Levant crisis - III

[Austin]

Syrian T-90 withstood hit two anti-tank missiles

This video only tells us that two ATGM's were launched against the tank. Not that it survived or is not damaged. After the second hit, nothing is visible.

The turret didnt blew up nor there was spontanous combustion seen with many hits , So likely the crew survived with concussion.

A 155 mm class weapons like Tow and Konkurs will blow the turret of most tanks.

Likely IA will study the T-90 experience in Syria and they should be happy , The Syrian still uses the oldest T-90 gifted to then with cast turret . IA still has more modern welded ones.

[Austin]

I think Indian Armed forces will study & learn a lot of from Syrian experience either from Russian or Syrian or both lot of weapons common in service like T-90/72 , Su-30 , MBRL , Cluster Bomb , Kalbir/Klub Cruise missile , Onyx and many others were used in this conflict and used by Indian Armed forces

Good way to study the weakness and strength of these system and to fix known issue in real battle tested environment that cannot replace any exercises that takes place , the climatic condition these systems were employed also matters

[Singha]

From syria footage the t series tanks are very fast nimble and can speed up from 0 to 60 rapidly. Hard for wire or laser guided atgm to hit alert crew on evasive moves

[Austin]

From syria footage the t series tanks are very fast nimble and can speed up from 0 to 60 rapidly. Hard for wire or laser guided atgm to hit alert crew on evasive moves

Yes T-90 and improvised T-72 series are small and nibble and they applied the right tactics too in most cases in urban conflict and kept improvising. SAA were motivated to fight defending their country

T-55 were not that lucky some survived based on sheer luck after hit most didnt

Unlike the yemin conflict most westrn tanks by Saudi UAE met their nemesis in konkurs and kornet in open areas
and bad tactics and perhaps less motivation to fight.

Kuwait has signed a big T-90MS deal last month and Saudis are negotiating

[Singha]

camel refusing to leave the tent:

al masdar::

BEIRUT, LEBANON (6:32 A.M.) – Pentagon officials has announced that American troops will remain even when ISIS has been defeated, with US Defense Secretary James Mattis stating that troops have to remain to protect America’s “national interest.”

“I believe it’s in our national interest that we keep Iraqi security forces in a position to keep our mutual enemies on their back foot,” he said, as quoted by the Military Times.

He then went onto say that he cannot see a “reason to pull out again and face the same lesson,” adding that the US “needs to remain decisively engaged in Iraq and in the region.”

However, Iraq’s Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi told US President Donald Trump that there is no reason to keep the defeat of ISIS.

“Certainly, we shouldn’t have left. We should never ever have left,” Trump said as quoted by Newsweek, noting that the withdrawal was followed by chaos.

However, a militia group has warned the United States to leave Iraq after the defeat of ISIS.

Jafar al-Hosseini, a spokesman and senior commander of Iraq’s Kata’ib Hezbollah militia group, has said that it will target US forces after ISIS are defeated if they do not leave Iraq.

“If the US forces refrain from leaving the Iraqi territories after annihilation of the ISIL terrorist group, the Islamic resistance of Iraq will target them,” al-Hosseini told the Islamic republic news agency on Tuesday.

[Singha]

a series of misdirected US airstrikes in west mosul seems to have killed 200+ civilians under heaps of rubble. they are being dug out now and buried in mass graves

https://twitter.com/IraqiSecurity/statu ... 8532114432

ops halted in old mosul area as a result. chintan baithak going on

https://www.rt.com/news/382274-mosul-op ... asualties/

[rohitvats]

Threat to Indian armor comes from dedicated Anti-Tank (AT) units of Pakistan Army. As for tactics, you can trust IA not to use tanks in urban combat. IA amasses its mechanized forces in downward of south Punjab/north Rajasthan.

Tanks/mechanized assets are to be used to make as rapid gains as possible and for attrition warfare - get the PA strike corps assets to commit to a knuckle fight and then pulverize them to weaken the PA in long run. Supply lines from India into Pakistan will be short and except IA to not take-up an urbanized area or even large villages unless absolutely necessary. To this, it has ample amount of infantry with organic firepower and artillery on call.

In one of the videos posted where ATGM hits a T-72, one does not understand the use of tank to assault a built-up area. What advantage does it bring? Especially, when it is susceptible to ATGM and where such crews have nice LOS over flat open terrain. A heavy and sustained artillery fire would've softened up the defenses (if Syrians had it). Organic firepower like 84mm RL will better serve the infantry.

