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

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 26 Nov 2015 15:13

Dutch welcome: Pig heads left at migrants' camp entrance in Netherlands (GRAPHIC)

https://www.rt.com/news/323523-netherla ... pig-heads/

Lalmohan · Post by **Lalmohan** » 26 Nov 2015 15:15

Austin wrote:So Turkey wants Access to Syrian Oil rather cheaply , So it funds ISIS to maintain control over it.

US does not bomb in one year any oil tanker or storage or oil wells to protect Turkeys interest and not to dilute main source of revenue for ISIS in return ISIS fights against Syrian Army and provide the foot soldiers.

turkey and US happy that its own interest is getting protected

and then daesh went off-script and started getting too big for its own boots

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 26 Nov 2015 15:16

Singha wrote:the azaz truck hub bombed is the isis belt between kobani and Aleppo. one and only known rus attack in that area so far.

Actually Azaz truck hub is further West of ISIS territory and East of Kurdish Rojava. It is actually a rebel held territory.

http://syria.liveuamap.com/en/2015/25-n ... -a-turkish

This site is pro FSA.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 26 Nov 2015 15:23

Syrian Oil Production as per wiki is 33,000 bbl/day which is quite big

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_c ... production

US sanction Syria because they purchase oil from ISIS and US does not sanction Turkey

Russia on US sanctions: Washington should stop "geo-political games"
http://www.cnbc.com/2015/11/25/us-sanct ... state.html

Russia's deputy foreign minister said on Wednesday Moscow did not understand new United States sanctions against Russia over Syria and Washington should stop playing "geo-political games", RIA news agency reported.

"It is clear that this is a new, complicated moment in relations," RIA quoted Sergei Ryabkov as saying.

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 26 Nov 2015 15:58

Slightly divergent from on going discussions, but here is one the better videos fro Kurdistan / Rojava or ISIS conflict zone. It is in English and has no blood and gore or sufficiently masked blood and gore. Good to get a look into PKK, YPG, Yezidis and ISIS.

habal · Post by **habal** » 26 Nov 2015 16:03

S400 deployed in syria
http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20151 ... ussia.html

The S-400 Triumf (NATO reporting name: SA-21 Growler) next generation surface-to-air missile system has been deployed to the Hmeymim airbase in Syria where the Russian Aerospace Forces group is stationed.

so it was already there ...

Elijah J. Magnier ‏@EjmAlrai
#Russia FM Lavrov reject a proposition of meeting with #Turkey FM who presented his condolences for the death of the #Su24 pilot downed.

Elijah J. Magnier ‏@EjmAlrai
the 2d convoy coming from #Turkey into #Syria in the last 24h bombarded and destroyed by #Russia/n Air Force

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 26 Nov 2015 16:22

To down these convoys the need armed UAV that can fly high and long and when they see the convoy just fire the rockets.

Using fighter aircraft to hit them is very inefficient not to mention turkey might be having radar tracking them as they dont fly below 6000 m to avoid Stinger etc so the drivers and terrorist can just run away

SaiK · Post by **SaiK** » 26 Nov 2015 16:25

+1 Sid, sad and funny is apt!

I also heard drum beats along with AoA int the first video!

new type?
http://warisboring.com/articles/russia- ... -in-syria/

btw, what is the flash and smoke in the sky for this air drop?
https://youtu.be/3sKZE7qs0Qk

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 26 Nov 2015 16:40

It would be interesting to see if Turkish aircraft were shot down over Iraq,as they repeatedly violate Iraqi air space bombing the Kurds."What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander",old saying.Russia should also set up SAM sites in Iraq,at the invitation of the Iraqi govt.could be arranged,and "corral" Turkish aircraft into flying solely on their side.

What is inevitable is a steady buildup of Russian mil forces in Syria.After this challenge from the Sultan of Stupidity,there is no way that the Russians will abandon Assad to the likes of Turkey,ISIS and co. The Saudis and their cronies in the region are being v.conspicuous by their silence.

Hilarious for the US to accuse Syria of buying oil from ISIS.It reinforces the suspicion that the downing of the SU-24 was a JV between the US and Turkey.There are so many western/US sources now accusing ISIS and Turkey of being in bed together,which is even being speculated in mainstream media and TV channels."The truth will out" and direct Russian allegations coming right from the top are going to be takens eriously by the world community.It's now open season on Turkey before Thanksgiving.

