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

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 15 Mar 2016 16:00

IS have apparently sent reinforcements from Dier azzor to palmyra to stiffen the defences.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 15 Mar 2016 16:16

Hot Shot: American Detained for Photographing Planes at Airbase Near Moscow

http://sputniknews.com/russia/20160315/ ... phing.html#

“US citizen Paul Brian Filmer was detained in mid-March of this year near the Chkalovsky military airport in the Moscow region for using a radio scanner set on the flight center’s frequency and for photographing military and special task aircraft utilized at the [airport],” a source from the Russian Special Services told RIA Novosti.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 15 Mar 2016 16:31

these so called civilian radio scanners and planespotters seem to be tolerated only in europe & civilian parts of amrika(if right ethnicity and skin colour) and nowhere else.

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 15 Mar 2016 16:36

Reinforcing what the Swarajya article said about the blast-e-bum in Ankara:
Claims that US Embassy informed US citjens 2 stay clear of bum area. Maybe someone passed a courtesy note to Amirkhans?
On Russian 'withdrawal', it looks more and more like "vacation". They have all the infrastructure established - remember that a few weeks ago it was all about how Russians are building base infrastructure for the Long Term, as in permanently colonizing Syria. Also, all those reports of Russian cargo/military landing ships streaming in through the Bosporus. IOW, they were in all-out expansion mode until 1 weeka go.
So all that is now completed/ on the way to completion, they can just come and go as they please. Airlift in and out.
Exactly what has happened? Comrade Vlad makes an announcement. Some old planes depart. Su-30s are replaced by Su-35s. A couple of aircraft carriers are now offshore, with enough strike aircraft on board to replace all these ground-based craft.
Everyone (well, except UBCN) is like deer caught in headlights on Comrade Vlad's *****announcement**** and the sight of a few old planes returning for overhaul.
Sure, sure, if Comrade says it is so, it is so. How trusting the western media have become, of Putin's Pronouncements!

Somehow I doubt that Vlad is going to give ISIS and JN a breather. Esp. around Deir ez Zor. BTW, SAA seems to be close to the Palmyra airport. Maybe all the Russian uniformed ***ground** personnel are leaving, to be replaced by the Balaclava Boyz.
The other explanation is that Vlad is pulling his boys&girls out for summer vacation in Crimea. The cool weather is ending in Syria.

The Grandmaster is at his best. Tu22 missile/ cluster bum strikes on Palmyra, Raqqa and Deir-ez-Zor coming, nicely guided by the 70+ drones left on 24-hr patrol.

ldev · Post by **ldev** » 15 Mar 2016 17:01

Putin has achieved his most important objective of "no regime change" in Syria. Assad stays in power. The Russians retain their Tartus naval base and now their Khmeimim airbase. Russia has demonstrated it's ability to have a major influence on Middle East events. I would not be surprised if this withdrawal has some linkage to the Saudi-Russian oil production freeze agreement of mid February. Oil prices since then have rebounded more than 40%. Furthermore if this withdrawal and the peace talks in Geneva result in fewer refugees entering Europe, Russia will have demonstrated that it can orchestrate the misery level in Europe as well. All in all, a win for Putin. He has no interest in nation building or securing Syria as a whole state as it once was. His only interest is in securing Russian interests and he has succeeded in that objective. From the initial US position that it would not talk to Russia, the US position gradually moved to "military de-conflicting talks" in Syrian air operations to now the latest peace deal in Geneva which has been negotiated directly between the US and Russia and finalized via a phone call between Obama and Putin, however much Obama may loathe Putin.

habal · Post by **habal** » 15 Mar 2016 17:31

it cannot be confirmed on mainstream media but chinese a/c is at damascus/tartous, debka claimed so on it's premium content site about a few weeks ago.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 15 Mar 2016 17:34

its still not totally clear if the entire russian strike component is being withdrawn or some will remain. this report claims 1000 people and some recon drones/ac will remain...thats seems like a high number just for a few recon birds, S400, pantsyr onlee

http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160 ... eymim.html

other outlets and sources claim the air strikes will continue

nobody in syria except the base commander knows for sure.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 15 Mar 2016 17:35

like this.

KURYER
‏@KURYERSAT
Rus to keep all AD systems, ten of combat helicopters, some attack planes, 4 Su-35Ss, (probably) 4 Su-30SMs, BTR-82As & T-90As in Syria.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 15 Mar 2016 17:37

mauka mauka quick to pounce...