One more thing - rebels have been gifted ATGMs by all and sundry. And they seem to be using them simply as stand-off weapon; whether a successful strike (saw one video of TOW being used to target a cluster of Syrian Army troops) has any overall impact is not considered important. Its more about eyeballs and doing something. Using ATGM to take out line infantry is wasting such a precious ammunition. But these considerations don't seem to matter.

[IndraD]

Don not what is the intent behind UK media in particular non stop harping that once IS is defeated Iraqis will turn on each other, as if they wish this to happen: [when smoke is hot from barrel of guns!] http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-39382250

[Austin]

camel refusing to leave the tent:

al masdar::

BEIRUT, LEBANON (6:32 A.M.) – Pentagon officials has announced that American troops will remain even when ISIS has been defeated, with US Defense Secretary James Mattis stating that troops have to remain to protect America’s “national interest.”

“I believe it’s in our national interest that we keep Iraqi security forces in a position to keep our mutual enemies on their back foot,” he said, as quoted by the Military Times.

He then went onto say that he cannot see a “reason to pull out again and face the same lesson,” adding that the US “needs to remain decisively engaged in Iraq and in the region.”

However, Iraq’s Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi told US President Donald Trump that there is no reason to keep the defeat of ISIS.

“Certainly, we shouldn’t have left. We should never ever have left,” Trump said as quoted by Newsweek, noting that the withdrawal was followed by chaos.

However, a militia group has warned the United States to leave Iraq after the defeat of ISIS.

Jafar al-Hosseini, a spokesman and senior commander of Iraq’s Kata’ib Hezbollah militia group, has said that it will target US forces after ISIS are defeated if they do not leave Iraq.

“If the US forces refrain from leaving the Iraqi territories after annihilation of the ISIL terrorist group, the Islamic resistance of Iraq will target them,” al-Hosseini told the Islamic republic news agency on Tuesday.

That has always been the demand of Iraq that they dont want any foreign troops in Iraq but US has arm twisted them to stay put their troops using Saudi & IS as bait.

There is a big geo-strategic objective to keep troops in Iraq by Deep State in US but that approach comes with body bags , The Shiate militant dont like US troops in Iraq and they will keep attacking US troops as opportunity comes along , Something similar in Afganistan where the War is lost but troops presence is kept for geo-strategic objective where soldiers of NATO keeps getting killed by Taliban.

So all the geo-strategic games are played at the cost of US soldiers , every time any US or NATO soldiers die in Iraq or Afganistan some one higher up in the command have blood in their hands with no clear approach how to end the conflict or to bring back their troops

[IndraD]

VoA
Most of the remaining fighters in Iraq are soosai bummers who are using soosai belts as cars can't be used in narrow lanes:

Studying IS suicide operations between December 2015 and November 2016, ICCT found that "seventy percent of IS's suicide fighters died in [car bomb] operations."

IS also used special operatives known as "inghimas fighters" who attacked with light arms and suicide belts.

"It is apparent from the scale of IS's suicide industry that there exists a dedicated infrastructure for manufacturing would-be martyrs and it is only increasing in efficiency," the report said.

Ghayath Surchi, spokesman for the Kurdistan Patriotic Union party in Mosul, said almost all IS fighters remaining in Mosul — which according to the Pentagon number about 2,000 — are trained as suicide bombers.

"The fighters are there to die," he told VOA. "The camps they used to prepare car bombs are destroyed by coalition airstrikes and they are running out of vehicles in Mosul. They can't expect to get much from suicide belts."

[Singha]

Jhadis have almost no towed Arty except few grad launchers whose rockets come via turkey perhaps from Bulgaria

So tow at 4km is their longest range accurate weapon

[Bhurishravas]

US did leave Iraq in 2011, but then Islamic State happened.
And chaos started in Syria as well. So they came back. Without troops on grounds. Supporting primarily Iraqis in their war against ISIS. And bombing other jihadis. Nothing wrong with that.
Iraqis want US to be helping them selflessly. Now that doesnt happen in real world. Russia is the only country that helps other states selflessly.

