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Israel warns Damascus not to use air defenses against Israeli jets inside Syria

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“We are flying the F-35 fifth-gen stealth fighter all over the Middle East and have already attacked twice on two different fronts,” Maj. Gen. Amikam Norkin was quoted as saying by Israeli media.

A senior Israeli Air Force officer has said that his country’s military aircraft will continue to operate in Syrian airspace for as long as is deemed necessary.

“We’re not doing this because we’re aggressive, but because we constantly have to be actively defending the state of Israel,” the senior officer said, speaking to reporters on condition of anonymity on Wednesday.

“This is the only thing preventing offensive measures by Iran,” he added.

The officer also warned Syria not to use its air defenses against Israeli warplanes. “All batteries that fire on Israeli aircraft will be destroyed. All batteries that do not fire on us will not be destroyed,” he said, noting that “this policy will continue.”

On Tuesday, the commander of the Israeli Air Force declared that Israel had become the first country in the world to use its US-made F-35 fifth-gen stealth fighter in combat.

“We are flying the F-35 all over the Middle East and have already attacked twice on two different fronts,” Maj. Gen. Amikam Norkin was quoted as saying by Israeli media.

Syrian-Israeli relations were brought to a boiling point earlier this month after the Israeli Air Force hit what it said were Iranian targets in Syria, following an alleged rocket attack against Israeli military positions in the occupied Golan Heights.

Earlier this year, Israeli jets repeatedly struck Syria’s T-4 air base, which Tel Aviv claimed contained “Iranian bases in Syria.”

On Wednesday, Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mikdad told Sputnik that the possibility of withdrawing Iranian military advisers and Hezbollah militia was “not even on the agenda of discussion, since it concerns the sovereignty of Syria.”

The Israeli Air Force has regularly violated Syrian airspace throughout the course of the Syrian civil war. Damascus has called these incursions acts of aggression and vowed to continue to “repel any aggression against Syria, regardless where it will take place.”

Source: Sputnik

Turkey’s Erdogan warns Europeans ‘will not walk safely on the streets’

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Erdogan warns Europeans 'will not walk safely on the streets

Erdogan warns Europeans ‘will not walk safely on the streets

It comes after German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned war of rhetoric must stop.

Samuel Osborne,

Europeans across the world will not be able to walk the streets safely if they keep up their current attitude towards Turkey, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned.

Turkey has been mired in a diplomatic row with Germany and the Netherlands after they banned Turkish officials from campaigning in support of an April referendum on boosting the Turkish President’s powers.

“If Europe continues this way, no European in any part of the world can walk safely on the streets,” Mr Erdogan told journalists in Ankara.

He added: “We, as Turkey, call on Europe to respect human rights and democracy.”

Turkish government officials are still participating in events for expatriate Turks across Europe, but are not campaigning for the referendum, the Turkish deputy prime minister has said.

Numan Kurtulmus said the row had helped Turks in Europe better understand the constitutional changes proposed in the referendum.

He said the “footsteps of neo-Nazism and extreme racism” were being heard in Europe.

Germany’s new President, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, used his first speech in the role to accuse Mr Erdogan of jeopardising everything Turkey has achieved in recent years.

“The way we look [at Turkey] is characterised by worry, that everything that has been built up over years and decades is collapsing,” Mr Steinmeier said.

“President Erdogan, you are jeopardising everything that you, with others, have built,” he said, adding he would welcome “credible signs” to ease the situation.

Nato member Turkey has repeatedly accused Germany of using Nazi tactics and has caused anger by detaining German-Turkish journalist Deniz Yucel.

“End the unspeakable Nazi comparisons,” Mr Steinmeier added. “Do not cut the ties to those people who want partnership with Turkey. Respect the rule of law and the freedom of media and journalists. And release Deniz Yucel.”

Mr Erdogan has previously branded the Netherlands “Nazi remnants” and accused Germany of “fascist actions”.

He has said his country may review its ties with Europe after the referendum, which he hopes will give him sweeping new powers, and has described Europe as “fascist and cruel”, saying it resembles the pre-Second World War era.

European leaders have made repeated calls for Turkish officials to avoid Nazi comparisons and the head of the Central Council of Jews in Germany accused Mr Erdogan of disrespecting the memory of the victims of the Holocaust.

“The comparisons between today’s Federal Republic of Germany and National Socialism, which we have heard in recent days, are not only insulting and absolutely false – they also relativise the Nazis’ rule of terror,” Josef Schuster said.

“The comparison is monstrous and denigrates the suffering of the victims of the Shoah.”

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said Turkey should stop Nazi comparisons “with no ifs or buts”.

