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On the phony pretext of combating ISIS Ankara actively supports,
Turkish forces aggressively crossed into northern Syrian territory over
the weekend.
Russia has evidence of their illegal operations. Sergey Lavrov
called it Erdogan’s “creeping expansion.”
Interviewed on Russia’s REN TV on Sunday, he said “(a)ccording to
our information, they are digging in a few hundred meters from the
border inside Syria,” operating illegally, positioning heavy
weapons.
“While demanding that Kurdish positions are not reinforced in Syria,
Turkey has started to declare it has a sovereign right to create
safety zones on Syrian territory” - with full US-led NATO support
and encouragement.
Earlier reports showed Erdogan wants control over border areas
inside Syria nearly 100 km long and eight km deep, a flagrant
violation of its sovereignty.
On Tuesday, the Wall Street Journal reported “elite Turkish soldiers
entered Syria on Saturday…” Ankara declined to comment.
Erdogan wants Assad toppled, northern Syria annexed, all options on
the table to achieve his objectives. “What’s going on in Syria is a
historic showdown,” he blustered.
His weekend operation is part of an escalated effort, expanding
conflict in Syria, making it harder to resolve things. Whether and
how Russia intends responding remains to be seen.
Turkish and US forces in northern Syria are actively aiding ISIS and
other terrorist groups. Russia knows what’s going on and their
objective.
So far, it hasn’t intervened to stop them. The more aggressive Obama
and Erdogan get, the more likely direct confrontation with Russia
will follow.
Syria remains a hugely dangerous flashpoint. At risk is war well
beyond its borders.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at
lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.
His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in
Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."
http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html
Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.
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