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

Sid · Post by **Sid** » 24 Dec 2015 10:12

There is a big difference between being called a "war criminal" and a "attacker on children's future". What??

I mean who the **** comes up with these phrases?

Satya_anveshi · Post by **Satya_anveshi** » 24 Dec 2015 10:15

Resolution 2254 (2015) <added by me: Relating to Syria >
Adopted by the Security Council at its 7588th meeting, on
18 December 2015
http://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc ... 2254(2015)

The Security Council,
Recalling its resolutions 2042 (2012), 2043 (2012), 2118 (2013), 2139 (2014),
2165 (2014), 2170 (2014), 2175 (2014), 2178 (2014), 2191 (2014), 2199 (2015),
2235 (2015), and 2249 (2015) and Presidential Statements of 3 August 2011
(S/PRST/2011/16), 21 March 2012 (S/PRST/2012/6), 5 April 2012
(S/PRST/2012/10), 2 October 2013 (S/PRST/2013/15), 24 April 2015
(S/PRST/2015/10) and 17 August 2015 (S/PRST/2015/15),

Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and
territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic, and to the purposes and principles
of the Charter of the United Nations,

Expressing its gravest concern at the continued suffering of the Syrian people,
the dire and deteriorating humanitarian situation, the ongoing conflict and its
persistent and brutal violence, the negative impact of terrorism and violent extremist
ideology in support of terrorism, the destabilizing effect of the crisis on the region
and beyond, including the resulting increase in terrorists drawn to the fighting in
Syria, the physical destruction in the country, and increasing sectarianism, and
underscoring that the situation will continue to deteriorate in the absence of a
political solution,

Recalling its demand that all parties take all appropriate steps to protect
civilians, including members of ethnic, religious and confessional communities, and
stresses that, in this regard, the primary responsibility to protect its population lies
with the Syrian authorities,

Reiterating that the only sustainable solution to the current crisis in Syria is
through an inclusive and Syrian-led political process that meets the legitimate
aspirations of the Syrian people, with a view to full implementation of the Geneva
Communiqué of 30 June 2012 as endorsed by resolution 2118 (2013), including
through the establishment of an inclusive transitional governing body with full
executive powers, which shall be formed on the basis of mutual consent while
ensuring continuity of governmental institutions,

Encouraging, in this regard, the diplomatic efforts of the International Syria
Support Group (ISSG) to help bring an end to the conflict in Syria,
S/RES/2254 (2015)
2/4 15-22539

Commending the commitment of the ISSG, as set forth in the Joint Statement
on the outcome of the multilateral talks on Syria in Vienna of 30 October 2015 and
the Statement of the ISSG of 14 November 2015 (hereinafter the “Vienna
Statements”), to ensure a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political transition based on
the Geneva Communiqué in its entirety, and emphasizing the urgency for all parties
in Syria to work diligently and constructively towards this goal,

Urging all parties to the UN-facilitated political process to adhere to the
principles identified by the ISSG, including commitments to Syria’s unity,
independence, territorial integrity, and non-sectarian character, to ensuring
continuity of governmental institutions, to protecting the rights of all Syrians,
regardless of ethnicity or religious denomination, and to ensuring humanitarian
access throughout the country,

Encouraging the meaningful participation of women in the UN-facilitated
political process for Syria,

Bearing in mind the goal to bring together the broadest possible spectrum of
the opposition, chosen by Syrians, who will decide their negotiation representatives
and define their negotiation positions so as to enable the political process to begin,
taking note of the meetings in Moscow and Cairo and other initiatives to this end,
and noting in particular the usefulness of the meeting in Riyadh on 9-11 December
2015, whose outcomes contribute to the preparation of negotiations under
UN auspices on a political settlement of the conflict, in accordance with the Geneva
Communique and the “Vienna Statements”, and looking forward to the SecretaryGeneral’s
Special Envoy for Syria finalizing efforts to this end,

1. Reconfirms its endorsement of the Geneva Communiqué of 30 June
2012, endorses the “Vienna Statements” in pursuit of the full implementation of the
Geneva Communiqué, as the basis for a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political
transition in order to end the conflict in Syria, and stresses that the Syrian people
will decide the future of Syria;

