Iran launched surface-to-surface missiles against ISIS positions in Eastern Syria today. The good news is that this was (at least officially) not in retaliation for the US shoot-down of a Syrian military fighter jet, which had just dropped bombs on the town of Ja’Din, currently held by the anti-Syrian government Syrian Democratic Force (SDF). It is the first time in almost 30 years since Iran has launched a missile.
This was also the first time the US has shot down a Syrian military jet. The shoot-down occurred 2 miles beyond the “Deconfliction Line” established by the US and Russia. The US “Coalition”, which is in Syria illegally while it attempts to topple the Assad Regime is obviously not authorized to be there at all, including by the UN Security Council.
Russia said the shoot-down was a step toward a dangerous escalation and announced that they, too will no longer abide by the “Deconfliction Line” and will intercept any kind of aircraft west of the Euphrates River.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joe Dunford, said the US would try “in the next few hours” to re-establish deconfliction arrangements with Russia.
Qatar-based Al Jazeera reports here that Iran’s missile strike was in retaliation for shooting attacks that took place in Tehran earlier this month, for which ISIS claimed responsibility.
Meanwhile, the shut-down of the Al Jazeera news agency is one of the several conditions laid down by Saudi Arabia and its Gulf State allies before there will be any possibility of lifting the economic blockade recently placed on Qatar, due to their accusations of Qatar’s support for terrorism; claims have been vehemently denied by Qatar’s Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani.
Turkey has denounced the blockade against Qatar and quickly moved troops into Qatar in a show of support.
US-backed Kurds are reported to be preparing to storm two ISIS positions in Syria. NATO-ally Turkey is horrified by the US backing of the Kurds.
(Who’s on First?)