Hassan Ridha ‏@sayed_ridha 3h3 hours ago
Hassan Ridha Retweeted جريدة الوسط الكويتية
#AQ Jabhat Al-Nusra announces that it will launch an offensive in #Syria in the next 48 hours

Suresh S · Post by **Suresh S** » 15 Mar 2016 17:37

agree with UB. Also old indian saying bare kam ke liye agar kuch samay chota bhee hona pare to sharm na karna.It takes a man with tremendous self control to not respond to pin pricks and humiliation with disproportionate force which is the intention of his adversaries. Remember the targeting and accidental killing of few syrian soldiers near deir ezzor, turkey,s shooting of russian fighter, Israel,s pin point demolition of a building in damascus and killing of a palestinian militant. All this done to send message and force putin to respond with something stupid but to their utter dismay he does not take the bait and does things to achieve his aims ignoring all the noise.

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 15 Mar 2016 17:43

Scandinavians to note. That Swarajya article was tweeted for circulation. Maybe other BRFees can also do the honours.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 15 Mar 2016 17:43

the fight continues..AoA

The 'Nimr' Tiger ‏@Souria4Syrians 23h23 hours ago
FSA fanboys burn Nusra headquarters in Maraat Al-Nu'man. Nusra vows severe punishment

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 15 Mar 2016 18:43

deejay wrote:^^^ The older aircraft are all individual ejection though the canopy will break off with the first ejection handle being pulled.

I have only flown Kirans (among aircraft with ejection seats) and in that it was individual ejection. So it is possible.

But the video being shown, has puff of smoke where the aircraft supposedly fell and it did not appear like an airfield.

Thanks , Perhaps attempting to land but short of airfield .....still heroic of the pilot when he could have just bailed out.

New Report says it was shot by Stinger MANPADS

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 15 Mar 2016 20:11

ISIS drone fell down in iraq..nabbed by the PMF

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CdmNyEWUEAEs6C9.jpg

rsingh · Post by **rsingh** » 15 Mar 2016 20:51

One very famous analysts on pee pee see: Putin went to Syria to get some concession on Ukraina episode (from Eu and USA). he saw that those sanction are going to stay. Now Putin is afraid and he is puling out because he is not gaining politically or economically fro his adventure.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 15 Mar 2016 21:00

#blowtomodi #blowtoputin

TSJones · Post by **TSJones** » 15 Mar 2016 21:04

why #blowtomodi ?

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 15 Mar 2016 21:40

TSJones wrote:why #blowtomodi ?

TSJ, you will have to follow Indian DDM daily to get that.

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 15 Mar 2016 22:30

RuAF pilots getting a warm welcome in Rodina.

Военный Советник
‏@miladvisor
Meet #RuAF pilots returned from #Syria at the airbase #Buturlinovka #Russia #Voronezh region

Video in link
https://twitter.com/miladvisor/status/7 ... 7846104064

Cain Marko · Post by **Cain Marko** » 16 Mar 2016 00:07

Seems like the venerable backfire has done rather well in this mess. Wouldn't mind if a few are bought by India. Fast and better reach compared to rafale and even mki. Good for early door opener laacm strikes as well as mop up operations after local AD has been adequately neutralized. Also good deterrence against PLAN adventurism

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 16 Mar 2016 01:09

Backfire pilots commuted to work, hain? If their "Return 2 Rodina" is being celebrated, it is a dead giveaway that the whole "withdrawal" is a PR exercise.

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 16 Mar 2016 01:17

https://twitter.com/miladvisor/status/7 ... 7846104064

Veedeeo of Smerch in action.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 16 Mar 2016 07:02

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CdlzkafUYAIzeVe.jpg

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CdlzklcUkAAsdRy.jpg

Военный Советник ‏@miladvisor 14h14 hours ago
Ambassador of #Russia attended transferring Russian arms and ammunitions to Iraqi #Kurdistan for fighting terrorism

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 16 Mar 2016 07:06

taking advantage of IS moving out to defend palmyra, deir azzor garrison has sortied west to recapture some areas lost in Jan ISIS blitzkrieg

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 16 Mar 2016 07:11

lineup of SP guns in palmyra..their barrels blackened by soot.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CdhZecaUUAEmDao.jpg

grads, smerches and TOS are also being used per other videos.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 16 Mar 2016 08:00