People seem to have big problems with US troops in Syria but are very happy when Putin, the grand chessmaster, green signals Turkey to invade Syria. Erdogan, we are told, was about to join SCO. Turkey, of course, as we all know, has been the conduit of arms and men into both Syria and Iraq apart from attempting to entice the Barzani kurds away from Iraqi sovereignty.
Roos lovers would rather see Russia arming/helping Taliban to deny US a base in Afghanistan than see the two powerful states working together to quell islamic terrorism.
In fact, I am beginning to believe that Roos-lovers reciprocate the McCainite illogical hatred for Russia with their own advanced version of hatred for US.

[UlanBatori]

Bhu...ji, perhaps you have not been following the latest, but Putin has left Erdogan high and dry. Operation U-fritos Shilled is trapped, and I believe heading for attrition down to annihilation. Or maybe they will melt away in mufti and reappear in Ankara around Erdogan's Palace. If I were Erdogan right now, I would be viewing Vlad as Vlad The Evil. He's screwed. Now Putin and his Presumed Agint Don are allies, coordinating airstrikes (note: USAF now bombs kitten shelters as effectively as RuAF was accused of doing) and paratrooper/Special Forces airdrops. All lovey-dovey. Turkey is heading for disintegration.

[Singha]

1h
Al-Masdar News‏ @TheArabSource
Over 1,000 civilians killed by US-led airstrikes in March alone: Monitoring Group (link: https://aml.ink/axotj) aml.ink/axotj #Iraq #Syria

[Singha]

A Russian cargo plane dropped tons of ammo a few km short of deir azzor. Local khalifa Cubs are gleefully showing off the loot.

[UlanBatori]

Probably dud ammo that will do the soosai for them. Surely General Vodkov hasn't brought in drunken West European conscripts to replace his experienced pilots?

[Singha]

Southfront articke says most of this stash was reovered in a small counterattack later. Also a syrian heli supplying the airrport was targeted with a tow but missile fell short or lost guidance

Also::

Meanwhile, opposition sources declared that the Iraqi Air Force continues to carry out airstrikes at the city of al-Bukamal in eastern Deir Ezzor after acquiring permission from the Syrian government to bomb terrorist targets there.

[Singha]

From kurdishquestion site. Lot of sdf from north. Enemies of turkey could unleash them on ephshield bandits..nobody incl northern arabs want these jihadis in ayria

Composition of the SDF

The SDF are composed of a group of military combat brigades and factions that include all segments of Syrian society where the SDF are deployed. These factions include:

First: People’s Protection Units (YPG): These are large military units composed mostly of Kurdish fighters along with many other Syrian components (i.e. – Arabs, Turkmen, Assyrians, and Chechens).

Second: Women’s Protection Units: Female Kurdish fighters as well as female Arabs.

Third: al-Sanadid (Courageous) Forces: Arab military forces most of which belong to the Shammar tribe, which is led by Sheikh Hamidi Dahham al-Hadi al-Jurba, ruler (var: governor) of the al-Jazirah sector in the democratic administratively-autonomous regions of Syria.

Fourth: Jaysh al-Thuwwar (Army of Revolutionaries): The fighters in this military faction belong to the areas of Aleppo, Idlib, Homs, Hamah, A’zaz, and al-Bab. Most of these forces are Arabs.

Fifth: Al-Jazirah Brigades Assembly: Composed of a group of military factions that belong to the Arab tribes, such as the Shammar, al-Sharabiyah, al-Jabur, and al-Bakkarah (var: al-Baggarah) tribes, along with a percentage of Chechen Syrian fighters descendant from the Syrian city of Ra’s al-‘Ayn.

Sixth: Al-Furat Brigades Assembly: Arab fighters that belong to the tribes of the Tal Abyad area and Raqqah countryside. These tribes include the al-Badu, al-‘Assaf, al-‘Afadilah, and al-Waldah tribes.

Seventh: Shams al-Shamal (Northern Sun) Battalions: These battalions operated with the Free Army before separating from them. They are composed mostly of Arab fighters and they currently represent the primary element of the Manbij Military Council.

Eighth: Thuwwar Manbij (Manbij Revolutionaries): Composed of Arab fighters formerly with the Free Army. They currently operate under the leadership of the Manbij Military Council.

Jund al-Haramayn: Arab fighters from the city of Manbij.

Tahrir al-Furat (Euphrates Liberation) Brigade: Most of the fighters are Arabs from Manbij City and the surrounding countryside.

Shuhada’ al-Furat (Euphrates Martyrs) Battalion of Jarablus: Most of the fighters are Arabs from the city of Jarablus.

