Levant crisis - III

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 26 Jun 2016 08:03

NDF + 4th div has started a offensive in north aleppo with ruaf air support

tiger forces seem to be in reserve.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 26 Jun 2016 08:05

The Syrian Arab Army’s (SAA) abrupt withdrawal from the west Raqqa countryside earlier this week created a great deal of doubt regarding whether or not they can really challenge the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) inside this province in northern Syria. However, the High Command of the Syrian Arab Army has not given up on the idea of recapturing the strategic Tabaqa Military Airport, despite the disastrous end to their once promising offensive. One of the biggest issues that plagued the Syrian Arab Army’s offensive was their thin supply line that stretched over 50 km across the western countryside of the Raqqa Governorate. The Islamic State militants consistently targeted this thin supply route with their VBIEDs (vehicle borne improvised explosive device) along the Salamiyah-Raqqa Highway; it would often force the Syrian Arab Army to concentrate their units at these attack points. If the High Command chooses to restart this west Raqqa offensive, they will need to choose a different path because the Islamic State controls a large portion of the southeast Aleppo (Maskanah Plains); and as long as they control this area, they will have the ability to obstruct both the Khanasser Highway to Aleppo and the Salamiyah-Raqqa Highway to Tabaqa.

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

habal · Post by **habal** » 26 Jun 2016 09:15

Attack on Raqqa & Taqba was a Ruse to Get CIA and MI6 to draw off "soldiers" from Aleppo and send them to Raqqah and Taqba, and the Syrians let them pass without a fight. Aleppo now can be taken , smart eh?

The ISIS/Al Qaeda should have suspected something when they so easily overran the Syrian troops on the way to Taqba.

habal · Post by **habal** » 26 Jun 2016 09:43

Now I think in war if any operation goes completely according to plan, there is an ambush waiting somewhere. In battle one can never be too successful.

the Mother of all battles is coming to Aleppo, preparations from the past few months are done, some of the most effective fighting forces are finally in position, in and around Aleppo city, such as the Tiger Force, 4th Mechanized Division and Hezbollah.

https://twitter.com/SyriaWarReports/sta ... 6575172608

Nasrallah, during yesterday's speech, besides committing Hezbollah to the battle of Aleppo, has alluded to the fact that more allied troops must be sent there...maybe a message to Iran to send much more troops.

https://twitter.com/SyriaWarReports/sta ... 9058952193

The offensive from Deir Ez Zor will also go in opposite direction to what most people think: it will head towards the southeast, direction Iraq, to link up with the axis of Resistance forces that will start moving upstream of the Euphrates from Hit and Haditha once Fallujah is cleared.”

habal · Post by **habal** » 26 Jun 2016 09:52

This will re-establish the ‘super highway’ from Pyong Yang, Beijing, Moscow, Tehran, Baghdad, Damascus to Beirut and onwards to the whole world.

In fact, this is One Belt, One Road – the Super Highway - of the future that US and allies are trying to destroy.

Sun Tzu is right, you need to win fast or you will be drained, depleted. After 5 years no one in EU or USA is interested in this Syrian war any more.

With Kerry's August deadline coming up quickly, I think Assad's plan is to take most of the rest of Aleppo before then. Then there will be no FSA terrorist left for the US to rescue.

habal · Post by **habal** » 26 Jun 2016 09:55

Russian Su-34 causes panic among ISIS in Hama

19th June, 2016

http://www.fort-russ.com/2016/06/russia ... -isis.html

A Russian SU-34 successfully attacked objects of ISIL in the Syrian province of Hama.

This was reported by "Rusvesna", citing a military source in Syria.

At around 5.00 am on June 17th, Su-34 strike aircraft hit ISIS targets in the area of the settlement Qalib al-Thawr.

"The air strike caught the terrorists by surprise, which led to them fleeing, as evidenced by scattered weapons, abandoned automobiles, and light armored vehicles.

The air strikes destroyed 4 defensive positions around the settlement Qalib al-Thawr, 8 pickups with the machine guns, and about 60 militants and ammunition depots. Consolidating the success of the inflicted air strikes, government troops advanced 8 miles and entrenched themselves in the commanding heights," Rusvesna" was told.

He added that the same morning, in the Northern province of Hama, "air reconnaissance had uncovered and identified a large concentration of vehicles, including mini-trucks mounted with heavy small arms and cargo bays".

"One strike hit a cluster of vehicles and outposts. In total, about 45 vehicles, 2 commercial pickups, 10 pickups with machine guns, as well as vans for the transportation of militants were destroyed".

Bhurishrava · Post by **Bhurishrava** » 26 Jun 2016 13:15

Isnt the Israeli-Turkey rapprochement basically an anti Shia alliance?