Russian pilots receive hero's welcome after returning from Syria

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 16 Mar 2016 08:04

by keeping a clean slate in terms of casualties (barring the su24 pilot) and modest costs vs the gigantic khanish invasions, he has ensured wide public support for future interventions.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 16 Mar 2016 08:08

statue of resistance in kobane, flanked by two destroyed IS tanks

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 16 Mar 2016 08:23

View of Russian AF hardware in Syria

Airbase https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1709/2578 ... d7eb_o.jpg
Su-34 330 Sortie https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1637/2572 ... 3bde_o.jpg

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 16 Mar 2016 08:29

Great Britannia Sulking

Praising Putin on Syria Like Lauding Ex-Wife-Beater, U.K. Says

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/ ... r-u-k-says

“Somebody goes into another country, starts bombing civilian populations, destroying hospitals and schools,” Hammond told the House of Commons in London on Tuesday. “If, and it’s still a big if, they do decide five months later that they’ve done enough, let’s not give them too much praise. It’s a bit like: ‘did he stop beating his wife?’”

“The fact that they’re there in the first place is something that we have to continually protest about,” Hammond said. “We certainly should not give them any credit for simply withdrawing from these illegal activities.”

member_22733 · Post by **member_22733** » 16 Mar 2016 08:41

Austin wrote:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/ ... r-u-k-says

“Somebody goes into another country, starts bombing civilian populations, destroying hospitals and schools,” Hammond told the House of Commons in London on Tuesday. “If, and it’s still a big if, they do decide five months later that they’ve done enough, let’s not give them too much praise. It’s a bit like: ‘did he stop beating his wife?’”

I got confused who this britshit basturd was complaining about. Unkil? Or Brishitland itself? Hypocricy seems to flow in their genes.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 16 Mar 2016 10:15

pitiful. looks like a c-grade movie where the sidekicks talk big in the bazaar on strength of their boss's backing. in "Shiva" there is a scene where nagarjuna gives one resounding slap to such a lightweight who is extorting shopkeepers....he jumps 3 feet in surprise and runs back to fetch his boss dekh loonga dekh loonga who charges with a chopper.....bam...another punch and the boss is flat as well.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 16 Mar 2016 10:32

Singha wrote:pitiful. looks like a c-grade movie where the sidekicks talk big in the bazaar on strength of their boss's backing. in "Shiva" there is a scene where nagarjuna gives one resounding slap to such a lightweight who is extorting shopkeepers....he jumps 3 feet in surprise and runs back to fetch his boss dekh loonga dekh loonga who charges with a chopper.....bam...another punch and the boss is flat as well.

Brits dont have liking for Russians , Seems Russia and China are the only two country that was not Ruled by Colonial Power.

member_23370 · Post by **member_23370** » 16 Mar 2016 10:44

China was divided by european powers and under Japan and Mongols for a while. Russia also had attacks by Poles but it is too big anyway.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 16 Mar 2016 12:56

deir forces take advantage to burn some IS oil tankers on the highway
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/is ... eir-ezzor/

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 16 Mar 2016 12:58

SAA has reached about 1km from the qatari royal villa
when they capture it have to go through a region of orchards
then through the archeology zone
and then only comes the town

so they are atleast 5km away from reaching the suburbs of the town, which also has a airport in the east.

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 16 Mar 2016 14:23

Singha wrote:SAA has reached about 1km from the qatari royal villa
when they capture it have to go through a region of orchards
then through the archeology zone
and then only comes the town

so they are atleast 5km away from reaching the suburbs of the town, which also has a airport in the east.

This is the SW axis advance. They are also trying to breach from NW while firing and shelling from West is being maintained. Between Palmyra and Dier Ez Zor ISIS is caught between a rock and a hard place. If enough pressure can be generated from Dier Ez Zor side ISIS may have to chose between the two cities and my guess is that they will opt for keeping Dier Ez Zor.

Bhurishrava · Post by **Bhurishrava** » 16 Mar 2016 14:28

Sensible from Putin, IMHO.
No need to get that outright victory for either Shias or Sunnis. Now that Shias have the upper hand, let them fight again.
Keep the Muslim region in turmoil. Let them blow each other up rather than blowing up others.
Suits everyone.

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 16 Mar 2016 14:32

Palmyra battle update

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/sy ... eats-east/

The Syrian Arab Army’s “Tiger Forces” – backed by the Desert Hawks Brigade and Liwaa Imam Ali (Iraqi paramilitary) – launched a powerful assault on the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham’s (ISIS) defensive positions at the strategic hills surrounding the ancient desert city of Palmyra (Tadmur) this morning.

