Turkish military incursion into Syria

Jarabulus

 * ''To add: shelling of Kurds near Jarabulus

Latakia

 * Turkish artillery shells Syrian territory – Russian military presents video proof - RT, 1 Feb, 2016
 * Video: Видео артиллерийского обстрела сирийских населенных пунктов с территории Турции - Russian MoD, Feb 1, 2016

"Buffer zone" plan

 * Morning Briefing | July 28, 2015 - Webster Griffin Tarpley
 * ''"Pushing ISIS away from the Turkish border, regardless of the semantic argument over whether it will be a buffer zone/safe zone/no-fly zone or “civilian haven” are all methods for achieving the same end. Any place along the Turkish-Syrian border put under the control of the NATO-Turkey-Saudi-Qatar Axis represented by Gen. Allen would act as a smuggling route transporting ISIS fighters, money and equipment into the country and oil or other resources out of the country."

Azaz corridor about to collapse

 * Rebels in Syria face critical defeat around Aleppo - Michael Cruickshank, Conflict News, February 4, 2016
 * ''The main consequence of this advance around Aleppo is that rebel-held territory has been split into two pieces in northern Syria. The larger piece contains the majority of Idlib province, as well as the bulk of the rebels’ fighting strength. This includes large amounts of land held by Jabhat al-Nusra, Al Qaeda’s Syrian affiliate. The smaller piece north of Aleppo city is hemmed-in: to the north by Turkey, to the west by the YPG/SDF in Afrin Canton, to the south by regime forces and to the east by ISIS. This puts it in an incredibly precarious position, likely to begin losing territory to all three groups.

Speculation

 * A Turkish-Friendly Zone Inside Syria - Ed Stafford and Soner Cagaptay, The Washington Institute, January 29, 2016
 * ''The most effective way to monitor the Azaz-Jarabulus border area would be to ensure that the Syrian side is filled by forces friendly to Turkey, or at least opposed to IS. One possible such group would be the Syrian Turkmens, who are ethnically related to Turks and are being trained by Turkey as a fighting force in northwestern Syria.
 * ''The zone, for its part, could serve multiple purposes, such as providing enhanced personal security for those fleeing barbaric Assad or IS rule, a staging area for anti-Assad forces, and an area for reducing the refugee flow into Turkey and then on to Europe. The idea of a Turkish-friendly zone would receive support in European countries already feeling overstressed by the Syrian refugee arrivals. Such an area would also interdict the movement of resources to IS, hence weakening the group, as well as allow Ankara to impede the movement of IS operatives into Turkey to target its economic resources, such as tourism. The area's creation would demonstrate to the Turkish people and allied countries that Ankara is serious about defeating IS even as it continues seeking stronger action against the Assad regime.
 * Turkey’s Syrian Calculation: Gambling on an Invasion? - Patrick Cockburn, Counterpunch, February 1, 2016
 * Syria's Enemies Seek Face Saving Escalation Measures - Moon of Alabama, February 4, 2016

Warnings

 * Grounds to believe Turkey planning military invasion in Syria - Russian military - RT, 4 Feb, 2016
 * ''“We have serious grounds to suspect intensive preparations by Turkey for a military invasion on the territory of the sovereign state of Syria,” Major General Igor Konashenkov, Defense Ministry spokesman, told journalists.
 * ''“We are recording more and more signs of concealed preparations by the Turkish military,” he added.
 * Turkey preparing for military action in Syria: Russia - PressTV, Feb 4, 2016
 * ‘Aggressors to return home in coffins’: Syrian FM warns against foreign ground op - RT, Feb 6, 2016

Denials

 * Turkey: No plan for military incursion in Syria - Paul Antonopoulos, Al-Masdar News, February 5, 2016
 * ''A Turkish official speaking on anonymity told Reuters that Turkey had no plans for an incursion in Syria. “Turkey does not have any plans or thoughts of staging a military campaign or ground incursion in Syria,” a senior Turkish government official said.
 * ''He did continue to blame Moscow however for an escalation in the Syrian war.
 * Erdoğan says Russia must be held accountable for killings in Syria, Today's Zaman, February 5, 2016
 * Is "laughing at" the "propaganda" claim they were preparing an invasion; says it's Russia which is invading and responsible together with Assad for "400,000" people killed.

Saudi troops?

 * Saudi invasion of Syria: The bluff that could ignite World War III - Finian Cunningham, RT, February 7, 2016

Analysis

 * Is Erdogan mad enough to invade Syria? - Zen Adra, Al-Masdar News, - February 4, 2016
 * Week Seventeen of the Russian Intervention in Syria: does Erdogan want war with Russia? - The Saker, February 6, 2016
 * Russia Is Preparing the Syrian Army to Repel Any Turkish Incursion - Elijah J.Magnier, Al-Rai, via Fort Russ, February 6, 2016
 * Will The Saudis And Turks Really Invade Syria? - Andrew Korybko, Sputnik, February 6, 2016
 * ما هي دوافع القرار السعودي بارسال قوات برية للحرب في سورية؟ (What are the motives of the Saudi decision to send ground troops to the war in Syria?) - Abdel Bari Atwan, Rai al-Youm, February 5, 2016