2. Requests the Secretary-General, through his good offices and the efforts
of his Special Envoy for Syria, to convene representatives of the Syrian government
and the opposition to engage in formal negotiations on a political transition process
on an urgent basis, with a target of early January 2016 for the initiation of talks,
pursuant to the Geneva Communiqué, consistent with the 14 November 2015 ISSG
Statement, with a view to a lasting political settlement of the crisis;

3. Acknowledges the role of the ISSG as the central platform to facilitate
the United Nations’ efforts to achieve a lasting political settlement in Syria;

4. Expresses its support, in this regard, for a Syrian-led political process
that is facilitated by the United Nations and, within a target of six months,
establishes credible, inclusive and non-sectarian governance and sets a schedule and
process for drafting a new constitution, and further expresses its support for free
and fair elections, pursuant to the new constitution, to be held within 18 months and
administered under supervision of the United Nations, to the satisfaction of the
governance and to the highest international standards of transparency and
accountability, with all Syrians, including members of the diaspora, eligible to
participate, as set forth in the 14 November 2015 ISSG Statement;
S/RES/2254 (2015)
15-22539 3/4

5. Acknowledges the close linkage between a ceasefire and a parallel
political process, pursuant to the 2012 Geneva Communiqué, and that both
initiatives should move ahead expeditiously, and in this regard expresses its support
for a nationwide ceasefire in Syria, which the ISSG has committed to support and
assist in implementing, to come into effect as soon as the representatives of the
Syrian government and the opposition have begun initial steps towards a political
transition under UN auspices, on the basis of the Geneva Communiqué, as set forth
in the 14 November 2015 ISSG Statement, and to do so on an urgent basis;

6. Requests the Secretary-General to lead the effort, through the office of
his Special Envoy and in consultation with relevant parties, to determine the
modalities and requirements of a ceasefire as well as continue planning for the
support of ceasefire implementation, and urges Member States, in particular
members of the ISSG, to support and accelerate all efforts to achieve a ceasefire,
including through pressing all relevant parties to agree and adhere to such a
ceasefire;

7. Emphasizes the need for a ceasefire monitoring, verification and
reporting mechanism, requests the Secretary-General to report to the Security
Council on options for such a mechanism that it can support, as soon as possible and
no later than one month after the adoption of this resolution, and encourages
Member States, including members of the Security Council, to provide assistance,
including through expertise and in-kind contributions, to support such a mechanism;

8. Reiterates its call in resolution 2249 (2015) for Member States to prevent
and suppress terrorist acts committed specifically by Islamic State in Iraq and the
Levant (ISIL, also known as Da’esh), Al-Nusra Front (ANF), and all other
individuals, groups, undertakings, and entities associated with Al Qaeda or ISIL,
and other terrorist groups, as designated by the Security Council, and as may further
be agreed by the ISSG and determined by the Security Council, pursuant to the
Statement of the ISSG of 14 November 2015, and to eradicate the safe haven they
have established over significant parts of Syria, and notes that the aforementioned
ceasefire will not apply to offensive or defensive actions against these individuals,
groups, undertakings and entities, as set forth in the 14 November 2015 ISSG
Statement;

9. Welcomes the effort that was conducted by the government of Jordan to
help develop a common understanding within the ISSG of individuals and groups
for possible determination as terrorists and will consider expeditiously the
recommendation of the ISSG for the purpose of determining terrorist groups;

10. Emphasizes the need for all parties in Syria to take confidence building
measures to contribute to the viability of a political process and a lasting ceasefire,
and calls on all states to use their influence with the government of Syria and the
Syrian opposition to advance the peace process, confidence building measures and
steps towards a ceasefire;

11. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Council, as soon as
possible and no later than one month after the adoption of this resolution, on options
for further confidence building measures;

12. Calls on the parties to immediately allow humanitarian agencies rapid,
safe and unhindered access throughout Syria by most direct routes, allow
immediate, humanitarian assistance to reach all people in need, in particular in all
S/RES/2254 (2015)
4/4 15-22539
besieged and hard-to-reach areas, release any arbitrarily detained persons,
particularly women and children, calls on ISSG states to use their influence
immediately to these ends, and demands the full implementation of resolutions 2139
(2014), 2165 (2014), 2191 (2014) and any other applicable resolutions;

13. Demands that all parties immediately cease any attacks against civilians
and civilian objects as such, including attacks against medical facilities and
personnel, and any indiscriminate use of weapons, including through shelling and
aerial bombardment, welcomes the commitment by the ISSG to press the parties in
this regard, and further demands that all parties immediately comply with their
obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law and
international human rights law as applicable;

