“Russian Federation regrets this. We are not the initiators of this”.
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People gather around the rubble of a hospital supported by Doctors Without Borders (MSF) near Maaret al-Numan, in Syria’s northern province of Idlib, on February 15, after the building was hit by suspected Russian air strikes.
At the time of attack, 25 staff members were in the hospital.
And the USA is continuing to channel support to its own allies in Syria.
Between Wednesday of last week and Sunday night, the Turkish government, in league with Saudi Arabia, made a tentative decision to enter the war on the ground in Syria – and then got cold feet about it. Or more likely, the Turkish Army simply told the government that it would not invade Syria and risk the possibility of a shooting war with the Russians.
On Saturday, Saudi Arabia confirmed it had sent aircraft to the Incirlik air base in NATO-member Turkey for the fight against Islamic State. At least eight Saudi jets are expected to arrive soon.
The real settlement of this situation is going to take place on the ground between the contending forces, and what happens in Geneva is very much a secondary consideration.
Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said after talks in Washington earlier this month that any operation would be US-led but that Saudi Arabia would play a leading role.
But the bombings of at least five medical facilities and two schools in northern Syria, which the United Nations said Monday killed 50 people including children, have dimmed hopes for a ceasefire.
The Kremlin’s media machine has been just as quick to stymie any ceasefire prospects, accusing Turkey of escalating the conflict with its continued attacks on Syria’s Kurdish militias, who are aligned with Kurdish groups within Turkey.
It has unleashed a murderous assault on Kurdish areas in eastern Turkey and now seeks to hit other areas.
The Turkish military has been shelling PYD positions in northern Syria for four consecutive days in response to artillery fire from PYD forces based around Azaz in northern Aleppo province. The US has long supported the YPG, considering them critical “boots on the ground” against ISIS.
Human Rights Watch has accused the Saudi-led coalition of using indiscriminate U.S.-made cluster bombs in Yemen, a move that clearly violates global law.
USA defence secretary Ashton Carter gave his blessing to operations into Syria by commandos from Saudi Arabia and UAE.
After announcing its willingness to deploy ground forces in Syria last week, Saudi Arabia’s officials now appear to be more hesitant about their initial plans. Kurds should have no faith in U.S. claims of support.
Merkel said in an interview published Monday that it would be “helpful” if there were areas where no side would carry out aerial bombardments – “a kind of no-fly zone”.
“North Thunder drills represent a clear message that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its brothers and friends of the participating countries stand united to confront all challenges and maintain peace and stability in the region”, the agency said.
“They want to come looking for a foothold while saying that they are fighting Daesh”.
“We will do what is necessary if they bid to advance”, he said.
Five years of fighting following the Syrian regime’s assault on a popular revolutionary movement have had a catastrophic impact.
Abdulrahman Al-Hassan, chief liaison officer at the Syrian Civil Defense, a group of first responders known as the “White Helmets”, said parts of a missile that landed near the hospital had Russian letters on them and that the type of missile had not been seen in the area prior to Russia’s military intervention, which began Set. 30.
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Life expectancy has dropped from 70 in 2010 to 55.4 in 2015.