Like Mussolini wanting to get a piece of the cake after Hitler's blitzkrieg against France and the low countries in WW2,routing the British,French,et al,so too is CaMoron wanting to put in a little kick to ISIS' backside after the Russians have bloodied it ! Typical of the mob coward,taking no risks,who goes into action after the major battle has been done.How can the Russians "steal the thunder" that rightfully should be Britain's,after all Britain once had an empire?!

CaMoron is desperate to get on side of a great military victory for his legacy.Thatcher had her great Falklands victory,BLiar had his insidious and venal part in the invasion of Iraq,which at the time looked a good bet,found out to be a massive lie and he now is looked upon as a war criminal.ISIS' barbarism and diabolic crimes make anyone fighting it a hero.Thus CaMoron wants desperately to p*ss upon ISIS despite there being serious doubts in the British people,because it may backfire back home just as it has done in France.The UK has millions of Muslims and the % of them becoming jihadis is only growing.The revelation that London has so many female jihadis and ISIS recruiters has raised alarm bells,but the Moron-of-Cam wants his little war.Let the Brits give it to him!

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/201 ... airstrikes
David Cameron puts case for Syria airstrikes to MPs
PM makes Commons statement saying UK cannot afford to stand aside and let other countries carry the burden – and asks: ‘If not now, when?’

Patrick Wintour Political editor

Thursday 26 November 2015 11.32 GMT David Cameron has urged MPs to back UK airstrikes against Islamic State in Syria, saying that the terrorist organisation is using the sanctuary of northern Syria to launch plots with deadly intent against the British people.

In a statement to the Commons the prime minister appealed for MPs to back airstrikes in Syria, asking: “If not now, when?” Cameron said the UK could not afford to stand aside from the fight and it was morally unacceptable to leave the US, France and other allies to carry the burden.

In a written response to the foreign affairs committee published before he addressed MPs, the prime minister says: “The threats to our interests and to our people are such that we cannot afford to stand aside and not to act.”

“Throughout Britain’s history we have been called on time and again to make the hardest of decisions in defence of our citizens and our country. Today one of the greatest threats we face to our security is the threat from Isil [Isis].”

Cameron says: “The longer Isil is allowed to grow in Syria, the greater the threat it will pose. It is wrong for the United Kingdom to subcontract its security to other countries, and to expect the aircrews of other nations to carry the burdens and the risks of striking Isil in Syria to stop terrorism here in Britain.”

He says all seven terror plots in the UK this year have been directed by Isis or inspired by the group’s propaganda.

Full text of David Cameron's memorandum on Syria airstrikes

He claims the terror group has an external operations group dedicated to causing mass casualty attacks around the world. He insists the strikes against Isis will be part of a comprehensive political and diplomatic plan to deny the group space and create the circumstances for an end to the civil war in Syria.
The aim, he says, must be to close down ungoverned space.
Cameron’s case was set out in a 36-page memorandum to the foreign affairs select committee, before he made his Commons statement on Thursday.

Cameron said he would not call a vote in the Commons on airstrikes in Syria until he was sure there was a clear majority in favour of action as defeat would be a “publicity coup” for Isis. He told MPs that Britain must judge whether inaction in Syria carried greater risks than action.

The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, did not immediately make clear whether he would tell his MPs to back military action in a Commons vote. The shadow cabinet is meeting to discuss the issue on Thursday afternoon.

Corbyn warned of “unintended consequences” if Britain got involved in military action in Syria in the same way it had in Iraq and Afghanistan, and urged the prime minister to make clear whether he was ruling out the use of UK forces on the ground.

The Scottish National party’s leader in Westminster, Angus Robertson, said his party’s MPs would not vote for airstrikes in Syria unless they were convinced that there was effective ground support and a fully-costed plan for postwar reconstruction.

But the chairman of the foreign affairs committee – which earlier this month released a report urging caution over Syria – said he was now ready to back military action. Crispin Blunt said: “It is now my personal view that, on balance, the country would be best served by this house supporting his judgments that the UK should play a full role in the coalition, to best support and shape the politics, thus enabling the earliest military and eventual ideological defeat of Isil.”

Territory held by Isis in Syria

Cameron told MPs: “The reason for acting is the very direct threat that Isil poses to our country and our way of life,” he said.

