Cyprus-Forum.com

[yialousa1971]

It looks like the West is presently loosing their war against Syria. Everybody now knows that all will depend on the out come of the battle for Aleppo which seems to be presently won by the Syrian Army. I wonder. What will happen if Assad manages to crash the insurgency? Will the West stage an open war against Syria with some excuse or the other?

more below on Aleppo.

The bid for Syria’s first safe haven in Aleppo region is thwarted

DEBKAfile Exclusive Report July 30, 2012, 10:19 AM (GMT+02:00)
Tags: Leon Panetta Free Syrian Army safe haven Syrian army Aleppo

US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta commented Monday, July 30 on his way to the Middle East that the Syrian army’s shattering assault on Aleppo, Syria’s commercial hub, “will ultimately be another nail in Assad’s coffin.” This was a measure of the frustration generated by the failure for now of the Western-backed Arab bid to establish a safe haven in the Aleppo region. It was thwarted by the ruthless drive of Syria army’s 18th and 11th Divisions and parts of the 14th with massive air and artillery support to destroy rebel forces.

When Panetta declared, “It’s not a question of whether he’s coming to an end, it’s when,” pro-Assad forces were again rooting out and liquidating rebel forces in Aleppo as they did in Damascus ten days earlier.

More…
http://www.debka.com/article/22223/The-bid-for-Syria’s-first-safe-haven-in-Aleppo-region-is-thwarted

Turks are going to get some payback, China, Iran and Russia won't let the forces of the axis of evil (America, Britain, Israel and Turkey) attack Syria hopefully.

[yialousa1971]

Syrian rebels To Turkey: "Invade, So We Can Be Saved"





credit - defencenet

Islamist rebels and mercenaries who are fighting against the Assad regime have apparently hit a dead wall and are now feeling the fierce force of the Syrian national army. So much so that they are now apparently calling out to Turkey to supply them with weapons, as well as invade Syrian territory and assist them with immediate reinforcements so that they can be saved!

One rebel leader based in Turkey was quoted by foreign news agencies as saying that the rebels need more armor and defence systems and with military support from Turkey, will be in a better position to strike at PKK bases in Syria, because "we know what areas they control."

On Monday morning the Syrian army launched the final phase of its attack against the rebels in the city of Aleppo which followed Sunday's bomb attacks with Su-22 and Mig-23s that more or less crashed the hot spots -or resistance zones- in the districts of Bab al-Tzantint, Zahra and Arkoumpa (phonetic spelling).

In just two short weeks, and after suffering from a deadly bomb attack that most of the Syrian defence leadership, the Assad regime was able to get itself together, reorganize its strategy, and is now fighting back with three smart moves:
•a) The regime moved its elite brigade units that were guarding Golan Heights, and arrived at an informal "non-aggression" agreement with Israel.
•b) Syrian army troops evacuated Kurdish areas and the regime gained new forces, causing a big headache to Turkey.
•c) They began air strikes, with both attack helicopters and fighter jets.

And of course it is highly possible that they are being advised from Russian military officials on what course of action to take as well (or at least they received some advice about the aforementioned three tactical moves).

Article in Greek - defencenet http://www.defencenet.gr/defence/index. ... Itemid=139

[yialousa1971]

Chinese destroyer enters Mediterranean via Suez

Warship crosses through Suez Canal into Mediterranean Sea, possibly en route to Syrian coast for naval maneuvers

Roi Kais Published: 07.29.12, 19:07 / Israel News

A Chinese destroyer sailed through Egypt's Suez Canal into the Mediterranean Sea, Egyptian daily Al-Shuruk reported on Sunday.
The destroyer could be on its way to the Syrian coast, the Egyptian newspaper reported, adding that the warship is planning to hold naval maneuvers in the area.


Al Shuruk daily further claimed that the canal authority authorized the Chinese ship's crossing through the canal following permission from the Egyptian armed forces.

Meanwhile, Egypt's Al-Wafd website reported that high security measures were taken during the ship's crossing of the canal.

Beijing, an ally of Syria, has repeatedly blocked Western-backed Security Council attempts to increase pressure on Syrian President Bashar Assad to end the violence sparked by a government crackdown on pro-democracy protesters.

Last month reports claiming that the armies of Iran, China, Russia and Syria are planning to hold naval maneuvers in the Mediterranean Sea were circling the media outlets. According to the report, 90,000 soldiers from the four countries will take part in the large-scale maritime war games, which will be held off the Syrian coastline.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340 ... 23,00.html

[yialousa1971]

‘British-born jihadists fighting Assad in Syria’ – captured photographer
Published: 30 July, 2012, 08:01
source: http://www.rt.com/news/british-jihadist ... syria-360/



Armed members of the Free Syrian Army are seen in the western
border town of Zabadani in this undated still image taken from amateur
video obtained by Reuters (Reuters / Reuters TV)

Radical Islamists with “British accents” are among the coalition forces looking to topple Bashar Assad, says Jeroen Oerlemans, a photographer who was held hostage in Syria for a week. The UK Foreign Office has launched an investigation.

Oerlemans, a famous Dutch photo journalist, and John Cantlie, another photographer from the UK, were captured by a group of between 30 and 100 anti-Assad fighters when crossing the Syrian border from Turkey last week. They were then blindfolded.

"One of the black jihadists freaked out and shouted: 'These are journalists and now they will see we are preparing an international jihad in this place.'" Oerlemans told NRC Handelsblatt newspaper. He said that none of the fighters was Syrian.

"They all claimed they came from countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh and Chechnya and they said there was some vague 'emir' at the head of the group."

About 40 per cent of the militants spoke English. In fact, several apparently talked with recognizable regional British accents, from Birmingham and London.

