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

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 19 Jan 2016 03:48

ACtually the term "warm water PORT" is a British term. The proper Russian term would be "Warm Vodka Waterski". Odessa. Sevastopol. Constantinopol. Istanopol. Latakia. Bandar Abbas. Ras ul Tanura. Aden. Poti.

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 19 Jan 2016 03:50

Russian intervention in Syria is sooooo ineffective..

Meanwhile this just in: Ayatollah Phone Home

Pentagon report: Iran took SIM cards from detained U.S. sailors' phones
W.J. HenniganW.J. Hennigan

Iranian soldiers removed two SIM cards from two handheld satellite phones but otherwise returned all weapons, ammunition and equipment when they released 10 U.S. sailors and their two boats last week, the Pentagon said Monday.

The first public report from U.S. Central Command into the incident provided that and other new details but did not answer the key question of why the U.S. Navy crews deviated from their course in the Persian Gulf and entered Iranian waters.

Satya_anveshi · Post by **Satya_anveshi** » 19 Jan 2016 07:06

Surasena wrote:Aljazeera Arabic: Should We Kill All Alawites?

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

wow...these mofos in suit-boot give bearded, shalwar clad, Paki mullahs run for their money in hate preaching.

I am starting to believe that Nuke usage can be purposeful and morally understandable (may be even defensible) in the larger interest of humanity.

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 19 Jan 2016 09:20

Surasena wrote:Aljazeera Arabic: Should We Kill All Alawites?

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

How stupid is this?

Hitesh · Post by **Hitesh** » 19 Jan 2016 09:25

Russia needs the Black sea port because it saves them enormous time and energy in getting around the northern arctic landmass to south of Europe and Africa. Taking control of Crimea was essential to Russia's security and the western world should have known the strategic importance of Sevastopol to Russia. But Putin also made a strategic mistake in taking Crimea too early. He made a long lasting enemy out of Ukraine right on his borders. Even though the western world mishandled the Ukraine conflict badly, Putin mismanaged it far worse. His losses outweighs any gains he made during that conflict and it will last for a long long time.

Satya_anveshi · Post by **Satya_anveshi** » 19 Jan 2016 09:37

from sputniknews

TSJones · Post by **TSJones** » 19 Jan 2016 10:36

Hitesh wrote:Russia needs the Black sea port because it saves them enormous time and energy in getting around the northern arctic landmass to south of Europe and Africa. Taking control of Crimea was essential to Russia's security and the western world should have known the strategic importance of Sevastopol to Russia. But Putin also made a strategic mistake in taking Crimea too early. He made a long lasting enemy out of Ukraine right on his borders. Even though the western world mishandled the Ukraine conflict badly, Putin mismanaged it far worse. His losses outweighs any gains he made during that conflict and it will last for a long long time.

evidently the hero of eastern Ukraine re-acquisition has sadly passed away........

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/06/world ... .html?_r=0

it does not make any difference that Putin may have miscalculated the Ukraine desire for economic ties to Europe instead of the kleptocracy of Russia. The invasion of the Ukraine was a very popular thing to the Russian public and its supporters around the world including this forum. It showed to the west and the US in particular that Russia is strong and not weak. It is important to be strong, da?

another Russian general recently passed away also. Putin may be clearing up some problems. So, no damage to Putin who is a strong masculine guy, not weak like Supreme Pigeon who fires generals who then become commentators for Fox News and have the nerve to be disgustingly healthy and long lived.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 19 Jan 2016 11:49

there is no need to derive a complex conspiracy where vodka is a simpler explanation. Rus life expectancy is not exactly japani standard.

russia is moving ahead with raising 3 new divisions for western sector.

Bhurishrava · Post by **Bhurishrava** » 19 Jan 2016 13:13

So what has death of some russian military officer got to do with this thread.
Unless some `only superpower` citizen is losing sleep/mind over Russia.