“They have already taken the lives of British hostages and inspired the worst terrorist attack against British people since 7/7 on the beaches of Tunisia.”

Cameron said seven attacks over the past year had been linked to Isis or inspired by its propaganda.
“I am in no doubt that it is in our national interest to stop them. And stopping them means taking action in Syria, because it is Raqqa that is their headquarters,” he said.

Analysis/ Cameron's case for Syria airstrikes is highly contentious

There is no clear strategy, objective or endgame, with one US commander describing the campaign in Syria and Iraq as a stalemate

He added: “We shouldn’t be content with outsourcing our security to our allies. If we won’t act now, when our friend and ally France has been struck in this way, then our friends and allies can be forgiven for asking: if not now, when?”

Cameron’s reply also acknowledges that airstrikes have their limits and that ground troops would be necessary to defeat Isis.

“Airstrikes can degrade Isil and arrest its advance, but they alone cannot defeat Isil. We need partners on the ground to do that and we need a political solution to the Syria conflict,” the prime minister says.

Cameron’s foreword refers to the need for the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, to stand aside. He says: “An orderly political transition in Syria would preserve Syrian state structures but deliver a new Syrian government, which is able to meet the needs of the Syrian people, and with which the international community could cooperate fully against Isil, as we do with the government of Iraq.

“But that is not possible for as long as Assad remains in power without any timetable for his departure, and for as long as his security forces murder, torture, gas and bomb his own people.”

He claimed Isis “poses a significant threat to the stability of the region, including to the security of Jordan, one of the UK’s key allies. Isil’s offshoots and affiliates are spreading instability and conflict in Libya, Afghanistan, Yemen and Nigeria.

“In the Middle East, they are seeking to establish their vision of a caliphate across Iraq and Syria, forcing people in those areas to yield to their rule or face torture or death. They have beheaded aid workers, organised systematic rape, enslaved Yazidi women and thrown gay people off buildings. All these atrocities belong to the dark ages.”

Live/ Cameron sets out 'moral case' for airstrikes against Isis in Syria – Politics live

Rolling coverage of all the day’s political developments as they happen, including David Cameron’s statement to the Commons on the case for bombing Islamic State (Isis) in Syria

In the memorandum Cameron also addresses those, including many in his own party, who say the government should abandon its opposition to Assad’s regime as the lesser of two evils and so focus on the threat posed by Isis.

The prime minister states: ”But this misunderstands the causes of the problem; and would make matters worse. By inflicting brutal attacks against his own people, Assad has in fact acted as one of Isil’s greatest recruiting sergeants. We therefore need a political transition in Syria to a government that the international community can work with against Isil, as we already do with the government of Iraq. “

He also claims there has been diplomatic progress to a wider peace through the Vienna talks process, which has brought together all the key players in the region. “We can now see, through the Vienna process, involving all the key players, a possible pathway – however rocky and uncertain – to a political resolution of the war in Syria,” he asserts.

Setting out the military contribution the UK can make, he says Isis cannot be negotiated away, and insists there are moderate forces on the ground with which the British air force can ally. But he rules out UK ground troops, saying it would inflame the conflict, but says an orderly political transition is not possible without Assad.

He states: “Although the situation on the ground is complex, our assessment is that there are about 70,000 Syrian opposition fighters on the ground who do not belong to extremist groups.”

He says: ”With coalition air support, Iraqi forces have halted Isil’s advance and recovered 30% of the territory it had captured in Iraq. Only this month, Sinjar was liberated after last year’s Isil rout and mass killing of Yazidis, with the help of vital RAF and other partners’ air support for Kurdish peshmerga forces on the ground. Together with the RAF’s Reaper drones, RAF Tornadoes have flown more than 1,600 missions over Iraq and carried out over 360 airstrikes.”

