Iran issues tough warning to Turkey on Syria

[PteX]

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has issued a harsh warning to Turkey to end activities in Syria. In an article in IRGC's weekly Sobh'eh Sadegh, the elite military force asserted that Turkish forces were crossing into Syria as part of a Western campaign to destabilize the regime of President Bashar Assad.

"They entered through the Turkish border with Syria," the article, authored by R. Grumabdri, said.

[On July 31, up to 150 Syrians were said to have been killed in an army assault on the northern city of Hama. Western diplomats said the Assad regime wanted to crush the revolt in Hama, a leading stronghold of the Muslim Brotherhood, before the onset of Ramadan.]

The article, titled "Iran's Serious Stance in the Face of Syrian Events" and said to reflect IRGC thinking, warned that Syria would remain a strategic asset of Iran. IRGC said Ankara was playing a double game, pretending to support democratic change while working to undermine Syria.

IRGC said Turkey was trying to exploit the revolt in Syria to press on long-held border claims. The author warned that Iran would stand with Syria against any Turkish intervention.

"The whole world is aware of Iran's relationship with Syria and Iran should not keep this hidden," the article said. "Should Turkish officials insist on their contradictory behavior and if they continue on their current path, serious issues are sure to follow. We will be put in the position of having to choose between Turkey and Syria. Syria's justification in defending herself along with mirroring ideological perceptions would sway Iran toward choosing Syria."

The article was published after Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei relayed a warning to President Barack Obama against U.S. intervention in Syria.

Teheran has also warned Turkey against helping Washington in a NATO-led missile defense umbrella aimed to stop Iranian attacks on Europe. Khamenei raised the prospect that Turkey could be a target of Iran's huge missile arsenal.

"From Iran's standpoint, the Syrian leadership is in the midst of resolving its problems, and as soon as foreign meddling stops, the Syrians will be able to revert back to normal," the IRGC article said.

Iran issues tough warning to Turkey on Syria


On a site note:
150 killed. 150 Men, women and children killed in just 1 day.
Imagine if this was happening in Israel, i wouldn`t be surprised the UN unanimously voted to attack Israel.
Funny world we live in and even worse, no one cares about Arabs unless they are used against Israel.

 

[Abu Zolfiqar]

baseless propaganda; no such incursion took place

of course Iran will be on the defensive, as the Assad Regime is a primary ally of the Islamic Republic.


in all honestly, the Syrian protests should be looked at with some alarm....a lot of those people protesting in places like Hama --appear to have some militaristic/jihadi ambitions. Assad regime however, are idiots for thinking that shooting protestors will solve their problems. But then again, it seems to be the order of the day in much of the Arab world.


hell -- even the israelis are involved in protests nowdays......


to get back on subject -- Iran will likely try to look for backup options just in case Assad regime falls (which i dont see happening at least not anytime soon).....Syria is of much stategic interest to Iran, and Iran would likely like to see continued Syrian cooperation on certain 'strategic matters.'

 

[TARIQ BN ZIYAAD]

Assalam alaikum

Brother u said something about hamat wat about dar3a where the first protests began, they also claimed some terrorists outfits there , doma, deer alzour etc this regims is the worst regime in whole m.e.

Yes iran which always claim it is with the oppressed ppl is helping asad so does hasan of hizb. Though the arab masses cant do much to help the ppl of syria bcoz of their rulers but they have a lot of anger toward iran ,hizb and assad.
Assad will loose at the end coz it has to give some concessions ( if he is not gone ) which will lead to throw him.
Iran weather like it or not syria wil go away and they will loose big.

I wonder why the iraninans r talking about incursions while syrian media didnot say a word?

TARIQ

 

[TruthSeeker]

Turkey Takes Harder Line on Assad

By MARC CHAMPION, AUGUST 1, 2011, 10:17 A.M. ET

ISTANBUL—Turkey on Monday sharply raised its public condemnation of Syria's regime following the attack on Hama, while a senior Turkish official said sanctions were now "on the table," but ruled out any attempt to intervene militarily by creating a security zone.

Turkey's language hardened overnight, from describing the attacks as something it couldn't condone, to "unacceptable," much stronger language in diplomatic code and falling in line with Western allies.