The controversy deepened last week when a Turkish pro-government newspaper depicted Ms Merkel as Adolf Hitler on its front page, branding her “Mrs Hitler”.

The right-wing tabloid accused the German chancellor of attempting to lead a fascist movement against Turkey.

It came days after Germany’s biggest-selling newspaper Bild attacked Mr Erdogan for threatening the stability of Europe through his “lust for power”.

“Bild tells the truth to Erdogan’s face – you are not a democrat! You are hurting your country! You are not welcome here!” the German newspaper said.

Turkish hackers also spread Nazi accusations across high profile Twitter accounts, posting pro-Erdogan messages from accounts including Amnesty International, BBC North America and Forbes.

While tensions between Turkey and Europe have boiled over in recent weeks, acrimony over Turkey’s belief some European countries are harbouring suspected terrorists has festered for years.

Europe has questioned whether fugitives would get a fair trial in Turkey and said free speech laws and other rights protect many dissidents.

A Turkish official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the Associated Press that Turkey will ask the Netherlands to extradite a Turkish leftist militant.

Mr Erdogan criticised Germany for allowing a weekend rally of Kurds, some of whom expressed support for a jailed rebel leader in Turkey.

In January, Turkey condemned a Greek court ruling granting asylum to eight Turkish military servicemen allegedly involved in a failed coup to oust Mr Erdogan last year.

Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/turkey-erdogan-germany-netherlands-warning-europeans-not-walk-safely-a7642941.html

United States warns Turkey against S-400 purchase from Russia: Report

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This picture taken on May 7, 2017 shows the Russian S-400 air defense missile systems driving during a rehearsal for the Victory Day military parade in Red Square in Moscow, Russia. (Photo by AP)

This picture taken on May 7, 2017 shows the Russian S-400 air defense missile systems driving during a rehearsal for the Victory Day military parade in Red Square in Moscow, Russia. (Photo by AP)

The United States has reportedly warned Turkey against the consequences of its decision to buy S-400 surface-to-air missile batteries from Russia, saying Washington could slap Ankara with sanctions over such a purchase.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, an American official expressed concerns over Turkey’s plan to buy the Russian S-400 missile system, saying the purchase would potentially expose Turkey to a new sanctions law recently passed by Congress, according to the Turkish daily Haberturk.

Moscow and Ankara finalized an agreement on the delivery of the S-400 surface-to-air missile systems on December 2017. The deal has drawn concerns among some of Turkey’s NATO allies who claim the missile batteries are not compatible with those of the military alliance.

The US official further said that the potential acquisition of the missile systems would “negatively influence the interoperability of NATO,” the US-led North Atlantic Treaty Organization to which Turkey is a member.

The official also said that Washington was seeking to “help Turkey find a better alternative to meet its air defense needs.”

Earlier this month, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu spoke out against the language of threats regarding its purchase of the S-400 systems.

“We do not use and will not accept the language of threats. Yes, the US Congress adopted a law [on anti-Russia sanctions]. But we need to ensure our national security. We would like to purchase the means to ensure it from our allies,” Cavusoglu said during a press conference with his American counterpart Rex Tillerson on February 16.

The US State Department has previously threatened to apply “appropriate measures” against countries willing to purchase advanced weaponry, particularly the S-400 missile defense systems.

On August 2, 2017, President Donald Trump signed into law the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) that imposed sanctions on Iran, Russia and North Korea.

The latest threat of sanctions come amid tense relations between the US and Turkey over Washington’s support for the Kurdish militants in northern Syria. Ankara views those militants as terrorists linked with the homegrown Kurdistan Workers’ Party, which has been fighting for autonomy.

Ankara launched a military campaign against US-backed Kurdish militants on Syrian soil after the US said it would set up a 30,000-strong militant force at Turkey’s doorstep.

Serj Tankian warns against Monsanto operation in Armenia

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Armenian-American singer-songwriter, soloist of the metal band System of a Down, activist Serj Tankian has warned Armenia against Monsanto operation in the country’s agriculture sector, for cultivating genetically engineered seeds, which is claimed to alter the natural make-up of seeds to make crops resistant to pesticides and herbicides.

“Armenia please stay free and clear of Monsanto. There is ample proof that Monsanto’s sprays have poisoned our environment contributing drastically to dying off of bees. Their predatory genetically modified products spell the end of pure organic foods. They are bad for you and taste horrible to say the least.,” Tankian wrote on his Facebook page.

