2020-03-02: News Headlines

RT (2020-03-02). Erdogan to visit Moscow on March 5, Ankara confirms, as Turkey-Syria conflict escalates. rt.com Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will hold talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Moscow, following a worrying rise in violence between Turkish forces and Russia's Syrian allies. | Ankara has confirmed that Erdogan will make the trip to Moscow on March 5. The Kremlin had announced on Sunday that it was hoping to arrange a meeting between Erdogan and Putin in an effort to resolve the situation in Syria's Idlib region. The visit is expected to last for one day only. | Last week, 34 Turkish troops were reportedly killed by Syrian air strikes, prompting a military response from Ankara. Russia s…

RT (2020-03-02). Ceasefire in Idlib will hopefully be achieved after talks with Putin — Erdogan ahead of upcoming meeting in Moscow. rt.com Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has high hopes for his upcoming meeting with Vladimir Putin, saying he's optimistic an agreement will be reached with the Russian leader on ending hostilities in Idlib, Syria. | "We will evaluate the developments [in Idlib]. I hope that we [can lay the groundwork for] a ceasefire or take other steps and that we will get the job done quickly," Erdogan said in a recent speech in Ankara. | Earlier in the day, it was confirmed that Erdogan's much-anticipated visit to Moscow will take place on March 5. The Kremlin has expressed similar expectations for the meeting, saying the…

Matthew J. L. Ehret (2020-03-02). Did Turkey Just Sacrifice Their Own Troops to Protect Al-Qaeda? dissidentvoice.org After 33 Turkish troops were killed in a Syrian army offensive on February 27 amidst the current Russia-backed campaign to liberate Idlib, Erdogan responded by laying the blame entirely on Russia and Syria — successfully avoiding all mention of the uncomfortable fact that Turkey has been protecting radical terror networks not only in Idlib but …

WSWS (2020-03-02). Idlib war escalates as Turkey announces military operations against Syria. wsws.org Turkey shot down two Syrian jets after a Syrian air strike claimed the lives of 34 Turkish soldiers.

Al-Manar (2020-03-02). Iran and Hezbollah warn Turkey: all your forces are in our line of fire. iranian.com The Iranian Advisory Center in Syria, which takes part in the fighting in northern Syria, issued a press release through the news agency U-News in reaction to the recent confrontation between the Syrian army and the Turkish army. It should be noted that the Iranian Advisory Center is made up of the group of Iranian …

yenisafak (2020-03-02). UK Foreign Secretary Raab to visit Turkey on Tuesday. yenisafak.com In a statement on Monday, the ministry said Raab will hold talks with Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu during the visit.The duo will discuss bilateral issues following Brexit on Jan. 31.The talks will also cover current regional and international issues, including Syria.

yenisafak (2020-03-02). Over 117,000 migrants leave Turkey to reach Europe. yenisafak.com The number of irregular migrants leaving Turkey for Europe has reached 117,677 on Monday, Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said on Twitter.The migrants are leaving Turkey through northwestern Edirne province bordering Greece and Bulgaria.Thousands of migrants flocked to Edirne's Pazarkule border crossing to Greece after Turkish officials announced Friday they would no longer try to stop irregular migrants from reaching Europe.It followed an attack by Syrian regime forces on Turkish troops in the Idlib de-escalation zone, which martyred 34 soldiers last week. Turkish soldiers are working to protect local c…

yenisafak (2020-03-02). Turkey neutralizes 32 YPG/PKK terrorists in N. Syria. yenisafak.com Turkish security forces neutralized 32 YPG/PKK terrorists in northern Syria, the National Defense Ministry said on Monday.The terrorists attempted to infiltrate into the southern area of Operation Peace Spring, Turkey's anti-terror offensive in northern Syria, the Turkish ministry said on Twitter.Operation Peace Spring was launched last October to eliminate terrorist YPG/PKK east of the Euphrates River to secure Turkey's borders, aid in the safe return of Syrian refugees, and ensure Syria's territorial integrity.Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralized" to imply the terrorists in question surrendered o…

yenisafak (2020-03-02). Assad regime committed war crimes attacking medical sites: UN. yenisafak.com Syria's Assad regime committed war crimes attacking medical facilities around the Idlib de-escalation zone, the United Nations Commission into Syria said on Monday."In attacking medical facilities, pro-government forces repeatedly committed the war crime of deliberately attacking protected objects and intentionally attacking medical personnel," said the UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria at the launch of its newest report.The commission also said it has "reasonable grounds" to believe that Russian aircraft participated in bombing incidents around July and August last year."The Russian Air Force did not direct the…

yenisafak (2020-03-02). Turkey refrains from targeting civilians: US expert. yenisafak.com Unlike Russia, Iran and the Assad regime, Turkey does not target civilians in Syria, said an American foreign policy expert on Monday."Assad's soldiers now move around in ambulances in order to camouflage themselves from the Turks, who have achieved total air superiority in Idlib," Michael Doran, a senior fellow at Hudson Institute, said in a tweet."We learn from this, obviously, that the Turks refrain from attacking ambulances," added Doran, who specialises in the Middle East.Doran shared a video, which went viral on social media, showing Assad regime soldiers moving in an ambulance in northwestern Syria to avoi…

sputniknews (2020-03-02). US Election; Delhi Clashes; Syria; Assange; Coronavirus. sputniknews.com Join George Galloway on the new home for the Mother of All Talk Shows – this week we talk about US election, Delhi clashes, Syria, Assange's Extradition Hearing, coronavirus.

