ISIS update 8/26/2016..Operation Euphrates Shield undermines Kurdish hopes for autonomy in Syria

Operation Euphrates Shield Undermines Kurdish Hopes for Autonomy in Syria

‘War inside in Syria cannot be stopped at Turkish border’

Turkish army shells Kurds ‘refusing to retreat’ near Jarablus

https://www.rt.com/news/357236-syria-jarablus-ypg-kurds-shelling

Turkish military have targeted US-backed Kurdish YPG militia with artillery fire south of the Syrian border town of Jarablus on Thursday, Anadolu state agency reported, citing a security source. The units allegedly refused to withdraw from the area despite warnings. The group of YPG fighters were attacked with howitzers at about 6pm local time after they were spotted by Turkish intelligence advancing to Jarablus from the north of Manbij, the report said. Earlier, Washington assured Ankara that the US-backed Kurdish formations have been pulling out forces from the area to the east of the Euphrates River as demanded by Turkey.

Turkish military have targeted US-backed Kurdish YPG militia with artillery fire south of the Syrian border town of Jarablus on Thursday, Anadolu state agency reported, citing a security source. The units allegedly refused to withdraw from the area despite warnings. The group of YPG fighters were attacked with howitzers at about 6pm local time after they were spotted by Turkish intelligence advancing to Jarablus from the north of Manbij, the report said. Earlier, Washington assured Ankara that the US-backed Kurdish formations have been pulling out forces from the area to the east of the Euphrates River as demanded by Turkey.

While on a visit to Ankara on August 24, US Vice President Joe Biden pledged to withdraw the support of American forces to Kurdish fighters battling terrorists in Syria if they did not comply with Turkey’s request to remain east of the river. “They cannot, will not and under no circumstances get American support if they do not keep that commitment. Period,” Biden said at a joint news conference with Turkish PM Binali Yildirim.

Turkey has been conducting Operation Euphrates Shield since Wednesday after its troops entered the borderline territory in the north of Syria with the focus on retaking Jarablus from the Islamic State (IS, ISIS/ISIL) terrorists, which has been occupying it since July 2013. Justifying the incursion, which had not been authorized by the Syrian government, Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said it is aimed at stopping frequent cross-border attacks and repelling “terror groups which constantly threaten our country like Daesh [Arabic derogatory name for IS] and the PYD [the Democratic Union Party of Syria]”. Meanwhile, Damascus slammed the offensive as “a blatant violation of sovereignty.” The shelling follows a statement by YPG command saying that Kurdish militia under its control had left Manbij and returned to its bases, turning over the control over the city to the Manbij Military Council, according to Al-Masdar News. On Wednesday, the YPG denounced the Turkish military offensive in Syria as “a hostile intervention,” refusing to cave in to pressure coming from Turkey. “We won’t listen to the demands of Turkey or powers outside of Turkey. Turkey cannot impose its own agenda, its own interests on us. Our forces are there. We will not withdraw from west of the Euphrates,” YPG spokesman Redur Xelil said, as cited by Rudaw.

IS Fight in Jarablus Frays Tensions between Turks, Kurds

Euphrates Shield – Day 3 – Colonel Cassad

On the third day of the operation, “the Euphrates Shield” continued increase tension on the contact line of pro-Turkish militants supported by Turkish troops and the troops of YPG / SDF.

1. In the course of the day continued airstrikes Turkish F-16 forward positions of the Kurds and the Turkish armored support troops move forward “green”.

2. In fact, now we are seeing the formation of a new front line, where as pull forces should turn quite serious battles, if the Kurds did not completely succumb.

3. In spite of the American demands and messages about leaving manbij, radical part of YPG opposed to satisfy US demands and the war with Turkey. It is very likely that all comes to this option.

4. Caliphate using the clashes between Kurds and Turks, quite painlessly slipped out of a sticky situation and moves in the direction of Al-Bab. It is also worth noting that today manbij bomber blew himself Caliphate.

5. Turkey continues to drive the troops across the border. Already we have got about 80 units of various armored vehicles + several thousand soldiers. The group has already pro-Turkish militants about 3000-3200 people and this is not the limit.