14. Underscores the critical need to build conditions for the safe and
voluntary return of refugees and internally displaced persons to their home areas
and the rehabilitation of affected areas, in accordance with international law,
including applicable provisions of the Convention and Protocol Relating to the
Status of Refugees, and taking into account the interests of those countries hosting
refugees, urges Member States to provide assistance in this regard, looks forward to
the London Conference on Syria in February 2016, hosted by the United Kingdom,
Germany, Kuwait, Norway and the United Nations, as an important contribution to
this endeavour, and further expresses its support to the post-conflict reconstruction
and rehabilitation of Syria;

15. Requests that the Secretary-General report back to the Security Council
on the implementation of this resolution, including on progress of the UN-facilitated
political process, within 60 days;

16. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.

Satya_anveshi · Post by **Satya_anveshi** » 24 Dec 2015 10:20

Check out points 5 and 6 and 13 and you will know the reason for the focus on "civilian casualties".....this is jokerry's way of being clever by half.

Because it deals with civilian casualties, Russia and others may have let it slide in this resolution way below at #13 but then there is HUGE incentive for all terrorists to re-group in civilian areas or even kill civilians and blame it on Russians.

Satya_anveshi · Post by **Satya_anveshi** » 24 Dec 2015 10:36

and we don't have to wait long for the propaganda to start:
A U.N. resolution on Syria is shattered — and Russia is to blame - WaPo - Dec21, 2015

This is all about Pt 13 exploits

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 24 Dec 2015 12:33

for TSJ note the USMC hoodie - long hair and bushy bearded hipster chic has reached syria from SFO.
drill sergeant would get a heart attack.

Y. Kanan · Post by **Y. Kanan** » 24 Dec 2015 13:41

Armenia blames Azeris for renewed ‘war’ around disputed region
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/eu ... -1.2476662

“It’s war, and I would ask you to use a term like ‘war’ rather than phrases like ‘breach of the ceasefire regime’ because, effectively, there is no ceasefire regime any more,” Armenian defence ministry spokesman Artsrun Hovhannisyan told reporters.

Y. Kanan · Post by **Y. Kanan** » 24 Dec 2015 13:51

TSJones wrote:Bombing of schools by Saudi Arabia-led coalition a flagrant attack on future of Yemen’s children

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/ ... -in-yemen/

Give me a break; that certainly didn't make the front page on CNN. Compared to western media Rt is looking pretty good these days...

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 24 Dec 2015 13:52

unmanned gun vehicle being tested in syria
http://sdelanounas.ru/i/c/2/1/c21hcnRuZ ... cxOTkz.jpg

http://thesaker.is/will-the-air-campaig ... mic-state/

Will the air campaign defeat Islamic State?
Will the air campaign defeat Islamic State?
by Gavin Don

The Islamic State is not yet a state (imagine IS at the UN) but I was working yesterday on economic and oil forecasts for Iraq and Syria, and the thought struck me that although IS is not a state, its economy is larger than many actual states.

Consider. IS has sliced approximately 5 million Iraqis and probably another 5 million Syrians out of the economies of Iraq and Syria. In both cases the people living within the Islamic State work at the lower end of national GDP averages for Iraq and Syria, but nevertheless the “proto state” of IS probably has an average GDP per head of about $2,500. That means IS has a GDP of some $25bn, and has the same GDP per head as, for example, Indonesia.

Western media and politicians seem to see IS as a small group of lunatics living entirely on sales of stolen Syrian oil, transported through Turkey via black market buyers and distributors in Slovakia, Dubai, Karachi and a few other less reputable entrepots. This is a naïve and dangerous misinterpretation.

IS oil exports are probably running somewhere around 30 kbpd, with an average margin of perhaps $15 per barrel (even IS has to pay lifting costs and transport costs, and then sells its liquids very cheap). With those margins 30 kbpd would generate $200m of spendable cash – only 1% of the Islamic State’s total GDP. Ready money, sure, and easy to collect, but small.

If IS were a conventional middle eastern state with averagely bad administrative and tax collecting powers it would take perhaps 30% of GDP in tax. As a new administration with a lot of distractions, no administrative depth, and a somewhat discontented and rebellious population, it is likely that IS’ actual tax take is probably much lower. If IS is taxing its economy at half the expected rate it would have “government revenue” of $3.8bn.

