Jan 15, 2015 Spacewar.com (AFP)

Istanbul - Turkey has suspended five prosecutors working on a contentious investigation into an alleged delivery of arms for Syrian rebels that was intercepted on the border last year, media reports said Thursday.

The top Turkish judicial committee said the decision was taken so as not to hamper the inquiry or tarnish the reputation of the judiciary, the official Anatolia news agency reported.

The move came a day after Turkey imposed an all-out media blackout, including on Facebook and Twitter, prohibiting publication of reports on the issue.

In January last year, Turkish police stopped and seized seven trucks near the Syrian border that were suspected of smuggling weapons into Syria.

The move came as the government in Ankara denied suspicions it was aiding rebel forces fighting the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

A series of documents were then leaked on the Internet indicating that the seized trucks were actually National Intelligence Agency (MIT) vehicles delivering weapons to Syrian Islamist rebels fighting President Bashar al-Assad.

Turkey has vehemently denied aiding Islamist rebels in Syria, such as the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group.

Nineteen security officials who stopped the trucks are currently on trial on "spying" charges. They face so-called aggravated life sentences if found guilty.

The Radikal online newspaper spoke to one of the suspended prosecutors, Aziz Takci, who said "I did my work well and I stick by my position."

However opposition Turkish daily BirGun openly flouted the publication injunction, putting the allegations and the documents on its front page Wednesday.

Anti-secrecy websites outside Turkey have also posted the documents which have now been taken off the Internet inside the country.

SOUTHWEST ASIA, Jan. 12, 2015 – From a Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve News Release

U.S. and coalition military forces have continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Syria and Iraq, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.

Officials reported details of the latest strikes, which took place between 8 a.m. yesterday and 8 a.m. today, local time, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports.

Airstrikes in Syria

Attack, fighter and bomber aircraft conducted 11 airstrikes in Syria:

-- Near Kobani, nine airstrikes struck two large ISIL units and an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed 10 ISIL fighting positions, five ISIL buildings and two ISIL staging positions.

-- Near Abu Kamal, an airstrike destroyed an ISIL excavator.

-- Near Dawr az Zawr, an airstrike struck an ISIL oil refinery.

Airstrikes in Iraq

Attack, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft conducted 16 airstrikes in Iraq:

-- Near Beiji, four airstrikes struck four ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL fighting positions.

-- Near Taji, an airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit.

-- Near Qaim, two airstrikes destroyed two ISIL armored vehicles and 10 ISIL fighting positions.

-- Near Ramadi, an airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and an ISIL vehicle.

-- Near Tal Afar, an airstrike destroyed an ISIL artillery system and an ISIL checkpoint.

-- Near Asad, an airstrike destroyed an ISIL rocket launcher and an ISIL vehicle.

-- Near Sinjar, an airstrike struck a large ISIL unit and destroyed two ISIL buildings.

-- Near Mosul, five airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and two large ISIL units and destroyed four ISIL vehicles, an ISIL VBIED, two ISIL armored vehicles, an ISIL semi-truck, an ISIL mortar system, three ISIL buildings, three ISIL boats and an ISIL tank.

Part of Operation Inherent Resolve

The strikes were conducted as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation to eliminate the ISIL terrorist group and the threat they pose to Iraq, Syria, the region, and the wider international community. The destruction of ISIL targets in Syria and Iraq further limits the terrorist group's ability to project terror and conduct operations, officials said.

Coalition nations conducting airstrikes in Iraq include the United States, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Coalition nations conducting airstrikes in Syria include the United States, Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

SOUTHWEST ASIA, Jan. 8, 2015 – From a Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve News Release

U.S. and partner-nation military forces have continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Syria and Iraq, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.

Officials provided details on the following strikes, which took place between 8 a.m. yesterday and 8 a.m. today, local time, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports:

Airstrikes in Syria

Fighter and bomber aircraft conducted six airstrikes in Syria:

-- Near Kobani, five airstrikes struck two ISIL fighting positions and an ISIL staging area and destroyed four ISIL fighting positions.

-- Near Hasakah, an airstrike struck four ISIL crude oil pumps and five ISIL crude oil well heads.

Airstrikes in Iraq

Bomber and fighter aircraft conducted seven airstrikes in Iraq:

-- Near Rutbah, an airstrike destroyed an ISIL vehicle.