Ahrar (Freedom Fighters of) Jarablus: These groups are comprised of Kurds and Arabs from the city of Jarablus.

Ahrar al-Bab: Arab fighters from al-Bab City.

Ahrar ‘Arimah: Arab fighters who announced that they joined the al-Bab Military Council.

Shuhada’ Qabasin (Qabasin Martyrs) Battalions: Most of their fighters are from the northern countryside of Aleppo. They joined the al-Bab Military Council.

Jabhat Thuwwar al-Raqqah (Raqqah Revolutionaries Front): Arab fighters who belong to the city of al-Raqqah.

Dayr al-Zur Military Council: Most of their fighters are Arab tribesmen from Dayr al-Zur.

Al-Bab Military Council: A mixture of Arab, Kurdish, and Turkmen fighters from the city and countryside of al-Bab.

Jarablus Military Council: Mixture of Arab and Kurdish fighters from the city and countryside of Jarablus

[Singha]

Out of 45000 hands some 15000 are arab sunni tribes.

[Singha]

Sdf are 6km from tabqah airport on south bank

Deir hafr is surrounded from all sides and ignored and saa is advancing se toward jirrah along aleppo raqqa highway

But tiger and some units diverted to hama to crush that tiresome annual hama offensive

[Singha]

Nyt. Not sure if a boko haram franchisee

KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo — Members of a militia ambushed and then beheaded about 40 police officers on Friday in a central province of the Democratic Republic of Congo, officials said on Saturday.

In recent months, the provinces in the Kasai region, in south-central Congo, have been the scene of fighting between the police and a local tribal militia called Kamuina Nsapu. Violence in the area has claimed more than 300 lives since August and displaced more than 200,000 people.

Military authorities reported on Friday that they had lost contact with a police convoy from the capital, Kinshasa, that was making its way toward Kananga, southeast of the capital.

François Kalamba, the speaker of the Kasai provincial assembly, confirmed on Saturday that the convoy had been ambushed by Kamuina Nsapu fighters between the city of Tshikapa and Kananga, and that about 40 officers had been decapitated.

[Y. Kanan]

US did leave Iraq in 2011, but then Islamic State happened.
And chaos started in Syria as well. So they came back. Without troops on grounds. Supporting primarily Iraqis in their war against ISIS. And bombing other jihadis. Nothing wrong with that.
Iraqis want US to be helping them selflessly. Now that doesnt happen in real world. Russia is the only country that helps other states selflessly.

People seem to have big problems with US troops in Syria but are very happy when Putin, the grand chessmaster, green signals Turkey to invade Syria. Erdogan, we are told, was about to join SCO. Turkey, of course, as we all know, has been the conduit of arms and men into both Syria and Iraq apart from attempting to entice the Barzani kurds away from Iraqi sovereignty.
Roos lovers would rather see Russia arming/helping Taliban to deny US a base in Afghanistan than see the two powerful states working together to quell islamic terrorism.
In fact, I am beginning to believe that Roos-lovers reciprocate the McCainite illogical hatred for Russia with their own advanced version of hatred for US.

Give me a break. Chaos didn't "just start" in Syria and poor US was drug in. You know that's not at all how it really happened. The US and its Sunni Gulf allies, plus the Turks and the Jews all worked to destabilize Syria in the months leading up to the "civil war".

Remember all those terrorist bombings in Damascus and other cities that kept happening in the years before the Arab Spring? America's Wahhabist allies (pawns?) were actively stirring up Syria through their Sunni terror proxies both before and after the Arab Spring demonstrations. And of course the rebellion wasn't organic or spontaneous; it was externally organized, armed and funded from the beginning. As for your claim that the US was "supporting Iraqis in their war against ISIS" that's also pretty disingenuous when ISIS was effectively spawned and then later shielded from serious attack by the same US. USAF planes were dropping bombs in empty fields, abandoned buildings, not seeing huge oil convoys to Syria and somehow unable to damage ISIS when it had no problem decimating the Taliban with less accurate weapons back in 2001. Only after Russian intervention forced them did the US start getting serious (though never fully committed) to taking on ISIS.

The rest of your post is similar rubbish. It's like you've been watching CNN for months or something. It's been well established by a huge body of evidence, including a number of internal leaks, that the US was deliberately supporting the worst kinds of Sunni terror groups, that they always knew there were really no "moderate" rebels, that ISIS was being deliberately spared from attack, and so many other revelations that paint a really ugly and damning picture of US motives.

