https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-l44KUQHoVY





For its both concise and clear explanation, Yadda gives this Understanding the syrian crisis in 5 minutes YouTube 4/5 stars.

Russia's S-300, S-400 ready to hit any unidentified object in Syria - MoD warns US-led coalition

Published on Oct 5, 2016

Washington is considering military strikes against Syria's government, according to media reports citing US government sources. That's after America severed talks with Russia over the Syrian peace process. What's more, the White House says it understands potential attacks on President Assad's forces will bring Russia and the US closer to conflict.

Offer Is Being Presented as Adding Pressure to Russia to Stop Airstrikes
by Jason Ditz, October 06, 2016

In comments today to reporters at the UN offices in Geneva, UN Special Envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura publicly offered to go to eastern Aleppo and personally escort the fighters of the al-Qaeda-allied Nusra Front out of Aleppo and to safe territory.

Mistura presented the move as an opportunity to end the humanitarian disaster in Aleppo, and the offer is being heavily publicized as a challenge to Russia to stop cooperating in Syrian airstrikes against that part of the city, with the idea that this is an easy alternative. Mistura claimed that the ongoing war would destroy eastern Aleppo totally by Christmas.

At the same time, Mistura’s offer to lead the Nusra fighters out of Aleppo appears to be materially identical to Russian-backed offers from the Syrian government for Nusra to withdraw from the city and be given safe passage to other Nusra-held territory. The only real difference is that Mistura would go along with them.

Russian officials said they were interested in studying the proposal, but the big sticking point is Nusra itself, which has shown an unwillingness to consider withdrawing from the major city,. and seems to be holding out for another ceasefire they can use to launch a counter-attack.

http://news.antiwar.com/2016/10/06/un-envoy-offers-to-personally-escort-nusra-fr...

8 Oct, 2016

The UN Security Council (UNSC) has vetoed two rival resolutions proposed by Russia and France on the escalating situation in Syria and the war-torn city of Aleppo in particular.

In his statement, the Russian envoy to the UN, Vitaly Churkin, said that all of the members of the UNSC understood from the beginning that both draft resolutions would not go through.

"Today we are participating in one of the most bizarre scenes in the history of the UN Security Council. We will vote on the two draft Council resolutions, and we are all well aware that neither of them will be accepted," Churkin said.

The official urged all sides to restart the Syria peace process, which he said had been “jeopardized” by the radical groups.

The French proposal implied “upgraded” coordination of monitoring of the situation in Syria and reactivating the cessation of hostilities in Aleppo. One of the key points of the proposal was a halt to Syrian and Russian bombardment of East Aleppo.

However, Moscow and Damascus repeatedly stressed they are targeting terrorist hideouts there, which have been jeopardizing the cessation of hostilities.

The French proposal also included a call for all sides to prevent any material and financial resources reaching individuals or groups “associated with al-Qaeda and IS [Islamic State].” In addition, the French urged greater access for humanitarian aid deliveries across Syria.

Moscow: Halt to strikes gives terrorists ‘cover’

The Russian Foreign Ministry said that the French-sponsored resolution “distorted” the real situation in Syria after the US refused to stick to the agreement on settling the crisis. The prohibition of flights over Aleppo “provides cover to terrorists from Jabhat al-Nusra” and those militants who allied with them, the Russian Foreign Ministry stated.

Moscow is nevertheless ready to work together on fulfilling the agreements reached earlier on resolving the deadlock in Syria, the Foreign Ministry added.

Russia for its part submitted to the UNSC a counter-resolution on Syria. According to the document, Moscow called for an immediate halt to the violence in war-ravaged Aleppo, but not for a halt to anti-terrorist strikes in the city. Monitoring should be then evaluated by the International Syrian Support Group (ISSG), the document said.

One of the key elements of the proposal was an urgent need for a separation of moderate rebels from terrorist groups like Al-Nusra in Aleppo, as agreed between Moscow and Washington in Geneva on September 9.

Commenting on the Russian resolution at the UNSC, the US representative stated that Moscow can’t justify its strikes in Aleppo with “a few hundred” al-Nusra terrorists there.

Howver according to the latest estimations by the UN between six and eight thousand militants are currently holding the eastern part of Aleppo, with nearly a half estimated to belong or act together with the al-Nusra terrorists.

Russian draft also strongly backed calls by the UN envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura to allow safe exit for Nusra terrorists in order to bring relief to Aleppo. On Thursday de Mistura said he is willing to personally escort them out.

“If you [Al-Nusra] did decide to leave, in dignity with your weapons, to Idlib or anywhere you wanted to go, I personally am ready, physically ready, to accompany you,” he said.

De Mistura, warned that East Aleppo might be destroyed within two months if the military action in the city continues.

Russia and the Syrian government have come under intense criticism from the US in recent days over the strikes in Aleppo. On Friday, US Secretary of State John Kerry said that the Russian and Syrian governments' actions in Syria "beg for an appropriate investigation of war crimes." He alleged that Moscow and Damascus have been “hitting hospitals, medical facilities,” in the war-ravaged country.

Russia and Syria have denied any wrongdoing, with Moscow insisting that any peace plan for Syria and Aleppo in particular will not bear fruit until the US-backed rebels clearly distance themselves from Al-Nusra. On Friday, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov said that the US had consistently failed to deliver on its promises to do so. "It has led to problems in identifying specific violators of the ceasefire,” Antonov said.

During the UNSC session, Churkin “regretted” that New Zealand’s push for a document combining Russian and French proposals has not been given any consideration in the Council.

"We know that New Zealand tried to work out a draft resolution that would [be] in the middle of the two approaches presented today. We regret that some influential members of the Council did not allow to set your project going,” he said.

Oct 7, 2016

Washington has threatened to impose "costs" on Russia outside the UN, over the Syrian conflict. It may mark the starkest warning so far from the U.S., which has been ramping up anti-Russian rhetoric in recent weeks, moving from criticism to direct threats. However just a month ago, U.S.-Russia talks on the Syrian peace process seemed warm and friendly.

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/

Pentagon Begins Low-Intensity, Stealth War in Syria

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article45626.htm

ISIS, Not Russia, Is the Enemy in Syria

Published on Oct 10, 2016

A mortar attack on a Syrian government-controlled area of Aleppo has resulted in numerous casualties, RT’s Murad Gazdiev reported from the embattled city.

The RT crew has recorded the aftermath of the deadly attack in western Aleppo. It was not immediately clear how many people were killed and injured in the overnight shelling.

According to Syrian state news agency SANA, at least four people were killed and 14 others injured after rocket shells targeted al-Hamadaneyah neighborhood in Aleppo on Monday night.

RT’s Murad Gazdiev earlier explored the dangers faced by civilians in what was once the second-largest Syrian city, now split between government forces and terrorist groups, including Al-Nusra Front, an Al-Qaeda affiliate.