-- Near Tal Afar, two airstrikes struck two ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL vehicle-borne bomb and an ISIL vehicle.

-- Near Kirkuk, an airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL checkpoint.

-- Near Fallujah, an airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit.

-- Near Asad, an airstrike struck a large ISIL unit.

-- Near Sinjar, an airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit.

Part of Operation Inherent Resolve

The strikes were conducted as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation to eliminate the ISIL terrorist group and the threat they pose to Iraq, the region and the wider international community.

Coalition nations conducting airstrikes in Iraq include the United States, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Coalition nations conducting airstrikes in Syria include the United States, Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

SOUTHWEST ASIA, Dec. 17, 2014 – From a Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve News Release

U.S. and partner-nation military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported.

Officials provided details of airstrikes conducted Dec. 15 through today.

Airstrikes in Syria

In Syria, five airstrikes near Kobani destroyed an ISIL building, an ISIL staging area, an ISIL bunker, and an ISIL mortar and struck two ISIL tactical units, two additional buildings and two ISIL fighting positions. Near Abu Kamal, an airstrike destroyed an ISIL tactical vehicle.

Airstrikes in Iraq

Separately, U.S. and partner-nation military forces conducted 61 airstrikes in Iraq using fighter, bomber, attack, and remotely-piloted aircraft:

-- Eight airstrikes near Mosul destroyed two ISIL heavy machine guns, three ISIL buildings, one ISIL mortar position, one ISIL bulldozer and an ISIL bunker and also struck a large ISIL unit and an ISIL tactical unit;

-- Two airstrikes near Tal-Afar destroyed an ISIL building and three ISIL bridges and also struck an ISIL tactical unit;

-- Two airstrikes near Sinjar destroyed two ISIL vehicles, two ISIL guard towers, three ISIL containers and one ISIL storage container;

-- An airstrike near Hit destroyed an ISIL tactical vehicle and an excavator;

-- An airstrike near Rawa destroyed an ISIL building and a storage container;

-- An airstrike near Irbil destroyed an ISIL vehicle and struck an ISIL tactical unit;

-- An airstrike near Ramadi destroyed an ISIL building; and

-- An additional 45 strikes were conducted in support of the Peshmerga and Iraqi security forces operating in the region. Precision airstrikes from 15 coalition aircraft destroyed approximately 50 targets, to include bulldozers, vehicles, checkpoints, enemy fighting positions, enemy fighters, and equipment.

All aircraft returned to base safely. Airstrike assessments are based on initial reports.

The strikes were conducted as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation to eliminate the ISIL terrorist group and the threat they pose to Iraq, the region and the wider international community. The destruction of ISIL targets in Syria and Iraq further limits the terrorist group's ability to project terror and conduct operations.

Coalition nations conducting airstrikes in Iraq include the U.S., Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Coalition Nations conducting airstrikes in Syria include the U.S., Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

12 dec. 2014 by Michael Hirst and John Lawrence

Islamic State initially relied on wealthy private donors in the Middle East keen to oust Syria's President Bashar al-Assad.

It now makes between $846,000 (£540,000) and $1.645m (£1.05m) a day selling oil from fields in Syria and Iraq.

Middlemen smuggle crude oil and refined products to Turkey and Iran, or sell them to the Syrian government.

Kidnapping has also generated at least $20m (£12.7m) in ransom payments in 2014, according to the US Treasury.

Islamic State raises several million dollars per month through extorting the eight million people under its full or partial control.

Payments are extracted from those who pass through, conduct business in, or simply live in IS territory.

Religious minorities have been forced to pay a special tax, convert to Islam or leave.

Islamic State also profits from robbing banks, looting and selling antiquities, and stealing or controlling the sale of livestock and crops.

Abducted girls and women have allegedly been sold as sex slaves.

Some funding is still derived from wealthy donors and Islamic charities in the Middle East and Europe.

How does the group make its money? Watch this interactive video to find out

WASHINGTON, 2 décembre - RIA Novosti

La Turquie demeure la principale filière d'infiltration de mercenaires étrangers sur le territoire syrien, et ce malgré les efforts substantiels déployés par Ankara pour endiguer ce processus, a déclaré mardi le conseiller du département d'Etat américain Robert Bradtke.