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 26 Nov 2015 16:53

distances are not much. once drones spot Turkish truck convoys then planes can take off. no need to loiter. vs hellfire look how that huge truck is on its side....

habal · Post by **habal** » 26 Nov 2015 16:53

philip sir there are even more hilarious things where USA is concerned

watch this State Dept clip..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0e7EFbi_JEA

The US State Department found a new low...I thought they had hit the bottom but it seems it is so muddy that the hole continues to increase....rush to minute 4.50 on the question about terrorist shooting the pilot in the air...the idiot basicaly said the terrorists have the right to self defence and then started to move around it to ease the stupid comment. Russia's Diplomat should never forget this statement, this idiot is fried for life.

habal · Post by **habal** » 26 Nov 2015 16:55

there are spotters and reconaissance teams all across turkey border until jarablus, manned by hezb and SAA special forces. It was one such team that helped locate the 2nd pilot.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 26 Nov 2015 17:00

the backfires can probably continue to pull one sortie a day to wipe out the remaining oil storage and infra.

isis big shots have moved to iraq or lying low in turkey.

but still, probably six months of bloodshed is ahead. it's a long game.

habal · Post by **habal** » 26 Nov 2015 17:20

SAA is about to overrun palmyra & quraytayn as per net info. If that happens then it is 150 kms run across barren desert to Iraqi anbar border. By december pretty much all exit points to Iraq and turkey can be sealed, from there it is a clear path to total decimation.

hurdlea to this obviously can be spectacular NATO Al-Ciaada terror strikes on home turf, expect cameron, obama and token gulfie to rush to syria to 'eliminate ISIS'. NATO is not done yet, still packs 2-3 more surprises in this game. So there is a race against time, no 6 months to work at leisure

Lalmohan · Post by **Lalmohan** » 26 Nov 2015 17:31

but if daesh doesn't distinguish that border then why should anyone else?

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 26 Nov 2015 17:38

dont worry, there are enthusiastic shia militias in Anbar province doing the lords work , and has close ties to shias in syria. infact there are iraqi volunteers from such militias fighting in syria now per the flags collection I posted.

Lalmohan · Post by **Lalmohan** » 26 Nov 2015 18:21

exactly - that border is now history

Mort Walker · Post by **Mort Walker** » 26 Nov 2015 18:26

JTull wrote: Russia will not shy away from protracted conflict. They're getting to test and advertise their equipment. Eastern Ukraine is an example of stalemate that suits Russia.

Syria: The gains that Syrian forces are making are useless if they cannot hold onto it. It will not be logical to withdraw if it requires a second visit. Plus it would show a weakness to NATO of Russian inability to sustain a fight.

Mediterranean: Russian has bigger objectives to keep it's naval presence in the Mediterranean. Latakia is at the core of that aim.

Turkey: Controlling flow of oil/gas (stolen or otherwise) to Turkey is important too. It is to Russian's and all of Western Europe's advantage to seal Turkey's borders to south. Only strategic depth Turkey has is NATO. Russia can cause lot of problems for them to the north (Black Sea coastline). So sooner or later Turkey will have to de-escalate.

Oil: Wider conflict will also be good for Russia (and it's friends in Iran) as they'd like higher oil prices. Saudi's will keep pumping even more to try keep it down and keep selling their overseas assets to sustain their expensive habits (no one would love more than Russia and Iran to see Saudi's suffer in the long run). US shale gas companies are going poof faster than ever, so US also would like the conflict to go on to achieve higher prices. Obama is not allowing pipelines from the arctic so Republicans will also keep up the rhetoric to help their friends at Oil companies/defense companies.

US: They're keen to keep Russia occupied at multiple fronts. They know that a lot of military modernisation has taken place in Russia and all fueled by Oil/gas revenues. Ukraine, Poland, Georgia, are all part of the game, besides their aim for Nordic NATO expansion.

This is not going away. I've heard WW3 being mentioned many times in European media. I sincerely hope India can stay neutral.

Syria: The Russian goal is to stabilize Assad in Syria. However, in the last year the Russian Navy is being deprived of funding compared to RuAF and Army. This raises the question whether a significant naval presence is more important in the Mediterranean or in the Baltic and North Seas where it matters more to Russia. To logistically support operations in Syria, even for 34-50 aircraft is costly. Fuel is probably the least expensive, it is keeping aircraft at maximum availability for delivering ordinance to targets.

Turkey: Ergdogan wants to support ISIS and hide behind Article 5 of the NATO alliance. The NATO alliance members are not happy with Erdogan, but publicly they cannot say anything to make the alliance look weak. A wider conflict in Europe would be devastating for 500 million Europeans, but there are some neocons in the US who wouldn't mind a limited conflict as it would weaken a competitor to the US. The refugees coming into the EU countries are coming through Turkey, so it is in everyone's interest, except the Sunni gulf countries and US, to seal the southern European border.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 26 Nov 2015 18:27

the body of the dead pilot has not been handed over to syria. fats of body is unknown.

