2019-08-31: Social Media Postees

Video: Syrian Army Further Advances in Greater Idlib
South Front | globalresearch.ca | 2019-08-31
The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and its allies responded to recent militant attacks near Abu Dail with a limited offensive in the area. | In the first phase of the offensive, SAA units liberated Khuwayn al-Kabir, Ard al-Zurzur, the Aghir hilltop, …
globalresearch.ca/video-syrian-army-advances-greater-idlib/5687679

The Best Movie Ever Made About the Truth Behind the Iraq War Is "Official Secrets"
Jon Schwarz | theintercept.com | 2019-08-31
"Official Secrets," which opened Friday in New York and Los Angeles, is the best movie ever made about how the Iraq War happened. It's startlingly accurate, and because of that, it's equally inspiring, demoralizing, hopeful, and enraging. Please go see it. | It's been forgotten now, but the Iraq War and its abominable consequences — the hundreds of thousands of deaths, the rise of the Islamic State group, the nightmare oozing into Syria, arguably the presidency of Donald Trump — almost didn't happen. In the weeks before the U.S.-led invasion on March 19, 2003, the American and British case for war was…
theintercept.com/2019/08/31/official-secrets-iraq-war-film/

Putin Balances Turkish Fighter Jet Interest with Syria's Fight Against Terrorism
Sarah Abed | globalresearch.ca | 2019-08-31
On Tuesday, the biennial MAKS-2019 International Aviation and Space Show kicked off in Russia's Zhukovsky International Airport. This important event has drawn spectators, journalists, and photographers from around the world every odd year since 1992. What began as an entertaining …
globalresearch.ca/putin-balances-turkish-fighter-jet-interest-syria-fight-against-terrorism/5687663

Israel increases attacks on Iran allies amid deepening ties to UAE, Saudi
Aaron Maté | thegrayzone.com | 2019-08-30
The recent Israeli bombings of Iranian-allied groups in Iraq, Lebanon, and Syria come amid deepening ties between Israel and the…
thegrayzone.com/2019/08/30/israel-attacks-iran-uae-saudi/

Video: Militants' Failed Terror Attack in Eastern Idlib Ends in Disaster
South Front | globalresearch.ca | 2019-08-30
On August 27, joint forces of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and other militant groups launched an attack on positions of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) near the town of Abu Dali in southern Idlib. Clashes between the SAA and militants erupted …
globalresearch.ca/video-militants-failed-terror-attack-in-eastern-idlib-ends-in-disaster/5687612

Trump Hits Lebanon Bank with His Favorite Econo-Political Battering Ram
Marwa Osman | mintpressnews.com | 2019-08-30
The fact that the U.S. sanctions countries whenever its president pleases could in itself be considered a hostile act. Even in wartime, these sorts of collective punishments are illegal under the Geneva Conventions.
mintpressnews.com/trump-sanctions-economic-battering-ram-jamal-trust-bank/261582/

Rojava: Human shields defy threats of Turkish invasion
susan_p | greenleft.org.au | 2019-08-30
Rojava revolutionIssue 1235 Northern Syria Turkish military Democratic Federation of Northern SyriaAugust 30, 2019The people of Rojava in Northern Syria are continuing human shield actions along the Syria-Turkey border, to prevent an invasi…
greenleft.org.au/content/rojava-human-shields-defy-threats-turkish-invasion

"We are waiting for war"
Andre Vltchek | dissidentvoice.org | 2019-08-29
Israel is right here behind this wall After the recent Israeli attacks against Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq, the Middle East has found itself in the midst of undeclared war. Almost everyone in Lebanon appears to agree. "This time Israel went too far. In just two days, it bombed three countries," I am told by a …
dissidentvoice.org/2019/08/we-are-waiting-for-war/

A safe zone in Syria: a renewed military crisis or a diplomatic solution?
unitedEditor | uwidata.com | 2019-08-29
The establishment of safe zones in war-torn countries is supposed to entail a reduction in violence. However, in the present situation in Syria, US involvement in the establishment of a safe zone will lead to the direct military entrenchment of Washington, Turkey, Russia, and Syria, and will only cause the situation to deteriorate further. WHY …
uwidata.com/5160-a-safe-zone-in-syria-a-renewed-military-crisis-or-a-diplomatic-solution/

Millions in Idlib 'counting on your support to make the violence stop', UN relief chief tells Security Council
United Nations | un.org | 2019-08-29
Despite an agreement signed nearly a year ago on a halt to further escalation in Syria's war-battered Idlib, "the bombing and fighting go on in plain sight, day in and day out", the UN humanitarian chief told the Security Council on Thursday.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2019/08/1045251

