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

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 19 Nov 2015 10:03

chetak wrote:this oil exporting capability of the ISIS seems to have survived all the "tremendous" US and saudi led bombings of the ISIS. WTF?? Isn't this one of the first things that anyone would target and take out to cripple the ISIS and it's war efforts??

In current phase the russians are bombing the trucks , check the video in the link

habal · Post by **habal** » 19 Nov 2015 10:10

Syrian Arab Army (elite units): Who is fighting where

Republican Guard:

101st Brigade - Damascus
102nd Brigade - Aleppo
103rd Brigade - Latakia
104th Brigade - Deir Ezzor
105th Brigade - E. Ghouta
106th Brigade - Hama
107th Brigade - Damascus
112th Brigade (female) - W. Ghouta
117th Brigade (female) E. Ghouta

4th Mechanized Division:

237th Brigade - Hama City
555th Brigade - Homs City (formerly Palmyra)
43rd Brigade - southern Aleppo (formerly Zabadani)
63rd Brigade - Damascus (formerly Zabadani)
154th Brigade - Homs (formerly Hasakah)
41st Brigade - Ras Al-Bassit (Latakia)
42nd Brigade - Old Aleppo District (Citadel)

Iranian soldiers are present at the following battlefronts:

Southern Aleppo
Eastern Aleppo
Northeastern Latakia
Southern Damascus
Al-Ghaab

rohitvats · Post by **rohitvats** » 19 Nov 2015 10:18

^^^Just one word of caution: while those military formations are labeled as brigades and divisions, these are likely to be at 50% or even less of their authorized strength. For example, an infantry brigade in our case would be ~2,500 infantry+support elements. Given the desertions and casualties, these are most likely working with much lesser strength in terms of manpower and equipment.

habal · Post by **habal** » 19 Nov 2015 10:32

where strength is too less, they are supplemented by hezbollah & IRGC, if I might take a guess ..

Aleppo Thermal Plant is a 1000 MW power plant and is an important tool for resuming power supply to entire Aleppo province.

Tiger Forces captured Tal Humaymah, Umm Zilaylah, Tal Ayyoub, and Umm Al-Marra near Kuweires Airport.

KUWEIRIS PERIMETER IS GETTING GRADUALLY ENLARGED.
So it is the intention of SAA and Russia to use this airbase on priority basis.

Syrian Armed Forces capture Hawareen & enter the strategic town of Maheen in east Homs

Look at map, Maheen is west of Palmyra. So they are cutting off both East and West (supply lines & exit) of Palmyra before storming Palmyra proper.

https://twitter.com/leithfadel?lang=en

Reports of Reports of a 15 day ceasefire negotiated between SAA and terrorists in East Ghouta reportedly negotiated by Russia..

Why is this ? Relieving more forces to strike ISIS in Aleppo ?

From point of rebels. The Marj Al Sultan airbase liberation made all the difference, it is the gateway to the center of East Ghouta, and for the 1st time in 3 years Syria got the key to enter, and if they do that they get all rebels from the back doors and now rebels will be over stretched defending front and rear and will die, they know that defending East Ghouta after losing Marj Al Sultan is impossible, so game over, and they are trying a deal knowing that.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 19 Nov 2015 10:39

I agree with Austin.I have been wondering for a long time why ISIS' oil biz hasn't been taken care of.OK,don't destroy the oilfiedls/installations,they belong to the Syrians,Iraqis,etc. But thye don't have vast pipeline networks to transport the oil They have "mobile pipelines" using fleets of tankers.The tankers,SUV's ,etc. must be coming across from Kuwait for ISIS.Just wait till the tanker convoys depart the refineries and then they would be sitting ducks on another "highway of death" as Saddam's convoys found out.

A sustained bombing campaign has to seriously deplete the ISIS cadre on the ground before loyalist troops and Hiz fighters move in. Saturation bombing seems to be the flavor of the battle right now,with Russia throwing in the kitchen sink to speed up the process. A sheer delight to see the entire range of Russian bombers,strat and tactical in action.The IAF should by now at least have learnt the lesson and need for a heavy bomber fleet. Who knows,perhaps these may be added to Mr.Modi's shopping list when he visits Moscow.There are sev. sqds. of TU-22 Backfires mothballed,they need some modernization of avionics,etc.,but as can be seen extremely useful.