The two photographers suspected that a ransom would be demanded for their release and tried to escape. Oerlemans was shot twice in the leg during the failed attempt and Cantlie, who has so far not spoken to any media, was wounded in the arm.

The pair’s ordeal ended when the Free Syrian Army, the main anti-Assad force, demanded that their nominal allies hand them over.

"They took us with them like a bunch of gangsters," Oerlemans said, "Shooting in the air as we rode out of there.”

The Free Syrian Army released the men and the two are now resting in Turkey. They expect to travel home in the coming days.

If it is confirmed, Oerleman’s story will add to reports that Syria has become a magnet for radical Islamists, who are there either as mercenaries or because of ideology.

"As soon as Assad has fallen, these fighters want to introduce Islamic law, Sharia, in Syria," said Oerlemans.

[yialousa1971]

Syrian army clears two Aleppo districts of armed gangs

Mon Jul 30, 2012 8:32AM GMT
source: http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2012/07/30 ... districts/




Syrian soldiers walk past a portrait of President Bashar al-Assad in a Damascus neighborhood. (File photo)

Syrian security forces have cleared the Salahuddin and Hamdaniya neighborhoods in the northwestern city of Aleppo of foreign-sponsored armed gangs.

The Syrian army said on Monday that most of the city is now under its control.

Meanwhile, fighting continues in the southern district of Sokari and the central neighborhood of Bab al-Hadid.

Clashes have continued between Syrian troops and armed rebels in Aleppo over the past few days.

The Syrian army began a major operation on Saturday from the southwestern outskirts of Aleppo to clear the city of armed groups.

On Sunday, the security forces killed a large number of terrorists attempting to enter the country from neighboring Turkey.

Many people, including large numbers of security forces, have been killed in the turmoil in Syria that began in March 2011.

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem said on July 29, “We believe that all the anti-Syrian forces have gathered in Aleppo to fight the government… and they will definitely be defeated.”

Muallem made the remarks in a joint press conference with Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi in Tehran.

Over the past few days, Syrian troops have reportedly inflicted heavy losses on the rebels in the southwestern city of Dara’a, about 114 kilometers (70 miles) south of the capital, Damascus.

The anti-Syria Western regimes have been calling for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down, but Russia and China remain strongly opposed to the Western drive to oust Assad.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on July 28, “Our Western partners… together with some of Syria’s neighbors are essentially encouraging, supporting and directing an armed struggle against [the Syrian government].”

[kimon07]

Turks are going to get some payback, China, Iran and Russia won't let the forces of the axis of evil (America, Britain, Israel and Turkey) attack Syria hopefully.

If its true that Israel assured the Syrians that they could take troops from Golan to move them to Damascus and Aleppo, it means that Israel is not playing along with the other three in this case. I am sure Israel prefers Assad to islamist radicals.

[yialousa1971]

Turks are going to get some payback, China, Iran and Russia won't let the forces of the axis of evil (America, Britain, Israel and Turkey) attack Syria hopefully.

If its true that Israel assured the Syrians that they could take troops from Golan to move them to Damascus and Aleppo, it means that Israel is not playing along with the other three in this case. I am sure Israel prefers Assad to islamist radicals.

No, Israel supports islamist radicals.

Turkey’s Hatay Province, Mossad, CIA spy hub: Turkish MP

A member of Turkey’s parliament says the country’s Hatay Province on the border with Syria has become a hub for swarms of CIA and Mossad spies infilterating into Syria freely.


The legislator of the Republican People’s Party, Refik Er-Yilmaz, said that thousands of CIA and Mossad agents are currently in the province and are moving freely in the area, Turkish media reported.


He noted that local people in the province are getting agitated over the presence of the strangers.

Turkish police remain mute spectators as the spies carry various types of identification, Er-Yimaz went on to say.

He also accused the authorities of allowing American and Israeli troopers on Turkish soil without any approval from the parliament.


Er-Yilmaz’s comments came after the deputy of the Republican People’s Party, Osman Faruk Logoglu, on Monday blamed Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party for fomenting the unrest in Syria.

Logoglu criticized the Turkish government for aggravating the situation by sending military forces and vehicles towards the Syrian border.

The former Turkish ambassador to the United States also criticized Turkey’s foreign policy towards its neighbor, saying it has been irrational and unsuccessful.

Syria has been the scene of unrest since March 2011. The violence has claimed the lives of many people, including large numbers of security forces.

Damascus blames “outlaws, saboteurs, and armed terrorist groups” for the unrest, asserting that it is being orchestrated from abroad.

AO/HN/HJL/IS

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2012/07/31 ... a-spy-hub/

[wyoming cowboy]

For the interest of Cyprusand Greece(now allied with Israel), doesnt it make sense to allow Syria's Assad, to fall from power. First it would give the Syrian Kurds, a chance to form their own country, next to Turkey. Second a less belligerent Syria towards Israel would free up the Israeli army for any future conflict with Turkey(or threat of)...

[Get Real!]

If these Syrian insurgents wanted to fight so bad why didn’t they have a go at liberating the Golan heights from Israel?

Surely fighting against the invader is a much more honorable act than trashing your own country and killing your own people just because you don’t like the government!

What a bunch of treasonous losers!

[wyoming cowboy]

When Syria had its ferry boats going back and forth to the pseudo state and in essence recognizing its existence they were the "bad guys". When the ROC wanted to appease Syria and stop the ferry boats to the pseudo state, they accepted shipments of ammunition headed for Syria from Iran at Mari. Christofias refused to hand the containers over to the un, as not to upset the Syrian regime....we know the rest of the story......Did Syria in Cyprus' hour of need during the Mari accident ever offer any assistance or regrets?