...the only place on the face of the earth that misses the Ottoman Empire....
has equipped Syrian armed factions it backs with fresh supplies of weaponry to help them try to repel a major Russian-backed assault, senior opposition officials and other sources said on Saturday.
But Pooty and Yippy are besties! WTF?
Russia is backing the Syrian army’s large aerial and ground assault as it seeks to gain control of the last big stretch of territory held by gangs in the northwest of the country.
Syrian
Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneckal-Assad
Oppressor of the Syrians and the Lebs...
launched the assault last month, saying the gangs had breached an existing ceasefire, triggering a civilian exodus by bombarding Idlib and adjacent areas.
It has been the biggest escalation since last summer between al-Assad and his enemies in Idlib province and a belt of territory around it.
Ankara stepped up supplies in recent days after failing to persuade Russia in recent meetings of a joint working group that it should end its escalation to avert a major influx of refugees pouring into Turkey, two senior opposition figures said.
In doing so Turkey signaled its readiness to preserve its influence in northwestern Syria, where it has beefed up its troop presence in a dozen military bases that were set up under a de-escalation deal with Russia, a senior gang commander said.
Overnight, a
The delivery of dozens of armored vehicles, Grad rocket launchers, anti-tank guided missiles, and so-called TOW missiles, helped roll back some army gains and retake the strategically located town of Kfar Nabouda, one senior opposition figure said.