US-UK-France launch military strikes on Syria

[Stutter]

They have opened the floodgates, by removing border control towards Greece & Bulgaria. This is crazy levels of bargaining by Turkey, to get EU to actively involve in the Syrian conflict. No winners here.

[Laaloo]

13 minutes ago, Norman said:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-51667717

 

33 Turkish soldiers killed in air raids by the Syrian pro-Assad military forces. 

Curious to see Turkey's response here. Will they go against Russia and retaliate. Russia being the protector of Syria and Assad won't take it well if the Turks with their fake bravado do retaliate. Interesting few weeks ahead.



 

Erodagen has been opening his mouth against india. Let’s see

[Norman]

Turkey's Erdogan asks Russia's Putin to step aside in Syria

 

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-security/turkeys-erdogan-asks-russias-putin-to-step-aside-in-syria-idUSKBN20N0EU

 

This chewtiya thinks Putin will obey him and steps aside. 

[sandeep]

Turkey has a big problem on its hands.  The Kurds in the region are gaining strength - the Iraqi Kurds have oil, the Syrian Kurds have carved out military strength, and are unlikely to give it up fully in a future peaceful Syria.  Turkey cannot afford any sort of autonomy for the Kurds, even outside of their borders.  Because it would make their continued subjugation of Turkish Kurds almost impossible.  The worst case scenario for Turkey is if the Syrian Kurds win enough to control a landbridge out to the sea.  This is why Turkey is trying to take a Crimea size bite out in Idlib.  The problem for them is that the Russians are fully committed to Assad. 

 

Erdogan doubled down with overtures to Putin, to try and ensure that Turkish concerns and priorities are baked in, when the Syrian civil war ultimately ends.  But he knows that words don't work unless you actually have boots on the ground and actual direct influence and control on some, or one of the actors.  The problem for them is that the faction they have backed in Syria is losing, and is unlikely to turn the tides.  Russia isn't the US, and Syria isn't Afghanistan.  Assad isn't going anywhere, especially with Russian backing.  Now Erdogan has to either put his money where his mouth is, escalate with his own forces, or back down.  Assad and Russia are calling him out.  Push comes to shove, even with a strong self-defined 'national interest' I do not think Turkey has the wherewithal to escalate militarily to any significant degree.  Its one thing for Erdogan to dream Mussolini-type fantasies of restoring Ottoman sway, its quite another to actually accomplish it.   Turkey lacks the financial, geopolitical and military strength to succeed.  

 

There will be a few skirmishes to 'restore pride'.  But Erdogan already knows he's going to have to back down.  Its just a matter of time.  Playing the refugee card towards Europe, reeks of desperation.  

 

There's a reason Turkey has re-discovered its fondness for Pakistan.  Its an obvious one, but that's a longterm play - one that Erdogan will be unlikely to be around for.

[Straight Drive]

Trukey retaliates.

 

A Turkish official said Saturday that Turkey destroyed a chemical warfare facility after dozens of its soldiers were killed by Syrian regime fire in the last-rebel enclave of Idlib province.

[Straight Drive]

Russian war planes attack Syria.