There are daily deaths in Turkish southeast. Erdogan has truly fcuked up Turkey. Both in foreign policy and home.
http://www.todayszaman.com/national_2-p ... 09979.html

2 policemen, 1 soldier killed in PKK attacks

Bhurishrava · Post by **Bhurishrava** » 19 Jan 2016 13:33

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2 ... oxies.html

Because of Nusra’s strength, CIA-backed factions have entered what has been called a “marriage of necessity” with the jihadist group, which is exploiting its position to gain access to American weapons.

Americans cooperating with Al-Nusra.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 19 Jan 2016 13:56

Netanyahu demands 5 billion$ increase of US aid to Israel after Iran deal Files: 1
Israel licks wounds as Iran sanctions end, looks to future U.S. aid

^^ rent seeking

habal · Post by **habal** » 19 Jan 2016 14:01

Hitesh wrote:Russia needs the Black sea port because it saves them enormous time and energy in getting around the northern arctic landmass to south of Europe and Africa. Taking control of Crimea was essential to Russia's security and the western world should have known the strategic importance of Sevastopol to Russia. But Putin also made a strategic mistake in taking Crimea too early. He made a long lasting enemy out of Ukraine right on his borders. Even though the western world mishandled the Ukraine conflict badly, Putin mismanaged it far worse. His losses outweighs any gains he made during that conflict and it will last for a long long time.

ukraine was about to blockade sevastopol by a mix of US, NATO & Ukbapzi forces taking over. It would have rendered Crimea unusable and Syrian war unwinnable. So kindly correct your perception about Crimea and Sevastopol because that perception has been shaped by western media whose malafide intent was to confuse, misdirect western perception over the Syrian war of whom ukraine was a key supporting pillar.

habal · Post by **habal** » 19 Jan 2016 14:13

Syrian Air Force destroys strategic bridge in Deir Ezzor
http://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syr ... eir-ezzor/

looks like Syrian Army bypassed Palmyra and began aggressive operations around Deir-az-zor, ISIS panicked and conducted operations targeting civilians even though they were sunni.

video & Pics: ISIS Mass Murderers Eliminated by Syrian Troops in Deir Ezzor
http://en.alalam.ir/news/1780709

"The army combed the houses and removed explosive devices and bombs planted by ISIL terrorists before being killed and their arms and weaponry destroyed.

Meanwhile, other army units destroyed positions for ISIL terrorists in the villages of al-Hissan and al-Gneineh and in the surrounding of Ayash village in Deir Ezzor western countryside and inflicted heavy losses upon the terrorists in personnel and weaponry."

Duel in the Desert: Syrian Army Assaults Daesh in Deir Ezzor Province
http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160 ... daesh.html

SAA pushed them hard in the province in the days around and after the massacre, is what I read during the time.
The massacre was a scare and dishearten tactics. SAA is winning this war, making them run wherever it turns up. And apparently they turned up everywhere.

All tourists headed to Turkey, Egypt, Morocco etc have redirected to Cyprus

Tourist arrivals in Cyprus reaches all-time high in 2015

The spike is partly attributed to the cancellation of trips by tourists to Egypt following the downing of a Russian jet over Sinai Peninsula on Oct. 31 and the tourist embargo imposed by Russia on Turkey following the shooting down of a Russian Su-24 military jet over Syria on Nov. 24 by Turkish jets.

Cypriot minister of tourism Yiorgos Lakkotrypis said the increase of tourist arrivals in the last year improves the prospects of 2016, noting "we can proceed to the sustainable development of the sector."

The increase of tourist arrivals for the whole year helped the Cypriot economy mark an expansion of over 2 percent against the 1.5 originally forecast.