On the spending side, IS government services are probably pretty rudimentary, leaving IS able to spend a third to a half of its revenue on defence – something like $1-2bn. Add in transfers from IS sponsors (who and how much not exactly clear), and IS might be spending $2.5bn on defence. With no expensive navy or air force, $2.5bn buys a lot of ground troops. Published sources suggest that an IS fighter is paid somewhere around $500 a month, and I have speculated before that IS might have 100,000 men on its payroll. If those numbers are correct then IS army payroll would total $600m per year – well within its likely defence budget, with the generous balance being spent on munitions, transport, training, communications, and food. When you look at the numbers, IS’ success and survival becomes less surprising.

So, what comes out of this thought is the conclusion that hitting IS’ oil production infrastructure is not quite the killer-blow that western media and governments say it is. Sure, IS would miss its oil money, and sure, export dollars are worth more to IS than domestically taxed Iraqi or Syrian currencies, and so the campaign to cut its oil flow is certainly a very good idea, but IS will not lie down and die simply because it can’t sell oil.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 24 Dec 2015 13:54

and you have to add the savings it must have accumulated in the past 2 years from revenues and bags of dollars from unnamed gulf based 'donors'

they are very cash rich and well beyond a rag-tag guerilla army or AQ type fugitives. would have paid top dollar for the best weapons and vehicles as needed apart from looting syrian and iraqi warehouses.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 24 Dec 2015 14:08

The Saudis,"cutting the nose to spite the face...of OPEC!" Hell bent upon their own interests and may Shaitan take OPEC.

Awash with oil as Saudis aim to take the fight to the frackers Nils Pratley

Many members of Opec have suggested this might be the time to cut oil production to force prices higher – but Saudi Arabia isn’t listening

Opec’s annual tour of the horizon, a publication called World Oil Outlook, is not about predictions, says the group’s secretary general Abdalla Salem el-Badri in the introduction to this year’s edition. This is just as well since last year’s failed to inform us that the price of oil was about to halve.

The arrival of sub-$40-a-barrel oil has caused more than a few members of the cartel to splutter about the need to cut production to force prices higher. So far, Saudi Arabia isn’t listening.

The strategy is to keep pumping, apparently in the hope of forcing the US shale industry – whose impact Opec underestimated as late as 2011 – to curb production.

Non-Saudi members may therefore be alarmed that even the organisation’s own economists don’t exactly envisage US shale producers being forced to their knees.
Analysis/ Shell's slick take on BG merger cannot hide a poor deal

Shell may be able to cut costs after it takes over BG Group, but with oil prices this low, shareholders are not getting good business

On one hand, they note that production growth for so-called tight crude in the US and Canada has started to slow with cuts in investment. On the other, they say “the most prolific zones within some plays can break even at levels below 2015 prices”.

Indeed, the projections show North American tight oil volumes increasing from 4.4m barrels a day at present to 5.2m barrels in 2020. From a Saudi perspective, that forecast could be taken as yet another reason to keep pumping to protect Opec’s share of the market.

One of these years, lower levels of investment, which always follow lower prices, could produce a spike in prices and the report, rightly, warns of the danger. It suggests $10tn (£6.7tn) of investment will be needed between now and 2040 and that the “right signals” – meaning higher prices – will be required.

But a spike in 2016? That is hard to imagine while Opec’s members squabble before the Saudis get their way.

Aditya_V · Post by **Aditya_V** » 24 Dec 2015 14:28

I think Saudis are playing Poker with the Russians, while the Russians suffer, they have other exports and dont need to go back to riding camels. I hope this keeps up until 2020, by that time wish we have alternatives.

TSJones · Post by **TSJones** » 24 Dec 2015 14:30

Y. Kanan wrote:
TSJones wrote:Bombing of schools by Saudi Arabia-led coalition a flagrant attack on future of Yemen’s children

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/ ... -in-yemen/
Give me a break; that certainly didn't make the front page on CNN. Compared to western media Rt is looking pretty good these days...

you asked for it and you got it.

"He wants it and he gets it" Cool Hand Luke.

TSJones · Post by **TSJones** » 24 Dec 2015 14:35

Singha:

Our used clothing, like our used cars, are sold around the world.