JTull · Post by **JTull** » 26 Nov 2015 18:35

MW, I agree with most, except that last sentence. US has vested interest in keeping Syrian refugees away from Europe as they're having a destabilising effect on EU and Schengen. They'd rather deal with one block that's kept in line by it's allies in Germany, France and Britain, than having to deal each individually. EU sanctions on Russia wouldn't have happened without it. Proof of US position is in the regular statements about how they prefer that Britain remain in EU and remain influential in it (just as the referendum approaches and is on a knife edge).

Suresh S · Post by **Suresh S** » 26 Nov 2015 18:38

this is the dharma-yuddh that was foreseen by ancients and allies can win by attacking source and not tools. We will see a big nuke conflict somewhere in middle of this war because history will not repeat exactly every time with win for axis powers. Russia is entity with maximum persecution complex, they will not let it slide like old. Most of west will be puffed out at some point. France has tactfully declined to take sides.

The world is sitting on the edge of Armageddon. The Kauravas (US and vassals) look stronger on paper but lord is with the Pandavas(Russia) the side of truth. Ultimately "Satya mev Jayte"

habal · Post by **habal** » 26 Nov 2015 18:42

Lalmohan wrote:exactly - that border is now history

I don't understand this. It is latest UK fad to call for sunni nation in iraq &syria.

but isn't IRGC in syria & iraq ! when did they roll over & die and appoint cameron as sunni administator

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 26 Nov 2015 18:48

Snh.ji:
Would u mind kindly keeping yindoostani parallels out of this ugly p1ssing contest between beef-eaters, hain? The Kauravas were basically decent ppl who ate their veggies and did their pujas, but just happened to hate the guts of their coujins and cheat at chaturang like any decent yindoo would, when it comes to property settlements. As for Truth, sorry but RT does not stand 4 "Real Truth".

rsingh · Post by **rsingh** » 26 Nov 2015 18:54

habal wrote:philip sir there are even more hilarious things where USA is concerned

watch this State Dept clip..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0e7EFbi_JEA

The US State Department found a new low...I thought they had hit the bottom but it seems it is so muddy that the hole continues to increase....rush to minute 4.50 on the question about terrorist shooting the pilot in the air...the idiot basicaly said the terrorists have the right to self defence and then started to move around it to ease the stupid comment. Russia's Diplomat should never forget this statement, this idiot is fried for life.

its a keeper Saar. More the content (which is shame for diplomacy) it is the body language. it is mission accomplished. This guy can not hide his happiness.

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 26 Nov 2015 18:58

snahata wrote:this is the dharma-yuddh that was foreseen by ancients and allies can win by attacking source and not tools. We will see a big nuke conflict somewhere in middle of this war because history will not repeat exactly every time with win for axis powers. Russia is entity with maximum persecution complex, they will not let it slide like old. Most of west will be puffed out at some point. France has tactfully declined to take sides.

The world is sitting on the edge of Armageddon. The Kauravas (US and vassals) look stronger on paper but lord is with the Pandavas, the side of truth. Ultimately "Satya mev Jayte"

This muddle is far worst and no one is clean and holy. While I understand your personal leanings, an objective assessment will tell you that Russians are not in Syria for a fight for "truth". They have their agenda in keeping Assad in place. They entered Syria and stirred a hornets nest. First strike by ISIS was in Sinai. Next the Turkey - shoot. The parties Russia is attacking are hitting back in the way they know.

The only country which can truly take on Russia militarily, 1 on 1, is the US. For all its tacit support to those opposing Russia and allies, US has not actively interfered with Russian forces. No accidental bombings, no radar locks on fighters, etc. It has the capability but is not provoking the Bear. One may have different opinions on why the US is keeping off, but there can be no disagreement that Russia can continue with impunity in Syria as long as the US does not increase stakes. And this is a big reason why a likely escalation to an all out war between nations has not happened and will probably not happen.