According to the World Travel and Tourism Council, tourism contributes to a quarter of Cyprus's economy, both directly and indirectly.

to add to the woes of Turkey,

Russian Sanctions to Cost Turkey Four Times Initial Estimates

Russian sanctions are now expected to cost Turkey more than $12 billion annually - four times Ankara's previous estimates, according to a Turkish trade official; this, together with the consequences of the recent terrorist attacks in which the country's tourism industry was targeted, signal that Turkey should brace for the worst.

http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160 ... tions.html

habal · Post by **habal** » 19 Jan 2016 14:31

counterstrikes by the moderate beheaders that have been mounted in Selma, Jisr al-shughour and Sheikh Maskin are counteroffensives that make no military sense. They are not attacking "Salient points" or gaps, instead they seem to be motivated by political considerations: such as they need "good news" to relay back to the network... this indicates to me that back in their safe zones morale is starting to feel like sand castle in high tide. If Daesh--- +Nutrats+ A'aargh al islam etc. keep wasting resources this way there'll be no point in sitting down for peace talks for the outcome will be sealed at a much lower price for SAA+RuAF+Hizbollah. This confusion has also resulted in this :

Participant list unconfirmed one week before Syrian political talks: UN

UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 18 The United Nations does not yet have a final list of participants to invite to the Syrian political talks, set to commence on Jan. 25 in Geneva, UN Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General Farhan Haq said here Monday.

"The UN will proceed with issuing invitations when the countries spearheading the international Syria support group process come to an understanding on who among the opposition should be invited," said Haq.

Haq said that the Secretary-General urges the members of the ISSG to redouble their efforts to reach agreement, and said that the objective remained to hold the talks on Jan. 25 as planned.

Elbio Rosselli, permanent representative of Uruguay to the UN and president of the UN Security Council for the month of January 2016, also confirmed that the date of Jan. 25 remained firm.

"No different date was considered today," Rosselli told journalists Monday after the Security Council received a briefing from UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura about his complex preparations for the talks.

Meanwhile, Rosselli also said that de Mistura had told the Security Council that he had received assurances from both Saudi Arabia and Iran that tensions between the two countries would not spill over into the Syria political process.

The date of Jan. 25 was set by de Mistura after the Security Council adopted resolution 2254 in December 2015, which set out a roadmap for a Syrian-led political transition to end the country's conflict.

De Mistura said at the time that he hoped the talks would bring together the Syrian government with "the broadest possible spectrum of the Syrian opposition and others."

Earlier this month, the envoy visited Saudi Arabic, Iran and Syria, over concerns that Tehran and Riyadh's row might affect Syrian peace process. The two regional powers are locked in a diplomatic row over Riyadh's execution of a prominent Shiite cleric, along with 46 others over terror charges.

In recent weeks the UN has also voiced concerns about hundreds of thousands of Syrians living under siege with little or no access to food and medical assistance.

Haq told journalists Monday that UN humanitarian agencies were concerned about an estimated 200,000 people, mostly women and children, facing sharply deteriorating conditions in the besieged western side of Deir-Ez-Zor city in Syria.

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 19 Jan 2016 15:16

UN humanitarian agencies were concerned about an estimated 200,000 people, mostly women and children, facing sharply deteriorating conditions in the besieged western side of Deir-Ez-Zor city in Syria.

Note that there are 3 aircraft carrier groups from the US, one Wine-Carrier from France, one Ale Tub from UK, one Tarrel and Deepel Calliel from Shanghai, all floating around sucking their thumbs around that neighborhood. So what stops the NATO powers from actually cooperating with the RuAF and delivering food etc to the hungry civilians? Makes me sick to read of these so-called Hyoo -Man-Eaters pontificating.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 19 Jan 2016 16:07

a couple of well supported USMC type combined armed brigades staging out of Palmyra could make the 150km journey to Deir azzor in 3 days and end this misery. the IS has nowhere near any field force to resist such a mechanised advance, not with BMPs , gunships and planes targeting them in the open desert.

unfortunately SAA does not have the manpower and resources for this.

habal · Post by **habal** » 19 Jan 2016 16:25

the russians are bombing daesh positions in deir-ez-zor and the SAA is attacking ISIL on ground which has led to this mass of suicide campagin in ISIL. Obviously troops have been arranged from somewhere are there in dez theatre.

