Citing Security Threats Iran Launches Missiles Against Targets In Northern Iraq And Syria

 

Daily Mail: Iranian airstrikes rock US consulate in Iraqi city of Erbil as terrifying footage shows four ballistic missiles exploding on nearby compound it claims is Israeli 'spy HQ': Four civilians are killed 

 * Four people killed and six injured after missiles hit near the US consulate in Erbil 

 * The missiles were fired by Iran and struck a suspected Israeli 'spy HQ', Iran said 

Iran fired missiles late on Monday at what it claimed were Israeli 'spy headquarters' near the US consulate in the northern Iraqi city of Erbil, and at targets linked to the extremist group Islamic State in northern Syria. 

Four civilians were killed and six injured after missiles hit an upscale area near the U.S. consulate in Erbil, the seat of Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region, according to the security council of the Kurdish regional government. 

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said in a statement that it had hit a headquarters of Mossad, the Israeli intelligence agency, in the Kurdish region of Iraq.  

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 Citing Security Threats Iran Launches Missiles Against Targets In Northern Iraq And Syria  

Iran strikes targets in northern Iraq and Syria as regional tensions escalate -- ABC News/AP 

Iran launches missile strikes in northern Iraq and Syria, claims to destroy Israeli spy base -- CNN  

Iran strike sparks dispute with Iraq as fears of regional upheaval grow -- Reuters  

Iran launches missile strikes in Iraq and Syria citing security threats -- Al Jazeera 

Iran fires missiles at ‘terrorists and spies’ near US consulate -- RT  

US State Department issues condemnation of Iran’s attacks in Erbil -- FOX News 

US condemns Iran for 'reckless' missile strikes on northern Iraq -- BBC  

Iraq recalls ambassador, summons Iran’s chargé d’affaires over strikes in Irbil -- AP 

Iraq vows to take Iran to UN after attack on Israeli ‘spy base’ -- The Guardian 

Iraq recalls ambassador from Tehran after Iranian missiles strike Kurdish region -- France 24  

WATCH aftermath of Iranian strikes near US consulate -- RT

Iranian President Raisi In Damascus For First Visit Since Syrian War Began

 

Reuters: Syria, Iran Sign Strategic Cooperation Accord, Including Oil MoU - News Agency 

BEIRUT (Reuters) - The presidents of Iran and Syria on Wednesday signed a long-term strategic cooperation agreement, including a memorandum of understanding on oil industry cooperation, the Syrian state news agency reported. 

The signing came during a visit by Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi to Damascus for talks with his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad, in the first such visit by an Iranian head of state since war broke out in Syria in 2011.  

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Iranian President Raisi In Damascus For First Visit Since Syrian War Began  

Syria and Iran sign long-term oil and trade agreements -- AP 

Iranian president in Damascus for first visit since Syrian war began -- Reuters  

Iran president visits Syria for first time since civil war -- DW  

Iran's President Raisi meets Assad in Syria, first such visit in 13 years -- Al-monitor  

Syria and Iran leaders sign long-term oil, trade agreements -- Al Jazeera  

Iran's president meets with Assad in first Syria visit since war began -- Axios

Assad Expels Iranian Commander From Syria

 

WNU Editor: If these reports are true, it looks like President Assad has made the decision that Syria's future is with the other Arab states. Not with Iran.

Iran Denying Reports That It Is Withdrawing From Syria

Newsweek: Iran Refutes Reports of Syria Withdrawal, Wants to Partner with Iraq to Expel U.S. from Middle East

Iran is refuting reports that it's reducing its presence in Syria and said it is seeking to bolster its ties with neighboring Iraq as the Islamic Republic pushes forward with a plan to expel the United States from the Middle East.

Iran's semi-official Fars News Agency cited who they said was a well-informed official Tuesday who denied outgoing Israeli Defense Minister Naftali Bennet's claim a day earlier that Iran "has begun the withdrawal process from Syria." His remarks followed reports earlier this month by other Israeli officials who argued Iran was gradually pulling out of the country, although Tehran disputed this.