To remind, days ago the US Embassy in Armenia announced organized a business conference focused on Armenia’s agriculture sector with a goal to connect Armenian companies involved in the sector with the expertise, products, and technology of well-known U.S. companies Valmont and Monsanto. The Embassy informed Valmont and Monsanto sent representatives to the conference to present their products and services and to learn about business opportunities in Armenia.

Tankian suggested that Monsanto is known as “an evil corporation in the US and Europe” for all their practices. “When I’m in Armenia and bite into an apple, it’s pure, crisp and delicious. From thousands of years of agriculture and cultivation. Let it remain so, please. I can’t find apples like that in the US thanks to Monsanto,” Tankian wrote.

Erdogan warns Iraqi Kurds will go hungry if sanctions imposed

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Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday warned that Iraqi Kurds would go hungry if Turkey decides to halt the flow of trucks and oil across its border with northern Iraq, and said all military and economic measures were on the table.

The comments, some of the harshest yet from Erdogan about Monday’s referendum in Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region, came as Iraqi troops joined the Turkish army for joint military exercises near Turkey’s border with northern Iraq, Straitstimes.com reports.

Turkey has long been northern Iraq’s main link to the outside world, but sees the referendum as a threat to its own national security, fearing it will inflame separatism among its own Kurdish population.

“(They) will be left in the lurch when we start imposing our sanctions,” Erdogan said in a speech broadcast live on television. “It will be over when we close the oil taps, all (their) revenues will vanish, and they will not be able to find food when our trucks stop going to northern Iraq.”

Erdogan has repeatedly threatened economic sanctions, but has so far given few details.

Hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil a day flow through a pipeline in Turkey from northern Iraq, connecting the region to global oil markets.

 

He said that all options – from economic to military measures that involved land and air space – were on the table.

Iraqi soldiers joined Turkish troops for military exercises in southeast Turkey near the border with Iraq on Tuesday, a Reuters witness near the border said, as the two countries coordinate steps in response to the referendum.

Erdogan also accused Massoud Barzani, the president of the Kurdistan Regional Government, of “treachery” over the vote. “Until the very last moment, we weren’t expecting Barzani to make such a mistake as holding the referendum, apparently we were wrong,” Erdogan said.

“This referendum decision, which has been taken without any consultation, is treachery.”

Germany’s MFA warns Erdogan against even appearing at Turkish consulate Video

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German MFAGermany’s Foreign Ministry warned Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan against even appearing at a Turkish consulate or speaking via web video link during his visit to Germany for G20 summit,

Commenting on a suspected rumors that the Turkish president would defy the German government, Martin Schaefer said that doing so “would be an affront to the clearly expressed will of the government and a violation of German sovereignty.”

According to him, the government of Germany had options for influencing such actions.

Iraqi PM Warns Turkey After It Deploys Troops Near Border

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iraq-warns-turkeyIraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi has warned Turkey against provoking a confrontation after Ankara sent tanks and artillery near the countries’ border not far from Mosul.

Abadi said in a televised news conference that Baghdad does not want a confrontation or a “war with Turkey,” but said Iraqi forces “are ready for it” if it happens.

He added that Baghdad had prohibited Turkish forces from intervening in the fight against Islamic State (IS) fighters to regain control of Mosul and if “Turkey enters the current battle…we will deal with them as an enemy.”

Turkey has deployed tanks and heavy artillery on its southeastern border with Iraq, saying that the forces may be sent into Iraq “if necessary.”

The deployments on November 1 were made in Turkey’s Silopi region bordering a stretch of northern Iraq along Iraq’s strategic Highway 2, which leads to Mosul about 130 kilometers to the south.

Turkish Defense Minister Fikri Isik said on November 1 that Ankara was under no obligation to keep its military forces on its own side of the border.

Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on October 25 that Ankara could launch a ground operation into Iraq if it felt its security was threatened. “We are ready to use all our resources, including a ground operation,” he said.

The deployments came as Iraqi special forces battled Islamic State (IS) militants into an eastern neighborhood of Mosul on November 1 — the first time government forces have been inside the city since it was seized by IS militants in 2014.

It also came as the head of the Turkish Armed Forces General Staff, General Hulusi Akar, was visiting Moscow on November 1 for talks with his Russian counterpart, General Valery Gerasimov, about possible military cooperation and what Ankara described as “the situation in the Middle East.”

Turkey has as many as 1,000 troops in northern Iraq at the request of regional Iraqi leaders, and have been training Kurdish Peshmerga fighters.

But the government in Baghdad has called on Turkey to withdraw those forces.

Turkey has not had a direct role in a two-week-old Iraqi operation to recapture Mosul from IS fighters.

But Ankara has said its forces should be involved to prevent Iranian-backed Shi’ite militia fighters from carrying out atrocities against Sunni civilians in Mosul.

