Gunfire and artillery could be heard in the Syrian border town of Ras al-Ain, the scene of the heaviest fighting for the last few days, by journalists just across the border in Turkey Friday morning and afternoon. But the town stood silent by Friday evening.
Daily Archives: 18. Oktober 2019
Just spoke to President @RTErdogan of Turkey. He told me there was minor sniper and mortar fire that was quickly eliminated. He very much wants the ceasefire, or pause, to work. Likewise, the Kurds want it, and the ultimate solution, to happen.
Too bad there wasn’t…..
…..this thinking years ago. Instead, it was always held together with very weak bandaids, & in an artificial manner. There is good will on both sides & a really good chance for success.
#SAA reinforcements from Hasaka enter Manajir which is located ~19.4 km away from border city of Ras al-Ayn / Serêkaniyê.
+++Syria army has entered the village „Gharnatah“, west of Tal-Tamr city. #Twitterkurds #Rojava #SDF #Turkey #Syria #SAA
Erdogan: We cannot engage in the fight against terrorist organizations forever. Therefore, President Assad should take on the fight against terrorism in his country.
#BREAKING Pentagon says no US ground force will help enforce Syria safe zone
Is this how we‘ll live on Mars?
„The climate crisis is — rightly — frightening a lot of people, and there is a tendency to think of Mars as a sort of escape hatch for humanity, a planet B, which is very dangerous and problematic,“ said Watson.
This is the signed paper deal btw #SDF & #Damascus regarding the distribution of regime army in Northern #Syria: – SAA to be stationed in #Manbij frontline toward #Kobani & all the way to west Tal Abyad. – In Tal Tamir toward Ras al-Ain all the way to #Qamishlo & south of Derik.
(15.10.2019)
YPG pullout begins as safe zone deal improves: Erdoğan
“I have contacted the Defense Ministry. They have told me that the withdrawal has begun. Our security forces in the area will remain there,” he told reporters after Friday prayers on Oct. 18.
Turkish Proxies Appear to Be Using White Phosphorus in Syria
Turkish-backed forces appear to be using munitions loaded with white phosphorus—a chemical that can maim and kill when it comes in contact with human flesh—in their violent campaign against Kurdish fighters in northern Syria, Foreign Policy has learned.
If Turkish proxies are intentionally using white phosphorous-loaded munitions to target civilians, that could constitute a war crime. After publication of this article, U.N.-backed investigators said they were looking into the accusations.
Nach Halle: Innenminister präsentieren Wunschkatalog für neue Überwachungsmaßnahmen
In Zeiten, wo vielen zivilgesellschaftlichen Projekten gegen Rechts die Gelder gestrichen wird, gibt es wenigstens ein Lippenbekenntnis der Innenminister, dass eine „nachhaltige Bekämpfung von Extremismus aller Art“ immer auch „gute Präventionsarbeit“ voraussetze.
German armed forces training with NATO partners for defense with nuclear weapons: report
In its latest Nuclear Notebook column published in May 2019, Hans Kristensen, director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists (FAS), had estimated that 20 nuclear warheads from the United States were still stored at the Buechel airbase.
The German government did not provide an official confirmation about foreign nuclear weapons in the country so far.
Deutschland muss sich endlich ehrlich machen
Die Bundesregierung hat verstanden – die neuen Exportrichtlinien enthalten eine sogenannte de-minimis-Regelung: Exporte von Ländern mit noch laxeren Vorschriften sollen generell unproblematisch sein, wenn ein deutscher Produktanteil von 20 Prozent nicht überschritten wird.
Die Militarisierung der Ostsee
Die NATO und das Marinekommando in Rostock
Australische Abschottungspolitik „Regierung will sich nicht die Hände schmutzig machen“
Protest gegen Australiens Flüchtlingspolitik und die Zustände in Lagern auf Papua-Neuguinea. Ein Gespräch mit Helen L. Fox
Der ganze Bereich ist privatisiert, weil sich die Regierung nicht die Hände schmutzig machen will. Transport, Bewachung, Unterbringung, Versorgung – das ist alles privat, alles »Big Business«, mit großen Profiten für die Auftragnehmer.
Kolumbien: Sieben Kandidaten ermordet
Aufgeklärt werden die Verbrechen fast nie, in kaum einem Fall ist es bislang zu einer Festnahme und Verurteilung der Täter gekommen.