"There has been no change in the quantity and quality of Iran's advisory presence in Syria," the unnamed official told Fars News Agency. "We will stay in Syria as long as the Syrian government needs the help of the Iranian advisers."

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WNU Editor: Tehran is responding to this .... Israel's outgoing defence minister says Iran starting to withdraw from Syria (Reuters). What's my take. They are not leaving.

Top Iranian Commander Reported Killed In Syria

Times of Israel: Senior commander in Iran’s Quds Force reported killed in Aleppo battle

Asghar Pashapour, who was close to Soleimani, was said to be at the forefront of Revolutionary Guards’ operations against anti-Assad rebels.

A top commander in Iran’s Quds Force who was close to its slain leader, Qassem Soleimani, has died in battle in Syria, according to multiple reports in Iranian and Arab media.

Asghar Pashapour, a senior member of the Revolutionary Guards’ extraterritorial force, was killed Sunday in battle with Syrian opposition forces in Aleppo, the reports said.

He is said to have been at the forefront of the Quds Force’s operations against anti-regime rebels in Syria, where Iran has been a key backer of President Bashar Assad since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011.

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Update #1: Head Of Iran's IRGC Operations In Syria Killed Near Aleppo (Zero Hedge)
Update #2: Quds Force special operation commander killed in Aleppo (AMN)

WNU Editor: If the above photo is any indication of his height, he is a very big guy.

Iranian Militias Blamed For Horrific Massacre In Eastern Syria

Iranian militias are suspected of killing the shepherds [Syria TV]

New Arab: Iranian militias blamed for horrific massacre in eastern Syria following Soleimani’s death

Syrian activists have reported that 21 shepherds were killed in a massacre on Sunday in the Maadan area which is located between Raqqa and Deir al-Zour in eastern Syria.

The massacre took place two days after the killing of Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani in a US airstrike near Baghdad Airport in Iraq.

The area where the massacre happened is under Syrian regime control. Syrian Facebook pages and news websites blamed Iranian militias, who have a significant presence in the regime-held areas of eastern Syria, for the massacre.

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Update: Syrian shepherds killed in massacre blamed on Iranian militias and ISIS (Jerusalem Post)

WNU Editor: Not surprised by these reports of massacres being conducted by Iranian militias. These militias are going to target civilian groups that they feel are friendly to the US, and I predict these revenge attacks are only going to intensify.

Iran And Russia Condemn U.S. President Trump’s Decision To Maintain A Military Presence Near Syrian Oil Fields

Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attend a news conference, a day ahead of the first meeting of the new Syrian Constitutional Committee at the Untied Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, October 29, 2019. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

Reuters: Iran, Russia take aim at U.S. military presence near Syrian oilfields

GENEVA (Reuters) - Iran and Russia on Tuesday condemned U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to maintain a military presence near oil fields in northeastern Syria, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov saying any exploitation of resources would be illegal.

Trump’s suggestion on Sunday that Exxon Mobil Corp or another U.S. oil company operate Syrian oil fields drew rebukes from legal and energy experts.

The United States will strengthen its military presence in Syria with “mechanized forces” to prevent Islamic State fighters seizing oil fields and revenue, U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said on Friday.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif addressed the issue at a news conference in Geneva on Tuesday evening after meeting with his counterparts, Russia’s Lavrov and Turkey’s Mevlut Cavusoglu.

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Update #1: US actions in Syria run counter to international law — Lavrov (TASS)
Update #2: ‘Arrogant & illegal’: Lavrov denounces US military’s oil moves in Syria at Russian-Turkish-Iranian press event (RT)

WNU Editor: The U.S. is reinforcing their military positions around these oilfields .... US deploying more troops around Syria oil fields after killing of Isis leader (The Guardian). More here .... US military envisions broad defence of Syrian oilfields (Al Jazeera).

