I speak to Faina about the connections between NATO wars in Syria and Ukraine

Faina Savenkova

“In the new edition of Labyrinth I received renowned British activist, journalist and blogger Vanessa Beeley.The conversation was about Syria and Ukraine. She is one of those who know what is happening in Syria and who started the war. Watch this interview with Vanessa Beeley on Donbass Insider. Thanks as always to Christelle Néant for the translation. Thanks to Vanessa for the interview.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1Y-zkm6IWw&t=53s

Just before midnight on Sunday 28th May the familiar sound of incoming missiles and Syrian Air Defence engagement woke me up. The first attack was seemingly thwarted but then a second wave resulted in a large explosion to the south-west of Damascus where any number of air-defence bases are located.

The Syrian Arab News Agency published the Ministry of Defence statement:

Damage is reported to be limited to material, this time no military or civilian casualties of Israeli unlawful aggression launched from illegally annexed Syrian territory.

EU-funded so-called war monitor SOHR (Syrian Observatory for Human Rights) alleged that Israel targeted Hezbollah positions resulting in some injuries.

Israel rarely takes public responsibility for these airstrikes, 17 since the beginning of 2023, 12 since the double earthquake struck on the 6th of February. However, Israel’s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant informed a security conference earlier this month that the current Zionist regime had greatly increased attacks on alleged Iranian military presence in Syria.

These strikes include the latest bombing of Aleppo International Airport on the 2nd May which put the humanitarian hub for the north of Syria out of service for almost a week, depriving the displaced and homeless of essential humanitarian aid. This was the second bombing of the Airport in two months. One Syrian Arab Army soldier was killed in the May 2nd attack.

This 2nd May attack was timed one day before the arrival of Iran’s President Raisi to Damascus for high level cross-sector meetings during which the reinforcement of Syrian Air Defence with Iranian military hardware was discussed.

All of these strikes violate international law. Israeli claims of targeting Iranian or Hezbollah positions is dishonest - the majority of the time it is Syrian Arab Army Air Defence personnel including high rank officers who are killed. This demonstrates that Israel is clearly trying to cause long term damage to Syrian defence capabilities. It takes years to fully train the Air Defence crews to operate the Air Defence batteries and radar etc. By picking off crew-members in each attack Israel is trying to ensure a weakness in Syria’s defence shield.

Iranian officers have been killed by Israeli attacks on Syria. In March two members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) were killed in the Israeli strikes.

Only two weeks after the earthquake tragedy in February, Israel bombed a residential area of Damscus, in Kafr Souseh, close to the Iranian Cultural Centre. At least five Syrian civilians were killed and dozens injured. This came in suspected retaliation for Resistance allied attacks on illegal US military bases in the north-east. While Biden feigned “no retaliation”, Israel conveniently stepped into the breach.

Israeli attacks have also coincided with an uptick in ISIS terrorist attacks since the February earthquakes including mass killing and kidnap of civilians east of Homs (two occasions) and against individuals and military targets in the north-east and in the south.

A few days before the latest attack by Israel, it is believed that remnants of ISIS forces in the southern Syrian region assassinated Hamad Al-Koumah, member of the Quneitra Governorate Council and Secretary of the Baath partisan division in the town of Ghadir Al Bustan.

The latest attack also follow Syria’s normalisation within the Arab world (Qatar excluded) and President Assad’s historic speech at the Arab League Summit. The speech in full with English subtitles is here.

What is sure is that the Axis of Evil is not going to allow Syria to bask in the recent optimism that has swept the country.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L58ipMMkBu8

This week in my section of UK Column News I look at the latest attempts to criminalise Russian Wagner Group in Africa as African nations turn against US/UK/EU hegemony in the region. Is Wagner the convict-laden-criminal entity the West would have you believe or the “Heroes of Africa”? Judge for yourself.

Compare to the proven human rights abuses of shadowy British PMCs operating in 36 countries around the world. 

I also look at a new report from Action on Armed Violence - ‘British Special Forces on service in at least 19 countries’ including Syria and Russia (2014). Executive summary:

"This analysis of credible English-language news reports reveals that Britain’s Special Forces, UKSF, have been deployed operationally in at least 19 countries, regions or territories and involved in missions in several others in the past decade, raising questions over the level of transparency and democratic oversight these shadowy units operate under. The UKSF operates distinctively from the rest of the British military, and despite being accountable to the Defence Secretary and Prime Minister, there is no parliamentary oversight or mechanism to conduct retrospective reviews. There have been several controversies associated with the UKSF, including assassinations, alleged cover-ups, deniability outsourcing, fighting alongside child soldiers, and friendly fire incidents. Calls have been made for greater transparency and oversight by various MPs and committees."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCL6WP-z028

I speak with Fiorella Isabel of The Convo Couch about the Turkish elections held on 14th May. Both Erdogan and Kemal Kilicdaroglu failed to get above 50%. Erdogan finished around the 49% mark. This means a hotly contested second round on the 28th May. Erdogan’s AKP party has won the majority in Parliament which suggests a victory for the Islamist-leaning President but the ensuing two weeks of mud-slinging will surely entail pressure from the US for Kilicdaroglu (CHP - Republican Party) and Russia for long-time thorn in the north of Syria - Erdogan.

Fast forward to 5 minutes: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHTdKY1r4Oc&t=586s

Iraq and Iran energy ties expansion.

Iraq and Syria to re-open the Kirkuk to Baniyas oil pipeline

Russia accuses US of forming a new modified terrorist army to further destabilise Syria

US lawfare agents introduce bill to combat normalisation with Syrian President Bashar Al Assad.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y75zjqZsQaY&t=13s

Full UK Column News on 12th May is HERE.