As for your inferring us "Roos-lovers" want to see Russia arming the Taliban, we're obviously horrified. Things must be very bad on the home front for Putin to even consider such a move. The Russians are obviously hurting and desperate to get the US off their backs, even if it's bad for us strategically. The Russians need to get the US to stop undermining their security. Maybe threatening to arm the Taliban will get the US to back the f*ck off, for once. That's the Russian thinking and I'm sure they'd only resort to arming Taliban as a last resort, because they actually hate those people and don't want to hurt us, an ally. Now that Trump is the US president, assuming he isn't deposed (ie: impeached or assassinated), I expect the US will let the Russians "win" in Syria, and in exchange the Russians will withdraw their feelers to the Taliban. This is good for us.

Ultimately, Russia desperately wants US friendship. All their statements and actions of the past 27 years show that. Over the years the Russians are always been on the strategic defense, reacting to an aggressive US\Sunni move somewhere, be it Chechnya or Serbia, Eastern Europe, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Ukraine... it never seems to end. But through all that, you can sense Russians would jump at the chance to be American allies instead of always being the target of some new incursion.

I know the Russians aren't angels, but have a little perspective! You take what Washington says at face value but have no empathy for the Russian POV. As an Indian you should know better, considering how much our country has suffered as a result of US machinations since the 1960's. US-Russian friendship is win-win for India, in any case. We should want that to happen but also recognize it's the US holding up such an alliance, not the Russians. We ourselves should avoid entanglements with the US until they prove themselves to be more trustworthy. The US is still giving Pakistan $$$ billions per year to build nukes for blowing us up, and you want us dumping Russia for this same US?

[Singha]

The tow atgms used liberally in north hama offensive came from turkey and cia formations which have merged into hts the new aq name for nusra front

These tow ahooting teams fight in aleppo also. In concert with zinki and nusra which usaf occasionally bombs

Looks like gcc turkey and bulgaria answer to usa deep state only not potus or pentagon for sure

[Singha]

Camel not leave tent
Camel want others to leave tent

Erbil (BasNews) When visiting Washington, Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi has been asked by the US administration to disband the Shi’ite militia Hashd al-Shaabi, said a Kurdish member of the Iraqi parliament on Saturday.

Arafat Karam, the Kurdish MP, told BasNews Hashd al-Shaabi will be dissolved and the US has called on Abadi to disestablish the militia.

Karam said the Iraqi Shi’ite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, the leader of Sadr Movement, has also come to the realization that Hashd al-Shaabi’s existence does not serve the national interests of Iraq, adding that the militia may form a political list to participate in the upcoming elections to serve a political agenda of a regional power.

Muqtada al-Sadr said on Friday during his speech among the protesters in Baghdad that he had received death threats from some sides which he avoided naming.

Karam said the threats are serious and they come from an Iraqi faction allied with a regional power who wishes to establish the Governance of the Jurist in Iraq.

Sadr also fears that Hashd al-Shaabi may be used by his opponent factions against him, Karam said. Therefore he has called for the dissolution of the militia force after the Islamic State (IS) is defeated.

The US, Saudi Arabia and the international coalition believe that the Shi’ite militia is affiliated with Iran, he said.

The Kurdish MP added that the high tensions between Sadr and Nouri al-Maliki, head of State of Law faction will be a barrier to the visit of the Kurdistan Region delegation to Baghdad for negotiations with the central government.

[Singha]

german emir of tabqa dam killed.

Amaq says tabqa dam its on it own with no maintenance, and is under danger of collapse due to buildup of water behind it. could be real, could be scare mongering.

fighting is raging on borders of tabqa town

[Singha]

unless ISIS is able to concentrate and launch some sort of counterattack they will be broken up into biscuit sized pieces like at tabqah and defeated in isolation.

there are reports that ISIS is withdrawing people from the southern deserts along jordan to defend their ramparts along the euphrates...

[Singha]

kuwerires airports lands first IL76 in years

[Austin]

About 2,500 Russian nationals fight alongside militants in Syria — CSTO

More:
http://tass.com/world/936852

Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier said that about 4,000 of Russian natives are fighting alongside militants in Syria

MOSCOW, March 22. /TASS/. Around 2,500 natives of Russia are fighting alongside terrorists in Syria, Valery Semerikov, Acting Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) said on Wednesday.