Believe it or not some guys show up at boot camp looking like that. that's why the first thing you get after stepping off the bus is a buzz cut. no waiting around. they don't even do any paper work until after you get bald headed.

addendum:

I take that back. the first thing you get is searched. bald headed and bald faced is second.

on third thought, the first thing is you get is screamed at. up close and personal. in your face.

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 24 Dec 2015 16:42

No worries. I am sure 'USMC' stands for

University of Syrian Moderate Civilians

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 24 Dec 2015 16:45

TSJ -

I always wondered if the usmc camp depiction in the movies is true. for your words, sounds about right.

first time I am a seeing a usmc hoodie though...usually names like "usa" "new york" "texas" and "california" sell around the world on cheap t-shirts being global soft-power brands. the more discerning go for "MiT" or "stanford" or "university of california"

even people doing the usual 'death to usa' thing in the islamic world might be wearing levi jeans, nike shoes and calvin klein tees

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 24 Dec 2015 17:11

BTW, is it just me, or is the "injured Syrian walking through the rubble of an evil Russian airstrike" the twin bro of the grinning USMC hoodie veteran? I do understand that ppl have not had a chance for a proper bath & coiffure etc for months. But we have seen so much cr*p from the US media that I would not be surprised if the two are the same.

Y. Kanan · Post by **Y. Kanan** » 24 Dec 2015 17:30

TSJones wrote:you asked for it and you got it.

"He wants it and he gets it" Cool Hand Luke.

If that was your attempt to present the US media as more fair and balanced than RT, you failed miserably.

Satya_anveshi · Post by **Satya_anveshi** » 24 Dec 2015 21:12

UN can’t confirm Amnesty’s ‘remote investigation’ of Russia’s strikes in Syria - Dec 24, 2015

“The Secretary General notes with concern Amnesty International report on alleged violations of international humanitarian law resulting of the Russian airstrikes in Syria. The UN cannot independently confirm the cases presented in the report,” Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General, Farhan Haq said.

“The report constantly uses expressions such as ‘supposedly Russian strikes,’ ‘possible violations of international law’ – a lot of assumptions without any evidence,” he noted.

Satya_anveshi · Post by **Satya_anveshi** » 24 Dec 2015 22:28

This video is uploaded by Haaretz.com on Dec 23, 2015 showing the hidden side of orthodox Jews:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfkd0r1yY10

vishvak · Post by **vishvak** » 25 Dec 2015 01:00

Y. Kanan wrote:
TSJones wrote:you asked for it and you got it.

"He wants it and he gets it" Cool Hand Luke.
If that was your attempt to present the US media as more fair and balanced than RT, you failed miserably.

If there was another country that attacked a school, supposedly storing arms and even outright firing missiles from within - lets say Israel, then secular media would go the whole way explicitly targeting Israel/Jews/Ashkenazi-what-is-that-name and trumpeting around secular credentials. However, entire secular cabal is entirely missing in the Levant, FOR YEARS already, not to mention for months in Yemen. Difficult to believe that such a crisis can be explained away in secular terms at all when Saudi/Qatar/NATO countries are in it deep, not at all with ISIL posting pictures of genocides and with ongoing slavery in Syria and Iraq.

Y. Kanan · Post by **Y. Kanan** » 25 Dec 2015 15:48

Syrian MLRS working over some positions in the hills. Good stuff:

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 25 Dec 2015 16:39

to make the youtube markup work just put the last bit not the whole URL.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 25 Dec 2015 17:58

another big evac and handover of heavy weapons started today. its not just IS but other outfits as well.

Hassan Ridha ‏@sayed_ridha 21h21 hours ago
4000 #IS militants & their families will be transferred from Hajr Al-Aswad & Qadam in south #Damascus to #Raqqa as part of agreement

--
in other news YPG is making slow progress toward the northernmost of the euphrates dams @ tishreen, south of jarablus.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 25 Dec 2015 18:01

cost effective plan by assad to secure his core areas and eliminate these powerful pockets of rebels ... once out in idlib or raqqa they cease to only his problem and become everyone's problem....most could make a beeline for turkey and the west after years of brutal urban fighting...for the future of their wives and children as well. not too many of the psycho lone wolves with no ties to society perhaps in these pockets.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 25 Dec 2015 18:03

IS made powerful counterattacks in ramadi with VBIED/IED and KIA some 50+ ISF and wounded 80+ today.