"Beginning the holy month of Ramadan with bloodshed is unacceptable," said Turkey's President Abdullah Gul, the state news agency Anadolu Ajansi reported. "It is not possible for us to remain indifferent to this violence." Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu used similar language in a statement Monday morning.

Ankara is seen as having more leverage with the Syrian regime than most of its fellow North Atlantic Treaty Organization members, because it was a close ally until the violence began, shares a border more than 800 kilometers long and has become an important trading partner for Syria.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in particular has been active in trying to persuade Syrian President Bashar Assad to end his crackdown on protesters and implement reforms, but now appears to have given up hope that will happen.

"They are doing just the opposite of what they tell us they will do. Of course that creates a lot of frustration on our side," said a senior Turkish official, who declined to be named. Mr. Erdogan earlier this year specifically warned Damascus that "we do not want another Hama massacre," referring to the 1982 suppression of a Sunni, Muslim Brotherhood-led uprising in Hama by Syria's Alawite-dominated regime, in which thousands were killed.

The new attack on Hama "has raised serious, very serious questions about the intentions of the Syrian regime," the official said. "We are coming to a point where their words no longer mean anything. They have shown they are not interested in a peaceful resolution."

British Foreign Minister William Hague had called Sunday for stronger international action against Mr. Assad's regime, adding that if pressure is to be effective it must include Arab nations and Turkey. On Monday, the European Union added another five Syrian regime members to its targeted sanctions, bringing the total to 35.

But as Mr. Hague was true for Britain and other NATO allies, Turkey appears to have limited options to intervene in a struggle that threatens to devolve into sectarian strife between Syria's Sunni majority and ruling Alawites, a Shia sect.

Asked whether Turkey was considering sanctions, the senior official said: "It's on the table, it's a possibility. But I have no information on that at the moment."

According to Turkey's Foreign Economic Relations Board, Turkey's trade with Syria tripled to $2.4 billion between 2006 and 2010. Data released Monday by the Turkish Exporters' Assembly suggest that trade between the two countries continues unabated, despite the unrest. Exports to Syria rose 13% in July compared with the same month last year, to $191.6 million, the Assembly reported. Exports for the first six months of the year were just over $1 billion, slightly higher than last year.

So far, Turkey has steered away from imposing sanctions, which it has called in general ineffective. Turkey has bitter memories of international economic sanctions against neighboring Iraq after the first Gulf War, which significantly damaged Turkish businesses and failed to bring then Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein to heel.

Ankara also has to consider "how Iran might try to come to the rescue of the Syrian government, and how that could create problems for Turkey and the allies," said Ilter Turan, professor of political science at Bilgi University in Istanbul. Turkey, which is majority Sunni, is a natural competitor for political influence with Shia Iran in its neighborhood, but has worked hard to stay on good terms with Tehran.

There have been persistent rumors in the Arab and Turkish press that Ankara was also considering imposing a security zone inside Syria, along the two countries' common border. But with Syrian troops now on the border and refugees no longer pouring across into Turkey, that option appears to have been ruled out.

"We have said all along we will not create a buffer zone. It really won't achieve anything and in practical terms there would be a lot of issues. How far do you go, for example? Do you go 10 kilometers? Or 40 kilometers? Where do you stop?" said the senior Turkish official.

NATO, of which Turkey is an important member, also has ruled out military intervention in Syria.

Turkey Takes Harder Line on Assad - WSJ.com

 

[TruthSeeker]

Syrian forces attack again in Hama

Nour Ali in Damascus and Ian Black, guardian.co.uk, Monday 1 August 2011 19.59 BST

Syrian government forces shelled civilian areas in the central city of Hama for a second day, on Monday as residents buried their dead in public parks and gardens to avoid risking more lives at funerals.

Tank fire killed at least four people on top of up to 85 who reportedly died in Hama on Sunday, the bloodiest day yet of the uprising. Soldiers and pro-regime militiamen fired at random as residents manned barricades to stop the military bringing in supplies.

Artillery fire started early in the morning and continued for 25 minutes. "We cannot get to the cemetery," an activist, Omar Habal, told the Guardian. "People are using the city gardens as graveyards to bury our dead people."