sputniknews (2020-03-02). Erdogan Warns 'Millions of Refugees' Will Move to Turkey's Border With EU. sputniknews.com The dire situation in Syria's Idlib province caused by fighting that has pitted Syrian government forces against Turkish troops and Turkish-backed militias has created a wave of refugees trying to flee the conflict. In recent days, Turkey has announced the opening of its borders with Europe, citing its inability to take in any more refugees.

Staff (2020-03-01). Refugees Mass at EU Border as Turkey-Syria Conflict Intensifies. truthdig.com KASTANIES, Greece—Thousands of migrants and refugees massed at Turkey's western frontier Sunday, trying to enter Greece by land and sea after Turkey said its borders were open to those hoping to head to Europe. In Syria, Turkish troops shot down two Syrian warplanes after the Syrian military downed a Turkish drone, a major escalation in the direct conflict between Syrian and Turkish forces. | Turkey's decision to ease border restrictions came amid a Russia-backed Syrian government offensive into Syria's northwestern Idlib province. That offensive has killed dozens of Turkish troops and led to a surge of nea…

The Canary (2020-03-01). Refugees stranded at borders as fighting between Syria and Turkey escalates. thecanary.co Thousands of refugees massed at Turkey's western frontier on 1 March, trying to enter Greece by land and sea after Turkey

Scott Ritter (2020-03-01). Even NATO Is Unwilling to Touch Turkey's Idlib Mess with a Ten-foot Pole. globalresearch.ca Having been hit by the Syrian Air Force in Idlib, Turkey has called on NATO's protection, but as much as the alliance would like a fight with Assad and his ally Russia, it's refused to back Ankara's questionable adventure. | Turkey …

teleSUR (2020-03-01). Turkey Announces New Operation Against Syrian Military. telesurenglish.net Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said Sunday that Turkey has launched a fresh operation in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib in the wake of the recent attack of Syrian government on Turkish troops there. | RELATED: | "Operation Spring Shield, which was launched following the heinous attack on Feb. 27, is successfully being carried out," Akar said at Turkey's southern province of Hatay bordering Syria, according to semi-offic…

RT (2020-02-29). Tulsi to MSM: Stop referring to Al-Qaeda in Syria's Idlib as 'rebels' to make them seem like 'freedom fighters'. rt.com The US media and officials who stubbornly keep referring to armed groups dominated by an Al-Qaeda offshoot in Syria's Idlib province as 'rebels' only disgrace themselves and their country, US Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard has said. | Gabbard, who is one of the Democratic Party contenders in the 2020 presidential race, castigated American mainstream media and Trump administration officials for a consistent effort to whitewash the extremists entrenched in the north-western province of Idlib — Syria's last major stronghold of anti-government forces. Such actions betray the memory of the 9/11 terrorist attack,…

WSWS (2020-02-29). War tensions mount in wake of strike on Turkish troops in Syria. wsws.org Russia has sent two cruise missile warships to the Syrian coast as Moscow and Ankara continue to dispute the facts surrounding a strike that killed three dozen Turkish soldiers.

Staff (2020-02-28). Catastrophic Humanitarian Crisis in Idlib as Syrian Troops Advance & Children Freeze to Death. democracynow.org In Syria, 33 Turkish soldiers were killed in an airstrike by Russia-backed Syrian forces in rebel-held Idlib in a major escalation on Thursday. Turkey has vowed to respond in kind, as U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres calls for an immediate ceasefire, saying "the risk of even greater escalation grows by the hour." Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reportedly spoke by phone on Friday to discuss the crisis, as NATO urged rapid deescalation. The all-out offensive by the Syrian government is the single largest displacement in a nine-year war that has forced 13 million t…

RT (2020-02-28). Article 5 or 'Oh my gosh'? What will US do after Turkish troops die in Syrian strike. rt.com Turkey has reached out to NATO and the US following the deaths of its troops in Syria's Idlib province, fueling speculation that it might invoke Article 5 and get the alliance involved in a shooting war with Damascus — and Russia.

Staff (2020-02-28). Doctors Without Borders: Cheap Coronavirus Diagnostic Kits Needed in War-Torn Areas & Refugee Camps. democracynow.org Across the U.S., officials report a severe shortage of test kits for coronavirus. New York officials say they're preparing their own kits, after kits distributed by the Centers for Disease Control failed validation tests. Meanwhile, new cases of coronavirus continue to spring up worldwide, with Nigeria reporting its first case and one of Iran's vice presidents testing positive. We discuss how MSF USA, or Doctors Without Borders USA, is responding to coronavirus, with the organization's executive director, Avril BenoàÆt.

