シリア情勢 66

sputniknews.com/middle_east/20151215
トルコ経由でアフガン産ヘロイン密輸
アフガニスタン産ヘロインが、トルコ経由でバルカン半島、そして欧州へ大量に運ばれている。１４日、ロシア連邦麻薬流通監督庁のイワノフ長官が記者団に発表した。
「この場合、石油のトラフィック（密輸ルート）と麻薬のトラフィックは一致している。ただ方向が様々だというだけだ。もしアフガン産のコカインがトルコ経由でバルカン諸国、そしてその後、欧州諸国へ動いているとしたら、石油はトルコ側へ流れている」。

sputniknews.com/middleeast/20151215
The Saudi Arabia-sponsored Islamic military alliance to fight terrorism will not succeed, as Riyadh openly supports terrorism, the secretary of the Syrian National Assembly told Sputnik.
MOSCOW (Sputnik) − On Tuesday, local media reported that Saudi Arabia had set up a 34-member coalition to counteract terrorism.
"The kingdom should have picked a new position through the creation of this coalition… It can no longer be on its old position of open support of terrorist organizations. This initiative could be relatively successful but it will not work in the long run," Khalid Abboud said.

sputniknews.com/military/20151215
The coalition created by Saudi Arabia to combat terrorism could be used in conflicts between Sunnis and Shiites, Amin Shalaby the executive director of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs told Sputnik on Tuesday.

Saudi Arabia announced Tuesday the formation of an Islamic military coalition consisting of 34 Muslim majority countries to fight terrorism. The Joint Command operations center will be based in the Saudi capital of Riyadh.

The expert said that this new coalition raises a few question. “The first question- whether it is the replacement of the Arab League’s proposed idea of the United Arab Armed Forces?”

“Second − it is clear that the Islamic Coalition is represented by Sunni countries only; will it not play into the hands of the conflict between Sunnis and Shiites? This is the most dangerous potential development for the region at the moment,” said Shalaby.

sputniknews.com/politics/20151215
The US political establishment is still viewing Russia as a country that should be feared at a time when Washington has to make every effort to improve relations with Moscow, Paul Starobin wrote for the National Interest.

Being or appearing to be tough on Russia is, according to the analyst, "the choice of least political resistance for US politicians" from both parties. "No candidate from either party is bringing forth bold, fresh ideas for putting US-Russian relations on a new footing – and that goes for President Obama, too."

This distorted perception is not a recent phenomenon.

"The Cold War shaped several generations of American policy makers and established an enduring national popular culture, seen in bestselling novels and Hollywood blockbusters …, depicting Russia and Russians as duplicitous and menacing," Starobin explained.

One look at the media coverage of all things relating to Russia shows that this view is hard to eradicate.

"Too much of what passes as reportage and analysis of Russia today indulges in such casual pugnacity, as well as in an eerie glee that caricature is an acceptable, comfortable vehicle by which to explore this nation and its interests. Most worrying, it comes at the precise moment when more thoughtful, measured consideration of the US-Russia relationship is sorely needed," Starobin lamented.

sputniknews.com/business/20151215
European drivers are happy about the fact that prices for fuel are becoming lower but their joy won't, however, last long, because on a global perspective the fall in oil prices will affect the region's economy poorly, German newspaper Die Welt wrote.

For the first time, the cost of fuel fell below one euro per liter and the price is likely to decline further at an accelerated pace. Such a situation can be dangerous not only for countries producing oil, but also for economically sustainable European countries, such as Germany, the newspaper reported.

First, the most fragile states, such as Nigeria, Malaysia and Colombia, will be forced to drastically reduce public spending due to low oil prices, which may result in civil protests and riots. This, for its turn, may lead to the collapse of these states, which means that new refugees will head to Europe, the article noted.

Second, European countries are now largely focused on extracting shale oil, which in the present circumstances is extremely unprofitable. If the exploration of new wells stops, the whole shale industry may collapse, leading to a shock of the market and to a subsequent sharp jump in prices, the newspaper wrote.

sputniknews.com/politics/20151215
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is believed to be capable of going to great lengths to maintain his grip on power, which could lead to his ultimate downfall, expert on Central Asia Henry Kamens wrote for New Eastern Outlook.

