Who's Stoking War Tensions Between Turkey and Russia?

Think about how disturbed the US is with Turkey's purchase of the s-400. The pipeline deals. Banking/trade deals. All made between Turkey and Russia. The threat to NATO's stability... since Turkey and Russia have been working together. This subject was broached in today's earlier post:

The Day After the S-400: Turkish American Relations Worsen

Then consider what party/ies wants.... needs, Turkey and Russia to be at odds with one another...

"it appears that HTS is seeking to provoke the Syrian regime and Russia into a larger attack with the hopes that Russia and Turkey might end up in a conflict. This is a complex and dangerous game. Turkey has announced numerous times recently that it is acquiring the S-400 air defense system from Russia. Most recently, Turkish personnel were supposed to begin training. At the same time, the US is seeking to keep Turkey as an ally through various threats and rewards, but angry that Ankara is buying the S-400 from Russia. There are hints that US President Donald Trump will speak with Turkey’s president soon. Idlib rebel groups and extremists would like to spoil the Turkey-Russia deal. It’s not clear what they think of the Turkey-US relationship.
 

Russian media may also be playing this up to send a message to Turkey that it needs to rein in the rebels and stop the rockets. In that case, Russia is also making it clear that the Idlib tensions need to be reduced. It is incumbent on Turkey to do more to prevent the groups in Idlib from targeting Russian forces. However, Russia also has a key role to play to prevent the Syrian regime from its recent attacks on Idlib. The Syrian regime’s agenda is also to prevent Turkey from entrenching itself forever in northern Syria. With Russia-Turkey ties increasing over the S-400 deal and energy deals, both Ankara and Moscow do not want war in Syria.

Which begs the questions.. who does want war in Syria?
What party/ies have always wanted Syria balkanized?
Who wants Russia and Turkey at odds with one another?
Who stands to lose large if Russian and Turkish ties grow stronger and deeper?

The Day After the S-400: Turkish American Relations Worsen

The Day After S-400: The Turkish-American Relationship Will Get Worse

For the geo political minded. Excerpts from a large, but interesting article.

"For the 500 or so days since Turkey and Russia signed an agreement for the acquisition and eventual deployment of the Russian S-400 air and missile system, the United States has sought to convince Turkey to back out. The United States is concerned that the Russian-made S-400 will collect valuable electronic intelligence about F-35, the American-made fighter jet Turkey is slated to receive in November. Talks between Washington and Ankara have taken place at the presidential level, amongst different elements of the civilian bureaucracy, between the two militaries, and at the parliamentary level — with no success. At this point, the United States needs to start planning for the day after the first S-400 is delivered. This exercise should inform U.S. thinking about how to plan around an increasingly recalcitrant Turkey and prepare for a future in which Ankara remains a NATO member, but one that operates an advanced Russian system that could help Russia glean useful data about the alliance’s air operations. Turkey risks legacy and current U.S.-Turkish defense co-production and development programs if it continues to deepen defense cooperation with Russia. For the United States, the situation is less bleak — in fact, searching for alternatives to Turkish military assets provide some strategic opportunities in Eastern Europe and the Middle East. Still, working around Turkey will be financially and politically costly for NATO. The deepest, most intractable problem is what the dustup reveals about Turkey’s lack of commitment to the core NATO tenets of interoperability, burden-sharing and collective defense — an outcome that weakens the entirety of the alliance, including the United States......
Deepening Turkish-Russian Defense Ties
Since the late 1970s, in procurement negotiations with Western aerospace firms, the Turkish government has prioritized co-producing and developing defense equipment in Turkey. In the case of S-400, Ankara departed from this historical norm and agreed to weaker co-production terms than it had previously demanded of firms in the United States and Europe. This is disconcerting, but could actually help shield legacy U.S.-Turkish defense cooperation from being negatively impacted by the deal with Russia. However, if Ankara were to actually reach agreement for the co-production of combat aircraft, like the Russian Su-57, as the foreign and defense ministers have hinted is being discussed, things could get worse. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has underscored a willingness to explore deeper ties with Russia. In an interview with Turkey’s NTV that “if the F-35s don’t work out, I will again have to procure the jets I need from elsewhere … There are [Russian] SU-34, SU-57 and others. I will absolutely meet my needs from somewhere until I can produce it myself.”