Western Intelligence Sources: Iran Building Massive Military Base On The Syria - Iraq Border

(Click on Image)

This image shows a new Iranian military compound, according to Fox News sources; center is the Iranian crossing between Albukamal-Al-Qaim under construction; right is the official border crossing which is blocked and not active. (ISI)

FOX News: Iran building new classified military base in Syria: intelligence sources

EXCLUSIVE: Iran has established a new military base in Syria and has plans to house thousands of troops at the location, according to multiple Western intelligence sources.

The classified Iranian project, called the Imam Ali compound, was approved by top leadership in Tehran and is being completed by the Iranian al-Quds Forces.

Using a civilian satellite company, Fox News verified the information and obtained images that show a base being constructed on the Syria-Iraq border.

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More News On Reports That Iran Is Building A Massive Military Base On The Syria - Iraq Border

Iran said to be building large military base on Iraq-Syria border -- Times of Israel
Iran building large-scale military base in Syria -- Jerusalem Post
Report: Iran building massive new military base in Syria -- Arutz Sheva

Besides Russia, Both China And Iran Want A Mediterranean Port In Syria

Newsweek: Russia Not Alone in Syria’s West, China and Iran Are Also Moving in Near Sea

Russia looks set to expand its presence on Syria's west coast, with rumors of an imminent signing of a near-quarter-century lease on a lucrative seaport, but other major players were also moving in on the war-torn Mediterranean country.

Russia's air and sea assets are already based in two leased military facilities in the coastal provinces of Tartus and Latakia, which have played a crucial role in helping the Syrian government retake large parts of the country seized by a 2011 rebel and jihadi uprising. Over the weekend, senior Moscow diplomats and defense officials traveled to Damascus to hold talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in hopes of advancing the formation of a constitutional committee that may end his country's eight-year civil war and kickstart economic cooperation intended to capitalize on its reconstruction.

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WNU Editor: I can understand China's interest. They want to build trade routes and Syria is ideally located. As for Iran, that relationship is complicated .... The Syrians Don’t and Won’t Toe the Iranian Line: Explaining a Most Curious Alliance (Kamal Alam, War On The Rocks), but it appears that Iran will get their port on the Mediterranean .... The Islamist threat pushes closer to Europe. (The Trumpet).

Syrian President Assad Meets Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei In Tehran

In a high-profile meeting with Syrian President Beshar al-Assad in Tehran on Monday, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Iran considers backing for Syria in the face of the grand coalition of the U.S., Europe and their regional allies against Damascus as a support for the resistance movement and Tehran is proud of this. Tehran Times

Reuters: Syria's Assad meets Khamenei in first Iran visit since war began

AMMAN (Reuters) - Syrian President Bashar al Assad made his first public visit to his closest regional ally Iran since the start of the Syrian conflict eight years ago, meeting Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran on Monday, Syrian state television reported.

It showed footage of Assad meeting Khamenei and said the two leaders agreed “to continue cooperation at all levels for the interests of the two friendly nations”.

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WNU Editor: From the Iranian point of view the war is over, and the next step is to plan what needs to be done next .... Iran Threatens Retaliation Against U.S. Sanctions, Says 90% of Goals Achieved in Syria (Haaretz/Reuters).

Russia, Turkey, Iran Leaders Meet In Sochi For Talks On Syria's Future

RFE: Russia, Turkey, Iran Leaders To Meet In Sochi For Talks On Syria's Future

Russian President Vladimir Putin has called on his Turkish and Iranian counterparts to continue working together "actively and consistently" on plans to stabilize war-torn Syria after a U.S. troop withdrawal that has been announced by President Donald Trump.

Putin made the remarks on February 14 in Russia's Black Sea resort city of Sochi where he is hosting talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Iranian President Hassan Rohani.

The summit began with a bilateral meeting between Putin and Erdogan.

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WNU Editor: Turkey is not going to get what they want .... Russia to Turkey: You can't have Syrian safe zone without Assad's consent (Reuters). Turkey may have wanted the U.S. out of Syria so that they could put pressure on the Kurds, but with the U.S. leaving Turkey has lost its leverage against Russia, Iran, and Syria.

