Syria army says Turkey increases arms shipments to rebels

Reuters ^ | November 28th, 2015 | by Tom Perry

[Mariner]

The Syrian army said on Saturday that Turkey had recently increased supplies of weapons, ammunition and equipment to what it described as terrorists in Syria, and accused its northern neighbor of firing shells at Syrian army positions.

"We have certain information that the Turkish government has recently increased its support to the terrorists and the level of their supplies of weapons, ammunition and equipment necessary to continue their criminal acts," an army statement said.

The Syrian government describes as terrorists all the groups fighting President Bashar al-Assad in the 4-1/2-year-long war that has moved into a higher gear since Russia intervened militarily on the side of Damascus with air strikes on Sept. 30.

Tensions at the Syrian-Turkish border have risen since Turkey shot down a Russian warplane on Tuesday. Many of Russia's air strikes have hit rebels backed by Assad's foreign enemies including Turkey, Saudi Arabia and the United States.

The statement by the Syrian army command alleged that weapons were being delivered in shipments which Turkey claimed to be humanitarian assistance. It also alleged the weapons were supplied in exchange for looted Syrian and Iraqi antiquities and oil sold at low prices.

[Mariner]

Who can figure out Erdogan's end game?

[SpaceBar]

Wasn’t Turkey behind a recent shipment of 800 shotguns seized by EU authorities headed for Belgium?

[Paladin2]

A-10s and the Russian equivalent can’t keep the roads across the border shutdown 24/7?

[Mastador1]

Wasn’t Turkey behind a recent shipment of 800 shotguns seized by EU authorities headed for Belgium?

Well that must have been because shotguns are hard to come by in Belgium! </sarc>

[tcrlaf]

There is lots of vague chatter about Turkish troop and tank movements toward the Syrian Border on Twitter, but nothing solid or confirmed.

[wrench]

Germany just sent some RECCE Tornados to help with the Rusian based coalition. Eyes in the sky should spot these movements

[Mariner]

"There is lots of vague chatter about Turkish troop and tank movements toward the Syrian Border on Twitter, but nothing solid or confirmed"

And, you can bet your sweet bippy that the next Turk F-16 that crosses the Syrian border will not return to base.

[Polynikes]

“There is lots of vague chatter about Turkish troop and tank movements toward the Syrian Border”

I have been hearing the same thing. Some speculate Erdogan is crazy enough to attempt outright annexation of northern Syria to secure a “safe zone” for the “rebels” (read ISIS).

All bets are off if that goes down. Putin won't stand for that and the war starts to go regional. If we aren't in a full out shooting war by 1/1/2016 I will be surprised.

Half-assed bombings with crazy ROE don't count.

[Mariner]

"Germany just sent some RECCE Tornados to help with the Rusian based coalition"

Source?

I know France is encouraging the UK to join up.

[LeoWindhorse]

the Assad family has a long history of arranging for massive IED’s ...maybe it’s Erdogan’s turn?

[amorphous]

A story from the 26th. I've also read Russia hit some of these munition shipments.

As you can see, it's about five km from the Turkish border. Speaking of buffer zones, Turkey was expecting to make this city an absolute springboard, out of reach of Syrian army strikes. It did not happen. But until today, due to the remoteness of the Syrian army from it, as well as a number of geopolitical reasons, attacks were not mounted on this city.

But today the Russian air force eliminated an entire column of trucks loaded with supplies intended for the militants, there since yesterday. In any other comparable situation, the Turkish government and Erdogan in person, would have complained of Russia bombing trucks laden with Humanitarian Aid, but now, they can't afford to.

Thus Russia continues wiping out all objectives near the Turkish border, utterly ignoring the interests of Turkey (previously observed). It can now be affirmed that Turkey no longer is getting cheap oil, the militants can't get normal supplies, and border crossings by Turkish vehicles will be stopped by strikes from the Russian Air Force.

Since yesterday, Russia has been mounting massive air and artillery strikes (with the Syrian army) in the border areas with Turkey. And it means the destruction of the supply infrastructure, which was established by Turkey in these years of the war in Syria.

http://fortruss.blogspot.com/2015/11/russia-destroys-turkish-truck-convoy.html

[wrench]

http://www.timesofisrael.com/germany-to-send-tornado-reconnaissance-jets-to-fight-is/

http://www.dw.com/en/how-german-tornado-jets-can-help-the-anti-is-alliance-in-syria/a-18878778

http://airheadsfly.com/2015/11/26/german-recce-tornados-to-syria/

[Patton@Bastogne]

political suicide ? Obama’s siccaro ?

[4rcane]

Those rebels aren’t really homegrown rebels, but actually Turkey military

[sheik yerbouty]

Yes.

[Pearls Before Swine]

A no go zone, as enforced by the Russians, makes a hell of a lot more sense than the no-fly zone floated around in the US by chicken hawks like McCain, Graham, and Rubio.

[JimSEA]

Turkey has quite a few Islam lite citizens who want a secular government. These are just the sort of people ISIS enjoys beheading or otherwise killing in sadistic manners. Erdogan has some difficult times ahead.

[Bobalu]

Putin ain’t puttin up with no Ho Chi Minh trail kinda $hit!

[Bobalu]