Sergei Chemezov, the CEO of Russia’s Rostec Corporation, has suggested that his firm would consider a request from Turkey “about the production localization or technology transfer” for the Su-57 jet. Chemezov also added that Moscow would consider working with Turkey on S-500, a surface to air missile still under development in Russia, and which President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has cited as missile Turkey intends to “co-produce with Russia.” Moscow has an incentive to hold key technology back, owing to Turkey’s membership in NATO and legitimate concerns that the United States could exploit Russian-origin technology in Turkey.....

 ....if the two sides were to reach an arrangement similar to the now-defunct Russian-Indian partnership for the production of an Su-57 variant that involves Turkish aerospace firms, the risk to U.S.-Turkish defense programs will grow more acute. Specifically, If Ankara were to reach agreement with Russia to co-produce components of either of these systems, the United States could decide that Russia could gain access to U.S. origin defense equipment, resulting in the revocation of licenses for U.S.-controlled technology.

All of this matters for the United States. Independent of the bilateral tensions, Washington has a very strong interest in each NATO member having a strong military, capable of working closely with the United States. But a weakened Turkey, faced with American sanctions, could choose to deepen its reliance on Russia. This outcome will benefit Russia, but at this point, Moscow is playing with house money because of Ankara’s initial decision to purchase the S-400.

America’s Options: NATO’s New Eastern Flank

Beyond the risk to legacy defense cooperation, the United States will soon have to contend with how to plan NATO training exercises if it can’t trust Turkey to protect the F-35. The first and most tangible outcome may require moving the F-35 engine maintenance facility from Eskisehir, Turkey, to the Netherlands. As part of Turkey’s participation in the F-35 consortium, it is currently slated to serve as Europe’s primary engine maintenance hub. This is certain to change, given the concerns about flying allied F-35s in and out of S-400-patrolled Turkish airspace. Second, in any future NATO air exercise in Turkey, NATO countries could simply choose not to send F-35 for joint training.

It would be imprudent not to expect Ankara to take some retaliatory measures, most likely aimed at aspects of the U.S.-Turkish defense relationship. Retaliating in this fashion is complicated because of Turkey’s NATO membership and the terms in the Defense and Economic Cooperation Agreement (DECA). The agreement limits U.S. military activities in and from Turkish military bases to NATO-related missions, meaning the Turkish government must approve any so-called “out of area” missions. In theory, Turkey could retaliate against the withholding of F-35 by preventing the United States from using Turkish territory for combat operations in the Middle East. This reaction would ensure that Turkey’s role within NATO remains intact, but also that the United States feels some pain for the forthcoming sanctions.

This would mean Turkey would still host an American operated TPY/2 radar because it supports NATO’s effort to field ballistic missile defense to protect European populations from missile attack. The radar provides early warning and discrimination data for the two Aegis ashore missile defense sites at Romania’s Deveselu Air Force Base and Poland’s Redzikowo Air Force Base. These two bases also provide the United States with options to work around Turkey. Romania and Poland are two countries that would welcome an increased U.S. presence. The United States should consider increasing funding to support American and NATO air operations from the Polish and Romanian air bases."

NATO's eastern flank has been discussed here previously- It has the convenient aspect of working to keep Russia in check


Going back to 2014: US Paratroopers go to Poland & Poland Largest Nation on NATO Frontline

 "Both Poland and Turkey are frontier NATO states, with Poland being described as “the largest and most important NATO frontline state in terms of military, political and economic power.” These two geostrategic states also have an overwhelming population when compared to their neighbors, as well as national inferiority complexes stemming from their lost imperial legacies (the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Ottoman Empire). They share a significant land border with the states targeted for a ‘democratic transition’, as well as important cultural and political connections with those societies (as a result of the aforementioned imperial legacies)"

 2018: NATO Needs a Strategy for Countering Russia in the Arctic and the Black Sea

Eastern Flank con't:

"This move would increase U.S. basing options in Europe, while using the Russian entente with Turkey as an opportunity to increase NATO presence along the alliance’s eastern periphery. In essence, Washington could flip the script and use Russia’s outreach to Turkey to its advantage, deepening its presence in eastern Europe and reminding Moscow of American capabilities at the edges of Russian territory....."

Greece- An alternative to Turkey

Readers have certainly been informed of this possibility!