"La Turquie est un partenaire très important des Etats-Unis dans la région. Nous cherchons à apporter conjointement au conflit une solution politique excluant la participation de Bachar el-Assad. Nous avons également des intérêts communs dans la lutte contre les organisations terroristes en Syrie et en Irak. Nous savons que la Turquie déploie des efforts pour maîtriser le flux de mercenaires étrangers vers la Syrie et nous menons un dialogue à ce sujet avec Ankara", a affirmé M. Bradtke.

Il n'en reste pas moins que la Turquie demeure la "principale porte d'entrée" pour les djihadistes se rendant en Syrie. Selon le diplomate américain, plusieurs facteurs en sont la cause: le nombre de touristes (37 millions de personnes) qui arrivent chaque année en Turquie, la longueur de la frontière commune (plus de 900 kilomètres) entre les deux pays, la présence de plus d'un million de réfugiés syriens sur le territoire turc et, enfin, la possibilité de recruter des mercenaires dans les camps de réfugiés.

D'après Robert Bradtke, ces derniers temps, la Turquie a pris certaines mesures pour limiter l'entrée dans le pays, ainsi que pour "bloquer le financement des djihadistes avec des moyens provenant de la vente de pétrole par des organisations terroristes".

"A la question de savoir si le gouvernement turc achète du pétrole aux terroristes, je répondrai non. Mais des cas de contrebande existent. Et nous coopérons avec la Turquie pour y mettre un terme", a conclu le responsable diplomatique américain.

Les autorités syriennes ont pour leur part accusé à plusieurs reprises la Turquie de soutenir les groupes combattant contre les forces gouvernementales. Damas a même reproché à Ankara d'épauler les terroristes du Front Al-Nosra et de l'organisation de l'Etat islamique.

En septembre dernier, le gouverneur de la province de Gaziantep (sud de la Turquie) a démenti les affirmations concernant l'existence de camps de formation de terroristes dans la région. Il a déclaré que les autorités locales avaient arrêté un groupe de personnes soupçonnées d'activités terroristes et que ces gens étaient arrivés en Turquie via l'Europe.

Selon le gouverneur de Gaziantep, certains intéressés ont été reconduits à la frontière, les autres font actuellement l'objet d'une enquête.

Dec. 1, 2014 – Defense News

WASHINGTON — Washington ruled out Monday any imminent plans to create a no-fly zone along the Turkey-Syria border, brushing aside reports that US officials are in talks with Ankara about a refugee safe haven.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters the US was “open to discussing a range of options with the Turks” but that a no-fly zone over Syria was not on the table “at this point.”

Turkey has been pushing for a buffer zone inside Syria to shelter refugees from the three-way fight between Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, rebels and Islamic State jihadists.

But Ankara, which has seen fighting on its southern frontier, has so far failed to persuade its NATO ally Washington, despite US jets already hitting IS targets inside Syria, to put its might behind the plan.

Since the civil war erupted in Syria in early 2011 there have been repeated calls for a no-fly zone to protect the rebels and refugees.

Former top US diplomat Hillary Clinton was apparently in favor of creating such a zone, but President Barack Obama has consistently ruled it out, concerned that Washington would be drawn deeper into the conflict.

This weekend US media reports suggested Washington’s stance is shifting after a visit to Turkey last month by Vice President Joe Biden, but Earnest insisted this was not the case.

“We’ve made pretty clear on a number of occasions that while we’re open to discussing a range of options with the Turks ... we do not believe that a specific no-fly zone proposal at this point would best serve the interests that we’ve all identified in terms of trying to resolve the situation in Syria,” Earnest said.

The Wall Street Journal reported that as part of a proposed deal between the US and Turkey, a protected “safe zone” along the border would be set up that would be off-limits to Assad’s aircraft.

Narrower than a formal no-fly zone, it would not need any air-strikes. Instead the US would quietly warn the Assad regime to stay away, the Journal said.

In exchange US and coalition aircraft would use Turkey’s Incirlik base as well as others to patrol the zone to make sure that rebels operating on the Turkey-Syria border do not come under attack.

The reports came just as Secretary of State John Kerry was heading to Brussels for talks on Wednesday with ministers from the 60-strong global coalition fighting the Islamic State group.

He will be accompanied by General John Allen, the US pointman forging the coalition to counter the threat from the group, also known as ISIL, which has captured a swathe of territory in Iraq and Syria.