Venezuela in den UN-Menschenrechtsrat aufgenommen
Die Wahl Venezuelas ist ein herber Rückschlag für die USA und ihre Verbündeten, darunter Deutschland. Sie hatten Anfang des Jahres den selbsternannten Interimspräsidenten Juan Guaidó anerkannt.
Venezuela, Brazil Become New Members in UN Human Rights Council
The U.N. General Assembly elected a total 14 Human Rights Council members on Thursday from five regional blocs. Germany, the Netherlands, Libya, Mauritania, Namibia and Sudan were elected uncontested but still needed to win a majority vote.
Peru: Erneute Konfrontation zwischen Gegnern von Bergbauprojekten und Polizei
Auf die repressiven Räumungsmaßnahmen der Polizei mit Tränengas und Schrotgeschossen antworteten die Streikposten mit Steinschleudern. Obwohl es der Polizei gelungen ist, die Blockade aufzulösen, bleibt die Versorgungslage der von dem multinationalen chinesischen Unternehmen MMG betriebenen Kupferminen angespannt, da weiterhin acht wichtige Zufahrtswege unterbrochen sind.
Gantz reportedly looking to form minority government with Liberman’s backing
If tasked with assembling coalition, Blue and White chief plans to invite Likud to unity talks, knowing it won’t show up, and then move forward without majority support
I asked @netanyahu this AM if he had any response to the ceasefire. “We hope things will turn out for the best,” he said. @SecPompeo did not answer Qs from @jakesNYT & me about reported violations to the ceasefire.
DEVELOPING: Turkish soldier killed by shots fired across the border from Iran during a border patrol – Turkey’s Defence Ministry
Clash in safe zone out of question, disinformation: Erdoğan
Clash in safe zone between Turkish forces and YPG/PKK terrorists is out of the question, and disinformation, Turkish president said on Oct. 18
Despite the agreement to halt the fighting, air and artillery attacks continue to target the positions of fighters, civilian settlements and the hospital in Serêkaniyê/Ras al-Ayn. Turkey is violating the ceasefire agreement by continuing to attack the town since last night.
Who is Mazloum Kobani and why does he have Trump’s confidence?
US President Donald Trump’s letter to the President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan was widely derided for its stream of consciousness and the unusual tone that discards accepted diplomatic etiquette normally accepted from a national leader.
One thing in the letter stood out in particular.
Kurdish leader says Trump promised he would protect the Kurds
Gen. Mazloum Kobani, commander in chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces, told NBC News in an interview that he recently spoke to Trump and was assured that „there would not be a massacre against the Kurds“ and that Trump would stop the invasion immediately.
The SDF commander, Mazloum Kobani, said he had agreed with the Americans that there would be a ceasefire in two areas about 100km apart, along the border where there was heavy fighting, Ras al-Ain, and Tal Abyad.
Honored to lead this delegation on behalf of President @realDonaldTrump. Thank you @SecPompeo, NSA Robert O‘Brien and Ambassador James Jeffrey for your dedication and hard work in Turkey.
Turkey and US agree ceasefire with Syria Kurds
In an official statement posted on Facebook, the General Command of the Syrian Democratic Forces said: “Based on the request and approval of the Syrian Democratic Forces, with United States mediation represented by Vice President Mr. Mike Pence, today, an agreement for an immediate ceasefire between the Syrian Democratic Forces and the Turkish state along the front lines extending from Ras al-Ain/Sari Kani from the east to Tel Abyad city in the west was reached.”
Rudaw’s Roj Eli Zala in #Qamishli said people came onto the street to celebrate the #Turkey #ceasefire deal. “As the press conference was still going on the people started shooting into the air. Lots of celebratory fire,” Zala said.
I am the only person who can fight for the safety of our troops & bring them home from the ridiculous & costly Endless Wars, and be scorned. Democrats always liked that position, until I took it. Democrats always liked Walls, until I built them. Do you see what’s happening here?
Pompeo to meet Netanyahu as US alliances questioned
While Netanyahu parades in front of the public his close friendship with Trump — his Twitter background is a cropped photo of him at the White House shaking hands with the American president — a lack of recent displays of support have onlookers speculating about tension between the two leaders.
Energy Secretary Rick Perry told Trump he intends to step down
Perry, formerly the governor of Texas, had largely avoided headlines since joining the Trump administration in 2017. But in recent weeks he became entangled in the Democratic-led impeachment probe into Trump‘s actions involving Ukraine.