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

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 16 Feb 2016 11:46

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world ... 72636.html

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 16 Feb 2016 11:50

that may explain why high quality assets like T90s are being seen trucked through the desert toward Taqbah...ISIS knows the importance of the road very well and will defend it very strongly indeed, sending units from north and raqqa to defend that area. onlee issue is being bare desert, its very vulnerable to air power any fixed defensive lines.

good idea may be establish strong blocking positions north and south of the place and draw the IS into the pocket, then hammer them with shells, backfires and platypus.

in that same mould YPG could go guerilla mode, surround azaz from all sides in the countryside and not permit any traffic in and out ..... operate in small units and present no concentrated target for the turkish guns to lob shells at. and at the opportune time unleash SAA MLRS to drive those guns back from the border.

habal · Post by **habal** » 16 Feb 2016 12:48

russian RBK-500 AO2 cluster bombs in action:

February 15, 2016
Haritan, District of the Aleppo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_AlNClKgeE

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 16 Feb 2016 13:24

Babak Taghvaee ‏@BabakTaghvaee 20h20 hours ago

Minutes ago, Iranian Min.of Def. Gen. Dehghan arrived Moscow (Below picture)to negotiate for 160 Su-30SMs for #IRIAF

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 16 Feb 2016 15:36

Hassan Ridha ‏@sayed_ridha now10 minutes ago
A #Russia-n Tu-214R has reportedly landed at Hmeimem Airbase near #Latakia #Syria

habal · Post by **habal** » 16 Feb 2016 15:42

ATTN: STANDBY (UPDATES)

Aleppo thermal station secured by Syrian Army. No info on conditions but main structures are all intact.

https://twitter.com/Syria_Rising/status ... 9822862336

KINSIBBA:

Syrian Navy Seals, front runners, storming Kinnsibba from two sides right now, the village/feature will fall within the hour.

habal · Post by **habal** » 16 Feb 2016 15:45

take some time to reflect on what 'could have been' Syria's future had Russia not intervened.

Russian Diplomat Drops a Bombshell: US Expected ISIS to Seize Damascus by October!

In an article in a British newspaper, Russia's ambassador to the UK reveals the Russians were told by the Western powers that after the US proclaimed a ‘no-fly zone’ ISIS would capture Damascus.

http://russia-insider.com/en/politics/r ... er/ri12860

*this is why Russia moved in so quickly, yes?

habal · Post by **habal** » 16 Feb 2016 15:50

rapid advance towards the MARE buffer on Turkish border

Shaykh Isa village to west of Mare captured by SAA.

YPG Kurds are acting in consonance with Syrian govt. Says Fars.
thus irritating the turks much more than usual.

The YPG Kurds have recently bonded with the Damascus government. The Syrian army sent several arms cargoes to the YPG troops in the Northeastern province of Hasaka and trained the first group of Kurdish volunteer forces in the provincial capital city of Hasaka last week.

http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13941127000332

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 16 Feb 2016 15:59

Hassan Ridha ‏@sayed_ridha 47m47 minutes ago
#IS have withdrawn, #SAA teams are now sweeping the Powerplant for IEDs

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 16 Feb 2016 16:04

the Tu124R has side looking GMTI radar to track and record turkish movements in the night on both sides of the border.
will likely help the RuAF and SyAF to target convoys in the night based on real time info it gathers.
it seems to have 2 side looking radar panels each side.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 16 Feb 2016 16:08

ruaf - small attack on a truck convoy near azaz

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=92c_1455587789

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 16 Feb 2016 16:10

fighting near misqan and ahras

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=169_1455586147

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 16 Feb 2016 16:16

report by CNN probably from the road to tabqah

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=a26_1455572061

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 16 Feb 2016 16:25

Iran looks to spend $8bn on Russian arms

https://www.rt.com/business/332604-iran ... ssia-deal/

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 16 Feb 2016 16:26

The Turks have been circumcised,circumvented and circumscribed (by Russia) .It is time for the Sultan to be circumspect but he is behaving like a dog chasing in circles its tick-infested tail,and in future will be the equivalent of a circle= zero!

Huge Ru-Iran mil deals in the offing including Su-30s/local manufacture,Yak-130 trainer/light attack birds,,repairs to its old MIG-29s,T-90 MBTs,S-300/400 SAMs,Yakhont shore-based anti-ship missiles,diesel subs,MI-17 helos,etc.,etc.

