[A map] provides a graphic illustration of at least one possible motive for Turkey’s decision to intervene in Syria and try to wrest control from President Assad. There are reportedly two plans afoot to build pipelines transiting Syria [WE HAVE ALREADY MENTIONED THESE ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO] — one originates in Iran and the other originates in Qatar but terminates in Turkey. Given present circumstances, Syria is unlikely to look favorably on a deal that will enrich Turkey, and Turkey’s Erdogan, with Western encouragement, decided to make a play to seize more of Syrian territory and hopefully destabilize President Assad’s hold on power. It looks like Turkey has overplayed its hand.

BY LARRY JOHNSON

While Syria has suffered some serious losses in the initial days of this terrorist offensive, Russia, Iran and Iraq have moved quickly to come to Syria’s side in the battle. Here are a couple of videos showing some of the results of this support. First up is the aftermath of a Russian attack on a Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) column:

A Russian social media channel, Rybar, provides a pretty good situational update:

In the desert at the junction of the Homs, Hama and Deir ez-Zor provinces, the battle of fakes, rumors and hearsay for primacy in the information agenda continues.

On the very first day, there were reports of the mobilization of the “Free Syrian Army” (ex-“Jaysh Maghawir al-Thawra”) forces, trained at the US base in At-Tanf, and their alleged advance either towards Palmyra, Tifor or even Damascus.

The group’s strength is a few hundred people, and theoretically they could have infiltrated through the desert – especially given the withdrawal of troops. But so far, there is no objective evidence of this in the public domain.

From Deir ez-Zor, the Bakkarah tribe loyal to Bashar Assad allegedly set out on the first day and went almost in full force to Aleppo. Similarly, parts of the 4th division of Maher Assad allegedly moved out from Deir ez-Zor, although it seems they were not even there.

This did not prevent the militants (both ISIS and HTS with the SNA) from claiming that the convoys heading to aid Assad had already been bombed by the militants. Some wrote about ISIS, others about the “Free Syrian Army” from Et-Tanf. As a result, no one went anywhere and no one killed anyone.

But real reinforcements set out on the third day.

Footage appeared in Sout showing Iraqi “Al-Hashd al-Shaabi” detachments crossing the border with Syria at the official border crossing of Al-Bu Kamal from the Iraqi Al-Qaim. Given that the Iranian military base named after Imam Ali is quite close to Al-Bu Kamal, and further west there is a road leading directly to Palmyra from the south, it is logical to assume that the reinforcements split into several columns, and the footage captured only one of them.

The column was immediately “destroyed” in the media, with claims of an attack by the Americans. In fact, the explosions were attributed to the work of the Syrian military against roaming militants in the desert (which once again confirms the activity of terrorists).

As we have already written, the appearance of the Iranian “Al-Hashd al-Shaabi” detachments should not be recorded as an unambiguous Iranian move, since the Al-Hashd al-Shaabi certainly do not consider themselves to be openly pro-Iranian groups. In this case, it is primarily about assistance from Iraq.

There is a sizeable amount of bizarre and erroneous information being spread on social media about what is transpiring in Syria. Earlier today, the Aquila Telegram channel claimed a military coup had been launched in Damascus against Assad. This was totally false. Instead, Assad held a calm meeting in Damascus with Iran’s Foreign Minister.

Israel’s hypocrisy is on display, once again. The Zionists cry crocodile tears about the nasty Islamic terrorists, yet, when Syria is under attack by those Takfiri crazies, what does Israel do? Yes, it bombs Syrian troops who are trying to defeat said Islamic radicals. This is a common tactic by Israel, i.e., providing support, including military assistance, to Islamic groups that it otherwise claims to oppose. Let’s not forget that Israel pumped money to Hamas, using Qatar as a go-between, for 30 years in order to foster a rift in the Palestinian community.

The perception that Trump is an unabashed supporter of Israel caught a curveball today with Trump’s announcement of Massad Boulos, the Lebanese-American businessman whose son is married to his daughter Tiffany, as his senior advisor on Arab and Middle Eastern affairs. Trump said:

“Massad is an accomplished lawyer and a highly respected leader in the business world, with extensive experience on the International scene. He has been a longtime proponent of Republican and Conservative values, an asset to my Campaign, and was instrumental in building tremendous new coalitions with the Arab American Community,”

This is no guarantee that Trump will give serious attention to the plight of the Palestinians, but it does raise the specter of internal strife in the Trump policy world, pitting one daughter’s father-in-law against another daughter’s husband. This could turn into an epic episode of Family Feud.

https://sonar21.com/follow-the-oil-money-in-syria/

YOURDEMOCRACY.NET RECORDS HISTORY AS IT SHOULD BE — NOT AS THE WESTERN MEDIA WRONGLY REPORTS IT.

         Gus Leonisky

         POLITICAL CARTOONIST SINCE 1951.

PLEASE DO NOT BLAME RUSSIA IF WW3 STARTS. BLAME YOURSELF.

SEE ALSO: https://yourdemocracy.net/drupal/node/36261

SEE ALSO: https://yourdemocracy.net/drupal/node/43171

READ FROM TOP.

YOURDEMOCRACY.NET RECORDS HISTORY AS IT SHOULD BE — NOT AS THE WESTERN MEDIA WRONGLY REPORTS IT.

         Gus Leonisky

         POLITICAL CARTOONIST SINCE 1951.

PLEASE DO NOT BLAME RUSSIA IF WW3 STARTS. BLAME YOURSELF.