Y. Kanan · Post by **Y. Kanan** » 25 Dec 2015 18:56

Meanwhile, to the east:
Russia Reinforces Base In Armenia
http://www.rferl.mobi/a/armenia-russia- ... 40370.html

I'm still convinced this is either Putin instigating Armenians or Erdogan instigating the Azeris. It could be seen as clever strategy by either player (Azeri-Armenian war to distract Russia or to suck in Turkey for an ass kicking).

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 26 Dec 2015 04:55

If I were Armenia, I would view the Turkish Taliban (ISIS) with extreme alarm - I mean these ARE the genocidal Islamists, even worse than the Ottomans. hain? Azeris to one side, ISIS on the other, Armenia is headed to be the next Yazidistan, and they already have the experience from long ago.

So reinforcing the Russian base in Armenia, is just like reinforcing the Russian base in Latakia. Also, what does that do to the full-load mission radius for Su-24s?
Next step: S-400 shield for Armenia?
I would think that Armenia and Israel share a lot of common concerns. and enemies.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 26 Dec 2015 06:56

kgb must have got wind of plans to set Armenia on fire as a prelude to exporting isis to south Russia.

Fidel Castro had also once pardoned all his jailed criminals and sent them off to rule florida

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 26 Dec 2015 08:08

the leader of jaish al islam, zahran alloush who had called for cleansing damascus of alawites and other rabble has been killed in a ruaf strike in ghouta with several top commanders. by some estimates the JAI is even bigger headcount than AlNusra and hence the largest rebel formation after ISIS. syrians claim it was a targeted operation helped by their spies and sf units.

--
Hassan Ridha ‏@sayed_ridha 7h7 hours ago
#SDF now claim to be less than 5km from Tishreen Dam

Shanu · Post by **Shanu** » 26 Dec 2015 09:56

Iraqis have been forced to fight with one hand tied behind their back - as the Shia militias, thr primary manpower that drives their progress are not allowed to enter Ramadi. Otherwise the oh so pious Sunnis will not feel secure. Looks like the Iraqi soldiers are being sent into a meat grinder.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 26 Dec 2015 10:08

and Iraqi AF has been deprived of the aircraft and munitions needed ... barring the frogfoots which russia donated.
there are atleast 6 other ISIS held towns of same nature in anbar, including falluja.....so the idea is to keep them tied down in that mess forever which IS sets about creating its sunni bantustan in syria.

Iraqi govt should play a judo move by moving the unused shia militias to attack IS from the south , jumping across the border and heading for deir azor.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 26 Dec 2015 12:03

Syria rebel leader Zahran Alloush 'killed in air strike', sources on the ground say
Mr Alloush led the Army of Islam group
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world ... 86266.html

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/d ... irstrike[b]
Leader of powerful Syrian rebel group killed in airstrike
Zahran Alloush, head of Jaysh al-Islam, said to have died along with five other senior leaders after planes targeted powerful insurgent faction’s headquarters[/b]

Kareem Shaheen in Istanbul and agencies
Friday 25 December 2015

The leader of one of the most powerful rebel groups in Syria appears to have been killed in an airstrike near the capital. A well-placed rebel source told the Guardian that Zahran Alloush, the leader of Jaysh al-Islam, one of the largest opposition groups that commands thousands of fighters on the ground near Damascus, was killed in an airstrike on Friday.

His death was first reported by the Reuters news agency citing two rebel sources. The Syrian state news agency said Alloush was killed in the eastern Ghouta region, where Jaysh al-Islam holds sway. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a network with wide contacts inside Syria, said aircraft targeted a meeting of Jaysh al-Islam’s leadership in eastern Ghouta, killing Alloush and five other senior leaders.

If true, the death of Alloush, who is reportedly backed by Saudi Arabia and Turkey, will be a major blow to the opposition.

The fact that the airstrikes targeted a meeting of the group’s leadership represents an intelligence coup for the Syrian government and its foreign backer, Russia, which has led the reconnaissance and surveillance efforts since it intervened on behalf of Bashar al-Assad’s regime back in October. “The news has reached us, that is God’s will and we pray that God has mercy on him,” said a source in Jaysh al-Fateh, one of the strongest rebel coalitions in Syria, which includes fighters from Jabhat al-Nusra, the al-Qaida affiliate in the country.