6. Grouping SDF / YPG north of manbij numbers from 3500 to 5500 people. But the Kurds are very few armored vehicles, plus they can not count on the US air support, which of course would not bomb the Turks.

7. Erdogan today called Putin and agreed to meet on 4-5 September to discuss the Syrian affairs. Just today, will meet Chief of General Staff of Turkey and Russia.

8. Turkey has made it clear that he considers the Caliphate and the Kurds of the PYD / YPG terrorists, with whom an agreement will not be. If they do not go to the border, they will be destroyed.

9. The official statement by YPG states that “No one can attack the SDF to the west of the Euphrates and the Kurds are there on their own land.” It is not difficult to see the desire of the parties are mutually exclusive, and that guarantees conflict.

10. The United States towards the Kurds are now occupied ostrich position, leaving them virtually alone against the Turks, and is already quite clear that the direct military support for them will not have.

 

Syrian War Report – August 26, 2016: Kurds Accuse Turkish-led Forces in Chemical Attack

Turkey’s Offensive Against ISIS & Press Crackdown is Really Just War on Kurds

Biden’s Turkey visit considered pointless

Car bomb explodes at police HQ in Cizre, Turkey: at least 11 killed, dozens injured

Buses Leaving Daraya, Syria With Evacuees

Tears as evacuation nears for symbol of Syria’s revolt

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2016/Aug-26/369042-rebels-civilians-to-evacuate-syrias-daraya-under-deal.ashx

DARAYA, Syria: Thousands of rebels and civilians, many in tears, prepared Friday to evacuate the Syrian town of Daraya after a four-year army siege, in a blow for the beleaguered opposition. The evacuation comes after a deal struck by President Bashar Assad’s government and opposition forces in the town, which is close to the capital Damascus and was one of the first to rise up against his government. On Friday morning, ambulances and Syrian Red Crescent vehicles entered the devastated town, which has been surrounded by loyalist troops since 2012 and suffered constant regime bombardment. Inside the town, residents bid farewell to each other, as well as their homes and neighborhoods, a local rebel fighter told AFP. “This is the hardest moment, everyone is crying, young and old,” he said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The deal to evacuate the town was announced Thursday by Syrian state news agency SANA. “Seven hundred armed men with their personal weapons will leave Daraya to head to the (rebel-controlled) city of Idlib, while thousands of men and women with their families will be taken to reception centers,” SANA said. The rebels would have to surrender other armaments to the army. The rebels who have controlled the town belong to two Islamist groups: Ajnad al-Sham and the Martyrs of Islam.

A Syrian source on the ground said Thursday the evacuation could take four days to complete and a military source said the army would enter Daraya. “The civilians will go to regions under regime control around Damascus, rebels will go to Idlib “or sort out their situation with the regime”, a rebel official told AFP.

DoD: Al-Nusra? We are fighting ISIL in Syria. 25 Aug 2016

WH: US-led coalition focused on al-Nusra threat in Syria

“Iran may let Russia use its air base again”

Iraq Forces Retake Key Town South Of Mosul

Iraqi Forces liberate Jazirat al-Khaldiyah from Daesh terrorists

Iraqi forces plan cleanup operations in Qayyarah

Militants Surrender in Darayya Frees up Syrian Army’s Elite Forces to Other Fronts
Syrian Army Intensifies Attacks on Jeish Al-Fatah Terrorists in Aleppo
Syrian Army Starts Fresh Operations in Aleppo from 2 Directions
Darayya Militant Groups Officially Accept Surrender Agreement
Russian, Syrian Warplanes Destroy Terrorists’ Supply Routes in Aleppo Province

Source: Syrian Army Repels Terrorists’ Massive Attack on Key Hilltop Near Aleppo City
Russian Fighter Jets Strike Militants’ Gathering in Northern Lattakia
Syrian, Russian Warplanes Bomb Heavily Terrorists’ Gathering

Source: http://blogdogcicle.blogspot.com/2016/08/isis-update-8262016operation-euphrates.html