The analyst claims that there is a list of secret "official documents" which – if unveiled – would bring the president's rule to "an abrupt end, simply because the list of charges is so long that even if only 10 percent can be proven that will be enough to sink him."

If true, the information in those files could even lead to Erdogan's impeachment, he added. Moreover, the documents, according to the expert, could well be released by members of the president's party or his former allies

Kamens mentioned two issues, which could be covered in the documents: the recent bombings in Ankara and the refugee crisis.

According to Turkish authorities, the attacks were committed by suicide bombers affiliated with Daesh, also known as ISIL, or Kurdish rebels from the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). "This claim smears all the Turkish public's bogeymen at once, but is highly unlikely to be true," the expert observed.

The PKK understands that it would gain more by helping Ankara and Washington to tackle Daesh than trying to undermine the Turkish government, Kamens explained. A lot is at stake.

"A Kurdish state would be an appropriate thank you for the 'moderate Kurdish' contribution to the war on terrorism, granted willingly and with public support, providing a get-out for all sides in that conflict," the expert noted, adding that "local special services" could be behind the twin bombings.

The second issue, allegedly mentioned in the documents, involves Ankara's stance on migrants and refugees. Turkey has been one of primary destinations for those fleeing the civil war in Syria. Millions are staying in the country or using it as a transit to get to the European Union.

"It is widely known that Turkey is encouraging, not stopping, the flow of migrants to Europe so that they can be used as a political weapon whenever suitable. This demonstrates that, having failed to get into the EU by fair, diplomatic means, Erdogan is happy to resort to foul ones. It is this which forms the substance of the documents the Turkish parliament, and his colleagues, might now release," Kamens assumed.

RT2015/12/15
3 ISIS Twitter accounts ‘trace back to UK govt computers,’ claim hackers
At least three Islamic State supporters’ social media accounts are run from IP addresses linked to the British government’s Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), a group of hackers has claimed.

The group of teenage computer experts, known as ‘VandaSec,’ have unearthed details of internet protocol (IP) addresses used by three jihadists to access Twitter accounts used to carry out online recruitment.

The addresses were thought to be based in Saudi Arabia, but upon further inspection they linked back to the DWP’s London offices, according to the Daily Mirror.

“Don’t you think that’s strange?” one of the hackers asked the Daily Mirror.

“We traced these accounts back to London, the home of the British intelligence services,” they added.

This revelation has sparked speculation that someone inside the government is running IS-supporting accounts, or they were created by intelligence services to trap wannabe terrorists.

The evidence caused the Cabinet Office to admit to selling IP addresses to two Saudi firms earlier this year. An expert has suggested this is why the IP’s are linked to the government.

Following the sale, the IP addresses were used by extremists to spread their message of hate on social media.

The DWP denied owning the IP addresses.
“The government owns millions of unused IP addresses which we are selling to get a good return for hardworking taxpayers,” a Cabinet Office spokesperson said.

“We have sold a number of these addresses to telecoms companies, both in the UK and internationally, to allow their customers to connect to the internet.

“We think carefully about which companies we sell addresses to, but how their customers use this internet connection is beyond our control.”
However, the government failed to reveal how much money was made from selling the IP addresses.

FARSNEWS2015/12/15
TEHRAN (FNA)- The Russian Defense Ministry supplied a large cargo of military and arms aid to Iraq as part of the Moscow-Baghdad growing anti-terrorism cooperation.
"A large number of the Russian-made armored vehicles, with impenetrable and highly resistent armor, have arrived in the Iraqi port of Basra," A Russian source said on Tuesday.

Iraqi forces spent months cutting off ISIL supply lines around Ramadi and slowly closing in on the city by taking suburban areas one after the other.

“The liberation of Al-Tameem was very important and… enables other forces to advance toward the centre of the city of Ramadi,” said Sabah al-Noman, the spokesman for Iraq’s counter-terrorism forces.

He and other military sources said Iraqi forces had also retaken the Anbar Operations Command, a key facility which lies at a fork of the Euphrates River in the city.