Military Upgrade: How Russia Can Help Iran Modernize its Navy
EBRAHIM NOROOZI / JAMEJAM ONLINE

Iran’s Minister of Defense, Brigadier General Hossein Dehghan, is due to arrive in Moscow February 15-16 for an official visit.

S-400 Air Defense Systems
© Sputnik/ Mikhail Mokrushin

Iran Seeks to Buy New Russian Weapons - Adviser to Supreme Leader
According to the press service of the Iranian Embassy in Moscow, it is expected that the head of the Ministry of Defense of Iran will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, as well as Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation on military-technical cooperation Vladimir Kozhin.

So far the topics of negotiations have not been disclosed, but chief editor of the newspaper ‘Iran News’, Emad Abshenas is convinced that the Iranian Defense Minister has brought with him a number of concrete proposals to expand Iran’s military cooperation with Russia.

According to the expert, the agenda will not only be regarding full implementation of the contract for the supply of anti-aircraft missile systems, but Iran is also ready to buy the Russian Su-30 fighter, according to Emad Abshenas.

“Over the past 3-4 years, Iran and Russia’s military cooperation has reached an unprecedentedly wide scale. It is quite logical that by visiting General Dehghan seeks to strengthen this cooperation. There is quite an extensive range of topics. Thus, after the start of implementation of the joint comprehensive action plan and exemption from sanctions, Iran is planning to upgrade its navy.”

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (right) and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif
© Sputnik/ Vladimir Pesnya

Russia, Iran to Enhance Cooperation to Stabilize Situation in Mideast
The expert further said, “Iran sees Russia as a strategic partner for many years to come. Tehran has expressed interest in the purchase of automated air defense systems and missile defense. Iranian submarines are also in need of modernization. In order to solve this problem, specialized modern weapons need to be purchased and Russia has something to offer,” the expert told Sputnik Persia.

Abshenas mentioned that Iran is interested in purchasing modern Russian Su-30, Su-35 aircraft. The purchase of Russian weapons, such as the anti-missile defense system S-400 and its upgraded models are also probably going to be a part of the forthcoming discussion. The ordnances such as the Russian tanks T-90 and T-95 may also be highlighted during the talks.

“In general, it should be noted that Iran is willing to offer Russia cooperation in the military-industrial complex to jointly create tanks, missile weapons and marine navigation systems. Therefore, we will wait to see what agreements Dehgan will reach during his visit to his Russian colleagues. It can be assumed that as a result a number of contracts will be signed.”

It should be recalled that in April 2015, the head of the Defense Ministry of Iran also paid an official visit to Moscow and took part in the International Conference on Security. As part of that visit the parties discussed the exact contract for the supply of Russian S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems to Iran.

Read more: http://sputniknews.com/military/2016021 ... z40Kf4ILSi

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 16 Feb 2016 16:31

habal wrote:take some time to reflect on what 'could have been' Syria's future had Russia not intervened.

Russian Diplomat Drops a Bombshell: US Expected ISIS to Seize Damascus by October!

In an article in a British newspaper, Russia's ambassador to the UK reveals the Russians were told by the Western powers that after the US proclaimed a ‘no-fly zone’ ISIS would capture Damascus.
http://russia-insider.com/en/politics/r ... er/ri12860

*this is why Russia moved in so quickly, yes?

The Plan to use ISIS to create a Sunni State by Saudi and company is well known , wheather Damascus would have fallen by October would be doubtful. Saudi has been claiming since 2011 when the uprising was instigated by powers that be that Damascus would fall in 3 month.

A all Sunni Syria would have ruffled the feathers of Iran and Iraq for sure.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 16 Feb 2016 16:43

This explains why the Soothis and MBS are so enraged.Their corrupt debauched monarchy had probably drawn up shares of Syrian assets,etc. for their overfed tribe of obese princelings. MB Sh*tworm probably was to get the choicest "cut" of all of the Syrian rump.Instead,all he is getting is the proverbial "hump"!

