The Levant crisis.(Israel,SYRIA,Lebanon,etc)

habal · Post by **habal** » 03 Oct 2015 11:55

https://strategika51.wordpress.com/2015 ... sraeliens/

can anyone translate this ?

mean-e-while seems like ISIS is taking to it's feet and fleeing raqqa with what they have. Raqqa is supposed to the totally ISIS controlled province of Syria.

http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.as ... 0710000749

"A large number of foreign ISIL terrorists have fled Raqqa for Iraq after the Russian warplanes pounded their hideouts," the Arabic-language El-Nashre news website quoted eyewitnesses as saying on Friday.

The report said that many ISIL militants and their families have escaped form Tal a-Saman villages in the Northern parts of Raqqa.

The Syrian air defense command said that the Russian Air Force struck the ISIL-held Tabaqa airbase in Raqqa governorate’s Western territories, destroying the military barracks after two airstrikes above this large military base.

The source said the ISIL terrorists sustained considerable damage as a result of the Russian airstrikes on the Tabaqa airbase.

In addition to their airstrikes inside Tabaqa, the Russian Air Force struck the ISIL positions at the Al-‘Ajrawi Farms; this farm area is located outside of the Tabaqa airbase and used by the terrorist group as a weapons supply depot.

To the east of the Raqqa governorate, the Russian fighter jets continued their airstrikes above the Hasaka governorate, attacking the terrorist group at the cities of Al-Shadadi and Al-Houl, while the Syrian Air Force struck an ISIL convoy along the Deir Ezzur-Hasaka Highway.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 03 Oct 2015 12:09

translated using google chrome. there is a meeting scheduled Tue next week between a rus mil delegation which will arrive in israel to avoid incidents like this. the initial satellite pics had 4 x su30sm on the tarmac, maybe 2 or more joined them later like the su34.

Syria: Air Duel between SU-30 Russian Sukhoi SM and Israeli F-15
Issued on October 2, 2015 by Strategika51

EXCLUSIVE-Strategika 51: Six Russian multirole fighter Sukhoi SU-30 SM type have put to flight-type Israeli fighters McDonnell Douglas F-15 off the Syrian coast.

Israeli aircraft flying for months Syrian airspace and especially Naval Air Station Latakia bridgehead of Russian forces in Syria. Israeli aircraft generally follow a fairly complex flight plan and approach Latakia from the sea

In the night of 1 to 2 October 2015, six Russian Sukhoi SU-30 took off from SM Syrian airbase Hmimim towards Cyprus before intercepting position attack four Israeli F-15 fighters.

Surprised by a situation as unexpected and probably not prepared for a dogfight with one of the best Russian multirole fighter, Israeli pilots have quickly turned back to the south, flying at high speed Lebanon.

The Lebanese army has officially announced to Z 2313 (local time) that four "enemy aircraft" (Israeli) had crossed the Lebanese airspace.

This "incident" between Russian and Israeli warplanes struck stupor command of the Israeli Air Force, which held that a possible air battle between the Israeli F-15 and the Russian Su-30 would have led to the destruction of four Israeli aircraft. Israel has strongly protested to Moscow this incident but the Russians demanded an explanation for the presence of Israeli fighter planes full Syrian airspace. This incident indicates that the protection of Syrian airspace is now under the protection of the Russian air force. Causing gnashing of teeth in Washington.

The incident was ignored by the major news agencies but political and media relay of Israel in the United States, Europe and the Arab world will strengthen efforts to demonize Russian support to the Syrian government.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 03 Oct 2015 12:11

russians finding such easy targets to hit in Raqqa indicates the US with its fleet of B52/B1 could have flattened the place much more in the past years . but looks like ISIS & co is being kept alive for a reason , which is to overthrow Assad.

russians have less sophisticated drones, munitions and targeting system, than the uber-kit of khan.

habal · Post by **habal** » 03 Oct 2015 12:14

>> Israeli pilots have quickly turned back to the south, flying at high speed Lebanon.

seems like they had a avm Shahid Latif moment there.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 03 Oct 2015 12:25

I would take that Su-30SM engamement with Israel F-15 with a bag full of salt , Unless Israel or Russian MOD confirms , Its the kind of story that would sell at the moment

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 03 Oct 2015 12:25

Russian PM Medvedev

06:34 GMT

Military expenditure on the counterterrorist operation in Syria is justified and essential, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev told the Russia 24 TV channel.