"There are about 2,500 people from Russia, including from the Caucasus," he noted.

Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier said that about 4,000 of Russian natives are fighting alongside militants in Syria. In June of 2016, then CSTO Secretary-General Nikolai Bordyuzha said that about 10,000 natives of the CSTO member-countries are fighting in that country.

Russia’s General Staff reported at the end of February that 19 field commanders who came from the North Caucasus region and Central Asia had been wiped out in an airstrike southwest of Aleppo.

[Bhurishravas]

Give me a break.

Feeling is mutual.

Chaos didn't "just start" in Syria and poor US was drug in. You know that's not at all how it really happened. The US and its Sunni Gulf allies, plus the Turks and the Jews all worked to destabilize Syria in the months leading up to the "civil war".

Agreed. Assad isnt the biggest democrat on the planet either. And Sunni hostility didnt just erupt one day. Its not Americans fighting against Assad. Is it? Its Syrians.

Remember all those terrorist bombings in Damascus and other cities that kept happening in the years before the Arab Spring? America's Wahhabist allies (pawns?) were actively stirring up Syria through their Sunni terror proxies both before and after the Arab Spring demonstrations. And of course the rebellion wasn't organic or spontaneous; it was externally organized, armed and funded from the beginning. As for your claim that the US was "supporting Iraqis in their war against ISIS" that's also pretty disingenuous when ISIS was effectively spawned and then later shielded from serious attack by the same US. USAF planes were dropping bombs in empty fields, abandoned buildings, not seeing huge oil convoys to Syria and somehow unable to damage ISIS when it had no problem decimating the Taliban with less accurate weapons back in 2001. Only after Russian intervention forced them did the US start getting serious (though never fully committed) to taking on ISIS.

US is supporting ISIS. Israael is also supporting ISIS. Turkey was supporting ISIS but then was joining SCO and supporting ISIS again.Blah blah.

The rest of your post is similar rubbish.

Thanks for pointing that out and writing a genius reply.

It's like you've been watching CNN for months or something. It's been well established by a huge body of evidence, including a number of internal leaks, that the US was deliberately supporting the worst kinds of Sunni terror groups, that they always knew there were really no "moderate" rebels, that ISIS was being deliberately spared from attack, and so many other revelations that paint a really ugly and damning picture of US motives.

I live in India. My posts are mostly pro Russia. Except that I cant take all the shit peddled by Sputnik reading Roos lovers. US did support extremist groups. Like Russia supporting taliban now.
Russia was about to get Turkey into SCO. The same Turkey which was arming and funding jihadis and what not. Whatever happened to that.

As for your inferring us "Roos-lovers" want to see Russia arming the Taliban, we're obviously horrified. Things must be very bad on the home front for Putin to even consider such a move. The Russians are obviously hurting and desperate to get the US off their backs, even if it's bad for us strategically. The Russians need to get the US to stop undermining their security. Maybe threatening to arm the Taliban will get the US to back the f*ck off, for once. That's the Russian thinking and I'm sure they'd only resort to arming Taliban as a last resort, because they actually hate those people and don't want to hurt us, an ally. Now that Trump is the US president, assuming he isn't deposed (ie: impeached or assassinated), I expect the US will let the Russians "win" in Syria, and in exchange the Russians will withdraw their feelers to the Taliban. This is good for us.

Actually, you are not horrified. Russian `feelers` to the Taliban and `threats to arm the Taliban` are tactical steps by Moscow to force US to let Russia `win` in Syria, according to your own post. Its rich to blame US for arming radical groups in Syria when Russia is not so different, threatening to arm the pious Taliban.
No chance of change in Russian policy. Putin is a despot and will rule till 2027 at least. And may be longer by changing the constitution again. Cheers to that.
Sorry,a correction. Russian policy could change depending on which side of the bed Chessmaster gets off. Reminds me of Turkey joining SCO again. Great move by grand chessmaster. And there were also some genius analysis of his brilliant move then, not unlike now.

I know the Russians aren't angels, but have a little perspective! You take what Washington says at face value but have no empathy for the Russian POV. As an Indian you should know better, considering how much our country has suffered as a result of US machinations since the 1960's. US-Russian friendship is win-win for India, in any case. We should want that to happen but also recognize it's the US holding up such an alliance, not the Russians. We ourselves should avoid entanglements with the US until they prove themselves to be more trustworthy. The US is still giving Pakistan $$$ billions per year to build nukes for blowing us up, and you want us dumping Russia for this same US?