One of the most controversial figures in the insurgency, Alloush rose to prominence as the leader of Jaysh al-Islam, which has maintained control over areas in the suburbs of Damascus despite years of siege by the Assad regime and relentless aerial campaigns on opposition-held areas. Eastern Ghouta was even subjected to chemical attacks when the government launched missiles laced with sarin in the area, killing over a thousand people – including many children.

Alloush’s early propaganda videos were overtly sectarian, urging the expulsion of Shias and Alawites from Damascus. Assad belongs to the Alawite minority, which is nominally part of Shia Islam, and who are considered heretics by Sunni extremists. He was also opposed to the Islamic State terror group, and lost many fighters in battles against the militants.

Since then, Alloush sought to temper his views to appear more palatable to potential western backers, retracting the demands for the expulsion of Alawites in a recent interview with McClatchy, calling them “part of the Syrian people”.

It was initially unclear whether Alloush was killed in a Russian or Syrian airstrike, but rebel sources indicated that the attack was Russian in origin. The Russian air force has launched over 5,000 raids since its intervention began.

The rebel sources said that Russian planes fired at least 10 missiles at a secret headquarters of the group, which is the largest rebel faction in the area and has about 15,000 to 20,000 fighters. One of the rebels said the group had chosen one of its top military commanders, Abu Hammam al Buwaidani, as its new head.

“Alloush’s martyrdom should be a turning point in the history of the revolution and rebel groups should realise they are facing a war of extermination and uprooting by Putin’s regime,” said Labib al Nahhas, a senior figure in the main Ahrar al-Sham group.

The Assad regime is seeking to expand its sphere of control in the vicinity of the capital, and has apparently reached an agreement with Isis militants in the Yarmouk refugee camp in southern Damascus, through which fighters will withdraw from the area they occupied earlier this year.
How Yarmouk refugee camp became the worst place in Syria

Once home to hundreds of thousands of Syrians and Palestinians, Yarmouk has been besieged for three years by the Assad government, causing a major influx of refugees into neighbouring Lebanon in 2012. Isis took advantage of a power vacuum earlier this year, collaborating with Jabhat al-Nusra militants to take over most of the camp.

Al-Manar, the TV station of Hezbollah, the Lebanese military and political organisation that is fighting alongside the Assad government, said preparations had begun yesterday for the militants’ withdrawal. It said they would leave on buses to Raqqa, the capital of Isis’s self-proclaimed caliphate, and the Aleppo countryside – both locations where the opposition is fighting Isis and has seized large swathes of territory from them.

The timing of the withdrawal, coming as the opposition places Isis under increasing pressure in northern Syria, raises questions about the government’s broader strategy of weakening rebel groups – even those fighting Isis – in an effort to present itself as the only palatable alternative on the Syrian battlefield.

The SOHR said the government had agreed to the plan, brokered by the UN, which would see families of militants, wounded militants and civilians leave before Isis fighters depart the long-embattled neighbourhood.

It was the latest in a series of attempts to broker local ceasefires in an effort to bring about a nationwide halt to the fighting. Earlier this month, fighters in al-Waer, a district in Homs that was held by the opposition, evacuated the area in a ceasefire agreement that brought much needed humanitarian aid.

In a separate development, Russia and Qatar’s foreign ministers said they would work to encourage talks between the opposition and the government. Negotiations are set to be held in Vienna in January in the latest effort to bring an end to the war, which has killed over a quarter of a million people

habal · Post by **habal** » 26 Dec 2015 18:58

Achtung:Attn

Zahran Allouch’s Successor Might Be Dead 24 Hours after Appointment as Jeish al-Islam’s New Leader
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13941005001300

TEHRAN (FNA)- The Syrian Army tracked and stormed the headquarters of the newly-appointed leader of Jeish al-Islam, Essam al-Boudani, in the Eastern part of Damascus province less than 24 hours after the Syrian air force killed the former leader of the terrorist group, Zahran Allouch.