“We are protecting Russian people from the terror threat, because it is better to do it abroad rather than at home,” Medvedev said.

“This expenditure is legitimate with due regard to our country’s current position and the need to upgrade our armed forces,” the PM said, adding that the existing spending pattern is “quite sufficient” to fulfill missions such as the current one in Syria.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 03 Oct 2015 12:30

Singha wrote:russians finding such easy targets to hit in Raqqa indicates the US with its fleet of B52/B1 could have flattened the place much more in the past years . but looks like ISIS & co is being kept alive for a reason , which is to overthrow Assad.

If one year of Bombing involving 80 counties does not do much damage to ISIS and they keep claiming land here and there then ofcourse either those who are bombing are complete Incompetent or they just are bombing some other targets not ISIS.

Sunni ISIS was created to battle Assad and Iraq/Iran ( Shia country ) , its not that they landed from Heaven well funded and well armed and well trained to claim so much of land in Syria and Iraq that even the Iraqi army and Syrian one are hard pressed to fight and one year of US bombing did little damage to them ......who is the master who supports them ?

And why does ISIS who are terrorist attack the GCC country , A terrorist who had idea of Khalifa would attack all the country nearby or atleast try to claim land for their own country , Why are they just attacking Iraq and Syria who are Shias and not Kuwait or Bahrain or Saudi ?

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 03 Oct 2015 13:17

Russian MOD Press Briefing Center

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 03 Oct 2015 13:57

apply usual filters, this is from debka.

A no less significant development occurred at about the same time when Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, speaking to the US PBS NewsHour, said he would welcome a deployment of Russian troops to Iraq to fight ISIS forces in his country too. As an added incentive, he noted that this would also give Moscow the chance to deal with the 2,500 Chechen Muslims whom, he said, are fighting with ISIS in Iraq.
DEBKAfile’s military sources add that Al-Abadi’s words came against the backdrop of two events closely related to Russia’s expanding role in the war arena:
1. A joint Russian-Iranian-Syrian-Iraqi war room has been working since last week out of the Iraqi Defense Ministry and military staff headquarters in Baghdad to coordinate the passage of Russian and Iranian airlifts to Syria and also Russian air raids. This command center is also organizing the transfer of Iranian and pro-Iranian Shiite forces into Syria.
2. Baghdad and Moscow have just concluded a deal for the Russian air force to start using the Al Taqaddum Air Base at Habbaniyah, 74 km west of Baghdad, both as a way station for the Russian air corridor to Syria and as a launching-pad for bombing missions against ISIS forces and infrastructure in northern Iraq and northern Syria.
Russia has thus gained a military enclave in Iraq, just as it has in Syria, where it has taken over a base outside Latakia on the western coast of Syria. At the same time, the Habbaniyah air base also serves US forces operating in Iraq, which number an estimated 5,000.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 03 Oct 2015 14:02

habbinyah seems like a major american helicopter case going by google maps imagery

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 03 Oct 2015 14:02

but its huge and has plenty of room to accomodate russia

Bhurishrava · Post by **Bhurishrava** » 03 Oct 2015 14:03

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-bro ... verride=in

Interesting article that rips western propaganda apart.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 03 Oct 2015 14:33

Exactly! Why where no B-52s sent to flatten ISIS/ISIL? The US used theme extensively in Vietnam,the only bombings that the Viets really were afraid of. ISIS is deliberately being kept alive,in control for the task of removing ME leaders who do not toe the Yanqui-Saudi line.The Yanqui-Saudi partnership is well explained in Unger's exposes in his book,"House of Bush,House of Saud" Once you read this book, the ME imbroglio is far easier understood. Since the anti-Assad coalition has failed to deliver the goods-overthrow of Assad,ISIS was pressed into action. A two-pronged strategy,where the CIA took care opf the anti-Assad Syrian forces,Turkey an abettor, while the Sauds and oi!y monarchies took care of ISIS.
This strategy is now coming a cropper as Putin and Russia are blasting both to kingdom come!
No wonder impotent O'Bomber is ranting and raving and the Sauds gnashing their teeth and clenching their fists!