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 16 Feb 2016 16:52

What is the offical stand of Iraq on Syrian crisis it seems they dont have much to say if they are pro-Assad or against it unlike Iran

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 16 Feb 2016 17:04

^^^ Iraqi Hash fighters and other Shia groups are fighting in Syria as part of Assad Govts efforts to beat rebels. Iraq has been positive towards Syria since ISIS came on scene. Not sure of developments before that

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 16 Feb 2016 18:27

only one group of jihadis known as abu walid group will stay in mare and fight. rest will move to next village north per deal

Jenan Moussa ‏@jenanmoussa 3h3 hours ago
Jenan Moussa Retweeted Akhbar | أخبار الآن
#Break: city of Mare (symbol of revolution) reaches deal with Jaish AlThuwar (part SDF) to prevent fighting in city.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 16 Feb 2016 18:29

i guess this village to village game of chinese checkers will go on, to see whose pieces yellow or green can grab the remaining villages on the board.

the real thing is what are the plans for azaz and Al-bab - two must have logistical nodes to cut ISIS supply from north.

the YPG will most likely not want to take villages with predominantly turkoman pop to placate the sultan for now, while demanding that all villages with significant kurds be under its control.

the real blocking will have to come @ al-bab from east aleppo side by SAA.

YPG will leave azaz alone and take over the surrounding countryside, leaving a little green oil droplet south of the border while working slyly with the SAA via track2 channels to facilitate a ISIS collapse in the north of aleppo....

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 16 Feb 2016 20:20

no fighting in mare. to be jointly run by sdf and abu walid group of jihadis er freedom fighters thats the deal.

pralay · Post by **pralay** » 16 Feb 2016 20:44

SDf/YPG will most likely take akthrain(ithrain) and then go north to rojava and then to west, or to south-east on the m4 highway east of quabasin to link up with eastern ypg flank first and then to rojava.

Al-bab will slow them down, as its considerably large urban area.
Instead the tiger force will have to put pressure on al-bab along-with/or one more SAA flank from Ahras/Tel-jabin.

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 16 Feb 2016 21:53

@pralay, interestingly North-North West of Akhhrain is Dabiq. Before Rojava, the battle of Dabiq will start. Whenever, YPG reaches there, a lot of myths and stories on ISIS will be put to test.

Al Bab abhi door ast.

Lalmohan · Post by **Lalmohan** » 16 Feb 2016 22:32

Saudis qataris roosis have agreed to freeze oil output

pralay · Post by **pralay** » 16 Feb 2016 22:54

@deejay, yeh that f*ing dabiq prophecy

Shreeman · Post by **Shreeman** » 16 Feb 2016 23:12

deejay wrote:@pralay, interestingly North-North West of Akhhrain is Dabiq. Before Rojava, the battle of Dabiq will start. Whenever, YPG reaches there, a lot of myths and stories on ISIS will be put to test.

Al Bab abhi door ast.

But what if it is not a myth? What if the prophecy comes true? Forward to 10 people or you will be left behind at rapture!

Bhurishrava · Post by **Bhurishrava** » 16 Feb 2016 23:17

http://www.todayszaman.com/diplomacy_tu ... 12450.html

Turkey about to conclude deal with Israel on ’all issues’

Shanu · Post by **Shanu** » 16 Feb 2016 23:19

Khwaishein hain per Dum nahin hain.. Turkey searching for the mai-baap Unkil to protect its assets.. but mai-baap being the old player in this game is already MIA.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/17/world ... .html?_r=0

ISTANBUL — Turkey amplified the big-power tensions over the increasingly chaotic war in Syria on Tuesday, saying it is in discussions with allies, including the United States, over collaborating on a military ground operation into northern Syrian territory.

A Turkish official who spoke to reporters in Istanbul about the Syrian situation said it was now impossible to halt the war without a ground operation in northern Syria, and that the Turks would not undertake such an operation on their own.

“We are asking coalition partners that there should be a ground operation,” said the official, who was authorized to speak on the condition that he not be identified by name. “We are discussing this with allies.”

While it was unclear how far the discussions have progressed, it appeared unlikely that a ground operation would be mounted. Saudi Arabia has said it would be willing to commit troops, but the United States has repeatedly indicated that it would not.

pralay · Post by **pralay** » 16 Feb 2016 23:40

Looks like YPG is starting an diversive flank at Shadaddi, south of Hasakah

Kovan Direj ‏@kovandire 55 mins55 minutes ago

Breaking #shaddadih
#SDF advance on shaddadih front #ISIS fronts collapse #tiwtterkurds #Syria

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 17 Feb 2016 01:24

Maybe the rat nests are now left with only token rats, after months of being bombed by Gen. Vodkov and denied supplies, and with rats withdrawn for the pest-e-sha'eed in Deir ez Zor etc. So everywhere, the SAA/SDF etc may find that a small push sends them packing. I hope a general collapse is not too far off, and that they all go and mass outside Raqqa like Pakis on the Shomali Plain, all ready for the BackFires and Hinds.