TEHRAN (FNA)- The Syrian army found further proof of the Turkish army's weapons supplies to the terrorist groups after capturing militants' positions in the Northern province of Aleppo.
The Syrian army and Hezbollah fighters found Turkey-made 81mm mortar round casing after crushing victory in battle against the terrorists in the Southern parts of Aleppo province in recent days.
The images released by the pro-government troops have gone viral over the social media.
Similar Turkey-made artillery, arms and food supplies have been taken from the terrorists in numerous fronts across Northern Syria.
The Syrian army made great advances in Lattakia mountains near the border with Turkey last week, where it found Turkey-supplied food supplies in the positions taken from the Nusra Front terrorist group.
The terrorist groups are receiving arms supplies from Saudi Arabia and Qatar too.
The terrorist groups, including the Al-Nusra Front and Aharar al-Sham, confirmed earlier this month that they have received large cargoes of TOW missiles supplied by the Qatari government.
Saudi Arabia also sent 500 TOW missiles to the ISIL, Al-Nusra, last month.

PRESSTV2015/12/15
Russia and the US have agreed on a number of ‘critical’ issues, particularly with regard to Syria, US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said following talks in Moscow.
“The US stands ready to work with Russia,” Kerry told journalists after meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Tuesday. He added that the two countries’ officials had had “a productive day” and the discussions had been “constructive.”
“Despite our countries’ differences, we demonstrated that when the United States and Russia pull together in the same direction, progress can be made,” Kerry said.

sputniknews.com/middleeast/20151216
McCain: Saudi Anti-Terror Coalition Shows Lack of US Leadership in M East
WASHINGTON (Sputnik), Leandra Bernstein − The establishment of a 34-nation anti-terror coalition by Saudi Arabia demonstrates the failure of US leadership in the Middle East, US Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain told Sputnik.
"It is the most graphic example of the lack of American leadership that has motivated Saudis and others to basically embark on their own strategies in order to combat both ISIS [Daesh] and the Iranian threat," McCain stated on Tuesday.
"They are as committed to the overthrow, or the removal of Bashar Assad, as they are of ISIS [Daesh]," McCain said on Tuesday, noting that Assad is "a greater threat to them in many ways than ISIS is."
On Tuesday, Saudi Arabia announced the creation of an anti-terrorism coalition, largely made up of Sunni Arab countries. The joint operation command center will be based in the Saudi capital of Riyadh.

PRESSTV2015/12/16
Russia’s Defense Ministry has announced an increase in future military equipment procurement, citing NATO’s "unfriendly" policies and the Takfiri threat in the region.

The announced plans included the annual purchase of some 200 planes and helicopters, up to 30 ships and submarines, and around 600 armored vehicles, the UPI reported on Tuesday.

"The state program for armaments extending till 2021 will increase the share of modern weapons and military hardware to no less than 70 percent," said Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces General Valery Gerasimov during a press briefing in Moscow.

The announcement came as the Russia Defense Ministry voiced concerns over the increase of NATO’s military activities along Russia’s borders, and the increase of global militant terrorism and extremism.

jp.sputniknews.com/middle_east/20151216
テロ組織ダーイシュ（ＩＳ,イスラム国)は、シリア領の外にある油田も自分達のコントロール下に収めたいと望んでいる。特にリビアやシナイ半島(エジプト）にある油田が狙われている。米国政府高官が、ロイター通信記者に述べた。

米政府高官は、次のように伝えた―「テロリストらは、リビアやその他の国々の油田奪取を検討中だ。我々は、そのための用意を整えるだろう。米国は、テロリストらの手に落ちる可能性のある油田や輸送路及びパイプラインを、一体誰がコントロールしているのかを、詳細に調査している。」
米国財務省のデータによれば、ダーイシュ（ＩＳ）は、原油密輸により、毎月4千万から5千万ドル、年間にすると5億ドルの収入を得ている。

jp.sputniknews.com/middle_east/20151216
「ダーイシュ（ＩＳ，イスラム国）」などのテロ組織と戦うために１５日、イスラム教国３４カ国によって結成された「イスラム軍事連合」はシリアに特務部隊を派遣する計画。サウジアラビアのジュベイル外相が明らかにした。
「イスラム軍事連合」の本部はサウジアラビアの首都リヤドに置かれる。作戦にはアラブ首長国連邦、カタール、バーレーンが参加する可能性がある。
このほか、ジュベイル外相は中東のテロ組織への資金の流れを遮断するよう呼びかけた。