Recently: One and Two  reports on the topic

"Greece could emerge as another attractive candidate. One option is Andravida Air Force Base, which hosts the INIOHOS multinational exercise involving aircraft from Cyprus, Italy, Israel, and the United Arab Emirate, alongside the Hellenic and American Air Forces. A second option is increasing the U.S. footprint at Larissa Air Base. The Air Base currently hosts U.S. drones, as their permanent base in Africa undergoes repairs. Moreover, according to the local Greek Daily, Kathimerini, there are talks to base KC-135 tankers at Larissa. A U.S. presence at either Air Base would offer increased protection from long-range Russian missiles, while also increasing the U.S. footprint in the Mediterranean NATO member."

U.S. Says Signs Syria May Be Using Chemical Weapons- Response Will Be Quick

Reuters UK

The United States sees signs the Syrian government may be using chemical weapons, including an alleged chlorine attack on Sunday in northwest Syria, the State Department said on Tuesday, warning that Washington and its allies would respond “quickly and appropriately” if this were proven.

“Unfortunately, we continue to see signs that the Assad regime may be renewing its use of chemical weapons, including an alleged chlorine attack in northwest Syria on the morning of May 19,” State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in a statement.

“We are still gathering information on this incident, but we repeat our warning that if the Assad regime uses chemical weapons, the United States and our allies will respond quickly and appropriately,” she said.

The State Department statement accused Russia and Assad’s forces of “a continuing disinformation campaign ... to create the false narrative that others are to blame for chemical weapons attacks.” 

This claim is certainly making the rounds:

1. Daily Mail: Trump Admin Warns Assad Gov 
2.  CNN

The US State Department issued a warning to the government of Bashar al-Assad in Syria on Tuesday, saying the US is closely watching the regime's military operations against a rebel enclave in northwest Syria and is looking into allegations that Assad's troops have used chemical weapons in recent days.

"Watching the regime's military operations" that is an interesting claim. 
Since I noticed there was little to no western media coverage reporting on the fact that a ceasefire had been declared. Days ago.

• Syria: Army Declares Unilateral Ceasefire- Israel attacks. Again.

• Turkey and Russia Negotiate to Reach a Ceasefire: Idlib/Syria

 Sputnik

Terrorists in Syria are planning chemical attacks in the Idlib deescalation zone, as well as in the west of the Aleppo province, the head of the Russian center for Syrian reconciliation said on Tuesday.

"The militants plan to stage such provocations in the village of Jarjanaz, as well as in the town of Saraqib, where a group of children and adults — refugees from the southern provinces of Syria — have already been gathered.

Similar preparations are underway in the west of Aleppo province", Maj. Gen. Viktor Kupchishin said at a daily briefing.

Two shells are  reported to have landed in Aleppo

 Two shells fall in the centre of the Syrian city of Aleppo, Reuters reported citing Syria’s Ikhbariya television.

 Gotta say I'm getting that feeling the US and friends are looking for an excuse. Any excuse.
What will tomorrow bring?

Russian Ceasefire Likely Affords Temporary Delay in Idlib

   Agreed that this ceasefire is temporary- It looks, from where I'm sitting on the other side of the world, that SAA got done what it needed to do for now. Meanwhile Turkey and Russia negotiate..
See the earlier post from today.

• Assad: We Met With Hakan Fidan In Tehran & Ready to Meet With Erdogan

 Janes

I'm underlining and have placed an * beside the points that seem valid:

 Janes-*The Russian Ministry of Defence unilaterally announced a ceasefire in the opposition-held Idlib pocket on 19 May.

Previously- Syria: Army Declares Unilateral Ceasefire- Israel attacks. Again

 Previously- Turkey and Russia Negotiate to Reach a Ceasefire: Idlib/Syria

Janes: *This followed a limited advance by government forces into northern Hama province in recent weeks, in which the government captured the town of Kafr Nabouda and neighbouring villages, reportedly displacing around 150,000 civilians.

   *The Syrian government's military objective in Idlib is most likely to recapture the M4 and M5 highways and the Sahl al-Ghab valley.

*The Syrian government does not have the military capacity to retake and hold all remaining opposition-held territories in northwestern Syria in a conventional operation.

It is instead likely to rely on the indiscriminate use of airstrikes, artillery, and potentially chlorine, to drive out the civilian population and stoke up a catastrophic humanitarian crisis that will make it increasingly difficult for the opposition to hold ground and ultimately force the opposition and its sponsor  (I do think that) Turkey (is) into negotiating a political settlement on the Syrian government's (and Russia's) terms. (Terms that all three parties will agree to and comply with)

*Offensive ground operations by the Syrian government will most likely focus on capturing areas of strategic value, such as the M4 and M5 highways, which connect Syria's economic capital of Aleppo to Latakia and Homs, and the fertile agricultural land of the Sahl al-Ghab valley.