I take what washington says at face value. .
I have all empathy for Russian POV in Ukraine. But like I said, I wont have blind hatred for US like Roos lovers. US killing the Taliban suits me and Russia `threatening to arm the Taliban` doesnt.
India has suffered at the hands of US machinations so we should support Russia in arming the Taliban. Sorry, i disagree.
Wouldnt it be better if we lived in the present world where Russians are arming the Chinese and where Russian jet engines end up in Paki planes not unlike F-16s and where India needs US for economic uplift and where America is willing to provide air defence and other firepower against Cheenis.
Also, last I checked, it was Roos ally China which was giving 50 billion dollars to Pakis.
Forgive me Roos-lover bhai, but Russian interests seem to be above Indian ones in your priorities.

[Austin]

Turkey joining SCO is a distant shot much like Iran joining it , They can at best be dialog partner or observer which they are.

I dont think NATO or EU will take it kindly with Turkey joining SCO because SCO is also a semi-military alliance against NATO expansion further east.

[Singha]

Al-Masdar News‏Verified account @TheArabSource 9h9 hours ago
More
BREAKING: Kurdish forces liberate #Tabqa Airbase in #Raqqa province

[Singha]

[Singha]

[Singha]

if the SDF establishes a strong foothold in tabqa, the jihadis in eastern homs and palmyra fronts will be in increasing danger of cut off in supplies from depots in the euphrates towns.

[Philip]

Where is the outrage in the Western media about the hundreds of casualties/fatalities thanks to US air strikes in Mosul? The silence is indeed deafening. Paid channels like the "Beeb",have given it scarcely a few second mention. When the Russians were xterminating ISIL from Aleppo,we had daily "bombings" of Putin and co. from the Beeb,etc., demanding Putin's head for alleged "war crimes". Now with the boot on the other foot,and the villain of the piece,acknowledged by the US to,the deafening silence from most of the mainstream western media is truly an outrage.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/ ... airstrikes

Shell-shocked Mosul survivors tell of intense airstrikes
Hundreds of people have fled west Mosul during a lull in fighting but many had to leave behind family members buried in the remains of their former homes
The suspected site of the airstrike in west Mosul on 17 March.

Martin Chulov in Hamam al-Alil, near Mosul
Sunday 26 March 2017
Covered in dust, their hands raw from digging, Ali Assad and his cousin made a desperate choice – to leave their family under the rubble of their west Mosul home and flee while they still could.

The two men were among hundreds to be evacuated on Sunday, during a lull in the fighting prompted by outrage over the high civilian toll caused by multiple airstrikes that have battered the city and its trapped population over the past eight days.

The battle for Mosul: a dirty war in Isis's heartland – video

With the ground war now suspended as a result, families that have sheltered in ruins or taken their chances in what is left of their homes have been leaving Mosul in droves, many arriving shell shocked and starving at refugee processing centres on its southern outskirts, where they spoke of more than a week of terror.

“There are six of my family still under our house,” said Assad, 32, cupping his raw hands. “My father, I saw him die in front of me, my brother, two sisters and two cousins. My mother survived, but then she was hit by some other explosion and a concrete slab fell on her. She’s badly hurt.”

Both men said that 15 people remained buried under three homes in the Yarmouk area of Mosul after a series of airstrikes on 22 March. The attacks took place amid a barrage of strikes by jets in support of a ground push by Iraqi forces that started around 17 March. On that afternoon, the Mosul Jadida neighbourhood was also repeatedly hit, leading to what could be the highest civilian toll of any airstrike in the region since the invasion of Iraq 14 years ago. At least 150 people are thought to have been killed, many of whom died during the five days it took for help to arrive.

At least 80 people are believed to have died while taking shelter in the basement of one of the houses hit, the largest in the neighbourhood, in which local families had sought refuge.

Assad said dozens of people remained buried under rubble in the Yarmouk and Jadida neighbourhoods. “There is no civilian defence, no rescue teams. It is only us and our hands. Everyone has to fend for themselves.”

The lack of a coordinated rescue effort is being blamed by local authorities on the fighting, which has ground to a stalemate as Isis attempts to consolidate its losses and dig in around the centre of west Aleppo, a densely packed area of homes and narrow roads.