The Sri Lankan viewpoint.

http://www.dailymirror.lk/89657/syria-r ... me-changer

Syria: Russia’s master stroke a game changer

2015-10-02
Russian President Vladimir Putin has well and truly checkmated the United States and its Middle Eastern allies who triggered the Syrian crisis in February 2011.

Russia by launching airstrikes on Wednesday against what it described as terrorist targets in Syria sent a non-nonsense message to the US and its allies: If you mess around in my backyard, which includes Ukraine, I will mess around in areas that you regard as your domain. The war in Ukraine is one of the key factors that pushed Putin on Wednesday to execute his master putsch or his Tai Otoshi body slam, to use a term from his favourite sport Judo.

Syria was relatively a peaceful country till February 2011, despite the one-party sham democracy. Following their success in overthrowing the Muammar Gaddafi regime in Libya, the over-ambitious Middle Eastern powers such as Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar and Israel turned their focus on a regime change in Syria with the ultimate objective being weakening Iran. This was because the Bashar al-Assad regime was a key link in the Shiite Crescent which extends from Iran via Iraq and Syria to Lebanon’s southern region dominated by the pro-Iranian militia group Hezbollah, which has vowed to give a fitting response to Israel if Iran’s nuclear facilities are attacked. If Assad, who is from Syria’s minority Alawite community, is ousted, Shite-Muslim Iran will lose its regional clout, the Sunni-Muslim states thought.

There is another important reason why the oil and gas exporting countries in the region want Assad out: He had rejected a Saudi-Qatar proposal for a pipeline that would take oil and gas to Europe via Syria and Turkey. The project had a geostrategic significance vis-à-vis the Ukrainian conflict: Punishing Russia. If the Middle Eastern oil and gas through this pipeline glut the European market, Russia, which is the main supplier of oil and gas to Europe would lose its market share and could even be plunged into an economic crisis of regime-change proportions. So protecting the Assad regime is vital for Russia to survive economically. This probably explains why Putin decided to intervene militarily in Syria, though he cited national security factors such as the return to Russia of hundreds of its citizens now fighting along with ISIS and other terror groups in Syria.

Wednesday’s developments came at lightning speed. No sooner had the Russian parliament given the nod than the Russian aircraft were in action giving little time for the US to respond. The last time, the Russians gave a shock of this nature to the Americans was, probably, when they took the lead in the space race by sending Uri Gagarin to space in 1961.

Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting with members of the government at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow on Wednesday. Putin said the only way to fight terrorists in Syria was to act preemptively. Reuters

The shock apart, the US was not unaware of the Russian buildup in recent weeks and months in Syria, but felt little reason to panic. Russia has a small naval port at Tartus in Syria – not far from a US military base in Turkey. The naval port is used by small Russian vessels carrying light weapons to Syria. Recently the Russians expanded the base to accommodate larger warships and built an airbase at Latakia, just north of Tartus.

Yet, many analysts thought that Russia would not dare to get militarily involved in the Middle East while it was being hit by crippling western economic sanctions for its intervention in Ukraine.

But when the unexpected happened, the US had no option other than welcoming, albeit cautiously, the Russian air strikes. Perhaps, for the first time since World War II, the US and the Russians are supposed to be fighting a common enemy – this time, ISIS.

But by yesterday, the US began to grumble, saying the Russians were not attacking ISIS; instead, they were killing civilians and providing air cover to the Syrian military to fight the so-called moderate rebels. But the ground reality is that the moderate rebels exist no more. If they do, they only act as a cover to facilitate arms and money transfers to ISIS or as a spent force.

The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) is now facing a military force which means real business. The US and its allies have launched more than 7,100 air attacks on ISIS targets since September last year with little success. This raises the question whether the US is serious about eliminating ISIS. After all, it took less than a month for the US forces to defeat Saddam Hussein’s million-strong Army and bring Iraq under US control in 2003.