   * The progress of military action in Idlib is partially dependent on ongoing negotiations between Turkey and Russia over other regional issues.

As critical military sponsors of the Syrian government and armed opposition, respectively, *Russia and Turkey are likely to use their influence over the conflict in Idlib to strengthen their respective negotiating positions on other regional issues, such as the fate of Kurdish-held northeastern Syria, and Turkey's acquisition of Russia's S-400 surface-to-air missile system.

*The success of any Syrian government offensive into Idlib relies on Russian approval and air support. Russia is likely to enable and, if necessary, halt the progress of the government's offensive in line with Turkey's willingness or ability to accede to Russian demands on other issues.

 There's been a whole lot of coverage here on Hama/Idlib, recently. Syria and all that it entails have been a core topic at this blog since 2011.

• Syrian Situation Report: Israeli Airstrikes? (Breaking) Hama/Idlib

• U.S. terminates Turkey's preferential trade agreement.... Economic warfare continues

• A Quagmire in the Making? Turkey to Move East in Syria?

Related:

1. Syria: Blow by Blow 4- Hama to Idlib

2. US Backed Kurds Kill Protestors- Idlib/Hama Update

3. "Russia and Turkey landgrab 'behind fresh Syria bombardment' "

4. Syria: Blow by Blow 3- Idlib, Opening Highways/Taking Higher Ground?

5. Syria: Blow by Blow Updated

6. Syria: Blow by Blow

Assad: We Met With Hakan Fidan In Tehran & Ready to Meet With Erdogan

I've zero doubt that Syrian intelligence has met with Turkish intelligence. 
And continues to meet with them. It only makes sense that there is communication.

Link

President Bashar al-Assad has revealed that a Syrian delegation met with the head of Turkish intelligence, Hakan Fidan, in the Iranian capital Tehran, and held another meeting at the Kassab border crossing, and expressed his readiness to meet Erdogan.

Assad added that, “the Turkish officers are more understanding about what is happening in our country than Turkish politicians. There are major differences regarding Syria in Erdogan’s government.”

This came during statements Assad made to a Turkish journalist, Mehmet Yuva, from the Aydinlik newspaper, saying: “We are open to cooperating with Turkey … and if it is in Syria’s interests and does not encroach on its sovereignty, we can meet Erdogan.”

Assad held a closed meeting with representatives of official and private media on May 8, 2019, responding to journalists’ questions about all local and regional issues.

For his article, Yuva used the headline: “Paranoia… will a meeting be held between Assad and Erdogan?” He wrote that Assad said that “Turkey is an important country in the region and the Syrian government is ready to cooperate with them.”

In discussing the meeting between the two countries, Assad stressed that, “we are not just negotiating with Turkey through Russia and Iran. Turkish and Syrian officers have discussed a number of points.”

It's been suggested here on many an occasion that Syria negotiates with Turkey through Russia. And vice versa.

Assad revealed that, “The most important of these negotiations were at the Kassab border crossing between the Turkish province of Hatay and the Syrian province of Latakia.”

Assad and delegation were  in Tehran Feb. 25/2019 "Rare trip abroad"

 

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad met Iranian officials in his first visit to the Islamic Republic since the start of the Syrian conflict, Syrian state media reported. 

Assad met Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Hassan Rouhani on his first trip to Iran since the war erupted nearly eight years ago. Assad has only ventured outside his war-ravaged nation twice since the conflict began, both times to Russia.

Turkish and Russian Defence Ministers Talk Idlib

Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar and his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu spoke on Monday about reducing tensions in northern Syria's Idlib, the last major rebel enclave in the country.

"MoD Akar discussed over the phone with his Russian counterpart Shoigu regional security issues, especially the latest developments in Syria’s Idlib province and measures to be taken to reduce the tension in the area, within the scope of the Sochi agreement," the Turkish Ministry of Defence said in a tweet on Monday.

MoD Akar discussed over the phone with his Russian counterpart Shoigu regional security issues, especially the latest developments in Syria’s Idlib province and measures to be taken to reduce the tension in the area, within the scope of the Sochi agreement. pic.twitter.com/ngI9H8T7p2
    — T.C. Millî Savunma Bakanligi (@tcsavunma) 20 Mayis 2019
 

Syria: Army Declares Unilateral Ceasefire- Israel attacks. Again.