Here's why ISIS has been so successful,it has had easy logistic lines thanks to c*ntries like Turkey.This analysis beggars the big Q.Is ISIS paying Erdogan a commission on the looting it is doing in Iraq and Syria? Is ISIS also Erdogan's 5th column in the Islamic world towards establishing the "Caliphate",which he has grandiose ideas of heading and kickstarting a neo-Ottoman empire?

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfre ... dogan-isis

Turkey could cut off Islamic State’s supply lines. So why doesn’t it?
David Graeber

Western leaders could destroy Islamic State by calling on Erdoğan to end his attacks on Kurdish forces in Syria and Turkey and allow them to fight Isis on the ground

G20 leaders with Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Antalaya on 15 November. ‘It may seem outrageous to suggest that a Nato member would in any way support an organisation that murders western citizens in cold blood.’

Wednesday 18 November 2015
In the wake of the murderous attacks in Paris, we can expect western heads of state to do what they always do in such circumstances: declare total and unremitting war on those who brought it about. They don’t actually mean it. They’ve had the means to uproot and destroy Islamic State within their hands for over a year now. They’ve simply refused to make use of it. In fact, as the world watched leaders making statements of implacable resolve at the G20 summit in Antalaya, these same leaders are hobnobbing with Turkey’s president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, a man whose tacit political, economic, and even military support contributed to Isis’s ability to perpetrate the atrocities in Paris, not to mention an endless stream of atrocities inside the Middle East.

How could Isis be eliminated? In the region, everyone knows. All it would really take would be to unleash the largely Kurdish forces of the YPG (Democratic Union party) in Syria, and PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ party) guerillas in Iraq and Turkey. These are, currently, the main forces actually fighting Isis on the ground. They have proved extraordinarily militarily effective and oppose every aspect of Isis’s reactionary ideology.

But instead, YPG-controlled territory in Syria finds itself placed under a total embargo by Turkey, and PKK forces are under continual bombardment by the Turkish air force. Not only has Erdoğan done almost everything he can to cripple the forces actually fighting Isis; there is considerable evidence that his government has been at least tacitly aiding Isis itself.

It might seem outrageous to suggest that a Nato member like Turkey would in any way support an organisation that murders western civilians in cold blood. That would be like a Nato member supporting al-Qaida. But in fact there is reason to believe that Erdoğan’s government does support the Syrian branch of al-Qaida (Jabhat al-Nusra) too, along with any number of other rebel groups that share its conservative Islamist ideology. The Institute for the Study of Human Rights at Columbia University has compiled a long list of evidence of Turkish support for Isis in Syria.

How has Erdoğan got away with this? Mainly by claiming those fighting Isis are ‘terrorists' themselves

And then there are Erdoğan’s actual, stated positions. Back in August, the YPG, fresh from their victories in Kobani and Gire Spi, were poised to seize Jarablus, the last Isis-held town on the Turkish border that the terror organisation had been using to resupply its capital in Raqqa with weapons, materials, and recruits – Isis supply lines pass directly through Turkey.

Commentators predicted that with Jarablus gone, Raqqa would soon follow. Erdoğan reacted by declaring Jarablus a “red line”: if the Kurds attacked, his forces would intervene militarily – against the YPG. So Jarablus remains in terrorist hands to this day, under de facto Turkish military protection.

How has Erdoğan got away with this? Mainly by claiming those fighting Isis are “terrorists” themselves. It is true that the PKK did fight a sometimes ugly guerilla war with Turkey in the 1990s, which resulted in it being placed on the international terror list. For the last 10 years, however, it has completely shifted strategy, renouncing separatism and adopting a strict policy of never harming civilians. The PKK was responsible for rescuing thousands of Yazidi civilians threatened with genocide by Isis in 2014, and its sister organisation, the YPG, of protecting Christian communities in Syria as well. Their strategy focuses on pursuing peace talks with the government, while encouraging local democratic autonomy in Kurdish areas under the aegis of the HDP, originally a nationalist political party, which has reinvented itself as a voice of a pan-Turkish democratic left.

