Turkey's talk about its points in Idlib for internal consumption; dangerous escalation in Iraq

On Monday morning, the Arab newspapers touched upon to the situation in Idlib, as well as to the escalation in Iraq, and to Turkish incursion in Libya.

Al-Arab: Ankara sticks to observation points in Idlib, on the impact of the Syrian army's progress

Al-Arab newspaper said, "Turkey announced, on Sunday, that it will not withdraw from its control points in Idlib, northwestern Syria, despite the advance of the Syrian army in the province and besieged one of the points near the city of Maarat al-Numan.

The Syrian army has launched a military operation in the southern and southeastern countryside of Idlib with the support of Russian aircraft since December 16.

On December 23, the army surrounded a Turkish observation post, after it managed to regain control of areas in the province, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

There is a widespread belief that the military operation launched by Damascus with Russian support comes within understandings with Turkey, especially since Ankara's position towards the current escalation seemed very weak, and limited to warning of a new wave of displacement, with a Turkish focus on what is happening in Libya, which appears to be occupying priority for Ankara.

The Syrian army has previously re-gained major cities thanks to agreements under the table between Moscow and Ankara, most notably Eastern Ghouta and before the city of Aleppo. Observers do not rule out that there is a new Russian-Turkish agreement that touches it, including Syria and Libya, in one basket.

Followers point out that Akar's talk about preserving the Turkish points in Idlib is a message for internal consumption only, especially since these points will not hinder the Syrian army in its progress, and the latter will intend not to target them, because these points will lose any influence or value if the army succeeds in control over the entire province, and then Turkey will be forced to withdraw it.

Akar's visit to the border region comes at a time when Turkey is preparing to send soldiers to support accord government in Libya to counter the progress of the Libyan National Army led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar.

Al-Bayan: Turkish stubbornness in front of Syrian progress with Russian cover

In the same context, Al-Bayan newspaper saw, "Although the dreams of the Turkish" safe zone "in the Syrian north evaporated against the fire of the Syrian military progress and the rejectionist Russian position, the Turkish officials are trying to adhere to the available remnants of the paper and maintain the rules of the occupation.

"Turkey had claimed that it had intervened in Syria to fight terrorism and that it would come out after the mission was over, but its recent policies and decisions reveal to the public Turkey's ambitions to occupy Syrian lands, while Syrian government forces backed by Russia continue their operations in Idlib, the last major bastion of the militants in Syria."

Al-Sharq al-Awsat: America targets the "Hezbollah Brigades" in Iraq and Syria

On the Iraqi issue, Al-Sharq Al-Awsat newspaper said, "America did not wait long to respond to the largest attack targeting its forces in Kirkuk (northern Iraq) last Friday, as it yesterday struck five bases of the Iraqi" Hezbollah Brigades "linked to Iran (3 of them in western Iraq, and two in Syria) dozens were killed and injured.

The Pentagon spokesman, Jonathan Hoffman, said in a statement that the strikes, which an official confirmed that the F-15 fighters had carried out, were "in response to repeated attacks by the Hezbollah (Iraqi) Brigades on Iraqi bases that include forces." American,” including targeting the K1 base, on Friday, with 30 missiles, killing an American contractor.

Sources in the " Popular Mobilization Forces " confirmed the killing of 15 fighters, and that it was reported that among them was the aide of Major General Abu Ali Khazali, and that 30 others were wounded. In anticipation of reprisals, Washington has decided to evacuate dozens of its embassy staff in Baghdad.

After hours of American raids, the French Press Agency quoted a security official as saying that 4 "Katyusha" missiles fell in the vicinity of the Iraqi military base of Taji (north of Baghdad), which includes American soldiers, without causing casualties.

(T/S)

ANHA