Mort Walker · Post by **Mort Walker** » 26 Nov 2015 19:00

JTull wrote:MW, I agree with most, except that last sentence. US has vested interest in keeping Syrian refugees away from Europe as they're having a destabilising effect on EU and Schengen. They'd rather deal with one block that's kept in line by it's allies in Germany, France and Britain, than having to deal each individually. EU sanctions on Russia wouldn't have happened without it. Proof of US position is in the regular statements about how they prefer that Britain remain in EU and remain influential in it (just as the referendum approaches and is on a knife edge).

Publicly that is what is stated and excess refugees will become a problem, but we're not at those numbers yet. Muslim refugees will push EU governments to the right and thus closer to the US. Leftist EU governments will be a thorn in the side of the US.

JwalaMukhi · Post by **JwalaMukhi** » 26 Nov 2015 19:02

Islamism is in its normal self. Islam is pushed in the foreground. Islamism will always be in perennial war with others or within itself. There is only two ways it will go out. Either it reforms within itself, else it gets reformed from without. None of the players are currently interested in the way Islamism is going to turn, other than how to use it as an instrument (useful idiot) to do their own biddings.

Indian subcontinent is in continuous war with Islamism for centuries now. The current apparent lull by Islamism is, basically to allow womb warfare to address what could not be achieved by brute force. The hope is this trajectory will continue for some forseeable future ... The brute force techinques will pick up steam soon enough though...

Russia is negotiating its place and role in the grand scheme of things, using our islamists are better than other islamists. The Nato is rooting for its islamists. All in all it is "mirror mirror on the wall, who is greenest, purest and peacefulest islamists of all". Well our SOBs are better than your SOBs. It is a pissing contest. Sure Putin will call turkey bad names and moon Nato. But nothing much is going to happen. It is mostly pre-nup and post-nikkah divorce arrangements that is being worked out.

No need to get excited about this being WW3, dharma yuddha .. nothing of that sort. There are no lilly whites in this game. Else, russians would not be with pakis, iranians and other assorted mullahs. It is which is most stablest mullahcracy that affects least the influence of Russia. Same goes for Nato. SDRE kozhikode rudrapattinam anantha shukla mostly stay out of this and focus on the centuries old battle that is being waged in subcontinent.

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 26 Nov 2015 19:04

BTW, back to pleasant subjects> The map of Syria looks like a picture from my 8th grade biology notes of a slimy green cell structure: Mostly desert with a few greener lines along the waterways and a couple of oases, plus some coastal and mountainous resort islands and the Golan Heights. This is why "ISIS / Rebel -controlled Areas" looked so huge compared to the tiny zones around Damascus and Latakia that Assad still controlled. It is now winter, so there is enough water to survive in the desert, though it is pretty cold. Point is
a) A few strikes under air cover, and the nodes of the green network can be taken back. Can the enemy survive along the green webs once the nodes are gone and there is no air support?
b) Can ISIS/rebels traverse desert without being detected? It is winter, so any heat source will show up from UAVs and Space, easy to detect and hit.
c) Will the ISIS merge with the refugees who must be trying to survive in the desert near the green zones?
d) Does anyone have the ability to move large mechanized forces across the desert to hit anywhere at will? (d) may be the 'disruptive technology' that wins this war.

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 26 Nov 2015 19:11

FSA and Kurds are set to get in each others way. Enough truce for the eternal fighters. (BTW, anyone knows Arabic?)

https://twitter.com/Terror_Monitor/stat ... 5287425024

Terrormonitor.org
‏@Terror_Monitor
#SYRIA
#FSA Give #Kurdish Forces (#YPG) 48hrs To Withdraw From 7 Villages: Statement

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 26 Nov 2015 19:17

From Twitter

https://willyloman.wordpress.com/2015/1 ... yrian-oil/

Look, we have no friends in #Syria so it doesn't matter who we bomb. Just let us bomb someone. Come on, it's only human lives.

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 26 Nov 2015 19:25

BEIRUT (AP) — In the whirlwind of Syria's civil war, two Russian pilots parachuted from their aircraft into a chaotic front-line mountainous region near the border with Turkey after their aircraft was hit by a Turkish F-16 fighter jet.

As the two figures tumbled, almost serenely, out of the sky, they were spotted by Syrian rebels on the ground, who opened fire in their direction, hitting the pilot, Lt. Col. Oleg Peshkov, who was dead when he landed in their midst.