More News On Today's Talks In Sochi On Syria's Future

Pushing for US Exit, Increasingly 'Fragile' Astana Trio Poised to Map Syria's Future -- VOA
Russia, Iran, Turkey to hold fourth round of Syria talks in Sochi -- Al Jazeera
Putin to Turkey and Iran: We must crush militants in Syria's Idlib -- Reuters
Russia: Turkey needs Syria's consent before setting up safe zone -- Al Jazeera
Putin Challenges Erdogan Over Syria as U.S. Exit Bolsters Russia -- Moscow Times
Putin, Erdogan and Rouhani Hold Joint Press Conference in Sochi -- Sputnik

Iran Fires Ballistic Missiles At Syrian Militants Over Parade Attack. Missiles Land 'Within Three Miles' Of U.S. Troops

Reuters: Iran fires missiles at militants in Syria over parade attack

Iran said it fired missiles on Monday at Islamic State militants in Syria it blames for an attack on its soil on Sept. 22 and said the action shows the government’s readiness to punish the “wickedness” of its enemies.

Tehran has accused U.S.-backed Gulf Arab states of attacking a military parade in southwestern Iran and killing 25 people, nearly half of them members of the elite Revolutionary Guards.

Monday’s strike targeted the bases of “takfiri terrorists” backed by Washington and regional powers in eastern Syria, the Guards said in a statement on Sepah News, their news site. It killed a number of militant leaders and destroyed their supplies and infrastructure, they said.

Iranian officials often use the word “takfiri” to describe Sunni Muslim hardliners. Iran is predominantly Shi’ite Muslim.

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WNU Editor: The Iranians are sending a message to the U.S. .... Iran missiles in Syria land 'within three miles' of US troops (CNN)

More News On Iran Firing Ballistic Missiles At Syrian Militants Over Parade Attack

6 missiles, 7 combat drones launched at Ahvaz attack ringleaders’ HQ -- MEHR News Agency (Iran)
Iran fires ballistic missiles at Syria militants over attack -- AP
Iran fires missiles at militants in Syria over Ahvaz attack -- BBC
Iran fires missiles at Syria jihadists after deadly attack -- AFP
Iran fires missiles into Syria over parade attack -- Al Jazeera
Iran fires missiles at Syria militants in Ahvaz attack reprisal -- DW
Iran fires missiles at Syria targeting militants in retaliation over parade shooting -- The Independent
Iran fires missiles at militants in Syria in retaliation for parade attack -- ABC News Online
Iran launches missiles at Syria, but message is aimed at U.S., Israel, Saudi Arabia -- NBC
Iran says it launched missiles into Syria targeting parade attack 'ringleaders' (PHOTOS, VIDEO) -- RT

Iran Continues To Entrench In Both Syria And Iraq

Members of Iran's Revolutionary Guards. Reuters

Arutz Sheva: ANALYSIS: Iran continues its entrenchment in both Syria and Iraq

Missiles given to Iraq by Iran can hit both Tel Aviv and Riyadh.

Iran is once again lying about its belligerent activities in Syria and Iraq, where the regime of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is carving out a new corridor from the Iranian border in Iraq’s Nineveh Province all the way up to the Israeli border on the Golan Heights. In addition it is now further building up its forces.

On Thursday last week, Reuters reported that Iran is building up a ballistic missile force in Iraq.

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WNU Editor: The problem is that Iraq and Syria want to be involved with Iran .... Iraqi Military Hosts Counterparts From Russia, Iran, Syria (RFE). More here .... Iraq hosts military chiefs from Iran, Russia and Syria (AFP).

Iran Vows To Stay In Syria To Counter Israel

Special Assistant to Iran’s deputy foreign minister, Hussein Amir Abdullahian, said that the presence of Iran’s “military advisors” in Syria will continue. (Supplied)

Mehr News Agency (Iran): Amir-Abollahian says Syrians will not allow Israel to control Syria

He made the remarks in a meeting with the Palestinian Ambassador to Iran Salah Al-Zawawi in Tehran on Saturday.