Continuing with coverage of Hama/Idlib. From yesterday: Turkey and Russia Negotiate to Reach a Ceasefire: Idlib/Syria

Link

MOSCOW

Russia says Syrian government forces have unilaterally ceased fire in the northern Idlib province, the last major rebel stronghold.

Fighting erupted in Idlib late last month, effectively shattering a cease-fire negotiated by Russia and Turkey that had been in place since September. Russia has firmly backed President Bashar Assad's government in the eight-year civil war, while Turkey has supported the opposition.

In a brief statement on Sunday, the Russian Defense Ministry's Center for Reconciliation of the Warring Sides in Syria said government forces had ceased fire as of midnight. It described the move as unilateral, but did not give details.

Link

The centre continued by saying that the Syrian Army unilaterally ceased fire in Idlib starting from May 18.

"Starting from midnight [21:00 GMT on Friday], the Armed Forces of the Syrian Arab Republic unilaterally ceased fire in the Idlib de-escalation zone. At the same time, the shelling of the government forces' positions and civilian population in the provinces of Hama, Latakia and Aleppo by militants continue", the center said in a statement.

Doesn't mean the situation won't heat up in Idlib again. It just means for now SAA has taken the strategic ground they've needed to take- with coordination from Turkey (removing their rebels) And they are going to hold that area. 

If you've not been following along?

• A Quagmire in the Making? Turkey to Move East in Syria?

"For Russia and the Syrian regime, Turkish advances have been characterized by land swaps. This process began with the Olive Branch operation, when Turkey’s takeover of Afrin was accompanied by a Syrian military advance toward the former Hijaz railway in Aleppo Governorate. These swaps have not introduced any procedure for withdrawals, so that each side has been left on its respective battlefield."

1. Syria: Blow by Blow 4- Hama to Idlib

2. US Backed Kurds Kill Protestors- Idlib/Hama Update

3. "Russia and Turkey landgrab 'behind fresh Syria bombardment' "

4.  May 07/2019: Syria: Blow by Blow 3- Idlib, Opening Highways/Taking Higher Ground?

Included personal observations/thoughts as to what was occurring:

Appears a very targeted operation is going on at this moment.

I'm thinking a limited operation to take back specific territory.  

5- Syria: Blow by Blow Updated

6- Syria: Blow by Blow

Lastly: Israel did attack Syria. Again. Twice in 24 hours:
Link

Syria claimed its air defenses on Saturday night shot down a number of missiles fired from Israel, for the second time in less than 24 hours.

The official SANA news agency said the military intercepted “hostile targets coming from direction of occupied territories.” Syrian state TV said the missiles were shot down over Quneitra and near Damascus.

Link 

The report comes less than 24 hours after the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) said that Syrian air defence systems shot down a number of "luminous objects" launched from "occupied territories."

On Saturday, Syrian air defences fired at projectiles that were launched from Israeli-controlled areas into southern Syria, according to state media. The SANA correspondent reported from Quneitra Province that the "objects" were dealt with from the ground.
Meanwhile, videos of bright spots in the night, with the caption saying that Syrian air defences fired at targets coming from Israel, were published online. 

— Qalaat Al Mudiq (@QalaatAlMudiq) 18 мая 2019 г.

​This comes as on late Friday SANA reported that Syria repelled an attack by "luminous" objects launched from Israel and shot down a "number of them". The Ikhbariya broadcaster reported that the projectiles were fired from the "occupied territories," referring to Israel, but didn't specified the exact launch location.

Read more here: https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/nation-world/world/article230585394.html#storylink=cpy

Turkey and Russia Negotiate to Reach a Ceasefire: Idlib/Syria

Very early reports that a cease fire is being negotiated and possibly a truce of sorts is already in place. Yes, I'll be looking for more information and updating as soon as possible!
Continuing to follow the situation in Syria:

Syrian Situation Report: Israeli Airstrikes? (Breaking) Hama/Idlib

Link

Negotiations between Russia and Turkey are being conducted as to reach a ceasefire in Idlib governorate, 10 days from the start of the Assad forces’ military campaign in the area.

On Saturday, May 18, Abu Subbhi Nahass, the Head of the Political Office of the “National Front for Liberation” (NFL), said that there are negotiations between the Russians and the Turks as to reach a ceasefire in Idlib, at Russia’s request.

Nahass also told Enab Baladi that the negotiations are yet ongoing and nothing new has taken place.