"Daesh withdrew forces from its positions near al-Ruwad heights after the army and the NDF stormed them and killed many of the terrorists. Al-Ruwad heights and its surroundings are now under full control of the Syrian government forces," FARS quoted army sources as saying.

In short ISIL is not progressing, but withdrawing in DeZ and as an admission of their helplessness they killed civilians in a village in line of their withdrawal. Ofcourse SAA lacks manpower because then there would have been no isil withdrawal but a rout.

Read more: http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160 ... z3xgrafiMc

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 19 Jan 2016 16:50

there would have been no isil withdrawal but a rout.

I have been wondering about this. Syria map looks like an ectoplasm, with green webs crossing mostly desert. So why has there not been a rout, where the retreating columns are "Kuwait-Highway-ISED" from the air? At minimum, all their mechanized capability can be degraded, leaving the turds trudging alone or in small groups across desert?

habal · Post by **habal** » 19 Jan 2016 17:05

good airforce intelligence is a must for ensuring that no sleepers amongst the Nusra and ISIL are targeted in kuwait highway type shock & awe operation. If my guess is correct there must be a lot of informers in both groups who have ties to their old organizations and who keep feeding good intelligence. Maybe such casualties cannot be avoided in mass extermination. That is the only reason I can figure because if RuAF is given free hand I doubt there will be nary a soul moving around in DeZ within say 48 hours. Syrians get very good satellite intel from Russia so what RuAF get for themselves can only be better. Humint is precious and that is what plays a part in ensuring minimum 'friendlies'.

Deir ez Zour is ISs last chance for a major victory. So they will throw in all they have. Problem for SAA is the difficulty of strengthening the forces there.

In some speculations from pro-SAA quarters there are around 500k troops, irregulars, militia, volunteers, hezb altogether in Syria today. It is a significant amount of force but except 4th Mechanized, and 104 assault regiment and maybe some old-timer hezb types, there are very few professional troops who are capable of modern tactical operation with required support. That is the problem in field operations. SO they are expanding territory but it is a battle of attrition.

like this one
War at Palmyra.

http://www.anna-news.info/node/51190

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 19 Jan 2016 18:39

Turkey Bozena 5 unmanned mine clearance system deployed on Jarablus border

habal · Post by **habal** » 19 Jan 2016 19:56

Ideally this should mean atleast a pretty strong battle group of isis is wiped out at deir-ez-zor today, atleast a company or battalion worth. Considering how sparsely populated DeZ is that could mean a significant setback.

http://www.almasdarnews.com/article/isi ... ay-report/

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 19 Jan 2016 20:00

compare this. syria amd iraq are about same size of fighting zones.

i do not have oif figures but in ods the coalition deployed some 1800 aircraft in theater. maybe more from diego.

russia has barely 100 ac in there and syaf cannot be more than 100 birds of all types most inferior ones like frogfoots and su22 fitters.

now u see why airborne shakina just aint possible.

russia also does not have gmti jstars e8 to pounce on isis convoys in all weather. isis is pretty immune at night in the deserts. ruaf mostly works in day..so is sleeps in day and attacks start at dusk with abdul suicidi and vbied

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 19 Jan 2016 20:04

isis has some 30000 fighters ...lot of cannon fodder. due to lack of heavy artillery, battles and losses are at platoon scale. its easy to break contact and disappear in the night.

so they are not trapped or under great pressure in syria as yet. if raqqa is besieged and north aleppo cut off they will be

TSJones · Post by **TSJones** » 19 Jan 2016 20:12

Singha wrote:compare this. syria amd iraq are about same size of fighting zones.

i do not have oif figures but in ods the coalition deployed some 1800 aircraft in theater. maybe more from diego.

russia has barely 100 ac in there and syaf cannot be more than 100 birds of all types most inferior ones like frogfoots and su22 fitters.

now u see why airborne shakina just aint possible.

russia also does not have gmti jstars e8 to pounce on isis convoys in all weather. isis is pretty immune at night in the deserts. ruaf mostly works in day..so is sleeps in day and attacks start at dusk with abdul suicidi and vbied

so far Supreme Pigeon has not authorized attacks on long moving convoys for fear of killing civilians, women and children.