Staff (2020-02-28). Headlines for February 28, 2020. democracynow.org California Monitoring 8,400 People for Coronavirus as Fears of Pandemic Grow, Syrian Airstrike Kills 33 Turkish Soldiers in Idlib, Escalating Tensions, New Justice Department Task Force Seeks to Strip Naturalized Immigrants of Citizenship, Joe Biden's Campaign Walks Back False Claims of Arrest in 1970s South Africa, Democratic Superdelegates Overwhelmingly Oppose Bernie Sanders Campaign, Mike Bloomberg Refuses to Apologize for Spying on Muslims, As NYC Mayor, Mike Bloomberg Called for Cuts to Social Security "Ponzi Scheme", ProPublica: Mike Bloomberg Advised Billionaire Sackler Family on Opioid Crisis, Emails Sho…

South Front (2020-02-28). Video: Fall of Saraqib: Syrian Army Retreat Under Turkish Strikes in Eastern Idlib. globalresearch.ca Members of al-Qaeda-linked groups embedded with Turkish troops have reentered the town of Saraqib in eastern Idlib following the collapse of the Syrian Army defense northwest of the town. | The attack was backed by Turkish artillery strikes on positions of …

Tony Cartalucci (2020-02-28). Turkey's Losing Bet in Syria. globalresearch.ca Turkey has allegedly lost another 33 troops in Syria this week amid its refusal to withdraw from Syrian territory amid Syrian government gains in the northern governorate of Idlib. | The BBC in its article, "

news.un (2020-02-28). 'Mayhem' in Syria's Idlib amid ongoing violence, as Guterres urges immediate ceasefire. news.un.org Rapidly escalating conflict in northwest Syria has created healthcare "mayhem", amid reports of displaced people moving closer to the Turkish border in search of shelter, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday, as the UN Secretary-General appealed for all warring parties to "step back from the edge of further escalation."

news.un (2020-02-28). Syria: UN urges Russia and Turkey to secure 'fresh ceasefire' as risk of military escalation grows. news.un.org With the Security Council meeting in emergency session on Syria following the death on the battlefield of dozens of Turkish troops, the UN strongly urged Russia and Turkey on Friday "to build on previous agreements to secure a fresh ceasefire" across the war-torn northwest.

M. K. Bhadrakumar (2020-02-28). Turkey, Russia tiptoe toward 'unnecessary war'. iranian.com A military confrontation between Turkey and Syria has erupted in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib. Latest reports say that at least 34 Turkish soldiers were killed on Thursday in a Syrian air attack. A Turkish retaliation commenced last night itself. The Syrian airstrike in Idlib took place in an area between the towns Baluon and …

Global Research News (2020-02-28). Selected Articles: Assad's Victory in Syria War? globalresearch.ca A future without independent media leaves us with an upside down reality where according to the corporate media "NATO deserves a Nobel Peace Prize", and where "nuclear weapons and wars make us safer" | | | If, like us, this is a …

Anya Parampil (2020-02-27). Syrian journalist corrects the record on mainstream media's absurd Idlib coverage. thegrayzone.com Red Lines host Anya Parampil speaks with Syrian journalist Bashar Bazari, who works as a correspondent for HispanTV in Damascus….

news.un (2020-02-27). Cross-border aid delivery in northwest Syria 'absolutely essential', Security Council hears. news.un.org Cross-border humanitarian deliveries from Turkey last month reached more people in northwest Syria than at any time since operations began more than five years ago, the UN's Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator told the Security Council on Thursday.

Staff (2020-02-26). Headlines for February 26, 2020. democracynow.org CDC Warns of "Severe" Disruption to Daily Life in U.S. as Coronavirus Spreads, DHS Secretary Grilled over Coronavirus Preparedness as Trump Downplays Risks, Two Billionaires Join Democratic Debate in SC as Rivals Target Bernie Sanders, At Least 24 Killed in India After Hindu Nationalists Attack Muslim Demonstrators, President Trump Wraps India Trip with Praise for $3.5 Billion Weapons Deal, 20 Civilians Killed in Syria's Idlib as the Red Cross Pleads for a Ceasefire, Airwars Reports U.S.-Led Strikes Killed Up to 139 Somali Civilians Since 2007, Supreme Court Rules Border Patrol Agents Who Shoot into Mexico Can't…

Jason Ditz (2020-02-20). Turkey Kills Over 50 Syrian Troops, Russian Warplanes Intervene to Halt Offensive. theantimedia.com Russia called the situation a "worst case scenario."

Middle East Eye (2020-02-07). Russia Says Israel Used Civilian Plane as Human Shield During Syria Strikes. theantimedia.com Russia accused Israel of "making a total mockery of the lives of hundreds of innocent civilians."

Middle East Eye (2020-02-06). Turkey Gives Assad Deadline to Pull Back or Face Military Action. theantimedia.com Turkey has given the Syrian government until the end of this month to withdraw from recently seized territory in Idlib province.

Medea Benjamin (2020-02-02). Why aren't Americans rising up like the people of Chile and Lebanon? zcomm.org The tinder for a revolutionary movement is everywhere…