Stephen Lendman

In mid-March, Putin announced the withdrawal of most Russian forces from Syria, saying:

“I consider the objectives that have been set for the Defense Ministry to be generally accomplished. That is why I order to start withdrawal of the main part of our military group from the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic starting from tomorrow, (March 15, coinciding with the beginning of dead-on-arrival peace talks).”

“In a short period of time, Russia has created a small but very effective military group in Syria. The effective work of our military forces allowed the peace process to begin.”

“Russian government troops and (Syrian) patriotic forces have changed the situation in the fight with international terrorism and have seized the initiative.”

Moscow maintains a military presence at the Khmeymin airbase in Latakia and its Tartus naval facility. Its mission to defeat the scourge of terrorism remains unchanged.

It hopes diplomatic efforts can be more successful than earlier. History shows America doesn’t negotiate in good faith.

Washington undermined Geneva I and II peace talks. Current ones collapsed. Another round later in May won’t be more successful. Ceasefire is more fantasy than real.

Terrorists Washington calls “moderate rebels” took full advantage to replenish depleted ranks, regroup, rearm and regain lost territory around Aleppo - aided by US-led Western special forces and paramilitary mercenaries.

The strategic village of Khan Touman in Aleppo province held by government forces since December was retaken by US-supported takfiri terrorists.

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said reoccupying the area shows foreign-backed terrorists intend continuing military operations, rejecting diplomatic conflict resolution.

“We believe that the solution to the Syrian crisis is political, and the terrorists…should be denounced and crushed by (a united) international community” effort, Amir-Abdollahian stressed.

Government forces intend liberating Khan Touman again, a Syrian military source, saying:

“Thousands of fresh soldiers and a large number of the Iraqi and Lebanese Hezbollah, deployed near the small town of Homeireh, are ready to launch a joint large-scale anti-terrorism operation to drive the terrorist groups back from the positions they captured on Thursday inside and outside the town of Kahn Touman.”

They’ll face thousands of heavily armed Western and regional-backed terrorists. Government forces aided by Russian air power began attacking them to gain a battlefield advantage - in preparation for a large-scale ground assault to retake the village.

Ceasefire gives terrorists the advantage, government troops having to regain earlier held territory lost during a pause in fighting.

Conflict won’t be resolved through diplomacy with America - committed to ousting Assad and replacing Syrian sovereign independence with pro-Western puppet governance.

How long will it take before Putin resumes full-scale aerial operations proved so successful while they continued? The language Washington understands best is force.

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Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks World War III".

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.

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