as for Syria, Maximum Pigeon uses only drones that operate in S-400 range which precludes mass bombing convoys...no f-16'skis, ac-130'skis, or A-10'skis.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 19 Jan 2016 20:43

i mean the fast moving toyota pickup trucks and technicals that isis use not trucks and buses. these toyotas roam far and wide in the flat deserts cross country.

russia has no real time reaper type drones to spot and attack at night and deir azzor is too far out for mi28 and ka52 unless they get based out of deir azzor airbase itself..will present issue of fuel, weapons, engines

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 19 Jan 2016 20:44

in the old days a vvd airborne division using il76 and an22 would hv landed and broken the back of isis using wheeled vehicles and hinds

habal · Post by **habal** » 19 Jan 2016 20:54

>>
russia has no real time reaper type drones to spot and attack at night and deir azzor is too far out for mi28 and ka52 unless they get based out of deir azzor airbase itself..will present issue of fuel, weapons, engines

they have satellite intel and night time gives out heat signatures pretty well. You need drones only to take out specific individuals out of group and not applicable to isis camp.

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 19 Jan 2016 22:21

I am sure General Vodkov is working on this problem. Let's see..

Viv S · Post by **Viv S** » 20 Jan 2016 03:21

Oil prices biting everywhere. ISIS cuts salaries by 50%.

Islamic State
Bayt Mal al-Muslimeen
Wilayat al-Raqqa
Decision no.: n/a
Month of Safr 1437 AH [c. November-December 2015]

In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

God Almighty has said: "Go forth, lightly or heavily armed. And wage jihad with your wealth and souls in the path of God. That is best for you if you know" (al-Tawba 41) [Qur'an 9:41]. And on the authority of Anas (may God be pleased with him): that the Prophet (SAWS) said: "Wage jihad against the mushrikeen with your wealth, souls & tongues"- Musnad Ahmad: Musnad Anas Malek (11798).

Jihad of wealth has been mentioned with jihad of soul in the Qur'an in ten cases, and in nine of those cases jihad of wealth has been presented beforehand over jihad of the soul, and only in one case has jihad of the soul been presented beforehand over jihad of wealth. And on the authority of Omar bin al-Khattab (may God be pleased with him): "The Messenger of God (SAWS) ordered us to give charity and that coincided with the time I had some wealth. So I said: 'Today I will outdo Abu Bakr, if ever I have outdone him.' So I came with half of my wealth, and so the Messenger of God (SAWS) said: 'What have you left for your family?' I said: 'The same amount.' And Abu Bakr came with all he had, so he said: 'Oh Abu Bakr, what have you left for your family?' He said: 'I have left for them God and His Messenger.' I said: 'By God, I can never outdo him in anything.'" (muttafiq alayhi).

So on account of the exceptional circumstances the Islamic State is facing, it has been decided to reduce the salaries that are paid to all mujahideen by half, and it is not allowed for anyone to be exempted from this decision, whatever his position. Let it be known that work will continue to distribute provisions twice every month as usual.

And God is the guarantor of success.

Islamic State
Abu Muhammad al-Muhajir [Bayt al-Mal minister?]

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 20 Jan 2016 06:51

only the capture of palmyra and airbases close by will permit time on station over deir azzor for tactical aircraft.