“It’s an opportunity to take stock of where things stand, obviously discuss what needs to happen from here, provide updates on where countries stand,” said State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki.

She said Washington continued to review a number of options including a no-fly zone, but insisted such discussions were “ongoing.”

“We continue to have differences” with Turkey, Psaki told reporters, stressing “we haven’t made a decision about a specific course of implementation, we’re just continuing to have a discussion with Turkey.”

27 nov. 2014  US Navy

24 November 2014 BBC News

A British man fighting with Kurdish troops against Islamic State militants in Syria says he is not a mercenary.

Jamie Read, from North Lanarkshire, and James Hughes, a former British soldier, are reported to be among 15 Westerners with the YPG militia group.

Mr Read said they were helping the Kurdish people in their efforts against the jihadists and were not being paid.

The government has warned against going to Syria and more than 500 Britons are said to have fought for IS.

Mr Read and Mr Hughes, who saw service with the Army in Afghanistan, have been pictured on social media with US national Jordan Matson. He previously talked to the media about his involvement with the YPG on the frontline in Syria.

Read more

BEYROUTH, 16 novembre - RIA Novosti

1153 personnes ont trouvé la mort depuis le début du siège de la ville syrienne de Kobané (nord) le 16 septembre, rapportent les médias occidentaux citant l'Observatoire syrien des droits de l'homme (OSDH) basé à Londres.

Selon l'OSDH, les hostilités ont fait 397 morts dans les rangs des combattants kurdes qui défendent la ville face aux djihadistes de l'Etat islamique (EI), ainsi que 27 morts parmi les civils. Côté islamistes, plus de 700 combattants ont été éliminés.

A l'heure actuelle, l'EI contrôle certaines banlieues de Kobané, grand centre de l'autonomie kurde en Syrie, ainsi que des dizaines de villages situés à ses alentours. Les combats les plus feroces se déroulent dans la partie est de la ville.

Le groupe sunnite terroriste Etat islamique, lié à Al-Qaïda, a gagné en puissance lors de ses opérations en Syrie, où il combat les troupes gouvernementales. L'EI a la réputation d'une des formations djihadistes les plus cruelles.

Il y a quelques mois, cette organisation a intensifié ses activités en Irak. Fin juillet, l'EI a proclamé un "califat islamique" sur les territoires irakiens et syriens tombés sous son contrôle.

Depuis le 8 août, l'aviation américaine effectue des frappes contre les positions des djihadistes en Irak. Le 23 septembre, les Etats-Unis ont commencé à bombarder les positions de l'EI en Syrie.

November 15, 2014 David Pugliese

During a key battle in the rugged mountains of a northern province earlier this month, U.S.-backed Syrian rebels collapsed before an assault by al-Qaida fighters, the Associated Press reports.

More from the Associated Press article

MOSCOU, 27 octobre - RIA Novosti

Les peshmergas (miliciens kurdes) ont éliminé une cinquantaine de combattants de l'Etat islamique au nord-est de la ville syrienne de Kobané, assiégée par les djihadistes, rapporte lundi la chaîne Al-Mayadeen.

La chaîne affirme également que les Kurdes sont parvenus à reprendre sous leur contrôle l'intégralité de la ville, repoussant les islamistes à six kilomètres de Kobané.

Le siège de Kobané se poursuit depuis près d'un mois. Les combats ont déjà fait plus de 800 morts, tandis que plus de 200.000 personnes ont fui la ville pour la Turquie voisine.

Selon certains rapports, les extrémistes de l'EI contrôlent actuellement plus d'une centaine de villages situés aux alentours de Kobané.

Le groupe sunnite terroriste Etat islamique, lié à Al-Qaïda, a gagné en puissance lors de ses opérations en Syrie, où il combat les troupes gouvernementales. L'EI a la réputation d'une des formations djihadistes les plus cruelles.

Il y a quelques mois, cette organisation a intensifié ses activités en Irak. Fin juillet, l'EI a proclamé un "califat islamique" sur les territoires irakiens et syriens tombés sous son contrôle.

Depuis le 8 août, l'aviation américaine effectue des frappes contre les positions des djihadistes en Irak. Le 23 septembre, les Etats-Unis ont commencé à bombarder les positions de l'EI en Syrie.