Syria: US Bolsters Troops as Kurdish Residents Protest Against Russian Patrols

 Russian helicopter near an oil well in the countryside of Hasaka, northeastern Syria (AFP)
Russian helicopter near an oil well in the countryside of Hasaka, northeastern Syria (AFP)
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Syria: US Bolsters Troops as Kurdish Residents Protest Against Russian Patrols

 Russian helicopter near an oil well in the countryside of Hasaka, northeastern Syria (AFP)
Russian helicopter near an oil well in the countryside of Hasaka, northeastern Syria (AFP)

Dozens of residents of in Malikiya countryside, northeastern Syria, protested to prevent Russian forces from advancing near their town and forced the troops to withdraw as US forces intervened and surrounded the area.

The incident, which aimed at preventing Russians from setting a military post in the area on the borders with Turkey, has provoked the Russian-US competition to establish military presence in areas east of the Euphrates.

The Russian Defense Ministry and Hmeimim base avoided commenting on the development on Monday.

According to activists, villagers of Ain Diwar halted the advancement of a Russian patrol, consisting of 11 military vehicles and prevented them from reaching an area in which a military post was supposed to be established.

Sources explained that the patrol was supported by helicopters, which flew at low altitude, to scare the protesters who insisted on their demands and called on the patrol's commander to leave the area immediately.

The commander tried to speak with the civilians and inform them that his troops will remain for two weeks only to train regime forces, field sources noted, affirming that his attempts had failed to convince the residents.

The sources said that the US forces interfered and closed all roads on the Russian patrol, noting that a US helicopter flew and chased two Russian helicopters.

US forces had repeatedly intercepted Russian attempted patrols along the international road, starting from their bases in or near the cities of Qamishli, Tel Tamr and Kobane.

In light of its understandings with Turkey, Moscow has reinforced its military presence around areas under the control of Syrian Democratic Forces near the Turkish borders, but the US forces prevent it from moving freely.

The Russian withdrawal was met with the reinforcement of US troops in the region.

Reports said that a US patrol consisting of Bradley and other military vehicles stationed in the village of Gir Ziro village met with the residents and remained there for some time before returning to its base in Rmelan.

Press sources also pointed out that the incident revealed the resentment of residents following recent Russian statements, in which it warned against Washington’s actions in the eastern Euphrates region.

“US actions in the Euphrates region create an explosive situation around the Kurdish problem, the consequences for the region can be catastrophic,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had recently stated.

“The situation on the Eastern Bank of the Euphrates is a cause for concern, where the US military illegally stationed there clearly encourages the separatist tendencies of the Kurds,” he stressed.

Americans are inciting the Kurds against the Syrian government, hindering the Kurds’ natural desire to start a dialogue with Damascus, Lavrov added.



Palestinian Central Council Demands that Hamas Cede Control of Gaza

Officials are seen at the meeting in Ramallah. (EPA)
Officials are seen at the meeting in Ramallah. (EPA)
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Palestinian Central Council Demands that Hamas Cede Control of Gaza

Officials are seen at the meeting in Ramallah. (EPA)
Officials are seen at the meeting in Ramallah. (EPA)

The Palestinian Central Committee called on Hamas on Friday to cede control of Gaza to the Palestinian Authority.

The council held its 32nd meeting in Ramallah that created the position of vice president in a first since 1964.

In a closing statement, the council stressed that decisions of war and peace and negotiations cannot be held by a faction or party, but these affairs are national concerns, reported the Palestinian official news agency (WAFA).

Moreover, it said that “peaceful popular resistance is the only way to achieve national goals.”

It underlined the need to unify Palestinian territories and their political, administrative and judicial systems.

Priority now, however, lies in “ending the Israeli aggression and genocide against our people in Gaza... and in rejecting the displacement of the Palestinians and attempt to annex their territories,” it added.

“Our people are committed to just and permanent peace based on the relevant international resolutions,” continued the council.

It tasked the executive committee of the Palestinian Liberation Organization to follow up on every regional and international effort to that end.

It also tasked the committee with launching a national dialogue that would reach national consensus that would establish the PLO as the sole legal representative of the Palestinian people.

The dialogue must prioritize a political solution that calls for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The council also stressed the Palestinian refugees’ right to return to their homeland from where they were forcibly displaced in 1948, which is in line with United Nations General Assembly resolution 194.

For its part, Hamas slammed the council decision to establish the position of vice president, saying it only deepens the Palestinian division and promotes unilateral decision-making.

It described the council meeting as “disappointing” and that it “had not met its aspirations to achieve real unity that is needed to confront the ongoing genocide in Gaza and Israeli escalation in the West Bank and Jerusalem.”

Hamas noted that main factions boycotted the meeting in rejection of attempts to monopolize decisions and the “coup against the spirit of national partnership.”

Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine boycotted the meeting.

Hamas called for the “rebuilding” of the PLO and holding comprehensive elections, saying they were the “only means to restore unity.”