Rus has been most remiss in not yet converting their strategic bombers for the mass conventional bombing role. emergency mode work must be ongoing now. this despite clear warning signs in georgia long ago that a new era on convetional war had arrived , not to say the huge red flags raised by ODS and OIF. they were sleeping at the wheel on this and are paying a price now in low combat effectiveness of their heavy bomber fleet for this particular task.

even moving the backfire squadron from mozdok to damascus or T4 would permit them to carry some 24 bombs instead of 12 and much longer time on station.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 20 Jan 2016 09:24

Russia’s Aerospace Force hit almost 600 terrorist targets in Syria over past four days

http://tass.ru/en/defense/850607

Russian bombers delivered air strikes at terrorists’ strongholds in Dei ez-Zor province, where Islamic State militants massacred about 300 civilians to intimidate the local population

MOSCOW, January 19. /TASS/. Russia’s warplanes have made 157 sorties over the past four days destroying 579 terrorist targets, Russia’s Defense Ministry's spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said on Tuesday. "Over the past four days the planes of Russia’s air group in the Syrian Arab Republic made 157 sorties against 579 facilities of the terrorist infrastructure in the provinces of Aleppo, Deir ez-Zor, Homs, Hama, Raqqah and Latakia," he said. The Su-34 bomber delivered air strikes on the strongholds of the Islamic State (IS) group’s gunmen at the high points near Kabakli in the Latakia province, Konashenkov said. The strikes destroyed four SUV with installed large-caliber machine guns and around 20 gunmen.

Over 60 Islamic State gunmen killed in Russian air strikes in Syria’s Deir ez-Zor province Konashenkov elaborated that more than 60

Islamic State militants were killed in Russian air strikes in the Syrian province of Dei ez-Zor, where Islamic State massacred about 300 civilians. "Russian Su-34 bombers delivered air strikes at terrorists’ strongholds in the vicinity of the settlement of Bgelia in the Dei ez-Zor province, where Islamic State militants massacred about 300 civilians to intimidate the local population," he said. He said more than 60 terrorists had been killed in the air strike. Apart from that, three trucks with munitions and two Jeeps with ZU-23 artillery systems had been destroyed, he added. Last weekend, France Presse reported mass killings of civilians by Islamic State gunmen in the city of Deir ez-Zor. Apart from that, terrorists reportedly took hostage more than 400 people, including women and children.

Russian warplanes destroy militants’ convoys in Syria’s Aleppo, Hama provinces

According to the spokesman, Russia’s warplanes have destroyed a weapons warehouse and terrorists’ convoys in Syria’s Aleppo and Hama provinces. "A Sukhoi-25 fighter-bomber has wiped out terrorists’ weapons and ammunition depot near Tell Rifaat, Aleppo province. Objective monitoring means registered the detonation of explosives stored in the building and the full destruction of the facility and the items in store," he said. In the area of Ahras, in the same province, Sukhoi-34 bombers destroyed 20 off-road vehicles carrying weapons and militants from the Turkish border to Aleppo, Konashenkov said. "In the area of Narb Nafsa, Hama province, direct bomb strikes by a Sukhoi-25 fighter-bomber destroyed five off-road vehicles carrying large-caliber machine-guns and mortars," he added. Russia’s air task force in Syria destroys 23 fuel tanker trucks heading for Turkey Konashenkov also said Russia’s combat aircraft have destroyed an oil pumping station in the Syrian province of Raqqa and a convoy of fuel tanker trucks in the province of Aleppo. "During the operation to undermine the sources of terrorists’ criminal incomes, Russian warplanes have destroyed a large depot of fuel and lubricants and an oil pumping station in the province of Raqqa over the past four days," the spokesman said. Also, Russia’s air reconnaissance detected a convoy of fuel tanker trucks near the settlement of Herbol in the province of Aleppo carrying smuggled oil towards the border with Turkey. During its air raid, the Russian bomber Su-24 destroyed 23 fuel tanker trucks, the spokesman said.

Gang of 30 militants deserts after Syrian troops liberate capital of mountainous Latakia

According to the official, the gang of warlord Abu Khaldun numbering about 30 people has deserted after the Syrian government troops liberated the Salma locality in the Latakia province. "The facts of militants’ mass desertion and evasion of whole their units from further participation in hostilities have been observed. Thus, a gang of warlord Abu Khaldun comprising about 30 people deserted their positions en masse on Sunday," Konashenkov said. According to the official, after the liberation of Salma the activity of militants in the area of the Jabal al-Akrad mountain group significantly decreased. According to media reports, the Syrian government forces entered Salma on January 12.