‘Bloody terrorist bombings inside Turkey seemed to target civilian activists associated with the HDP. Victims have repeatedly reported police preventing ambulances evacuating the wounded, or even opening fire on survivors with tear gas .’ Photograph: Murat Bay/AFP/Getty

They have proved extraordinarily militarily effective and with their embrace of grassroots democracy and women’s rights, oppose every aspect of Isis’ reactionary ideology. In June, HDP success at the polls denied Erdoğan his parliamentary majority. Erdoğan’s response was ingenious. He called for new elections, declared he was “going to war” with Isis, made one token symbolic attack on them and then proceeded to unleash the full force of his military against PKK forces in Turkey and Iraq, while denouncing the HDP as “terrorist supporters” for their association with them.

There followed a series of increasingly bloody terrorist bombings inside Turkey – in the cities of Diyarbakir, Suruc, and, finally, Ankara – attacks attributed to Isis but which, for some mysterious reason, only ever seemed to target civilian activists associated with the HDP. Victims have repeatedly reported police preventing ambulances evacuating the wounded, or even opening fire on survivors with tear gas.

As a result, the HDP gave up even holding political rallies in the weeks leading up to new elections in November for fear of mass murder, and enough HDP voters failed to show up at the polls that Erdoğan’s party secured a majority in parliament.

The exact relationship between Erdoğan’s government and Isis may be subject to debate; but of some things we can be relatively certain. Had Turkey placed the same kind of absolute blockade on Isis territories as they did on Kurdish-held parts of Syria, let alone shown the same sort of “benign neglect” towards the PKK and YPG that they have been offering to Isis, that blood-stained “caliphate” would long since have collapsed – and arguably, the Paris attacks may never have happened. And if Turkey were to do the same today, Isis would probably collapse in a matter of months. Yet, has a single western leader called on Erdoğan to do this?

The next time you hear one of those politicians declaring the need to crack down on civil liberties or immigrant rights because of the need for absolute “war” against terrorism bear all this in mind. Their resolve is exactly as “absolute” as it is politically convenient. Turkey, after all, is a “strategic ally”. So after their declaration, they are likely to head off to share a friendly cup of tea with the very man who makes it possible for Isis to continue to exist.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 19 Nov 2015 11:12

rohitvats wrote:^^^Just one word of caution: while those military formations are labeled as brigades and divisions, these are likely to be at 50% or even less of their authorized strength. For example, an infantry brigade in our case would be ~2,500 infantry+support elements. Given the desertions and casualties, these are most likely working with much lesser strength in terms of manpower and equipment.

that is well understood. 50% is probably a overestimate too. and they have very few engg support units. artillery - 6 x MSTA is the most I have seen in one place. so 30% of a regular regiment penny packets.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 19 Nov 2015 11:16

>>Why is this ? Relieving more forces to strike ISIS in Aleppo ?

yes they want all available resources to secure the area around aleppo as well as shrink the green Nusrah pocket in NW quadrant...nusrah is on designated blacklist with ISIS + the FSA near damascus will be a party to negotiations. so rather than risk losing more vs the hez+ruaf they might be content to hold what they have under ceasefire and strike post war deal. unlike the ISIS and nusrah the others do not seem set on "72" being the only exit strategy.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 19 Nov 2015 11:18

the frogfoots and hinds if they could gain bases in range would be the ideal truck hunters.

but right now euphrates highway is far out of range for them. if the govt can capture palmyra , this tag team could savage the ISIS route to iraq that runs via deir azor and also pound the isis camped in deir siege.

same for using kuweires in north to interdict road to turkey. move the frogfoot and hinds near the front and sortie the bombers from the coast as usual.

run daily sweeps by backfires NS and SN to hit the bigger targets like oil storages and massed truck yards

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 19 Nov 2015 11:21

unlike afpak and TSP there is really no place for the ISIS remnants to hide here unless they sneak into KSA.

habal · Post by **habal** » 19 Nov 2015 11:59

flight radar of 'middle east' after arab spring

flights carefully avoiding all spring wale ..

habal · Post by **habal** » 19 Nov 2015 12:04

ISIS executes Chinese & Norwegian hostages.