Erdogan is eating the bitter pill of accepting Israel killing Sunni terrorists along with Shia ones.

http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Turkis ... key-457694

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 26 Jun 2016 16:34

we need a good city map of aleppo to understand this...

The Syrian Armed Forces began their long-awaited northern Aleppo offensive last night after spending several weeks in a stagnate position near the volatile Handarat front. Led by the Syrian Arab Army’s “Tiger Forces” and their prominent leader Colonel Suheil Al-Hassan, the Syrian Armed Forces launched their assault from several axes in northern Aleppo, striking the jihadist rebels at the Al-Zahra, Al-Khalidiyah, Bani Zayd, and Al-Layramoun districts inside the provincial capital. According to the preliminary reports from Aleppo City, the Syrian Armed Forces have captured the Aleppo Cotton Gin, Sarheel Factory, and several sites in the Al-Zahra District. In the coming hours, the Syrian Armed Forces are expected to intensify their assault, as the jihadist rebels scramble to repel this large-scale government offensive. The Tiger Forces are not conducting this offensive alone; instead, they are fighting alongside the 4th Mechanized Division, Liwaa AL-Quds (Palestinian paramilitary), and National Defense Forces (NDF).

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/ti ... offensive/ | Al-Masdar News

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 26 Jun 2016 17:14

One presumes that a lot of NATerrOrists are getting their 72 in this? Wonder if this is going to bring out the F-18s, or has Gen. Vodkov given enough time and warning for the "advisers" to exit the stage.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 26 Jun 2016 18:03

its mainly the same crew who have been rampaging in southern aleppo. - jaish al fatah coalition.

there is also a locality called sheikh maqsood run by YPG kurds who have been shelled with hell cannons for some 6 months now. every day a few people die there. its adjacent to SAA held zones of aleppo and gets its food , medicine , energy from there.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 26 Jun 2016 18:05

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 26 Jun 2016 18:07

SDF has published photos of Turkish made anti-armour weapons like ATGM/LAW captured from ISIS hands. all helpfully captured I suppose when the ping-pong FSA vs ISIS match occurs in azaz pocket.

yesterday the FSA withdrew from Al-Rai border town due to ISIS swarming with car bombs. not sure how much HW got helpfully abandoned.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 26 Jun 2016 18:09

meantime in the east...

Hassan Ridha ‏@sayed_ridha 4h4 hours ago
Iranian artillery shells Qandil region north of Erbil in #KRG #Iraq as clashes intensify with #PDKI in western #Iran (Rojhalat)

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 26 Jun 2016 18:10

Hassan Ridha ‏@sayed_ridha 5h5 hours ago
#Fallujah offensive started 36 days ago, Iraqi Army entered the city 26 days ago and now has been fully liberated

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 26 Jun 2016 18:11

^ Iraq should be able to release another brigade and more PMU units to swarm north to nineveh province for the Al-Shirqat campaign...still 100k south of Mosul.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 26 Jun 2016 18:12

relations between YPG and Peshmerga not good.

Hassan Ridha ‏@sayed_ridha 24h24 hours ago
pt #PYD controlled #Rojava is under blockade from the north by #Turkey & from the east by the KDP dominated #KRG in northern Iraq

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 26 Jun 2016 18:14

iraqis continue to swarm north for offensives in and around mosul region

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 26 Jun 2016 18:23

hezbollah leader has given a speech outlining his views and the casualties they hit the JN with in south aleppo...its there in https://twitter.com/sayed_ridha - read it bottom up

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 26 Jun 2016 18:29

sample

Hassan Ridha ‏@sayed_ridha Jun 24
#Nasrallah: If it wasn't for IRGC, Iraqi Army & the Hashd from Sistani's call, IS would have taken Baghdad

Hassan Ridha ‏@sayed_ridha Jun 24
#Nasrallah: I told Badr el-Deen & hours later at morning the commanders were ready to leave for Iraq leaving family & their lives behind

Hassan Ridha ‏@sayed_ridha Jun 24
#Nasrallah: Iraqis called us at sunrise & wanted commanders not fighters to arrive in Iraq the next day to help them

Hassan Ridha ‏@sayed_ridha Jun 24
#Nasrallah: IS sweep through Iraq in 2014 had many actors including US, Turkey, Saudi etc.

habal · Post by **habal** » 26 Jun 2016 18:35

>> The Tiger Forces are not conducting this offensive alone; instead, they are fighting alongside the 4th Mechanized Division, Liwaa AL-Quds (Palestinian paramilitary), and National Defense Forces (NDF).

you forget Hezbollah. Deployed both in DeZ and now in Aleppo. Nasrallah is seeking around 5k more from IRGC for Aleppo operation. Inshallah by July Aleppo should be cleansed.