US Sanctions Lebanese Bank for Financial Ties With Hezbollah
telesurenglish.net | 2019-08-29
The United States government blacklisted Thursday a major Lebanese bank by accusing it of having ties with the Hezbollah movement. | RELATED: | Israel Drone Attack a Declaration of War: Lebanon's President | The sanctions issued by the Treasury Department target Jammal Trust Bank, a Lebanese commercial bank with 25 branches across the country. | "Jammal Trust's misconduct undermines the integrity of the Lebanese financial system," U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a sta…
telesurenglish.net/news/US-Sanctions-Lebanese-Bank-for-Having-Ties-With-Hezbollah-20190829-0033.html

Recent Israeli Attacks "Significantly Weakened" Syria's Air-Defense Systems
Robert Inkalesh | mintpressnews.com | 2019-08-28
While an attack of this scale on virtually any sovereign nation aside from Syria would likely provoke a major response from the international community, this Israeli attack has barely registered.
mintpressnews.com/lsrael-attacks-syria-air-defenses/261551/

Israeli drone attack on Beirut suburb
Fight Back | fightbacknews.org | 2019-08-28
Washington, DC – Israel launched a drone attack in Beirut's southern suburb, Dahiyeh, August 24, targeting the media offices of the national democratic political party Hezbollah. Lebanese politicians denounced the attacks as "acts of war," and Hezbollah stated it will respond. | Hezbollah reports that one of the Israelis drones exploded and the other did not – due to a technical failure. Of the drone that failed to blow up, Hezbollah stated "it was laden with a bomb which was professionally wrapped and isolated," made up of C4 explosives. | In recent days, Israel has launched attacks on Syria, Iraq, Gaza, and ea…
www.fightbacknews.org/2019/8/28/israeli-drone-attack-beirut-suburb

Airstrikes in Lebanon, Syria & Iraq Mark Dangerous Escalation in Decades-Long Israeli Aggression
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-08-28
Tensions are mounting across the Middle East following a series of Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon, Syria and Iraq. Lebanese President Michel Aoun likened the recent Israeli attacks to a "declaration of war." Israeli drones bombed targets in Lebanon on both Monday and Tuesday. Meanwhile, some Iraqi lawmakers are calling on the United States to fully withdraw its troops following a series of Israeli air raids conducted by Israel. Israel has only claimed responsibility for an attack on Syria Saturday, which they said targeted an Iranian-operated base that was preparing to launch a drone assault on Israel. We speak wi…
www.democracynow.org/2019/8/28/israel_airstrikes_lebanon_syria_iraq

Israeli attacks provoke Iran, Hezbollah — and could help jihadists
Aaron Maté | thegrayzone.com | 2019-08-27
With its bombings of Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon, is Israel trying to stop an attack from Iran and its allies,…
thegrayzone.com/2019/08/27/israeli-attacks-provoke-iran-hezbollah-and-could-help-jihadists/

With ISIL down but not out, continued vigilance is key, UN Security Council told
United Nations | un.org | 2019-08-27
Despite ISIL's territorial defeat in Syria, the terrorist group, also known as Da'esh "continues to aspire to global relevance", the United Nations top counter-terrorism officials told the Security Council on Tuesday.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2019/08/1045061

NPR Mocks Cancer Survivor in Drumbeat of Syria Propaganda
Rick Sterling | mintpressnews.com | 2019-08-23
While NPR snorts about Asma Assad "sporting a chic blonde pixie cut", Lilly Martin points out that she was recently bald while fighting for her life.
mintpressnews.com/npr-mocks-cancer-survivor-in-drumbeat-of-syria-propaganda/261479/

Interview: Lebanese solidarity with Palestinian refugees
Joyce Chediac | liberationnews.org | 2019-08-23
"For the first time in Lebanon, and possibly in any Arab country, banners supporting the rights of Palestinian refugees were carried along with queer and trans flags."
liberationnews.org/interview-lebanese-solidarity-with-palestinian-refugees/

Pentagon Officials Eager to Present a Recovering ISIS, but Facts Don't Support It
Jason Ditz | theantimedia.com | 2019-08-20
The Pentagon clearly wants this to be true, because they are using it to spin a US military withdrawal from Syria as dangerous.

Pentagon Officials Eager to Present a Recovering ISIS, but Facts Don’t Support It

Turkey-Syria War on the Horizon: Airstrikes Target Invading Turkish Army Convoy
Tyler Durden | theantimedia.com | 2019-08-19
Turkey and Syria could be headed for war as their armies increasingly clash on front lines in southern Idlib.
theantimedia.com/turkey-syria-war-horizon-airstrikes-turkish-army-convoy/

Pentagon: Any Operation by Turkey into Northern Syria 'Unacceptable'
Turkish Minute | theantimedia.com | 2019-08-06
(TM) — US Defense Secretary Mark Esper said on Tuesday any Turkish operation into northern Syria would be "unacceptable" and that the United States would prevent unilateral incursions, as tensions between Washington and Ankara simmer, according to Reuters. On Sunday President Recep Tayyip Erdoƒüan said Turkey, which already has a foothold in northwest Syria, will carry out …

Pentagon: Any Operation by Turkey into Northern Syria ‘Unacceptable’