China vows to avenge the killing.

http://www.almasdarnews.com/article/isi ... n-pounded/

Syrian Armed Forces Capture Hawareen and Enter the Strategic Town of Maheen

The recent arrival of Kataeb Imam ‘Ali (Imam ‘Ali Battalion) and Hezbollah reinforcements to the Palmyra front has propelled the embattled soldiers from the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and National Defense Forces (NDF) to make another push towards this ancient city in the Homs Governorate’s eastern countryside.

http://www.almasdarnews.com/article/bre ... of-maheen/

member_29247 · Post by **member_29247** » 19 Nov 2015 12:05

All they need is IL28 modified to have pallets of bombs and then do this

https://www.google.com/search?q=b52+bom ... qeqXosM%3A

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 19 Nov 2015 12:22

they need to swap out the rotary alcm launchers on the bears and blackjacks and put in the traditional vertical wine bottle bomb racks already seen in backfire and in ^ B52 above. the kh101/555 testing is done. the traditional small bombs take a while to load but with some 12 heavies in the line they should be able to put some 4 into the air on any day, loaded for bear and headed southbound. with their vast endurance should be able to loiter for hours over the euphrates valley just like the american bombers maintain station. station a couple Midas in Iran if needed to top them up.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ ... _1984.JPEG

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 19 Nov 2015 13:23

a new ISIS video has threatened times square in new york and shows a suicide bomber pulling on his jacket.

in response the mayor of new york has held a press conf in a roped off area in middle of times square itself to tell isis he will not be intimidated in his own backyard and they can pretty much try what they want.

shades of police of gotham vs Bane here !!

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 19 Nov 2015 13:33

http://edition.cnn.com/videos/world/201 ... an-terror/

video of isis training small kids to shoot prisoners, to cut the throat of teddy bears... normally the 'hardening' process starts with teens cutting up goats in Eid one supposes, but here the teddy bear kid can barely walk properly but wields that sharp knife with some skill

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 19 Nov 2015 13:39

https://www.rt.com/news/322614-russian- ... il-trucks/

Russian warplanes disrupt ISIS oil sales channels; destroy 500 terrorist oil trucks in Syria

Published time: 18 Nov, 2015 17:31

A Tupolev Tu-22M3 long-range strategic and maritime strike bomber of the Russian Aerospace Forces during a combat flight to strike the Islamic State infrastructure facilities in Syria by OFAB-25-270 fragmentation high explosive bombs. © Ministry of defence of the Russian Federation

Around 500 fuel tanker vehicles transporting illegal oil from Syria to Iraq for processing have been destroyed by Russia’s Air Forces, the General Staff said.

“In recent years, Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) and other extremist groups have organized the operations of the so-called ‘pipeline on wheels’ on the territories they control,” Russian General Staff spokesman Colonel General Andrey Kartapolov said.

Hundreds of thousands of tons of fuel have been delivered to Iraq for processing by trucks and the revenue generated from these illegal exports is the one of the terrorists’ main sources of funding, he said.

The spokesman displayed images showing convoys comprised of hundreds of vehicles transporting oil to back his assertion.

“In just the first few days, our aviation has destroyed 500 fuel tanker trucks, which greatly reduced illegal oil export capabilities of the militants and, accordingly, their income from oil smuggling,” Kartapolov stressed.

The spokesman also said that the Russian military has begun developing proposals for joint military action with the French Navy against the terrorists in accordance with an order by President Vladimir Putin.

“This joint work will begin after the arrival of aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle to the Syrian shores,” Kartapolov explained.

Russia has been bombing Islamic State and other terror groups in Syria since September 30 at the official request of country’s president, Bashar Assad.

On Tuesday, Russia’s fleet of 25 long-range bombers joined Su-34, Su-25, and Su-24M warplanes conducting operations in Syria to double the number of airstrikes against the militants.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 19 Nov 2015 13:40

france admits some of its ex army are in ISIS
http://news.nationalpost.com/news/franc ... gionnaires

Gyan · Post by **Gyan** » 19 Nov 2015 14:45

I think that West had lost control of Taliban and Al-Queeda prior to 2001 to ISI. Therefore this time when they set up ISIS they embedded huge number of their own operatives and citizens in ISIS.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 19 Nov 2015 14:53

but that did not work any better did it? nobody turned and all want their 72.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 19 Nov 2015 14:57

Russia can choose Assad or legitimate Syrian govt: Obama

US President Barack Obama says Russia and Iran must decide whether they want to prop up Syrian president Bashar Assad or "save the Syrian state'' by finding a Syrian government that can be legitimate.

