#Putin’s put Gen. Sergey Surovikin in command of the whole #Ukraine campaign — he’s a brutal, calculated leader.
It was Surovikin who coordinated the unilateral violation of 3/4 of #Syria’s “de-escalation zones,” methodically crippling the opposition & sealing #Assad’s survival.
#Ukraine clearly presents a challenge of completely different proportions to #Syria — but seeing Surovikin promoted to lead in #Ukraine is yet more evidence of just how *central* #Putin’s war in #Syria has been to his wider international ambitions.
Surovikin’s command in #Syria also coincided with the Khan Sheikhoun Sarin nerve agent attack, which killed 90 civilians & injured 500+.
A little known fact — #Russian troops were present (within eyesight) at Shayrat Airbase as the Sarin was loaded onto Syrian aircraft.
Another aspect relevant to Surovkin’s appointment to #Ukraine command is his *close* operational ties with #Wagner — dating back to #Syria in 2016-17. Prigozhin has already lauded his appointment today.
Qs surround Surovkin’s role in precipitating the “Battle of Khasham” in ‘18.
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Last decade, the #Obama admin chose diplomacy with #Russia, betraying #Syria's opposition & abandoning millions in favor of a hopeless mission.
To see those who defended that policy -- while slamming those of us who critiqued it -- now doing a 180 is galling, to say the least.
Whether in 2013 after 1,000 civilians were killed by nerve gas; or 2015 when #Russia intervened; or 2017 when we submitted to #Moscow's "de-escalation" ruse -- the #Obama admin line, across the board, was:
- 'You want WW3? Really?'
- 'Challenging #Russia is just impossible.'
The #Obama admin's appeasement of #Russia & repeated insistence that #Putin was a logical actor with whom we could reach peaceful compromise damned #Syria into intractable misery -- & contributed to much bigger knock-on effects:
@ckubeNBC@carolelee@MiddleEastInst@ICSR_Centre@StateDeptCT The past 6 months has seen a tidal change in momentum on what we're calling 'the detainee dilemma' -- there's a growing consensus to repatriate women & kids, with 3+ European govts planning repatriation ops this month alone & #Australia doing a 180° shift to do so too.
NEW - U.S. special forces launched a helicopter-borne raid in #Assad-controlled territory ~15km south of #Qamishli in NE #Syria overnight, killing a senior #ISIS leader & capturing several others alive.
That’s the 1st op in regime-held areas since Abu Ghadiya in Oct 2008.
Some local sources claim at least 2 of those captured alive were members of a local pro-#Assad militia — but that remains unconfirmed.
Not clear if the deconfliction line with #Russia was used. #Russian aircraft & personnel are stationed at #Qamishli airport, not far away.
The #Qamishli area is an old stomping ground for #ISIS since AQI days, where #Assad’s Military Intel ran a ‘clearing house’ for AQI foreign fighters heading to #Iraq & for a time, a paramilitary training base.
From ‘03-‘08, 1,000s of AQI foreign fighters passed through the area.
#Putin's call for a "partial" mobilization is the clearest sign yet that his #Ukraine invasion has been a pitiful failure.
That flights from Russia to its immediate neighbors are now selling out at 100mph tells you everything you need to know.
We *must* keep the pressure on.
#Putin's nuclear threat, meanwhile, should be taken even less seriously than 6 months ago -- anyone who actually says "this isn't a bluff" has already lost his/her own credibility.
Following through on the threat would kill off his few remaining friendships -- chiefly #China.
On days like this, the "we must give #Putin an off ramp ASAP" camp will speak up -- but such a gut response only benefits #Putin & repeats our mistakes of the past.
If #Putin wants an out, he has to be the one to ask (or plead) for one. It's actually happened before, in #Syria.
@MaltaGov That Syrians are still fleeing for #Europe is no surprise, particularly those in #Lebanon where authorities are preparing to *illegally force* them back to #Syria.
5+ million #Syria refugees remain in neighboring states & polling suggests ~0.5% would consider an eventual return.
@MaltaGov Why do almost all #Syria refugees refuse to consider any future return to #Syria?
The answer is obvious when you glance across basic facts -- see this thread from last week:
NEW -- reports of a possible #Israel airstrikes hitting #Iran-linked targets in the western edge of #Aleppo International Airport as well as a section of the runway.
Here's video filmed showing #Aleppo International Airport in the distance -- showing multiple successive explosions.
Reports now coming in of possible airstrikes in #Latakia too.
*Highly* unusual to see #Aleppo International Airport targeted, or the Neirab Airbase next-door -- it speaks volumes about #Israel's perceived need to respond to #Iran's activities in #Syria.