The co-pilot and navigator, Capt. Konstantin Murakhtin, was luckier, the wind blowing his parachute few miles closer to the front-line, nearer to government troops. There, amid the chilly ravines, he waited for more than 12 hours until a Syrian commando unit was able to reach him.

A look at the complex rescue operation offers a glimpse at the complicated, often rugged terrain in Syria's civil war, where the front-lines are blurry. Multiple groups with shifting alliances are fighting on the ground and the sky is crowded with aircraft bombing various targets.

Both Russian airmen ejected after their aircraft was hit by a Turkish jet Tuesday. Turkey said their plane had violated Turkish airspace, a claim Russia has denied.

Adding to the day's dramatic events, one of two Russian helicopters sent to the crash site to search for survivors was also hit by rebel fire, killing one serviceman and forcing the chopper to make an emergency landing, the Russian military said.

Syrian rebels said they hit the helicopter with a U.S.-made TOW missile, and released a video that purports to show the chopper bursting into flames.

"It was like James Bond," said Zakaria Ahmad, a spokesman for a rebel faction operating in a rugged area known as the Turkmen mountains, where Tuesday's operations unfolded.

The area is mostly inhabited by Syrian Turkmen, an ethnic minority with close ties to Turkey, and has recently been the site of heightened military activity amid a Syrian ground offensive and Russian airstrikes.

Some reports said Murakhtin was found by a Syrian special operations team acting together with members of the Lebanese Hezbollah group. The Syrian army said it was a joint Syrian-Russian operation.

Murakhtin, speaking in televised remarks from the Russian base in Syria where he was taken Wednesday, said he was fully confident their plane didn't veer into the Turkish airspace, "not even for a single second."

"As a navigator, I knew every hill there and could determine location even without instruments," after flying numerous combat missions in the area, he said.

He denied Turkey's claim that its jets made repeated warnings before opening fire. "There haven't been any warnings, neither radio, nor visual," he said, adding that the Turkish jets could have flown a parallel course to demand that the Russian plane change direction.

Dressed in combat fatigues and speaking with his back to the camera, he said he was anxious to keep flying missions from the base "to pay them back for my commander."

Murakhtin did not give details of the rescue operation.

"I feel good in general. The military doctors work miracles," he said. "I am waiting impatiently to be released by the doctors so I can immediately return to service. I will ask the commanders to keep me at the air base."

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said the operation to rescue the pilot was conducted jointly by Russian and Syrian special forces and lasted 12 hours, ending at 0040 GMT Wednesday.

The Syrian army said Murakhtin was rescued by a special unit that carried out an overnight "qualitative" operation.

In a statement, it said the Syrian and Russian forces penetrated 4.5 kilometers (2.7 miles) into an area held by "terrorists" to rescue the pilot.

However rebels cast doubt on the official Syrian account. Ahmad, a spokesman for a rebel faction known as the Sham Front, which is affiliated with the Western-backed Free Syrian Army, said the pilot was blown away to a front-line area that neither side had previously been able to reach.

He said the pilot landed in a mountainous, wooded area.

"Residents in nearby areas were hearing the buzz of warplanes and helicopters all night," he told The Associated Press from Syria via Skype.

Rami Abdurrahman, director of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said the Russian soldier landed in no man's land, although technically behind rebel lines. His monitoring group relies on local activists across Syria.

He said the rescue operation was carried out by Syrian commandos, aided by the Russians who pinpointed the soldier's location through GPS.

"The commandos struggled for hours to pull the pilot to a safe area from where he was airlifted to Hemeimeem," he said, referring to the Russian air base in Latakia province.

Associated Press writer Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow contributed to this report.

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 26 Nov 2015 19:27

Damascus (AFP) - Syrian special forces launched an operation "behind enemy lines" to rescue the surviving crew member of a Russian warplane downed by Turkey, Syria's Al-Watan newspaper reported on Thursday.

"Eleven members of an elite unit of the air force intelligence service and a (Russian-language) translator, led by an officer, infiltrated 3.5 kilometres (two miles) behind enemy lines in the Al-Atira region on Tuesday and recovered the airman," the pro-government newspaper said.

Al-Atira is an area of Latakia province, around 12 kilometres (eight miles) from the border with Turkey.

Syrian forces launched the operation after Turkey downed the Russian jet on Tuesday morning, forcing the two-man crew to eject over rebel-held territory.