Obama is speaking during a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

He says it's unimaginable that Syria's civil war can be stopped without Assad leaving power. He says Assad `"cannot regain legitimacy.''

Obama says the goal of recent diplomatic efforts is to create space that could eventually lead to a `"pivot'' and political transition. He says a hoped-for cease-fire might not be observed by all parties but would create ``pockets of calm.''

Obama's comments come amid US hopes that Russia may be warming to the idea of a future Syria that doesn't include Assad.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 19 Nov 2015 15:00

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXvrfmzH05M

strike by a10/ac130 that destroyed 116 tankers.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 19 Nov 2015 15:01

http://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-europe-34840858

A poll of UK voters carried out for the Daily Mail newspaper says that 50% of those asked would support British troops being involved in a ground war against IS, with 31% saying they are opposed.
Support rises to 59% if military action were undertaken alongside other countries such as the USA and France, and 68% if it were the UN sending troops. Support for air strikes stands at 60% (as against 24% who oppose them).
More three quarters of Britons (78%) say they are worried about a terrorist attack happening in Britain, including more than a third (35%) who say they are "very worried".

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 19 Nov 2015 15:06

su30sm seen bombing for first time
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46GE51ZCoeI

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 19 Nov 2015 15:06

seems the backfire can carry upto 60 ofab-250 bombs but only using 12 so far for unknown reasons.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 19 Nov 2015 15:08

91% french votes yes to alliance with russia against isis in a le figaro poll
http://www.lefigaro.fr/actualites/2015/ ... russie.php

habal · Post by **habal** » 19 Nov 2015 15:58

Austin wrote:Russia can choose Assad or legitimate Syrian govt: Obama

US President Barack Obama says Russia and Iran must decide whether they want to prop up Syrian president Bashar Assad or "save the Syrian state'' by finding a Syrian government that can be legitimate.

Obama is speaking during a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

He says it's unimaginable that Syria's civil war can be stopped without Assad leaving power. He says Assad `"cannot regain legitimacy.''

Obama says the goal of recent diplomatic efforts is to create space that could eventually lead to a `"pivot'' and political transition. He says a hoped-for cease-fire might not be observed by all parties but would create ``pockets of calm.''

Obama's comments come amid US hopes that Russia may be warming to the idea of a future Syria that doesn't include Assad.

What Obama is saying is 'either give up Syria to new govt that we can subvert' OR 'just remove Assad and hand over to Nusra+ISIL+various North African mercenries' whom we can trust to turn Syria into Libya.

Then Israel can expand territory by taking over Golan heights, and norther Latakia under guise of fighting ISIL, Turkey can block Kurds and occupy more Syrian territory by pretending to fight ISIL, pipeline from Qatar to Turkey is feasible so that USA + allies can undercut Russia at later date by stopping Russian gas supplies to Western Europe and moving over to Qatar gas.

All this hinges on whether Assad stays or leaves.

What a slimebag, and this is a guy Modi calls 'Bob'.

'Bob the Ripper' may be better.

So what if he is just the face of such policy, and just represents what policy-makers have pre-decided for him. Atleast he can keep his trap shut, if he were even 5% humane type.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 19 Nov 2015 16:20

dont think putinji is as kaccha khilari as namoji to fall for that trap, or be besotted with social media.

he spent years in the kgb.

manjgu · Post by **manjgu** » 19 Nov 2015 16:34

Singha ...correct. Putin ji knows how to handle obama ji. as Assad captures more territory, putin jis bargaining power will increase. All ME counties need strong despots, dictators to keep peace in the area. removing assad is a recepie for more disaster..

Yagnasri · Post by **Yagnasri** » 19 Nov 2015 16:34

He was a Colonel of KGB and not a community organizer like Obomber.

I have a question - why not just bomb the refinaries or oil rigs which will be fixed targets and easy to take out? Even if they are owned by Iraqi Government I am sure they do not mind losing them than having them in ISIL hands.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 19 Nov 2015 17:14

But do the West seriously want this to happen and see Assad firmly entrenched with an ISIS on the run? Already O'Bomber's hostile statements are saying the opposite. Putin has firmly planted the Russian flag in Syria. It is not going to be removed whatever O'Bomber says.Russia is staying in the region for the long haul. It isn't bombing the daylights out of ISIS just for entertainment. It has very major strategic interests in the region and is ramping up its presence with concrete action on the ground.