According to the head of the Main Operations Directorate of the Russian army’s General Staff, Sergei Rudskoi, the opposition detachment "Desert Falcons" actively helped to liberate one of the "main strongholds" of the Islamic State militants and the capital of mountainous Latakia. "In the north of the province of Latakia, three settlements were liberated with the active participation of the Desert Falcons opposition group, including the town of Salma that is the main stronghold of militants and capital of mountainous Latakia," Rudskoi said on Friday (Jan 15). According to him, Syrian government forces also seized 10 settlements in the province of Hama. "Twenty-four armed militants have voluntarily surrendered to government forces in combat near the town of Jarjis," Rudskoi said. "Government forces and militias took seven settlements near the Kweires airfield."

The Syrian democratic opposition forces operating in conjunction with the governmental troops have been playing an ever more important part in the fight against the terrorists in Syria. "At present, the personnel strength of such opposition forces exceeds 10,500 men," Rudskoi said. According to him, the opposition forces led by Aiman flyat al-Ghanim have advanced by 8 km toward al-Raqqa considered the ‘capital city’ of the Islamic State and liberated for towns. "The Soureim and Chelobiya detachments have driven the IS militants from an area totaling 60 square km on the eastern and western side of the dyke on the Euphrates River near al-Ahmar," Rudskoi added. More than 200 settlements have been liberated from Islamic State terrorists since the beginning of the Russian operation in Syria. "In all, 217 settlements have been retaken and an area of more than 1,000 square km has been liberated from the Islamic State terrorists over the 100 days of the operation being carried out by the Russian Aerospace Force’s task group in Syria," General Rudskoi said. "People are returning to Syrian towns, and peaceful life is being restored," he added.

More:
http://tass.ru/en/defense/850607

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 20 Jan 2016 09:26

Russia's 2015 expenses for military operation in Syria do not exceed estimates — official

More:
http://tass.ru/en/defense/850691

MOSCOW, January 19 /TASS/. The 2015 expenses for the military operation in Syria did not exceed the Russian Defense Ministry estimate, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Tatyana Shevtsova told journalists on Tuesday. "All the 2015 expenses for the military operation in Syria agree with the Russian Defense Ministry estimate. Our servicemen receive some additional payments," Shevtsova said.

habal · Post by **habal** » 20 Jan 2016 09:31

kuweiris airbase is 200 kms from DeZ city. And it is now pretty secure, so only matter of time and will.

AoA and again AoA

The Russian Air Force has flown 157 sorties and attacked 579 targets during the last 5 days.

The Russian Air Force destroyed 1 massive oil tanker convoy loaded with petroleum product and 6 convoys of armored pickups with heavy 23mm cannons right at the Turkish border near the town of Tal Rif’aat. The Russian military also confirmed targeting and destroying a fuel depot, a fuel processing plant, and a pump for extraction of oil. All tanker convoys were headed to Turkey.

meanwhile at the old cremation ground viz deir ez zor

Al-Bughayliyya: the site of the alleged massacre. Apparently, the U.N. has confirmed it. There was even some talk about ISIS advancing in some areas. The SAA is now in Al-Bughayliyya taking out the stink from the rat pelts.

‘Ayyaash Village: The SAAF and RuAF wrought havoc among the rabble of rats here who were trying to reoccupy this village. Instead, we have incontrovertible evidence that they lost over 70 of their own here during the last 3 days. It is confirmed because they admitted to it on their various pro-rat websites. The Syrian Army gives a figure in excess of 80. 10 trucks laden with weapons and ammo from Turkey were vaporized along with 2 armored pickups festooned with the usual 23mm Doschka.

Dayr El-Zor Military Airbase: More precise artillery strikes have shocked the terrorists into a form of lassitude. They have been unable to mount any credible offensive against the Republican Guards under the command of Lt. General ‘Issaam Zhahreddeen.

ha ha ha

German Tornado's pilots cannot fly their jets in the night, astounding.

https://www.rt.com/news/329436-german-t ... -missions/

meanwhile true daeshbag supporters are out in open

Israel Defense Minister Ya'alon:
"In Syria, if the choice is between Iran and the ISIL, I choose the ISIL".

