Mentre Ue, Onu e Nato (preoccupate solo di difendere i terroristi del Ghouta), tacciono sull’invasione da parte della Turchia di uno Stato sovrano e independente, alcune unità militari del governo di Damasco sono state oggetto del bombardamento turco, mentre cercavano di difendere il territorio di Afrin, nel nordovest della Siria: lo annuncia l’agenzia di stampa ufficiale siriana Sana dopo un accordo che sarebbe stato raggiunto nel fine settimana tra Damasco e le milizie curde.
“Le forze popolari siriane arriveranno ad Afrin nelle prossime ore per sostenere la tenacia degli abitanti contro l’operazione di repressione lanciata il mese scorso dal regime turco”, scrive la Sana. Fonti all’interno delle milizie hanno confermato all’agenzia di stampa Dpa che entreranno nella regione dai villaggi vicini controllati dalle forze governative. La notizia è stata riportata anche dalla tv siriana Ikhbariya, dopo che ieri sono trapelate indiscrezioni su un accordo che sarebbe stato raggiunto tra Damasco e i miliziani delle Ypg per il dispiegamento di unità delle forze filo-Assad ad Afrin, enclave curda teatro dal 20 gennaio di una campagna militare lanciata dalla Turchia e dai ribelli alleati dell’Esercito libero siriano. Nel 2016 le fazioni curde annunciarono un piano per un sistema federale nelle zone del nord della Siria sotto il loro controllo. Per Damasco si trattava di una mossa “illegittima”, ma – secondo alcuni osservatori – i rapporti tra le parti sarebbero migliorati dall’avvio dell’offensiva della Turchia. Ankara considera “terroristi” i miliziani delle Ypg. Secondo la Dpa, non c’è nessun accordo tra Damasco e i ribelli curdi attivi nel nord della Siria, anche se sono in corso trattative nel mezzo delle indiscrezioni che parlano di una sorta di collaborazione contro l’offensiva turca nella regione di Afrin. I combattenti curdi di Afrin hanno chiesto a Damasco di difendere lo spazio aereo e il confine dagli attacchi turchi, ha sostenuto da Berlino l’ex leader del Partito dell’unione democratica (Pyd), Salih Muslim. Damasco, ha aggiunto, crede ancora di poter prendere il pieno controllo dell’area, come era prima del 2011, ma i curdi non lo accetteranno.
https://southfront.org/map-turkish-forces-capture-notable-area-in-afrin-government-forces-temporarily-halt-deployment/
Pro-militant sources and the mainstream media have already started a propaganda campaign targeting the SAA as the only side responsible for civilian casualties in the area. Various sources provide different numbers, but the key thing in these reports is that the number is high.
Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (formerly Jabhat al-Nsura) will be exterminated if powers having influence over the group fail to discipline it.
“That is why we are asking our Western colleagues, who have leverage on Jabhat al-Nusra, to make the effort to discipline this structure, as far as resolution of humanitarian problems is concerned, otherwise it will be destroyed,“ Lavrov said.
The Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) and the Free Syrian Army (FSA) captured Iki Dam, Qudah Kuwi, Hajikanli, Hopkan, Darwish Ubasi, Diwan Al-Tahtaniyah and Mersava in the area of Afrin from the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG).
Amid reports that the YPG and the SAA have reached a deal over Afrin, Turkey has threatened to strike Syrian government forces should they enter Afrin to “provide protection” to the YPG.
“If the regime enters [Afrin] to clear out the YPG, then there is no problem. If they are entering to provide protection to the YPG, then no one can stop Turkey or Turkish soldiers,” Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on February 19.
On the same day reports once again appeared that, government units are set to enter the Afrin area soon. However, the situation is still unclear.
Following the recent series of events, the situation in the area of Afrin remains tense. According to reports, Syrian government forces have halt their deployment to Afrin under an alleged deal with the Kurdish YPG militia after strikes conducted by the Turkish military near a government military column.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the convoy had retreated following a warning fire.
“Tonight about a dozen pickups were seen moving towards Afrin. But then there was shelling [by the the Turkish military], and they had to return. So far, this is all over. Yesterday we spoke with respected [Russian President] Putin and respected [Iranian President] Rouhani; we have agreements on this topic. Unfortunately, some terrorist groups sometimes make erroneous decisions themselves, this is unacceptable, and they will be held accountable for it,” Erdogan told media.
The government forces convoy was within about 10km from the YPG-held city of Afrin when it came under fire.
The Russian state-run news agency Sputnik also quoted YPG representative in Afrin Brusk Haseke as saying on the issueL
“Yes, this is true. Today the Syrian government army entered Afrin in order to defend the city from the Turkish Armed Forces and the Free Syrian Army jointly with the Kurdish forces of the YPG. The government forces have come to help the people of Afrin. We cannot report on the number of soldiers that entered Afrin. This is military information.”
Meanwhile, the Turkish Armed Forces and the Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army continued their advance against the YPG in Afrin. Recently, Turkey-led forces have captured over a dozen villages from the YPG.
https://southfront.org/map-turkish-forces-capture-notable-area-in-afrin-government-forces-temporarily-halt-deployment/
https://southfront.org/map-turkish-forces-capture-notable-area-in-afrin-government-forces-temporarily-halt-deployment/