Foreign journalists are largely banned from Syria and communications are difficult, but it seems clear that President Bashar al-Assad is prepared to defy mounting international outrage and continue repression. "Syria's honest people are confident we will emerge from the crisis more powerful … and more effective regionally and internationally," Assad said in a message to the Syrian armed forces, who he praised for foiling the designs of the country's enemies.

Damascus seemed unlikely to be impressed by closed-door discussions of the crisis due to take place at the UN security council in New York, which is divided even over passing a resolution condemning the violence.

Tanks also stormed the eastern town of Albu Kamal after a two-week siege as the military stepped up operations aimed at subduing dissent in Deir al-Zor province bordering Iraq's Sunni heartland.

Sunday's crackdown – apparently designed to scare protesters off the streets during Ramadan – may backfire. Democracy activists say they plan to exploit the increased attendance at mosques during the Muslim month of fasting, when prayers are believed to carry more weight that at other times of year.

Damascus was quiet on the first day of Ramadan, with cafes empty and people staying out of the heat. But some talked about Hama. "It is shameful," one woman said of the children who died there.

There were reports of more checkpoints around the capital's suburbs and satellite towns. Many on Facebook and Twitter changed their profile pictures to a solid black square to signify mourning of the dead.

Democratic Syria for All, an opposition group that has explored dialogue with the regime, demanded a "credible" inquiry into the latest killings but it failed to call for international pressure.

The Muslim Brotherhood, a banned organisation, accused the Alawite elite – the Assad family's sect – of waging war on Sunnis by attacking Hama. "Syria is witnessing a war of sectarian cleansing," it said. "The regime has linked its open annihilation with the crescent of Ramadan. It is a war on the identity and beliefs of the Syrian nation … on Arab Muslim Syria."

But the opposition is divided and fatigued, in the words of one supporter, by "constant initiatives and coalitions and gatherings that don't achieve much".

The regime's message was clear, the activist suggested: "We have the military power to crush dissent, even in a city where the entire population protested and which was visited by the US ambassador and mentioned by the Turkish prime minister as being a red line.

"The international community is powerless to save you if and when we decide to carry out the next massacre. We can escalate the conflict and we can turn it into a civil war if we want. If that happens, you [the opposition] will have no control whatsoever over the situation because radical Sunni elements will take charge and you will become totally irrelevant. Strike a deal with me now and you can share power with me, and moreover, you will have saved the country from a disastrous civil war."

Despite mounting anger, western governments admit their options are limited, given the impossibility of a Libya-style military intervention. William Hague, Britain's foreign secretary, called it a "very frustrating situation". But he also said Arab countries needed to do more to bring pressure to bear on Assad. Only Qatar has spoken out against Syrian state violence – it closed its Damascus embassy after it was attacked by pro-government crowds protesting at coverage by al-Jazeera, the Qatari-owned satellite TV channel.

Nabil Elaraby, secretary-general of the Arab League, which represents all 22 Arab states, has urged its members to "respond to legitimate demands and abide by human rights" but conspicuously failed to condemn the Syrian government.

Turkey's president, Abdullah Gul, said he was "horrified" by the use of heavy artillery and tanks in Hama on the eve of Ramadan. The foreign minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, called it "unjustifiable".

Syrian forces attack again in Hama | World news | The Guardian

 

[Abu Zolfiqar]

Assalam alaikum

Brother u said something about hamat wat about dar3a where the first protests began, they also claimed some terrorists outfits there , doma, deer alzour etc this regims is the worst regime in whole m.e.

Yes iran which always claim it is with the oppressed ppl is helping asad so does hasan of hizb. Though the arab masses cant do much to help the ppl of syria bcoz of their rulers but they have a lot of anger toward iran ,hizb and assad.
Assad will loose at the end coz it has to give some concessions ( if he is not gone ) which will lead to throw him.
Iran weather like it or not syria wil go away and they will loose big.

I wonder why the iraninans r talking about incursions while syrian media didnot say a word?

TARIQ

to be honest with you; those baathists are pro-indian lackeys anyways....so it wouldnt be much a loss for Pakistan.