“The hideout of Jeish al-Islam’s new commander Essam al-Boudani, also known as Abu Hamam, in Hajjariyeh in Douma was stormed by the Syrian soldiers,” military sources said Saturday afternoon.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 26 Dec 2015 19:34

YPG/SDF units have captured the tishreen dam(eastern side) and unconfirmed reports claim they are preparing to cross the euphrates river - one the red lines of the ottoman sultanate

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 26 Dec 2015 19:36

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 26 Dec 2015 19:49

saw a short video of ruaf probably a lone plane attacking a oil convoy. an amazing number of trucks were driving in parallel along what looked like a desert road of sorts but not really a road. it looked like NJ turnpike from the air. a few car and pickups were mixed in. the couple of bombs dropped barely burned a few trucks and made no impression on the rest.

a industrial scale force of heavy bombers or a couple 100 frogfoots would be needed to make a dent on things.

chanakyaa · Post by **chanakyaa** » 26 Dec 2015 20:51

New Otto-gan Empire

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 27 Dec 2015 19:32

Erdogan's huge oil convoy goes up in flames! Enjoy the clip on the link.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldne ... mpire.html
Dramatic video of Russian air strikes 'on Islamic State oil empire'
Footage claims to show convoy of oil tankers being destroyed near Turkish border

By Agencies, video source Russian Ministry of Defence
27 Dec 2015

Russia has released spectacular footage of what Kremlin officials claim to be a successful bombing campaign to destroy the Islamic State's oil-smuggling rackets into Turkey.

At a briefing by the Russian ministry of defence in Moscow, generals produced videos and photographs of Russian warplanes pulverising huge columns of oil tankers allegedly transporting oil for sale on the black market.
Heavy trucks crossing the Syrian-Turkish border on Christmas Day (TASS / Corbis)

The Kremlin claimed to have destroyed 17 such truck columns in the past week alone - part of a Moscow-led onslaught against Isil's oil rackets that Russia says has wiped out nearly 2,000 oil tankers since Russia directly entered the war in Syria in September.

The pictures were released to journalists by Lieutenant General Sergei Rudskoy, a senior figure in Russian Armed Forces command, in a briefing apparently designed to be a mirror image to those conducted by the Pentagon in America.

Trucks snaking round on the Syrian-Turkish border (TASS / Corbis)

He sat before a giant video screen showing aerial footage of the Russian attacks, which led to tankers being engulfed in plumes of thick black smoke.

Lieutenant General Sergei Rudskoy speaks during a briefing in Moscow (Reuters)

However, experts questioned whether the Russian briefing was primarily a propaganda stunt designed to irritate Turkey, whose government is a leading opponent of Syria's president Bashar al-Assad.

After Turkey shot down a Russian bomber at the Syrian border last month, Moscow accused Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his family of involvement in the illegal oil trade with Isil. Mr Erdogan denies the claims and has said he will resign if they are ever proved true.

Russia's defence ministry said that 12,000 trucks were seen their way to and from Turkey from the frontier point of Zakho, which lies close to Turkey's borders with both Syria and northern Iraq.

The ministry said the route involved "a significant detour" to avoid previous Russian bombing efforts, but added: "Turkey remains the final point of the smuggling route."

Eliot Higgins, a research associate at London's Kings College who specialises in studying weapons deployed in the Syrian conflict, told The Telegraph: "The Russian MoD has lied repeatedly, so their word is worthless."

Meanwhile, a United Nations-sponsored deal to evacuate more than 2,000 rebel fighters from rebel-held parts of south Damascus has been delayed after the death of a key rebel leader.

The deal - which would have included Isil fighter - would have gone through territory controlled by Zahran Alloush, the leader of the Jaysh al Islam rebel group, who died in Friday's airstrike. Although a hardline Islamist, Alloush's group were represented at recent peace talks on Syria's future.

On Saturday it was reported that airstrikes had also targeted the man named as Alloush's successor.

The UN special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, said he hoped to begin new talks the Syrian government and the opposition in Geneva on January 25.

Lisa · Post by **Lisa** » 27 Dec 2015 20:08

Singha wrote:saw a short video of ruaf probably a lone plane attacking a oil convoy. an amazing number of trucks were driving in parallel along what looked like a desert road of sorts but not really a road. it looked like NJ turnpike from the air. a few car and pickups were mixed in. the couple of bombs dropped barely burned a few trucks and made no impression on the rest.

a industrial scale force of heavy bombers or a couple 100 frogfoots would be needed to make a dent on things.

On soft skinned vehicles the weapon of choice must always be cluster munition. Larger footprint with fewer sorties.

TSJones · Post by **TSJones** » 27 Dec 2015 21:00

^^^^.......and we will have video of Russians using cluster bombs on civilian targets.