Christopher Sidor · Post by **Christopher Sidor** » 26 Jun 2016 20:09

Austin wrote:
Christopher Sidor wrote:. I think West should do it. Create another Iraq by overthrowing Assad and watch IS/Desh get reborn. This would give a flip to the sectarian conflict from levanant to the Persian gulf. Go for it. After all Iraq was just a mishap. They would have definitely learned from their mistake. Go Ammanpour, kick Assad out. Go France kick Allawites out of power in Syria.
Technically Russia has to gain little in putting its head into Shia-Sunni mess while eventually will eat the ME other then some brownie point of power status and testing their weapon in real conflict.

I understand why Russia wants to have a base on one side of the Bosphorus strait. But why get into the quick sand that is the Shia-Sunni divide? It is going to bring nothing but grief. I just do not comprehend this madness by Russia.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 26 Jun 2016 20:17

one word - chechnya was a sunni islamist project.

Satya_anveshi · Post by **Satya_anveshi** » 26 Jun 2016 20:25

further, without Russian intervention there won't be shia-sunni quicksand anymore but only sunni headache. All shia would have been wiped out.
Both of these are still peripheral to the actual Russian reason for intervention - the actual reason is preservation of its core national security and economic interests.

That has eminently paid off and the enemy camp is now in tatters. Russia must now re-start the operations at previous peak while the confusion prevails in the western camp following brexit vote.

habal · Post by **habal** » 26 Jun 2016 20:34

The First Lady, Asmaa` Al-Assad, visits the children of the army’s slain martyrs

Russian medicines delivered to Syria. The bags say in both Arabic and Russian: “Russia is with you”.

Russian doctor treats Syrian citizens.

In Tartous, committees of the People’s Republic of China oversee agricultural assistance given to Syria

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 26 Jun 2016 20:58

Christopher Sidor wrote:I understand why Russia wants to have a base on one side of the Bosphorus strait. But why get into the quick sand that is the Shia-Sunni divide? It is going to bring nothing but grief. I just do not comprehend this madness by Russia.

Eventually when IS and its Sunni Sponsors slaughter the left over Christians ( which are incidently Eastern Orthodox ) , Alawaite and Shiah then they would come and target the CIS , their energy would be channalised there to prevent them from eating their sponsors

Also the bigger game is about Strategic in Nature , if some one just sponsors terrorist and throws over the government no matter how worst its crime are and Assad is no better , Then UN would loose its relevance if no one does any thing about it and sit tight and pretend to be concerned specially countries that can do like Russia and China.

Even UN approval were used with perfidy by West when simple NFZ was automatically translated as Air Campaign against Libya followed by Ground Operation capturing and killing for Gadaffi , Which was not part of UN mandate and both China and Russia would fooled into voting for or abstaining on Libya.

Reason all the UN resolution brought by West were Vetoed by Russia and China together ......after repeated failure they took the IS route on Syria and had it not been for Russia/Iran and tacit support from Iraq working together today Syria would be a Libya just more worse.

Any ways if Russian presence saves innocent lives of minorities and keeps IS as far as possible even if it means fighting the West and Barbaria, I am for it its certainly a noble cause worth fighting for no matter where that leads too , If Assad stays or runs or just fades away I wouldnt care.

West just look for short term gains overlooking long term implication reason why we have Iraq , Libya and even Syria ......Had it not been for refugees they wouldnt even care a damn.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 26 Jun 2016 21:03

dont know if this was posted before but new Russian UAV Dozor-600 spotted in the skies over Syria

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 26 Jun 2016 21:23

habal wrote:The First Lady, Asmaa` Al-Assad, visits the children of the army’s slain martyrs

Russian medicines delivered to Syria. The bags say in both Arabic and Russian: “Russia is with you”.

Russian doctor treats Syrian citizens.

In Tartous, committees of the People’s Republic of China oversee agricultural assistance given to Syria

Good , They should do this PR on News TV etc , Like the Doctors , Donation of Food etc its Soft Power .

Suresh S · Post by **Suresh S** » 26 Jun 2016 21:39

I agree with u satya but there is one more important reason for russian intervention in syria which is completely overlooked by everyone. You have to understand president Putin/russia to figure that out . There are approx 20,000 to 30,000 russian girls married to syrian doctors, engineers, govt officials . Putin will protect all people of russian origin no matter what.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 27 Jun 2016 06:51

video of daesh vbied struck a base in jordan with 6 killed on june21.