According to Al-Watan, the team set out in late morning from the Hmeimim airbase in Latakia, where Russian forces are concentrated.

The plane's pilot had already been killed by rebel fire as he parachuted down but a Russian drone spotted navigator Konstantin Murakhtin in hiding on the ground.

The "Russian drone communicated to Syrian special forces the navigator's location, as well as where the terrorist groups were," Al-Watan said, referring to the rebels.

"He was spotted thanks to his GPS. It was a race against time because the terrorists were also looking for him."

The paper said the special forces team used the codeword "Costa" for Konstantin, and the Syrian flag to identify themselves to the navigator as rescuers.

It said the rescue team clashed with rebels during the 12-hour operation, but were able to recover Murakhtin, who was injured in the leg.

Speaking to Russian state media on Wednesday, the navigator gave no details of his rescue, which the Russian military said involved its own special forces working alongside Syrian troops.

"I feel good in general. The military doctors work miracles," he said, speaking at the Hmeimim base.

"I am waiting impatiently to be released by the doctors so I can immediately return to service."

Russia has not released the name of the slain pilot, although President Vladimir Putin has said he will posthumously be given Russia's highest award for valour, the Hero of Russia medal.

His body is believed to still be in the hands of rebel forces in Latakia province.

Murakhtin is also to be decorated along with soldiers involved in the rescue operation, including one Moscow has said was killed when his Mi-8 helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing after being hit by gunfire.

kmkraoind · Post by **kmkraoind** » 26 Nov 2015 19:34

Wish Philip sir creates a blog and post above things, so that we can at least post them in SM world.

member_29247 · Post by **member_29247** » 26 Nov 2015 19:36

Russia does not have the sophisticated UAV technology that US and Israel have.
Russia has engine and airframe capabilities of predators class but the micro/ mini sensor and control systems is not there, the miniaturization has always been problem with Russia, hence the expensive manned A/c .
A little OT but relaxant
In case of India we don't have engine nor good airframe leave alone minatire electronics... ( not withstanding periodic hype by DR....)
The same with CM s that were fired by Russian ships, they all seem to have turbojet engines rather than Turbofan engines Saturn NPO seems to be working on that angle . mean while talk Kaveri engine for CM has been on for quite some years again mostly periodic dishing of dope fro Aam janata by DR...

There is lot to learn from Syrian operations from both sides and the priorities for India to realign procurements for future engagements with our friendly neighbors.....

rsingh · Post by **rsingh** » 26 Nov 2015 19:53

^^
Remember people whining about Russian not using TFTA smart bombs. Russians are doing pretty good job. There was much hullagullah over American destroying Iraqi columns on road(Gulf I). Russian has done better job by destroying tankers wth not smart bombs

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 26 Nov 2015 20:10

the kh55/101 et al have turbofan engines. there is no other means to get that vast range.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 26 Nov 2015 20:28

the tos1 is a truly scary piece of work..worthy of the aoa we hear
https://youtu.be/aTe11aqQTBw

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 26 Nov 2015 20:51

Singha wrote:the tos1 is a truly scary piece of work..worthy of the aoa we hear
https://youtu.be/aTe11aqQTBw

Indeed dont know about Syria but the Tos system was used to good effect by Iraq against ISIL when Russia hastily transferred few of these when IS was at the doors of baghdad.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 26 Nov 2015 20:56

The more I think of it the more I am convinced that Su-24 shooting was a well planned event in concurrence with the US , the goal was was shoot the Russian aircraft and let Russian retaliate against NATO member Turkey by shooting back and create an International crisis , while would divert Russias attention and resource from anti-ISIS operation.

The fact that POTOUS toed the same line as Turkish President and Camerron backing up , seems to indicate its a well thought out strategy.

The US & Turkey is extremely nervous that Russian success against ISIL would diminish and expose its stand and the year long bombing with 150 + aircraft achieved much less then what Russian could do with less than 50 in 2 months.

Cooler heads should prevail in kremlin and should deal with crisis patiently , This operation is along the lines of BlackOps that Saudi Carried with Chemical Attack in Syria and blamed it on Syrian Army.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 26 Nov 2015 21:07

Russian MOD says S-400 arrived in Turkey , Check the pictures in twitter link

https://twitter.com/mod_russia/status/6 ... 9075493888