Admits it openly.

http://www.timesofisrael.com/yaalon-i-w ... -in-syria/

Ya'alon: I would prefer Islamic State to Iran in Syria

'In Syria, if the choice is between Iran and the Islamic State, I choose the Islamic State. They don't have the capabilities that Iran has,' Ya'alon told a conference held by the Institute of National Security Studies in Tel Aviv.

'Our greatest enemy is the Iranian regime that has declared war on us,' the defense minister said of the threats facing Israel.

chetak · Post by **chetak** » 20 Jan 2016 09:45

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 20 Jan 2016 09:54

SAA had a go on IS at Quraytayn and now IS has struck.

http://www.almasdarnews.com/article/isi ... east-homs/

One week after the Syrian Arab Army’s 120th Brigade of the 2nd Division began operations to capture the strategic desert-city of Quraytayn in the Homs Governorate’s southeastern countryside, the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) has launched their own counter-assault to clear the mountains overlooking western flank.

According to a local correspondent in the Homs Governorate, ISIS struck the Syrian Arab Arab’s 1st line of defense in Jabal Quraytayn, seizing a number of hilltops along the Maheen-Quraytayn Road.

The local correspondent further added that ISIS is attempting to recapture the Maheen-Quraytayn checkpoint and its surrounding hills that are located at the halfway point between the ancient Assyrian city of Quraytayn and the nearby town of Maheen.

If ISIS does recapture the Maheen-Quraytayn checkpoint, they will be able to strike the town of Maheen, which is located less than a kilometer away from the city of Quraytayn.

Regardless if ISIS recaptures the Maheen-Quraytayn checkpoint, there still remains a large pro-government presence in the Mahsaa Mountains in southern Quraytayn; this is where the most intense firefights are currently taking place in southeast Homs.

In the coming days, the battle for southeastern Homs will become even more important, as the Syrian Arab Army’s 63rd Brigade of the 4th Mechanized Division and Hezbollah push east from the Qalamoun Mountains towards this province.

shaun · Post by **shaun** » 20 Jan 2016 10:12

Syrian jets provide cover for Russian bombers in first joint anti-ISIS raid (VIDEO)
[youtube]https://youtu.be/tnlB0IZGQKE[/youtube]

Kashi · Post by **Kashi** » 20 Jan 2016 10:25

habal wrote:...

I can only shake my head at that image. What a waste of precious oil that could have been put o much better use.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 20 Jan 2016 10:47

habal wrote: http://www.timesofisrael.com/yaalon-i-w ... -in-syria/

Ya'alon: I would prefer Islamic State to Iran in Syria

'In Syria, if the choice is between Iran and the Islamic State, I choose the Islamic State. They don't have the capabilities that Iran has,' Ya'alon told a conference held by the Institute of National Security Studies in Tel Aviv.

'Our greatest enemy is the Iranian regime that has declared war on us,' the defense minister said of the threats facing Israel.

Not sure what cool aid he drinks but he is surely out of his minds , Not surprising Saudi and Israel go along well as they both support ISIS

RoyG · Post by **RoyG** » 20 Jan 2016 12:22

He's not out of his mind. It's very rational. Would you rather have a developed and strategically minded enemy or a brute who can't think beyond the book?

Manish_P · Post by **Manish_P** » 20 Jan 2016 12:58

@ RoyG

Ideally neither !

Next best (if i am rational, and strategically minded myself), i would like those two who are enemies of each other, to fight between themselves and weaken each other !!

In any case i think Mr. Ya'lon might change his words very quickly if hordes of the IS scum start making their way to the Israeli border
(disclaimer - this doesn't take in account who helped created/sustain the scums...... but then with one track minded islamic fanatics it doesn't matter

)