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/vi ... se-jordan/

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 27 Jun 2016 06:54

Hassan Ridha ‏@sayed_ridha 9h9 hours ago
#SAA are clashing with Islamists in the southern farms of Mallah after taking full control of the northern area

#SyAAF & #RuAF have carried out at least 200 air raids on south & north #Aleppo to assist new #SAA & #Hezbollah assault to encircle the city

habal · Post by **habal** » 27 Jun 2016 09:37

https://www.facebook.com/syrianmilitary ... =3&theater

In pictures: Syria’s Assad makes daring visit to Ghouta frontline

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/pi ... frontline/

Syria’s Assad attends iftar on frontline with troops: Photos

http://www.presstv.com/Detail/2016/06/2 ... tar-troops

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 27 Jun 2016 09:42

the food looks good - cous cous, dal, rotis, tomato and cucumber...they seem to follow IA mode of cooking fresh as much as possible rather than MRE concept.

RuAF has been bombing that belt of north aleppo for a while now, ignoring anything in south aleppo where the hezbollah claim to have traded space for preserving manpower and inflicting big headcount loss on JN (26 kia vs #Nasrallah: From 1/6/16 to 4/6/16 militants lost 617, 10s of commanders & more than 800 wounded 80 vehicles/tanks destroyed )

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 27 Jun 2016 09:45

if its one thing SAA needs to obtain in bulk from russia & iran & china its masses of artillery and perhaps a factory to make them shells in damascus or latakia. even massed 105mm artillery with timed rolling barrages can break up enemy fortifications or attacks in depth. one need not go for uber 155m given the short ranges in play here.

artillery is the king, queen and prime minister of any battle big or small.

far far superior and reliable compared to hell cannons and crude missiles fired from rails bolted to pickup trucks. and a very proven and mature technology.

habal · Post by **habal** » 27 Jun 2016 09:48

For some reason, food was never a problem in Syrian battle. I wonder what is the secret.

" Syrian Madness: US Backed Rebels Fight US Special Forces "

https://mishtalk.com/2016/06/25/syrian- ... al-forces/

habal · Post by **habal** » 27 Jun 2016 09:49

Now looking forward to reports in western media that Russians have hit a hospital to know that the fight is going really well and in favor of SAA.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 27 Jun 2016 09:51

^^ I believe its two organs of the GOTUS run amuck and POTUS not able to exert control and put his teams on the same direction. I mean, there has hardly ever been a potus who could totally control & manage one, let alone both. soviet style internal "strongmen" in the mould of leonid brezhnev, yuri andropov, putin are thin on the ground - the #deepstate ensures people rise who will do their bidding and no more.

SD+CIA vs Pentagon

like any good CEO who is supporting multiple internal startup ideas and nurturing "tiger teams", potus too will wait an see which idea wins, then promptly take credit for backing it all through. the failed idea will get a quiet burial.

victory has many fathers, defeat is always a orphan.

habal · Post by **habal** » 27 Jun 2016 10:27

Turkey & Israel coming to an agreement on Syria will also by extension mean that Turkey and USA have come to an agreement. I wonder what it is. USA is interested in division of not only Syria but also Turkey itself. It seems they have hit upon a temporary compromise and only party they need to now bring into confidence is Putinji Russia.

After August after Kerry's deadline has elapsed, I fully suspect that USA & NATO will make another attempt to divide Syria. If Russia is serious about Syria, it will bring in the heavy guns this time around and spare no effort to finally cleanse Aleppo.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 27 Jun 2016 12:33

the fact that Assad visited ghouta yesterday with no advance notice for security reasons was somehow leaked by moles or higher level sponsors with the means to track his movements from space and 100s of km away

jihadis then deployed their trump card - a captured OSA SA8 sam system and fired it at 2 Mi17 helicopters which they suspected to be holding assad and his entourage probably. but the osa is not so great in seeker terms (I have seen it jink and juggle like hell to down a gently floating flare in IAF demo)...and it seems to have exploded a little away from the Mi17 to homed on...syria says the damaged heli landed safely in damascus and no word on whether it was assad's entourage or assad himself . missile is command guided from ground all the way up.

video of the launch from command station

https://twitter.com/Ibra_Joudeh/status/ ... 5935683584

a lucky escape from assassination bid for whoever was in there.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 27 Jun 2016 13:41

as expected SDF is slowly rolling back daesh into smaller areas of manbij. some 500 rats will be pesticided when its over.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 27 Jun 2016 13:44

Furiouskurd ‏@Furiouskurd 10h10 hours ago
YPJ found whistles and keys on dead ISIS corpses in Minbic. Key to open door of heaven, whistle to call the virgins.

^^^ 72 clones of ron jeremy will surely answer the call.