The entry of Russia with its SU-25 ground attack aircraft, SU-30 M multi-role fighters and Mi-24 and Mi-8 helicopters at a time when Assad’s forces have faced a series of setbacks once again underscores the urgent need for a solution to the Syrian crisis which has rendered half of Syria’s 24 million population refugees -- 4 million people have left the country while 8 million have been internally displaced.

It is heartening to note that President Obama, despite his country’s complicity – or connivance -- in the Syrian disaster, said this week that he was ready to work with Iran and Russia to find a solution to the crisis. Analysts who heard him say this probably had to rub their eyes in disbelief. Aren’t they on the opposite sides in the Syrian conflict? Russia and Iran want a solution with Assad remaining in power, but the Americans say there is no role for Assad. Can there be a compromise?

The Saudis are smarting over Obama’s statement and the thaw in US-Iran ties. Saudi Arabia yesterday demanded that Russia stop its airstrikes in Syria, saying the strikes had caused civilian casualties. Saudi Arabia crying about Syrian casualties is the height of irony. It was only a few days ago that they stood accused of killing 131 civilians during a bombing raid on a wedding party in Yemen; Can Saudi Arabia talk about civilian deaths when it is one of the countries which triggered the Syrian conflict that has seen more than 250,000 Syrian deaths so far?

Russia’s entry into the Syrian conflict has tilted the balance in favour of Assad. The way forward is a dialogue between the US and Russia and restoration of the status quo ante. The US must not think Assad is a problem. He is part of the solution. In the early days of the crisis, he offered solution after solution. He even brought in constitutional reforms to hold multiparty elections and limit the presidential office to two seven-year terms. But the opposition parties obeying their Gulf masters did not take up the challenge. The result: a tragedy of epic proportions. - See more at: http://www.dailymirror.lk/89657/syria-r ... xeozu.dpuf

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 03 Oct 2015 16:07

Russian Air Force destroys terrorist command center in Raqqa – Defense Ministry

A surgical airstrike by Russian fighter jets has knocked out the battle headquarters of a jihadist group near Raqqa, according to Russian Defense Ministry. Operating from the Khmeimim airbase, the Russian Air Force continues to inflict pinpoint strikes on Islamic State installations.

“Over the past 24 hours, Sukhoi Su-34 and Su-24M fighter jets have performed 20 sorties and hit nine Islamic State installations,” Igor Konashenkov, Russia’s Defense Ministry spokesman, reported.

Konashenkov added that yesterday evening Russian aircraft went on six sorties, inflicting strikes on three terrorist installations.

“A bunker-busting BETAB-500 air bomb dropped from a Sukhoi Su-34 bomber near Raqqa has eliminated the command post of one of the terror groups, together with an underground storage facility for explosives and munitions,” the spokesman said.

Commenting on the video filmed by a Russian UAV monitoring the assault near Raqqa, Konashenkov noted, “a powerful explosion inside the bunker indicates it was also used for storing a large quantity of munitions.

“As you can see, a direct hit on the installation resulted in the detonation of explosives and multiple fires. It was completely demolished,” the spokesman said.

Konashenkov noted the crosshair visible on the drone video footage is not a target, but merely a focus point of the UAV’s camera “maintaining control over an airstrike.”

Another bomber on a sortie from Khmeimim has dropped a KAB-500 air bomb on an Islamic State camp near Maarrat al-Numan. It destroyed fortifications, ammunition, fuel and seven units of equipment, Konashenkov said at a media briefing on Saturday.

rgosain · Post by **rgosain** » 03 Oct 2015 16:08

Phil that is a clear analysis re the B52s which were used to devastating effect against the Taliban on the Shomali plains in 2001 and against Iraq in 1991 and 2003.
Lavrov has been saying that the initial air campaign will be last 12 weeks in Syria, with an option for extending it into Iraq if the Iraqi government makes that request. That means that the moderate terrorists and their friends will be pulverised for over 12 weeks, and that is a long stretch of hurt.
Is there any likelihood of a ground campaign that could stabilise the Assad administration in the West?
What are the chances of a UN backed stabilisation force where India would be called upon ?

