Arab press: Tension between IRGC, Damascus officers; difficult task for al-Kazemi in Turkey

On Monday morning, Arab newspapers discussed the situation in Al-Bu Kamal in Deir-ez-Zor, in addition to Al-Kazemi's upcoming visit to Turkey, and the Turkish intervention in Libya.

'Tension between Iran and Damascus in al-Bukamal'

The beginning is with the Syrian issue, and in this context Al-Sharq Al-Awsat newspaper said: “Media sources in the Syrian Euphrates region reported that there is tension between leaders of the Revolutionary Guard and officers in the Syrian regime forces present in the al-Bukamal area, east of Deir-ez-Zor, against the background of Iranian accusations of the involvement of affiliated Syrian security forces. The regime is carrying out operations against the Iranian Revolutionary Guard militia in al-Bukamal.

The newspaper quoted these means as saying: "The Iranian Revolutionary Guard has summoned 4 officers from the Syrian regime forces; among them are affiliated with the military security apparatus, and they were sent a strongly worded message during their meeting with a commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard in al-Bukamal."

And added, "The Iranian leader, known as" Hajj Sajjad, "informed the officers that the attacks against (Revolutionary Guards) elements in al-Bukamal and its countryside were carried out by members of the Syrian regime forces, and Iranian intelligence has begun its investigations to find out the identity of the attackers."

The Iranian leader ruled out "ISIS's involvement in the operation, based on the testimonies of the people of the region, who saw the person who targeted the members of the (Revolutionary Guards) in the valley area inside the city of al-Bukamal, last Thursday, and confirmed that he was wearing the military uniform of the Syrian regime forces," as revealed The Iranian leader reported finding "the motorcycle used by the attacker, and he left it near a farm before escaping."

Members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, who were present in al-Bukamal desert points, were subjected to an attack carried out by unknown persons on December 7, followed by another attack by unknown persons a few days later, before targeting UAV close to the town of Sabikhan, east of Deir-ez-Zor. Three cars carrying military experts belonging to the "inspection committee" came from Iraq, to ​​inspect the points of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard in Deir-ez-Zor and the crossings. The targeting resulted in the killing of 3 experts, two Iraqis and an Iranian.

Turkey will not easily give what al-Kazemi wants'

Regarding the upcoming visit of Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kazemi to Turkey, Al-Arab newspaper said: “The term trade exchange does not provide an objective description of the commercial relationship between Iraq and Turkey following the circulation of the term with the announcement of the visit of Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kazemi to Turkey this week. The relationship is closer to that of a maker with a consumer, it is a relationship between two countries that export goods to each other. "

The volume of trade exchange between the two countries is about 15 billion dollars annually, the value of which Iraq pays about 95 percent of them to Turkey.

The relationship between the two countries has passed since 2003 through many stages of push and pull, but the only constant is that Iraq is an ideal consumer region for Turkish goods, which is what Ankara is keen to promote - without paying any return - as much as possible.

In addition, for the Iraqi traveler, Turkey is the first destination for the purposes of tourism and treatment, given its competitive prices compared to other destinations, and the facilities for entry and flight visas.

In recent years, Iraqi investments in Turkey have increased dramatically, specifically within the real estate sector.

However, recent months have witnessed noticeable tension between the two countries, against the backdrop of Turkish military attacks on Iraqi regions.

Turkey also proceeded in these months to freeze Iraqi assets and funds, under the pretext that it had complied with European requirements related to money laundering.

The Iraqi ambassador to Turkey, Hassan al-Janabi, said that the travel facilities and the frozen funds will top the agenda of al-Kazemi's visit to Ankara on Thursday.

Al-Kazemi wants to return to the procedures before the recent tension in relation to Iraqi travel to Turkey, as they were to obtain an entry visa upon arrival at Turkish airports.

Likewise, the Iraqi funds frozen in Turkey could play a role in alleviating the stifling financial crisis that Iraq suffers due to the low oil prices, which has caused delays in paying employees' salaries.

Al-Kazemi intends to visit Turkey to conclude a semblance of an agreement on swapping Turkish trade in Iraq for a series of requirements that Baghdad needs from Ankara, and it is preferable that they be implemented urgently.

Al-Kazemi realizes that Ankara will not give him what he wants easily, as the prime minister must provide more facilities for the flourishing Turkish trade in Iraq, especially with regard to lifting the Iraqi ban on importing some agricultural and animal products from Turkey, after achieving local self-sufficiency in these products.

But the matter may not stop at the end of economic or financial understandings that cannot move outside the known flexibility margins between countries, and may even extend to some political files, which means that al-Kazemi's task may be very difficult in Ankara.

Turkey has a close relationship with a wide spectrum of Sunni and Turkmen politicians, such as the pro-Salim al-Jubouri wing within the Islamic party, the arm of the Muslim Brotherhood in Iraq, and the brothers Osama and Athil al-Nujaifi in Mosul, and Khamis al-Khanjar in Fallujah.

Turkey seeks to empower its allies, most of whom revolve around the Brotherhood, inside Iraq at the political level, inspired by the disastrous Iranian experience with the Shiite parties.

Observers say that Turkey is rushing to pounce on the Iraqi file fiercely, if expectations are valid that the American role in it will decline during the era of US President-elect Joe Biden.

'Turkey seeks to preserve what it has achieved in Libya'

On the Libyan issue, Al-Bayan newspaper said: “Turkey, through the military build-up, is seeking to preserve mainly the gains it has achieved in Libya, and to secure new gains that guarantee its survival, by continuing its suspicious role there, but analysts have confirmed that the crowd manifests the failure of Turkish regime in Libya, where his plans are now exposed. "

These provocations represent a “clear violation of the dialogue tracks, especially the military and security,” confirmed in statements to the statement, Director of the Libyan Ummah Center for Studies, Muhammad Al-Asmar, who points out that “Turkey made Accord Government in violating of the October 23 statement stipulating the withdrawal of foreign armed forces within 90 days from that date. "

And he added: “On the other hand, the Turkish mobilization and the resumption of bringing mercenaries and weapons manifests Turkey’s military failures, so it is keen to torpedo the dialogue,” noting that “the confrontations remain an obsession within the framework of those violations that will inevitably lead to provocative practices that denote Turkey’s desire to recycle The file is in a way in its favor, according to the developments in the international scene.”

The director of the Libyan Nation Center criticized the role of the United Nations, and said, "The organization through the Security Council has not yet done what is required of it. The security military agreement - according to Article 11 of the October 23 Agreement - required the issuance of a Security Council resolution that deters and punishes those who violate The agreement, and so far, has not happened, which provided a fertile environment for Turkey to do what it is doing now. "

In addition, the Libyan political analyst, Muhammad al-Abani, said in statements to Al-Bayan that it is very likely that the Turkish provocations in Libya will lead to the collapse of the dialogue path and directly cause the return of the military confrontation.

T/S

ANHA