On Thursday, Press TV reported Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu accusing Syria “of being directly responsible for” Wednesday’s Ankara blast.

“The premier also accused Russia of using (Kurdish) YPG (fighters) against Turkey,” Press TV added.

Erdogan intends using Wednesday’s incident as justification for continued cross-border shelling – perhaps a ground invasion to follow, a reckless act if launched, risking war with Russia.

Heavy shelling continues for the sixth day, targeting northern Syrian YPG positions, reports indicating government strongholds attacked, trying to slow down steady anti-terrorism advances.

On Thursday, Syrian and YPG forces seized control of Kensaba, the last terrorist stronghold north of Latakia province, along with the Shellef fortress, used by their forces

Retired Lebanese General Amin Hoteit calls Russia’s anti-terrorism campaign a major turning point after nearly five years of war.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused Turkey of escalating conflict, flagrantly breaching international law, undermining diplomatic efforts.

Former Turkish diplomat, opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) legislator Ozturk Yilmaz warned about Erdogan ‘steering the country toward disaster,” causing “irreparable harm.”

Nothing in prospect indicates any chance for peaceful conflict resolution – not as long as Obama wants war, Assad ousted, a US-controlled puppet replacing him.

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at [email protected]. 

His new book as editor and contributor is titled “Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III.”

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com. 

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