Y. Kanan · Post by **Y. Kanan** » 17 Feb 2016 02:21

habal wrote:Y. Kanan, the balance of force scenario at North is 5:1.

turkey has 18,000 troops at Syrian border while SAA+allies are 100,000 at North.
turks do not enjoy air superiority inside Syria.
just today 6 F-16s were chased away by 2 Su-30SMs.

at South, the Saudis + allies have to make long trek with lumbering columns across open desert for 400 kms.
Will they reach raqqa or DeZ unmolested.
again they do not have air cover inside Syria.

what the Saudis are trying to do IMO, the Saudi are boosting the moral of the Jihadist by advertising a possible intervention so these don’t surrender easily and hold the ground for as long as possible.

Here is a great article in English on what military planners in Damascus intend to do about Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
https://elijahjm.wordpress.com

Huh? Turkey has over 400 combat aircraft and Saudi can easily spare dozens more. The Russians have less than 50 combat aircraft in theatre.

Shreeman · Post by **Shreeman** » 17 Feb 2016 03:39

YK,

Turks have been the rotten spoilt brat like the saudis. Numerically saudis should have infinite resources to wipe yemen off the map in a day.But of the 300+ aircraft what number has actually served for them to be begging uae, egypt, bahrain and everybody else.

Turks are used to beating up orphaned PKK. Lets see how they react when their platforms start biting dust. Actually, lets see how many they can even stand up. All this hiding behind NATO is fine for defense, offense is a different matter.

member_29325 · Post by **member_29325** » 17 Feb 2016 03:51

Shreeman saar, looks like your wish for soothis and turks to get into a shooting war and getting terminally burnt is almost being fulfilled...only damper would be if KSA premature browns its long white robes and asks Oman or some other countries to pull its sausage from the fire. Will have to see how all this gulf country solidarity works out -- they had a "join exercise" with the pakis just last week.

Shreeman · Post by **Shreeman** » 17 Feb 2016 04:28

Oman isnt joining any of these games. Its shown no inclination whatsoever. The north thunder isnt fooling anyone. They may leave behind hardware the jeehardis suddenly find. They may setup camp and abuse their camels in jordan. But no one of any import is fooled by this. The saudis have to learn to fight at home. The fight is coming home to them from the south, now the north has to do the same.

Just like the saudis themselves, there are warehouses full of hardware. TOWs are flowing like camel urine everywhere But they are running short of motivated manpower. Remember, all the rebels obtained nothing more than 10% of populated territory (and the people living there ran as refugees). ISIS has another may be 10% of population. Empty land isnt being held. Map makers can color it POK or AJK.

Another few weeks and this charade of 30,000 northern light infantry in idlib or raqqa will be over. A few terrorists here or there but this refugees business has meant there arent any mosul or ramadi in syria.

Russia may cut a deal, shortsighted. Short of that, the disillusioned ex-NLI and motivated syrians will try liberating arabia sooner or later. After all this, they come out on top and try to do a tashkent then they deserve to be cut to pieces. You let your enemy have H&D, it grows into a pakistan.

Both arabia and syria understand that. Syrians have been sitting in their cans knowing TOWs are coming. What about arabians and kornets? Or tochkas?

Y. Kanan · Post by **Y. Kanan** » 17 Feb 2016 05:54

Shreeman wrote:YK,

Turks have been the rotten spoilt brat like the saudis. Numerically saudis should have infinite resources to wipe yemen off the map in a day.But of the 300+ aircraft what number has actually served for them to be begging uae, egypt, bahrain and everybody else.

Turks are used to beating up orphaned PKK. Lets see how they react when their platforms start biting dust. Actually, lets see how many they can even stand up. All this hiding behind NATO is fine for defense, offense is a different matter.

