common industrial processes such as the treatment of drinking water, The OPCW did not reveal the concentration levels, and said it was working on determining their significance.
It is true that other organophosphates exist, like phosphine, which could harm people but it has a very different odor to that of chlorine. The OPCW has confirmed that no organophosphate agent was used based on the biomedical and environmental samples it analyzed.
Ordoo,
That is because the OPCW is writing its final report. However, the UN Commission of Inquiry — which works closely with OPCW — said last week that chlorine had been used on Douma on April 7 from at least one canister.
S.
You might be jumping the gun.
According to the Reuters report
“They said they were still investigating a suspected chemical attack in Douma on April 7 that killed at least 49 people and wounded up to 650.”
And
“On the April 7 attack, the panel said the evidence so far pointed to a gas cylinder dropped by helicopter having struck a residential apartment building.”
The UN Commission seems be making a concerted effort not to directly link the gas cannister to any alledged gas attack. In fact, the Commission is not even prepared to state that a gas attack took place at this stage.
Umm, no, the UN Commission is letting the OPCW issue the determination in its final report. The summary here clearly points to findings of chlorine on Douma on April 7.
#DroneAssad Retweeted
“«««صوت الربيع العربي»»»
@TNTranslations
Sep 7
This is #Idlib! ho, ho ”Now, quickly Jolani get out!”
#HTS transgressors firing live ammunition to desperse demonstrators in the city of Idlib @JAN_Violations
HD Subtitles https://www.facebook.com/pg/TNTranslations-150627355388784/posts/ … THE VOICE OF THE ARAB SPRING”
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Good to see that HTS/Al Qaeda are not shooting at protesters this week. Perhaps they have changed sides during the week?
“As long as there is a woman”. Right, there is indeed one woman (most probably they needed her coz she can speak English). A 100 US$ reward to anyone who can spot one more woman within this Islamist crowd
I was thinking the same thing. Try spotting the women in the crowd
https://eaworldview.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/IDLIB-PROTESTS-14-09-18.jpg
The flags are interesting. Green-white-black French-colonial Syria flags and a few Turkish ones. The demonstrations were organised by Al Qaeda and Turkey, with Turkey ensuring security for visiting journalists and HTS/Al Nusra/AQ puttting out the order not to raise black/jihadi flags.
No, the largest demonstrations were not “organised by Al Qa’eda and Turkey”.
Rights, the demonstrators are allowed to demonstrated but not to leave Idlib.
There is no way foreign reporters would be there unless Turkey had provided security to them.