The US and its Arab and Turkish Sunni allies will be fast developing a new strategy ,perhaps reorganizing and creating a new mil force to supplant ISIS which will be labeled as an anti-Assad force,but containing many members of ISIS,to do the business of regime change in Syria. Thus far the US and O'Bomber have not realised the reality of the situ and are clinging onto the role of "sole superpower" ,whom the world must kowtow to in obeisance.

http://time.com/4117831/kurdish-security-chief-isis/
ISIS Can Be Beaten in Weeks Says Kurdish Intelligence Chief
Tara John @tarajohn
Nov. 18, 2015

All it will take is the proper engagement of international forces
The Kurdish head of intelligence and security says ISIS could be defeated in weeks if the world community became “fully engaged.”

Speaking near the Sinjar front, a northern Iraqi town where Kurdish forces drove ISIS out last week, intelligence chief Masrour Barzani told the BBC that it was important to militarily defeat ISIS.

“Once they lose territory, there is no area for jihadist around the world to come to and they will lose their capability to recruit locals and lose capability to raise funds.” Barzani told the BBC. “I think if the international community is willing to fully engage and military defeat ISIS, it should not take more than months or perhaps even weeks.”

Despite setbacks in territory, Barzani doesn’t believe ISIS is any significantly weaker. “It is very difficult to say that ISIS has weakened. They might be losing some ground here and there but to terrorize of course they are using different methods” Barzani told the BBC.

However, if Western countries were unwilling to send in troops, Barzani thinks they should provide greater support to other ground forces in both Iraq and Syria.

“If the international community is not ready to send troops on the ground… they have to provide sufficient support to forces fighting ISIS” Barzani told the BBC.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 19 Nov 2015 17:15

That's being done at least to storage tanks now. Was left alone earlier

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 19 Nov 2015 17:17

Rus has declared what it calls a free hunt for oil tankers.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 19 Nov 2015 17:19

Can someone post the vclip pl?
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world ... 40256.html
Video shows Russian air strike explode 'Isis oil refinery'

Russia's Ministry of Defence released the footage, claiming that the target was an oil refinery controlled by the militant group
Charlie Atkin |
34 minutes ago|

Yagnasri · Post by **Yagnasri** » 19 Nov 2015 17:27

That is the way to go. Hit refineries and Oil rigs. They are not mobile and almost every one knows where they are.

chetak · Post by **chetak** » 19 Nov 2015 17:41

Singha wrote:dont think putinji is as kaccha khilari as namoji to fall for that trap, or be besotted with social media.

he spent years in the kgb.

putin has exposed the US and the west in the many media events that he has done. no beating about the bush or hesitation in naming names. calls a spade a spade.

no one has any doubts as to where putin stands.

OTOH, obummer is ambivalent and wishy washy.

habal · Post by **habal** » 19 Nov 2015 17:43

AoA

news from battlefront:

advance of SAA in east Aleppo.. Tiger Forces capture 3 villages in east Aleppo as ISIS fighters abandon the Jabboul Lake front..http://www.almasdarnews.com/article/tig ... ake-front/

news from Maheen.. Syrian Armed Forces Inside Maheen in East Homs..http://www.almasdarnews.com/article/bre ... east-homs/

Rural Damascus ceasefire agreement has been rejected by Jaysh Al-Islam..http://www.almasdarnews.com/article/rur ... -al-islam/

conclusion:

ISIS is taking a hell of a beating in 3 fronts at the moment :

1) Dayr Hafir plains : ISIS is retreating from most if not all villages between the lake and the Aleppo-Raqqa highway, allied forces are quickly advancing, ISIS is risking to be flanked in both Humaymah al Kabirah and Dayr Hafir cities.

2) Palmyra: after the arrival of Iraqi Shia militia and Hezbollah, the allied forced are preparing to storm the ancient Palmyra city and Tadmur, recent advances west of the ancient city place the allied forces in prime position to storm it, while the full contorl of the ancient quarries give the chance for the allied forces to storm Al Amiriyah, the gate way for controlling Tadmur/Palmyra new city.