Numerous survivors of the fighting have spoken of people, among them children, shouting for help from the ruins, but having no help from local authorities, or access to digging equipment to use by themselves.

An Iraqi rescue crew in west Mosul on Friday. Photograph: Cengiz Yar/the Guardian
“There was not a thing we could do,” said another evacuee, Abdul Wahab Hashimi, who said his neighbours’ bodies remained buried in the ruins of their home in the Mansour district. Residents of west Mosul had been seen as the most vulnerable population in the fight against the terror group. Up to 350,000 people are thought to remain in the city, some being used by Isis as human shields and others unable to flee until the fighting opens up a front for them.

Even then, the escape is typically a dangerous walk through a battlefield, before a long fraught journey to a refugee camp. Jonathan Whittall, project co-ordinator for an MSF medical centre south of Mosul, said: “We have ... witnessed a disturbing trend of some patients reaching our hospital after a significant delay of up to four days.

“One father and son that I met recently had been trapped under rubble for four days after an airstrike and they reached us exhausted, hungry and bewildered. Others who are wounded further away from the front lines into west Mosul can only reach us after the frontline has moved and they are able to escape. We are very concerned about the patients who are unable to reach us and whose treatment is delayed.”

The medical centre, the largest in the area, was nearly empty on Sunday for the first time since it opened several months ago. Since then, MSF alone has treated 1,500 people for conflict-related trauma, many of the cases severe or life threatening.

Medics supporting the Mosul operation said it is difficult to be specific about the proportion of casualties they are treating who were wounded by airstrikes as opposed to other weapons of war. However, the high number of people buried under rubble indicates that attacks from jets make up a significant component.

US military officials have acknowledged that the strike on Mosul Jadida was carried out by coalition jets and said it was requested by Iraqi officers. US Central Command has launched a formal investigation. While ground fighting stopped on Sunday, fighter jets were still present in the skies above Mosul. US officials said five airstrikes targeting Isis near Mosul were carried out on Saturday.

At the refugee processing centre, Brig Hisham al-Assadi, a senior intelligence official for Iraq’s special operations forces, said: “We try very hard to limit casualties, but Isis blends among them. They are happy when civilians are killed. This is war and we wish it was different. They don’t speak, they don’t say a word when they get here,” he said of the refugees. “We tell them, ‘you don’t have to fear any more,’ then we take them to the camps.”

On the road past the rubbish-strewn yard where army trucks disgorge Mosul’s latest refugees, an American convoy rumbled past, while more jets roared overhead. Their presence went unnoticed by men and boys who lined up to receive water and no one seemed prepared to blame any side for their misery. A father approached the Guardian and said: “My little boy loves the taste of American cakes, do you have any?”

Additional reporting by Salem Rizk

[Singha]

how much time will it take to control mosul city - my best guess is 2 months

to wipe isis off from all areas - my est is 12 months. logistics are tough once the hunt moves to desert. iraqi still has a large isis control pocket centered on hawija that will be another hell to clear

atleast for iraqis that will be end of it barring sleeper cell attacks and car bombs.

assad has to clear out not just isis but west aleppo and idlib and southern damascus as well. and then hammer out deals with arabs and kurds along euphrates. syria is 2 yrs away from any resolution.

[Singha]

[Singha]

the claim in some sections is that Daesh has just 400 fighters + camp followers defending the who maskanah plain in above picture - remnants of al bab + deir hafr and those who withdrew from al khafsa without a fight

but 400 could well be 4000 given the swing role capabilities of the emirate. enthusiastic civilians with AK rifles could be put to work in tribal levies. every tribe seems to be a militia of sorts in syria even christian towns have 100s of AK wielding fighters. a cellphone and a AK is in every adults hands.

Assad lost control of maskanah area in 2012...first to "FSA" and then ISIS kicked the FSA out of eastern syria. these pious people are not exactly pro-assad. so tigers have to step into the swamp carefully.

[Austin]

"Jaish al-Izza has released video of Tow hitting T-90 but online bloggers say this is T-62M http://vpk-news.ru/news/35845

You can see the crew running after the hit on the tank. No secondary explosion after hit is seen.

[Austin]

WikiLeaks‏Verified account @wikileaks 12h12 hours ago

Photo: protest in Yemen today