​​​​​​​Panorama of Week: Russia follows Iran around in Al-bukamal, American slaps Erdogan

During the past week, Arab newspapers reported on the Russian-Iranian rivalry on the Syrian arena, in addition to the US sanctions on Turkey, as well as the Turkish intervention in Libya.

'Pro-Russian factions deploy in the countryside of Al-Bukamal'

The start with the Syrian issue, and in this context, Al-Sharq Al-Awsat newspaper said: “pro-Moscow factions entered the countryside of Al-Bukamal in the Deir ez-Zor Governorate in eastern Syria, in the first military arrival from Russia to the Iraqi borders since the direct intervention at the end of 2015.”

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that “the Russian-backed Fifth Corps began to deploy in several border points near Al-Bukamal sub-district, east of Deir ez-Zor Governorate,” and revealed that it “had handed in some sites from pro-Iranian militias,” including Harakat al-Nujaba and Hezbollah Al-Iraqi and Al-Abd, following an agreement between Moscow and Tehran that was not fully clear, and the sources confirmed that the Russian forces had opened a headquarters a week ago in the center of the border city which is controlled by the Iranian militias.

In a related context, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov discussed with his Syrian counterpart, Faisal Al-Miqdad, in Moscow, mechanisms for strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries and implementing previous agreements.

'A new slap to Erdogan'

Regarding US sanctions on Turkey, Al-Arab newspaper said: "The United States imposed sanctions on the Turkish Defense Industries Administration and its head, Ismail Demir, in a step that comes in response to Ankara's purchase of the Russian S-400 air defense system."

Mike Pompeo, the US Secretary of State, said that his country had made clear to Turkey at the highest levels that the purchase of the S-400 system would endanger the security of US military technology and its personnel.

Pompeo said the sanctions include a ban on all US export licenses and permits granted to the Turkish Defense Procurement Agency.

Observers say that the approval of the sanctions will exacerbate the state of tension and harm relations between the two NATO members, especially as it comes following a series of warnings from the American side that Ankara neglected, considering at the time that it has the right to purchase a system it needs.

The sanctions were a blow to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who was betting that the relationship he had developed with Trump and would protect Ankara from any harsh punitive measures.

Experts expect that US sanctions will negatively affect the ailing Turkish economy, which is groaning in light of the Coronavirus pandemic, the collapse of the local currency and the depletion of the country's foreign exchange reserves.

'Erdogan provokes the world in Libya'

Regarding the Libyan issue, Al-Bayan newspaper said: “Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will have to face the world on Libya if he tries to keep his forces and mercenaries there, as his decision to extend the presence of his military tools in Libya for another 18 months will be considered a challenge to UN decisions and international efforts, and striking against the wall, the Geneva Agreement, the outcomes of the Berlin Conference and the Cairo Declaration, and the results of the Libyan National Dialogue.

Observers believe that the Turkish regime dances as the slaughtered rooster in its attempt to defy the international will, and puts itself in more isolation, especially at the regional level, considering that its expanding its forces and mercenaries mission in Libya is the result of stubbornness that will make him pay a high price, especially since he no longer has a reliable friend especially in the Arab region and Europe.

Observers expressed their surprise at Erdogan's decision to extend his country's military presence in Libya to the Turkish Parliament, while the memorandum of understanding concluded between it and the President of the Presidency Council of the Government of National Accord in Tripoli, Faiz Al-Sarraj, is still rejected by the Libyan Parliament.

Libyan military sources warned of a Turkish plan to push the militias to violate the ceasefire agreement and launch an attack on the army, and thus to topple the military agreement and to bet on spreading chaos, to justify the presence of Erdogan's forces and mercenaries in the country, which seems likely in the coming days, in light of the continuing provocations. The militia and the threats issued by the Minister of Defense of Al-Wefaq, Salah El-Din Al-Namrouche, who is known for his proximity to Ankara, to withdraw from the Geneva Agreement.

Lebanon: Has the Authorship Flew in the Controversy War?

In the Lebanese context, An-Nahar newspaper said: “It was hoped that the round of debates and the exchange of responses and direct statements between the Baabda Palace and Beit Al-Wasat would form, even in its negative character, a space for openness to the Lebanese about the nature of the complications that obstructed the formation of the government, as well as opening a gap through which a settlement or solution could be accessed. Decisive and imminent on the foundations dictated by the constitution to announce the upcoming government as soon as possible.

It added, "The frankness about some aspects of the complications took place, but it highlighted a great contradiction that separates the vision of both Baabda and Beit Al-Wasat, the last meeting between President Michel Aoun and the prime minister designating the formation of the government, Saad Hariri, and even clarifying the details surrounding the formation of Prime Minister Hariri and President Aoun's proposal, as well as to touch the way out of the great political clash between them, seemed to be moving away more than ever before, and thus the immediate and indisputable conclusion is that the path of forming the government seemed to have slipped into the worst crisis he has known since Prime Minister Hariri's assignment, specifically after the last meeting between Aoun And Hariri last Wednesday in Baabda. "

(A)

ANHA