Providing the details of the negotiation process, the official said that the Russian side demanded a ceasefire in Idlib, on the condition that Assad forces stay in the positions they controlled in western rural Hama in the past a few days.

Turkey approved the ceasefire. However, it stipulated that the Syrian regime withdraws from the areas it advanced to.

According to Nahass, Turkey presented the suggestion to the NFL factions, which they refused unless the regime retracts.

Neither the Syrian regime nor Russia has released any official statements on the ceasefire negotiations.

“A ceasefire was held on the fronts of Idlib and the rural parts of Hama and Latakia for 72 hours,” the Russian news agency Sputnik quoted a field officer of the Assad forces.

The field officer did not provide further details on the ceasefire, its reasons or how it was reached.

Through the generalization of the ceasefire, the Syrian regime, according to Abu Subbhi Nahass, wants to impose pressure on the factions depending on the popular incubator in Idlib.

“The factions agree on the ceasefire on the condition that the regime retreats from the towns and villages it occupied,” he said.

Enab Baladi correspondent for rural Hama reported that the Assad forces’ attacks on areas in rural Hama and the southern rural parts of Idlib have halted after midnight at Syria’s local time.

Quoting troops of the Free Syrian Army (FSA), the correspondent said that the area’s observatory posts have intercepted recordings of Assad forces’, they made through handheld transceivers. The recordings spoke of a ceasefire in Idlib governorate and the Hama countryside.

He said that the Assad forces started deploying Hesco bastions and fortifying the posts they have lately took over in northern rural Hama, which corresponded to the talks about the ceasefire.

In a WhatsApp voice note that reached Enab Baladi, Jaber Ali Basha, the Commander of the Harakat Ahrar al-Sham al-Islamiyya, said that the Russians have urgently called for an overall ceasefire, 12 days from the beginning of the military campaign, through which they realized no territorial achievements.

He added that the Russians have stipulated that they stay in the areas they entered, and “they have made their offer through the neighbors.”

“NFL’s reaction was clear and firm, a refusal of any ceasefire unless the sectarian militias retract from the towns and the villages they have occupied. Otherwise, we would go on with our battle,” the commander pointed out.

In the past 13 days, Assad forces managed to have control over several areas, taking them from the opposition factions in rural Hama. On top of these areas are the towns of Kafr Nabudah and Qalaat Al-Madiq, as far as the town of Al-Hwaiz, in al-Ghab Plain.

Despite their progress, Assad forces were massively repelled by the opposition factions that chose to deploy anti-armor missiles as to obstruct vehicles and tanks.

On September 17, 2018, Turkey and Russia concluded a deal in the city of Sochi, providing for the establishment of a demilitarized zone between the opposition-held areas and those controlled by the Syrian regime in Idlib.

The zone is 15 kilometers deep in Idlib and 20 kilometers in al-Ghab Plain, western rural Hama, from where the radical factions must withdraw.

Link

- A 72-hour temporary ceasefire has been declared in Northern Syria after the Syrian Army made rapid advances in terrorists' key military bases in the region, media reports said.

The Arabic-language version of the Russian Sputnik News Agency quoted a battlefield commander as saying that truce has been announced in battlefronts of Idlib, Hama and Lattakia for the next three days.

However, no further details of the reasons and the manner of implementing the truce have been announced.

In the meantime, the Syrian Army troops warded off attacks by Tahrir al-Sham al-Hay'at (the Levant Liberation Board or the Al-Nusra Front) terrorists on the towns of al-Masaseneh, al-Sahrieh and al-Amiqeh in Northwestern Hama, forcing them to retreat after killing a large number of the militants.

Meanwhile, the Syrian Army took full control of most vital military bases in Northern Hama after inflicting heavy losses on a large number of battlefield commanders.

In a relevant development on Thursday, the Syrian Army's fresh soldiers and military equipment arrived in Lattakia to capture a strategic region as other units of the army are in operation in the Northeastern part of the province.

The Syrian Army has recently dispatched a large number of its special forces together with military hardware to Kabane region in Northeastern Lattakia.

The Syrian Army plans to impose control over the Strategic Kabane region. The army's artillery units have pounded the military positions of Tahrir al-Sham al-Hay'at in Kabane region and its surrounding hilltops over the past two days, destroying several of their positions and tunnels.

Meantime, sources said that the Syrian Army's artillery and missile units hit hard the battlefronts of Tahrir al-Sham stretched from Sahl al-Ghab to Northeastern Lattakia, inflicting heavy losses on the terrorists.