According to preliminary reports from the Syrian Armed Forces in east Homs, the Tiger Forces and their allies have advanced towards Point 700 after a violent battle with the ISIS terrorists in the vicinity of Jabal Hayyal.

The source added that the Syrian Armed Forces have already liberated several small hilltops en route to Point 700; however, they still do not control this important site that is located 500 meters away from the Qatari Royal Villa. Once Point 700 is captured by the Syrian Armed Forces, they will finally have a presence along the main road that leads to the Qatari Royal Villa and the Palmyra Orchards that are situated at the southern perimeter of this ancient desert city.

Clashes have also been reported in the northern countryside of Palmyra, where the Syrian Arab Army’s 67th Brigade of the 18th Tank Division and the National Defense Forces (NDF) are attempting to recapture the imperative Brigade 550 Base that overlooks the Al-‘Amariyah District and Jabal Al-‘Asafeer.

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/sy ... eats-east/ | Al-Masdar News

Al Amariyah district in northern Palmyra is the same area from where ISIS entered Palmyra in 2015.

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 16 Mar 2016 14:37

CIA 'ignored' rise of ISIS since 2013

https://www.rt.com/news/335756-cia-ignored-intel-isis/

The Free Syrian Army’s ‘spy chief’ told Le Monde his agents had been gathering intelligence from within Islamic State’s ranks since its emergence, but the CIA largely ignored data that could have helped suppress the terror group from the outset.

The Free Syrian Army’s spymaster, codenamed “M”, in an exclusive to Le Monde, told the newspaper he had been sending “very detailed reports” on Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL), based on field data from his agents, to his CIA contacts for two years.

The intelligence gave critical insight into IS’ pivot to Iraq and Syria, and included GPS coordinates, maps, photographs, phone numbers and even IP addresses, "M" said.

“From the moment Daesh (an Arabic pejorative acronym for IS) had 20 members to when it had 20,000, we have shown everything to the Americans. When we asked them what they did with this information, they always gave evasive answers, saying it was in the hands of decision-makers.”

The FSA’s intelligence chief, “trained abroad” according to the newspaper, had recruited thirty trusted men, who were inserted into IS-held cities in Syria, including Raqqa, Al-Bab, Tel Abyad and others. To finance operations, the spy chief requested $30,000 per month from the Americans, but he says he only received $10,000.

One of M’s most valuable agents was a mole inside Islamic State’s financial unit in Manbij near the Turkish border. A report from him, seen by Le Monde, described payments of $74,000 (€67,000) from a former parliamentarian called Radwan Habib to his brother Ali – an IS “emir” in Maskaneh in Aleppo governorate.

FSA agents and informants conducted various operations, often risky ones. One photo "M" shared with the newspaper showed a training camp north of Latakia province frequented by foreign IS fighters. “Naturally I transmitted this to my Western contacts with the GPS coordinates but got no response,” he was cited as saying.

“My agents also managed to get hold of phone numbers of IS officials, serial numbers of [their] satellite equipment and IP addresses. But once again, zero response.”

Another FSA document accessed by the French newspaper included an order of battle designed to expel IS from Aleppo province in summer 2014. Postponed several times by the Americans, the attack was eventually torpedoed at end of 2014 by a surprise counterattack by Al-Nusra Front.

The Free Syrian Army was founded by a group of deserters, including officers and soldiers from the Syrian Army, in July 2011. It received substantial military aid from the US and Britain for its anti-Assad stance.

In June 2012, the CIA was involved in clandestine operations along the Turkish-Syrian border, according to a Wall Street Journal report. They were identifying rebel groups to give military aid to. CIA operatives also helped opposition forces develop supply routes and provided communications training. Agents also reportedly distributed assault rifles, anti-tank rocket launchers and other ammunition to the Syrian opposition.

Throughout 2013 and 2014, the CIA was said to be training “moderate” Syrian opposition fighters at Jordanian special forces’ bases in anticipation of President Assad’s fall. By 2015, Washington had scaled down most programs to train and equip Syrian rebels.

However, other secret and significantly larger programs run by Langley still continue despite significant cuts, the Washington Post reported.

The original Le Monde article: http://www.lemonde.fr/proche-orient/art ... _3218.html