FARSNEWS2015/12/16
Former Pakistani Minister: ISIL Seeking US Financial Supports
TEHRAN (FNA)- A former Pakistani religious affairs minister, Hamid Saeed Kazmi, disclosed that the supporters of the ISIL are trying to attract Washington's financial supports in a bid to continue their terrorist activities.
"The attempts by the ISIL and the Takfiri group's supporters show that this terrorist group is looking for financial supports of Israel and the US," Saeed Kazmi said.
He reiterated that the ISIL's goal is only blowing a strike at the anti-Israeli movements, specially Muslims, and said, "This group is not regarded as a threat to the US and the West."
"The ISIL's easy access to the Internet and Satellite shows that its supporters, specially Israel and the US, are well-aware of their whereabouts, but they do not want to destroy them and the US fight against terrorism is no more than words and claims," Saeed Kazmi added.
In relevant remarks in September, a senior Pakistani politician warned of the danger posed by the ISIL against his country's future, and said the terrorist group is misusing extremist religious schools to infiltrate its thoughts and ideology in Pakistan.
"The ISIL is a major danger threatening Pakistan's future and it can create many problems for the country in the future," Amir Fida Paracha, a senior member of Pakistan People Party, told FNA.
"The followers of the extremist stream which are illegal religious schools have paved the ground for ISIL's presence in Pakistan," he added.
Warning that the ISIL has even launched propaganda campaign in some major Pakistani cities, Paracha said most Pakistani people are still not an ISIL fan or supporter and the terrorist group is just supported by certain extremist religious groups for now.
But the danger of its growth in future is serious, he added.
In October 2014, the Pakistani Taliban declared that it is backing the ISIL and ordered fighters across the region to help the group in its campaign to set up an Islamic caliphate.
In a message marking the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha, the Pakistani Taliban said it fully supported ISIL's goals to set up a "caliphate" in the Middle East.
"In these troubled days, we call for your patience and stability, especially now that all your enemies are united against you. Please put all your rivalries behind you," the message said.
The statement was released in Urdu, Pashto and Arabic and came on a day when two attacks hit Pakistan.

RT2015/12/16
Turkish MP faces treason charges after telling RT ISIS used Turkey for transiting sarin
Ankara’s Chief Prosecutor's Office opened the case against Istanbul MP Eren Erdem of Republican People's Party (CHP) after his interview about sarin was aired on RT on Monday.

"Chemical weapon materials were brought to Turkey and put together in ISIS camps in Syria, which was known as the Iraqi Al-Qaeda at that time."

Erdem noted that the chemicals used for the production of weapons did not originate from Turkey. “All basic materials are purchased from Europe. Western institutions should question themselves about these relations. Western sources know very well who carried out the sarin gas attack in Syria,” Erdem told RT.

FARSNEWS2015/12/17
TEHRAN (FNA)- The strategic Kuweires airbase in the Eastern part of Aleppo province started conducting joint anti-terrorism operations with the Russian fleet over a month after its long siege was lifted by the Syrian army and Hezbollah. [VIDEO]
「with the Russian fleet」とあるのは疑問。

RT2015/12/17
Qatar royals among those abducted in Iraqi desert – report
Members of Qatar’s royal family were among the group of people kidnapped during a hunting trip in the Iraqi desert, near the Saudi border, an Iraqi police source told Sputnik.

“Among the Qatari hunters abducted last night by armed militants were members of Qatar’s ruling family,” the source said.

The group, which was hunting with falcons in the Najaf Desert, was intercepted and kidnapped on Tuesday night. It is unclear how many Qatari citizens have been abducted. Reports range from 16 to 26.
砂漠での鷹狩りの様子、とても珍しい。