At the same time that Turkey has been helping Iraqi Kurdish forces, it has been fighting against U.S.-supported Syrian Kurds from the so-called Kurdish People’s Protection units (YPG) — claiming that the YPG in Syria is associated with Turkish Kurds from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

Turkey has been battling PKK militants in southeastern Turkey for more than 30 years in a conflict that has killed tens of thousands.

With reporting by Reuters, AP, AFP, dpa, and CNN Turk

US warns extremists ‘may attack, kidnap or blow up’ Americans in Istanbul

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us-waren-istanbul-terrorThe US consul-general in Turkey has called on US citizens in Istanbul to steer clear of crowded public places and locations popular with tourists due to an imminent threat of attacks on US and other foreign nationals by extremist groups.

The security memo was published on the official consulate page on Saturday. While elaborating on the nature of the possible attacks that Americans can fall prey to, it listed “armed attack, attempted kidnapping, bombing, or other violent acts,” adding that they could be “pre-planned” and come “with little or no warning.”

For the sake of their safety, the consulate urged US citizens to reconsider their traveling plans, especially, if they are going to visit “locations where the westerners are known to frequent or reside.” Of particular concern are the major cities located in southeastern Turkey, in the border region with Syria.

Americans have been also cautioned to shun political gatherings and rallies as well as to avoid visiting places that attract large crowds and staying vigilant while visiting tourist spots.

Meanwhile, one policeman was killed and 16 people, including six officers, were injured in a car bomb blast in the eastern Turkish city of Bingöl, Turkish state news agency Anadolu reported Saturday.

A car bomb went off as an armored police vehicle passed. While no one has claimed responsibility, Turkish police said the armed wing of the banned Kurdistan’s Workers Party (PKK), which is considered a terrorist organization in Turkey, could be behind the assault. An operation to arrest the perpetrators is under way.

Turkey has been experiencing a wave of terrorist attacks attributed either to the PKK or to Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL). On October 9, 18 people, including 10 policemen, were killed and 27 people injured in a car bomb explosion in the southeast Turkish town of Semdinli, located in an area that sees occasional heavy fighting between the Turkish army and Kurdish militias.

The deadliest terrorist attack this year took place at Istanbul’s Ataturk airport in June, killing 43 people and injuring 239. It was blamed by the Turkish authorities on Islamic State.

US warns of global attack on freedom, slams some allies like Turkey

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© AFP/File | A demonstrator holds a placard reading "Free Press Free Society", outside the Istanbul courthouse on April 1, 2016

© AFP/File | A demonstrator holds a placard reading “Free Press Free Society”, outside the Istanbul courthouse on April 1, 2016

WASHINGTON (AFP) Governments around the world are cracking down on basic freedoms, the United States warned Wednesday, in a report that did not spare key US allies like Turkey and Egypt.

Secretary of State John Kerry, writing the preface to his department’s annual human rights report, said attacks on democratic values point to a “global governance crisis.”

Istanbul the Hub of Terrorism: US warns of ‘credible threats’ to tourist areas in Istanbul, Antalya

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n_97562_1The United States embassy in Turkey on April 9 warned American citizens of “credible threats” to tourist areas in Istanbul and the Mediterranean resort city of Antalya, a day after Israel warned of “imminent risks” of attacks.

“The U.S. Mission in Turkey would like to inform U.S. citizens that there are credible threats to tourist areas, in particular to public squares and docks in Istanbul and Antalya,” read the emergency travel warning published on its official website.

On April 8, Israel reissued and accentuated a warning to its citizens to avoid Turkey over the “immediate risks” of attacks, weeks after three Israelis were killed in an Istanbul suicide bombing.

“Following a situational assessment, we are reiterating and sharpening the high level of threat in Turkey,” the counter terrorism bureau said.

Its warning came hours after the Turkish foreign ministry announced “progress towards finalizing the agreement” on restoring ties with Israel, a day after both sides held talks in London.

“There are immediate risks of attacks being carried out in the country, and we stress the threat applies to all tourism sites in Turkey,” Israel’s counter terrorism bureau said in a statement.

It called on all Israelis to avoid visiting Turkey and urged Israeli tourists there to leave “as soon as possible,” defining the threat as level 2 — “concrete and high” — the same as in its previous warning from March 28.

Three Israelis and an Iranian were killed and 39 people wounded when a man blew himself up on Istanbul’s Istiklal Avenue, a famous shopping street in the heart of Turkey’s largest city, on March 19.

Turkey said the bomber had links to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), and on April 5 Israel’s defense ministry said he had most likely targeted the Israelis deliberately.