Iran is showing double-standards if they support Egyptian and Bahraini protests, but denounce Syrian protests....

but Iran isnt alone, no sir. US/West/NATO/other nations are hypocrites too......they encourage protests in Egypt, Yemen, Syria etc....but then denounce (or turn total blind eye) to Bahrain protests ----because they dont want to irk the country whose Royal family allows the Fifth Fleet to be stationed there......and a ''fall of the throne'' in Manama would be seen as a ''victory for Tehran''


if you think this is about ''freedom'' --then sorry, you are mistaken.


Though I do believe that the movements in Egypt and Tunisia at least were very legitimate, genuine ones. The campaign in Libya is an absolute disaster. NATO talks about withdrawing from Iraq and Afghanistan; they suddenly found the need for ANOTHER war


(yes, it's war)

 

[Zabaniyah]

So Iran supports people in Egypt, Bahrain, and elsewhere but not Syria? Talk about double standards.

 

[illuzioN]

my heart tells me to attack Syria and help these people...

but a war with Syria would bring world war 3....

times are changing really fast people..... get ready

 

[Sinnerman108]

So Iran supports people in Egypt, Bahrain, and elsewhere but not Syria? Talk about double standards.

^^^

That is the problem with these "persians".
all their through process and their politics is based on making a drama, and lies.
They can't stay friends with anyone, and always cheat at the first opportunity.

 

[Abu Zolfiqar]

my heart tells me to attack Syria and help these people...

but a war with Syria would bring world war 3....

times are changing really fast people..... get ready

my advice to my American friends:


focus on your own country; stop trying to be the moral policeman everywhere. Liberty and freedom in that region doesnt come through the barrel of a gun or the blast of laser guided bombs


and by the way -- a REAL man listens to his BRAIN, not his HEART

 

[Zabaniyah]

my heart tells me to attack Syria and help these people...

but a war with Syria would bring world war 3....

times are changing really fast people..... get ready

Whatever you do, try not to ignore the small stuff. Attention to detail is mandatory. They really do bite.

 

[Tiki Tam Tam]

Actually, Iran should not be taken as a push over.

The Iran backed Hizbollah of Lebanon are the only people who could take on the Israeli.

The remainder Arabs have been trashed regularly by the Israelis.

 

[PteX]

I really do hope the Americans do not intervene, for their own good. The Libya intervention was quite stupid as well... It`s a European problem not an American one.
Honestly, democracy in the Arab world will do zero good when all of the citizen`s mindset is clearly anti-american and groups like the Muslim brotherhood fight against Assad. Replacing one evil with a democratically elected evil or possibly another Islamic tyranny is pointless.

 

[PteX]

Actually, Iran should not be taken as a push over.

The Iran backed Hizbollah of Lebanon are the only people who could take on the Israeli.

The remainder Arabs have been trashed regularly by the Israelis.

Hizbollah can take on Israel? Israel made it clear that since Lebanon`s current government is a Hizbollah backed government, all of Lebanon will be targeted if Hizbollah attacks and not just few areas because Israel was asked to not attack the non-shia parts of the country.

 

[Tiki Tam Tam]

Hizbollah can take on Israel? Israel made it clear that since Lebanon`s current government is a Hizbollah backed government, all of Lebanon will be targeted if Hizbollah attacks and not just few areas because Israel was asked to not attack the non-shia parts of the country.

Maybe this very docile report from the USMA would help

http://www.ctc.usma.edu/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Vol1Iss4-Art7.pdf

They should know better than me.

And here it is from Israel itself.

Israel didn't accomplish a single one of their goals in the 2006 war. They did not return the captured IDF men. They did not stop the Hizbollah rockets. They did not disarm or disband Hizbollah. In addition to this, Israel fired their defense minister and their chief of staff, along with seven other generals. They also established the Winograd Committee to find what went wrong and to portion out more blame. Everybody in the world knows that Israel lost the 2006 war because everybody remembers how surprised they were that the IDF was given a golden opportunity to destroy Hizbollah but they were defeated on the battlefield and retreated leaving burning tanks in their tracks. This is why all those people responsibile were fired and the Winograd Committee was formed. Those things do not happen after a great victory.
from the article: Document reveals bipartisan effort to oust Olmert after Second Lebanon War

http://www.haaretz.com/misc/comment...ook-pathetic-if-you-try-to-spin-it-19.2143439

If one goes by the accounts of the 2206 'War', then one should not take Iran to be as useless as the Arabs.