Bhurishrava · Post by **Bhurishrava** » 03 Oct 2015 17:18

Not smart to speak of how long you are gonna bomb. The targets know, how long they have to stay hidden.

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 03 Oct 2015 18:26

performed 20 sorties and hit nine Islamic State installations,”

Hmm... read that statement carefully

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 03 Oct 2015 18:51

photos from istanbul showing RuN warships and supply ships southbound into the mediterranean for exercises near tartous and cyprus.
http://turkishnavy.net/

it includes the slava class ship moskva which has already participated in the georgia war and the annexation of crimea(it bottled up the ukraine navy in a lake). also the SIGINT ship donuzlav. the cargo ships have lot of stuff hidden by nets.

Bhurishrava · Post by **Bhurishrava** » 03 Oct 2015 19:17

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/syr ... 77621.html

Another article that has escaped the western info net that says - the west knows moderate opposition is long dead in Syria but continues to peddle nonsense to demonise Putin.
Also UAE, Saudi Arabi and Turkey are determined to overthrow Assad in anyway possible.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 03 Oct 2015 20:13

http://in.reuters.com/article/2015/10/0 ... 6Q20151003

migrants break into channel tunnel to showcase their plight in calais

Yogi_G · Post by **Yogi_G** » 03 Oct 2015 21:31

Bhurishrava wrote:Not smart to speak of how long you are gonna bomb. The targets know, how long they have to stay hidden.

If arm chair jingo generals like you and me can think of this much imagine how much those Ruskie generals must have thought of. "If" the targets are hidden the Syrian army will be on the move and this the advantage they need to wipe out the US backed abomination called the ISIS.

I continue to be impressed by the frogfoot. what an aircraft.

habal · Post by **habal** » 04 Oct 2015 03:23

ISIS command & control c&c.centre destroyed in bombing supposedly had CIA syrian station hq within.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 04 Oct 2015 08:48

RuAF is using the latest Kab-250 against ISIS in Strikes

http://sdelanounas.ru/blogs/68612/

"In developing the infrastructure of militant Russian aircraft uses the latest high-precision weapons, in particular, guided aerial bombs. Such a bomb carries out adjustments after separation from the wing by satellite GLONASS. She also receives the coordinates of the plane. Thus, the accuracy of its occurrence is plus or minus two meters, regardless of weather conditions and time of year. This allows you to accurately destroy objects militants and eliminating civilian casualties "- transfers

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 04 Oct 2015 08:50

KAB-500S , GLONASS Guided Bomb is used too with Su-34

Adjustable aviation bomb of satellite guidance and high-explosive warhead KAB-500S is a precision-guided air attack and is designed to engage on a "dropped-and-forget" stationary land and sea targets such as warehouses, military and industrial facilities, vehicles parked in any time of day and in any weather. KAB-500S provides hitting targets whose coordinates are known in advance, or can be provided with a carrier board in preparation for discharge.

It is used as part of armament frontline aircraft - fighter-bombers and attack aircraft Su-24M, Su-34, Su-35, MiG-35 and others.

Its main purpose is to defeat surface and ground stationary targets (silos, warehouses, military and industrial facilities, secure command and control, combat ships). Battle of the concrete-shell, which will allow to use it to destroy hardened targets.

Bomb guidance system is based on a specialized 24-channel receivers of satellite navigation systems GLONASS / Navstar PSN-2001. The length of the KAB-500S is 3 m, diameter - 40 cm, total weight - 560 kg, warhead weight - 380 kg. Reset Range - up to 9 km.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 04 Oct 2015 08:55

New Video , Much better details of deployed aircraft

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 04 Oct 2015 08:57

thats a pretty meaty weapon. will shred a typical 4 storey apartment end to end.

the meaty undercarriage of Rus a/c enabled them to operate easily from this less than perfect tarmac. the black painted Su34 is my new favourite plane.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 04 Oct 2015 09:17

Initially the Su-34 had all Sky Blue Cammo

SA-22 SAM , Sighted in Latakia ( Red Circle )