Amir-Abdollahian said "the Islamic Republic of Iran continues its firm support for the Resistance, and will not give up supporting the Palestine cause and will help Palestine in the face of the Zionist regime’s threats that threaten the security of all the countries in the region.”

He added that resistance and holding a referendum with the participation of all the main inhabitants of the historical Palestinian territory, including Christians, Muslims and Jews, are two main pillars of the political and practical solution to the Palestinian cause.

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More News on Iran Vowing To Stay In Syria

Iran to remain in Syria to keep Israel out: Official -- Press TV (Iran)
Iran to maintain military presence in Syria, to counter Israel -- Middle East Monitor
Iranian official: We will stay in Syria despite Russia’s objections -- Al Arabiya

Syrian President Bashar Assad: 'There Are No Iranian Troops In Syria,'

Times Of Israel: Assad denies presence of Iranian forces in Syria, but acknowledges advisers

Dictator says upgrading air defenses 'with Russian help' is the only way to deter Israel.

Syrian President Bashar Assad on Thursday denied the presence in his country of any Iranian troops.

Much of Iran’s infrastructure in Syria has been set up on Syrian military bases, Israel says, and the IDF has frequently hit Syrian air defenses during strikes on Iranian targets.

Earlier this month, the Israeli Air Force carried out its biggest operation in Syria in 40 years when it attacked more than 50 Iranian targets in response to an Iranian rocket barrage at the Golan Heights, amid warnings from Jerusalem that it would not tolerate Tehran’s attempts to entrench itself militarily on Israel’s northern border.

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Update #1: 'There are no Iranian troops in Syria,' Assad says (Jerusalem Post)
Update #2: Assad: There are no Iranian forces in Syria (Ynet News)

WNU Editor:Does anyone really believe him?

Is Iran's Role In The Syrian War Being Exaggerated By The West?

DW: The West tends to 'exaggerate' Iran's role in the Syrian conflict

Barbara Zanchetta, a London-based expert on war studies, tells DW that analyses of Syria's conflict tend to oversimplify the complex issue by labeling it only as a proxy war between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

DW: Did the US accomplish its objectives by targeting Syria's alleged chemical bomb facilities?

Barbara Zanchetta: The declared objective of the strikes was to destroy the facilities, but I think the US, Britain and France wanted to convey a message to Russia and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. So, there was a military message as well as a political message, and I think the latter was stronger than the former.

The Trump administration is trying to show it is different from the Obama administration — that it has taken a tougher approach toward Syria. But I don't think that President Trump is much different from his predecessor regarding Syria. The Trump administration has no intention of being stuck in the Middle Eastern country.

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WNU Editor: Iran and its militias played (and are continuing to play) a significant role in Iraq. They are using this same model on Syria with the expectation that they will also be successful in that war. There is also the Iran - Israel conflict, and Iran's repeated vows to destroy the statre. In this context Iran's role in the Syrian conflict is significant, and it cannot be underestimated or downplayed.

U.S. And Israel Concerns Raised Over Recent Cargo Flights Between Iran And Syria

Technicians prepare Ilyushin Il-76TD long-haul cargo aircrafts for the upcoming MAKS-2015, the International Aviation and Space Show, in Zhukovsky, outside Moscow, on August 21, 2015. (AFP/KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV)

CNN: Recent Iranian shipments to Syria concern US intelligence

US intelligence is monitoring a series of cargo flights from Iran into Syria that the US suspects may be carrying weapons systems into Syria for potential use by Bashar al-Assad's regime or Iranian forces, CNN has learned.

An administration official confirms to CNN that the flights took place and the US and Israel are both concerned the cargo could potentially include weapons that could eventually be used to threaten Israel.

While weapons shipments into Syria are not uncommon, these flights involving Iran have caught the attention of US intelligence because they occurred in the days after the April 13 US airstrikes on Assad regime targets. Rhetoric between Iran and Israel has also escalated in recent weeks over Tehran's involvement in areas of Syria that can be used to potentially launch missiles or aircraft that could target Israel.

