Author: M Barbu

Greek Defense Minister Evangelos Apostolakis says he is concerned with Turkey’s purchase of Russian-built S-400 air defence system.

In a wide-ranging interview with Open TV on Thursday night, Apostolakis said Ankara’s acquisition of the system will completely change the situation in terms of control of the air space over the Aegean. At the same time, he stressed the need for Greece to acquire F-35s or other aircraft to boost its air defense so that there is a balance of power.

Our sources in Syria, as well as a number of Russian media, claim that yesterday, on September 21, the Turkish artillery units fired on the main defense point of the Syrian army in the city of Sarakib.

SOHR activists have reported ongoing attack by ISIS members on regime positions in Al-Rasafah desert in Al-Raqqah countryside, near Aleppo-Hama Al-Raqqah triangle. Fierce clashes are underway between both sides, amid intensive airstrikes by Russian jets since morning in an attempt to repel ISIS attack. Meanwhile, regime forces have sent military reinforcement to the battle fronts.

Syrian Observatory activists have monitored Turkish jets “F16” flying over the border strip between Idlib and Iskenderun region. Meanwhile, Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham fired several rockets on regime positions in Kafr Nubl city in southern Idlib.

Egypt is making diplomatic moves to counter Turkey’s growing involvement in the Eastern Mediterranean region amid escalating tension.

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi received a phone call on Sept. 17 from the president of the European Council, Charles Michel. The two officials discussed a number of issues of common interest, including recent developments in the Eastern Mediterranean region and in Libya. They agreed to boost bilateral channels of consultation and stressed the need to reach a comprehensive political settlement of the Libyan issue in a bid to restore regional stability.

The decision by the US to boost its military presence in Syria following an encounter with Russian forces has raised concerns about the message the move sends to Turkey, Russia and Iran, as Washington attempts to reinforce its deterrent role in the region.