KAB-500S Close Up

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 04 Oct 2015 12:14

looks like aprons are being repaired and expanded to bring that airbase up to par. it was wild, crumbling and grassy when they landed.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 04 Oct 2015 12:28

pix of life at the ruS expeditionary base . all stuff shipped in from russia including mobile saunas and ovens to bake bread

http://www.rt.com/news/317528-latakia-r ... m-airbase/

rohitvats · Post by **rohitvats** » 04 Oct 2015 12:44

^^^The Su-30 in the vidoe were carrying AAMs....seems Russians are not taking any chances and mounting CAP over the strike a/c packages, just in case some like Turkey or Israelis feel a bit jingoistic.

habal · Post by **habal** » 04 Oct 2015 13:06

Kunduz-II in works ..

David Cameron pledges to significantly beef up the SAS and double the number of British drones, whose main task is to remotely exfiltrate Isil jihadists.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politic ... -Isil.html

WASHINGTON — U.S. aircraft and about 300 Air Force troops have begun arriving at a military base in Turkey to provide search and rescue capabilities for the fighting in Iraq and Syria.

the aircraft and crew "will enable us to better recover our coalition partners should they need assistance in Syria or Iraq."

Y. Kanan · Post by **Y. Kanan** » 04 Oct 2015 13:35

I've talked about this before but I am now more fully convinced than ever that Syria is the crucial battleground in a much bigger grand plan. If the Russia\Syria\Iran\Iraq axis loses, India loses as well. If the US & the Sunni bloc (Saudi\Qatar\Turkey\Kuwait) succeed in driving the Russians out of Syria, the country will quickly fall to Sunni militants, but that's just the beginning. I'm 100% convinced they will turn on Central Asia and South Asia next. India will be in their sights, with massive GCC money, US surveillance and intel support, and an endless supply of jihadis to do the dirty work. Pakistan and Bangladesh will provide the safe havens and much of the manpower, while US\GCC uses their money and resources to stir up violence and insurrection from our muslim population. Syria went from being the safest place in the ME to an apocalyptic war zone in less than a year. It's frightfully easy to stir up massive violence when you have a large muslim population to work with, which makes India vulnerable. They may not bring us down but they can definitely hurt our economy and severely weaken us, which is probably the realistic goal of the US and its Sunni allies in any case.

India can't afford to let Russia and the Shia bloc lose this one. Not to sound melodramatic but if we don't stop them in Syria, we'll be fighting them at home.

I think the time has come for India to reconsider it's neutrality on this Syria issue. We should send a contingent of strike fighters and some naval vessels to join the Russian effort. Especially if the Chinese do so. What an excellent opportunity to not only defend our interests but quite possibly peel China away from Pakistan. If Russia, China and India find themselves fighting side by side it would signal the beginning of a new era. China has a shared interest in stopping the Islamic march through Central Asia, as this would spill over into their western provinces. Most Indians view Syria as a quagmire we should stay out of, but I think this might be a golden opportunity.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 04 Oct 2015 15:20

Russian Air Force hit 10 ISIS targets in Syria in last 24 hours – Defense Ministry

http://www.rt.com/news/317590-russian-a ... s-targets/

Russian fighter jets have attacked 10 Islamic State targets in Syria in their latest airstrikes, destroying arms depots, training centers and infrastructure, Defense Ministry says. In the last 24 hours, Russian military aircraft have performed 20 sorties.

Armored Sukhoi Su-25 ground-support fighter jets have attacked a jihadist training center in Idlib province, also destroying a workshop producing suicide belts, according to the newly-released Defense Ministry report.

The ministry has also released several videos, which it says show Russian Air Force strikes on terrorist facilities.

Sukhoi Su-24M and Su-34 bombers inflicted airstrikes on eight terrorist installations near Jisr al-Shughur in Idlib province, the ministry said.

Three depots with munitions, arms and material assets have been eliminated with pinpoint strikes. As a result of direct hits from KAB-500 air bombs, installations and munitions have been taken out.

Four command centers of Islamic State have been attacked with BETAB-500 bunker-busting air bombs, the ministry says. All four installations have been completely destroyed.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 04 Oct 2015 15:20