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Update: Israel, US concerned by recent Iranian cargo flights to Syria — report (Times of Israel)

WNU Editor: Syria is in a state of war .... it is obvious that weapons are being transferred. But I guess the concern is over what type of weapons are being transferred. My gut tells me that the U.S. and Israel already know.

Satellite Photos Reveal Iran Establishing A Missile Base Near Damascus

Western intelligence sources have found that Iran has built a new permanent military base outside Syria’s capital city. (ImageSat International)

FOX News: New satellite photos show Iran establishing another base in Syria

EXCLUSIVE – Iran has built another permanent military base outside Syria’s capital city complete with hangers used to store missiles capable of hitting all of Israel, according to Western intelligence sources.

Exclusive satellite images from ImageSat International obtained by Fox News show what is believed to be the new Iranian base, eight miles northwest of Damascus, operated by the Quds Force — the special operations arm of Tehran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The photos show two new white hangars, each roughly 30 yards by 20 yards, used to store short- and medium-range missiles.

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Update: Satellite Images Reveal Iran Establishing Missile Base Near Damascus - Reports -- Sputnik

WNU Editor: I guess the above news ties in with this article that was posted over 2 weeks ago .... Pro-Hizbullah Lebanese Website: Hizbullah Has 70,000 Iranian Missiles Across Syria Ready To Launch Into Israel; In A Year It Will Have 500,000 (Memri).

Iran Defends Its Involvement In Syria. Asks U.S. Forces To Leave

Photo: sobhezagros.ir

Reuters: Iran defends its military presence in Syria, asks U.S. forces to leave

LONDON (Reuters) - A senior Iranian official said on Wednesday that Iran’s military presence in Syria was legitimate and based on the invitation of Damascus, and called on the U.S. forces to leave the country.

Reacting to U.S. Secretary of State Tillerson who said on Wednesday that Iran needed to withdraw military from Syria, Ali Akbar Velayati, a top aide to Iran’s Supreme Leader, said: “Iran’s military presence in Syria was based on invitation of the Syrian government.”

“Those should leave Syria who are there without the permission of the Syrian legal government,” Velayati was quoted as saying by ISNA, answering a question about Tillerson’s comments.

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Update #1: Iran calls on US to withdraw from Syria (The Hill)
Update #2: Syria of Discord: Iran, US Clash Over Military Presence on Ground (Sputnik)

WNU Editor: Some are hoping that Syria will become Iran's "Vietnam" .... Pushing Back Against Iran in Syria, Tehran’s Vietnam (Kenneth Pollack, Newsweek). What's my take .... the long term problem is not the war .... which will probably go on (albeit at a low intensity) .... the problem is who is going to pay for the reconstruction of Syria. From what I understand .... Russia has made it very clear that they are not going to provide funds, and the rest of the Arab World have their own priorities. Does Iran have the resources to provide billions to Syria .... I doubt it.

The Syrian Government Cannot Pay Its Debts To Russia And Iran

Michael Weiss, Daily Beast: Deadbeat Dictator: Assad Isn’t Paying His Debts to Putin

As the Syrian president piles up IOUs with the Kremlin and the mullahs of Iran, he’s hoping he can cover the debts with Syrian oil. But Moscow wants its money now.

To the charges against Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad of mass murder, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity can now be added another compelling allegation: He’s a deadbeat.

According to a classified Western intelligence report seen by The Daily Beast, the Syrian regime currently owes the Russian government $60 million for a consignment of crude oil imported last October, and, while Damascus insists it’s got the money to settle its debt—apparently, it’s all “cash” and tied up domestically—it’s nevertheless stalling for time while also asking for another shipment of Russian crude, and at a reduced price no less.

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WNU Editor: If the Syrian government cannot pay bills and cover it current debts .... there is no way in hell it will be able to raise the tens of billions of dollars that will be necessary to rebuild the country. The war may be winding down, but the future for the country looks very bleak.