You may be right; the Turks and Saudis are already chickening out. Now they're demanding the US spearhead the invasion:
http://news.yahoo.com/turkish-artillery ... 43871.html

What's scary is US might just do it - probably put Turkey\Saudi up to it in the first place.

member_29325 · Post by **member_29325** » 17 Feb 2016 06:22

US has said no US troops on the ground, so the soothis and turks needs to put their own boots on the ground. No politician in the US has the political capital to sign off on a war at this time. However, US will gladly up the ante in Ukraine, as it is already doing. Still won't solve the problem the saudi/turks have...i.e., they are incompetent and cowardly morons who cannot fight worth a damn.

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 17 Feb 2016 06:28

As violence intensifies in Deir ez-Zor, Syrian army reports death of 100 ISIS militants

ARA News
DEIR EZZOR – More than 100 militant fighters from the Islamic State (ISIS) were killed in renewed attacks by Syrian army forces in the eastern province of Deir ez-Zor, official reported on Monday.
The Syrian regime’s army troops hit ISIS headquarters with heavy artillery shelling in the districts of Sheikh Yassin, Hamidiyah, Ardeyh and Rashidi in Deir ez-Zor.
This coincided with several airstrikes by the Syrian air force on the ISIS fighting positions in the Mareyiah village in Deir ez-Zor’s suburb.

“At least 80 Daesh terrorists were killed in the city of Deir ez-Zor under heavy shelling by the Syrian army. More than 20 others were killed under Syrian airstrikes in the village of Mareiyah in the eastern suburb of Deir ez-Zor,” the army said in a statement, using an acronym for ISIS.
Speaking to ARA News, a spokesman for the campaign “Deir ez-Zor Is Being Slaughtered Silently” said that the dead militants included a top commander of ISIS known as Abu Islam al-Baghdadi, who was killed along with dozens of jihadis in the Hamidiyah bombardment.
“Several other prominent members of ISIS were killed in the regime’s operations, including Tamir Haiji, Islam al-Deri, Bassel al-Hamed, Sultan Awwad and Salem Awwad,” the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
In the meantime, the ISIS operations chamber in Deir ez-Zor said in a statement that its fighters have bombed Syrian army’s positions with dozens of “hell canons”, adding that dozens of pro-regime troops were killed in the bombardment.
Local sources reported that the clashes between ISIS and the Syrian army forces continued until Monday midnight.
Reporting by: Jan Nasro
Source: ARA News

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 17 Feb 2016 06:30

ARA News
ALEPPO – Kurdish-Arab alliance of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) made new gains against Islamist rebels in Syria’s northern Aleppo province, military sources reported on Tuesday.
Subsequent to clashes with militant fighters of al-Nusra Front (al-Qaeda wing in Syria) and the Islamic Movement of Ahrar al-Sham, the western-backed SDF units captured several villages in the northern countryside of Aleppo.
“Our forces liberated the town of Sheikh Issa and a number of villages in its suburbs north of Aleppo after clashes with the Islamist fighters of Nusra and Ahrar al-Sham,” SDF spokesman Ahmed al-Omar told ARA News.
At least 18 Islamist fighters were killed in the clashes, while the SDF lost four members in Tuesday’s operations.
This comes just a day after the Kurdish YPG fighters and SDF allies took control of the strategic Tel Rafaat town –one of the main supply routes for the radical Islamist groups in northern Aleppo.
The SDF advance comes amid continuous shelling by the Turkish army on the Kurdish positions in northern Aleppo. Turkey’s bombardment on the Kurdish units was considered as a direct support to Syrian Islamist groups, including Nusra Front–al-Qaeda wing in Syria.
Reporting by: Taim Khalil

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 17 Feb 2016 07:04

pralay wrote:Looks like YPG is starting an diversive flank at Shadaddi, south of Hasakah
Kovan Direj ‏@kovandire 55 mins55 minutes ago

Breaking #shaddadih
#SDF advance on shaddadih front #ISIS fronts collapse #tiwtterkurds #Syria

Hasakah -> Raqqa and Hasakah -> shahdadi -> deir azzor were always the two lines of proposed advance.
the SDF has been sitting around 40km north of raqqa for months now without making a move. the arabs were not having enough numbers and the kurds reluctant to move south into arab villages.

taking land along the hasakah-shahdadi-deir route cuts the ISIS line of communication across Iraq's barren Nineveh province to Mosul. this is a tractless 200km of desert with no roads at all and no towns....so must be the way ISIS moves between Mosul and Raqqa/Deir.