3) Mehin : ISIS now fighting the allied forces inside it, they have been flanked by 3 directions, west, north and SW, I see it hard for the small group of ISIS to hold any longer, they should retreat toward Qaryatayn, expect the SAA, NDF, Sotooro militias and SSNP to storm it right after, and maybe a total collapse of ISIS in this part of Homs Province, I see this offensive connect to the Palmyra offensive, since it can help to flank the south of Palmyra and secure the roads to the Iraq border.

The collapse of many ISIS fronts is a direct result of RuAF 50 days bombing campaign against weapon depots, C&C, convoys etc...this action has created pockets of isolation and lack of reinforcements and weapons,

ISIS attempt at counteroffensive at Khan Asar

the crazy attempt between ISIS and Al Qaeda to cut Khanaser road was a desperate move that may have speed up the collpase of ISIS in east Aleppo and Homs.

A very important strategic mistake by ISIS that may cost them Raqqa, Palmyra and all the highways to Deir Ez Zor and Iraq that pass through Homs, limiting even more ISIS move. Worth to keep in mind that ISIS lost last week the road 47 in Iraq that passes through Sinjar city, that was the Mosul-Raqqa link, that is gone after the Yazidi, YPG, PKK miltias defeated ISIS at the same time YPG defeated ISIS in Al Hawl in Hasaka. Losing Homs Province with all road and highways, will make ISIS in Syria to depend to one main road....the one the runs besides the Euphrates, easy to target by air and guess what RuAF is doing to all those oil trucks, blowing to hell, and any convoys.

US filling ISIS void by heli-lifting Nusra, Al Qaeda to small pockets to replenish ISIS void.

We are approaching the tipping point for ISIS collapse in Syria, USA is acting behind the scenes by sending via choppers supposed FSA terrorists to Al Bukamal and other east Deir Ez Zor cities to create a zone that the US terrorists will control when ISIS collapse, somehow the US is taking advantage of Russia's effective strategy against terrorism in Syria to fill the vaccum with their FSA rats, worth to recall that region was under "FSA" and Al Qaeda before ISIS took it over.

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 19 Nov 2015 17:50

Singha wrote:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXvrfmzH05M
strike by a10/ac130 that destroyed 116 tankers.

So why did this destroy **ONLY** 116? The report was there were some 295 in that convoy, caught out in the open. Why did BO's C130Js leave the others unscathed? After all these were fuel carriers, they would go "boom" if hit with almost anything. Did they run out of ammo? Did they waste ammo at the start and be surprised at how many trucks were there?
Other possibilities of course exist, but this makes no sense. On the infamous Highway out of Kuwait, they simply bombed the vehicles at the front and the back, and then systematically took out every single vehicle in between using A-10s. What was missing here?

Paul · Post by **Paul** » 19 Nov 2015 18:10

I am not sure why some BRFites are upset with Obama for not standing up to Putin.

I can understand US based forum members poking fun at Obama as they have a interest in seeing US as a strong country but Obama is doing a favor to the world by standing aside to let Putin step in Syria. US policy in post cold war era is to sweep all pro Soviet Regimes and Libya and Iraq was part of this strategy. India's number would also have come up some time later.

By letting Putin get in the game in SYria, Indian interests have been protected as Anglo Saxon world has to deal with a challenge that they are not able to tackle and could become a cancer if Saudia is engulfed in this flame.

As Dinesh D'Souza said in his movie, Maybe the title of Obama's book "Dreams from my Father" actually has a hidden meaning in it after all.

Gagan · Post by **Gagan** » 19 Nov 2015 18:11

Yagnasri wrote:I have a question - why not just bomb the refinaries or oil rigs which will be fixed targets and easy to take out? Even if they are owned by Iraqi Government I am sure they do not mind losing them than having them in ISIL hands.

Done already last night...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EIwy2RoQo4

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 19 Nov 2015 18:25

The trucks stretch from horizon to horizon. A few planes have no ammo to hit them all. It's not a confined area like mitla ridge but open semi desert.

You need a lot of sorties to total the truck business....usaf has not even sent anything much to it..just token numbers.