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

habal · Post by **habal** » 31 Mar 2016 10:27

what is happening is one or two brigade strength of SAA have bypassed Quryatayn and have encircled Al-Sukhna. Now Al-Sukhna is natural retreat position from Quryatayn since it is on highway to D-e-Z. It is the only way out of town. Rest being empty desert quarter.

total troops attacking is 15,000 so I would presume some 5000 are in attack position at Quryatayn and isis have nowhere to run. So ofcourse they will defend with all their might, but will run out of ammo in a day or two.

habal · Post by **habal** » 31 Mar 2016 10:31

Quryatayn from air,
empty desert all around. At night the Mi28N will have fun time picking off escaping rats with thermal signature visible from miles away in cold-neutral desert.

isis can't move as they are trapped in homs.

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/ru ... paralyzes/

habal · Post by **habal** » 31 Mar 2016 10:46

lol, er-d0g-an who is in duplicity for a nuclear summit has been denied a meeting with obama.

Rejected dog poop Erdogan Uses Private Dinner to Shame Obama Administration

While Turkish (regime) President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was denied a formal meeting with President Obama during his Washington visit, he was granted an audience before a number of DC (pro-war, pro-Israel) think tanks and used the opportunity to bash US foreign policy.

While it was initially reported that Erdogan would not meet with Obama during his five-day visit to the US capitol for a nuclear summit, later indications were that he would conduct a face-to-face with Vice President Joe Biden. Erdogan would also meet with Obama briefly for an informal "conversation."

This lack of formal diplomatic acknowledgement has been viewed as a sign of the strained relationship between Turkey's (regime) and the US, driven by disagreements over Turkish Kurds and Erdogan’s increasingly tyrannical administration.

Speaking during a private dinner at the St. Regis Hotel on Tuesday, Erdogan made his own frustrations abundantly clear, blasting the Obama administration for backing the Kurds in the fight against Daesh terrorists, also known as IS/Islamic State terrorists.

"He kept coming back to the issue: Terrorists are terrorists – there are no good ones," said one attendee, speaking to Foreign Policy Magazine on condition of anonymity.

"He pretty much threw the (Obama) administration under the bus."

Erdogan also reportedly used the dinner to convince some of Washington’s leading political thinkers of the crucial role played by Turkey.

"The biggest message I heard from Erdogan was: 'You need us. You can’t win your war in Syria without us,'" said the attendee.

He spoke for roughly three hours, fielding questions.

"He didn’t get any nasty questions, but there were a few that if he were a thin-skinned politician, he would’ve melted down," said the attendee. "He wanted to speak directly to us and without a filter."

Speaking to Radio Sputnik’s Loud & Clear earlier this week, activist Kani Xulan described the source of US-Turkish frustrations.

"Unfortunately, the United States feels torn between Turkey and the Kurds. Turkey has the Incirlik Air Base and the Kurds are the boots on the ground, and the US needs both," Xulan said.

"So it wants to use both, if you will, and because of that, Turkey is very unhappy and the relationship has soured."

The Erdogan administration has also launched a harsh crackdown on press freedom. Most recently, Ankara shuttered Zaman, the country’s largest newspaper, over articles critical of the government.

"I think thousands of people are in courts directly because of insulting Erdogan," journalist Kemal Okuyan told Radio Sputnik.

As the Turkish president continues his visit, he will meet with the leaders of several Jewish organizations, speak during a meal hosted by the Atlantic Council, and attend an event at the Brookings Institution.

habal · Post by **habal** » 31 Mar 2016 10:49

rats caught red-handed doing what they are best known for.

Syrian Army unearths large tunnel in Deir Ezzor
By Leith Fadel - 30/03/2016

The Syrian Arab Army’s 104th Airborne Brigade of the Republican Guard carried out a successful raid inside the provincial capital of Deir Ezzor on Wednesday, unearthing a large tunnel that was used by the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) to store weapons, ammunition, and IED materials. According to a military source from the 104th Airborne Brigade, the tunnel was 20 meters long and possessed ventilation pipes; it was reportedly located in the Old Airport District of Deir Ezzor City. In addition to unearthing this tunnel, the Syrian Armed Forces also swept through a number of neighborhoods in the Old Airport District, killing several ISIS terrorists and destroying 3 pick-up trucks that were mounted with 23 mm anti-aircraft machine guns.

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/sy ... eir-ezzor/ | Al-Masdar News

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 31 Mar 2016 10:49

What happened to the thousands in Palmyra? Even SAA is wondering.

Ivan Sidorenko ‏@IvanSidorenko1 now10 hours ago
#Syria #Palmyra #Homs #Tadmur #Tadmor #Palmira Report by @Maher_mon No Idea what happened to Thousands of Civilians.

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 31 Mar 2016 10:52

A picture travelogue from government held Aleppo, Homs and Damascus.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wor ... hat-i-saw/

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 31 Mar 2016 12:32

cluster bombs will work well in the desert as area weapons.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 31 Mar 2016 12:42

game plan behind this externally sponsored project seems to be restablish ISIS as a huge thorn and headache in damascus province to compensate their impending losses in eastern homs/raqqa/deir. IS have also become active in lebanon mountains and reports that hezbollah plans to go after them soon and put their heads on a pike.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 31 Mar 2016 12:42

apparently no senior US official was there in airport to receive erdoganji.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 31 Mar 2016 14:08

Минобороны РоссииVerified account
‏@mod_russia
#SYRIA According to citizens of #Aleppo province, officers of Turkish Armed Forces recruit militants for Jabhat al-Nusra in #Mareaa & #Azaz

Avashin ‏@Avashin Mar 29
Al Qaeda/FSA preparation in Azaz for large scale attack on Efrin. #TwitterKurds

Avashin ‏@Avashin Mar 30
reports that 20 ISIST members killed by US air force in Jarablus. #TwitterKurds

Avashin ‏@Avashin Mar 30
5 ISIST members killed by YPG around ZorMexar east of Jarablus. #TwitterKurds

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 31 Mar 2016 14:09

claimed to be the fat butcher of falluja executioner

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 31 Mar 2016 14:55

Turkey threatens to shell YPG if YPG / SDF attack Jarbalus presently under ISIS control.

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/tu ... e-crossed/

The recent progress made in northern Aleppo by the predominately Kurdish “People’s Protection Units” (YPG) and U.S. backed “Syrian Democratic Forces” (SDF) has agitated the Turkish regime, who maintains that the aforementioned groups are in fact “terrorists” and an offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). While the YPG and SDF are common recipients of Turkish military shells, the thought of the latter attacking these groups fighting the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) is of great concern to the U.S. According to the latest report from the Hurriyet Daily News, the Turkish regime has asserted that they would launch a “required response” in the event that the YPG and SDF seize the ‘Azaz-Jarabulus line. It is in the YPG’s best interest to seize the Jarabulus border-crossing in northern Aleppo because it would allow them to eventually link their territory across three different Syrian provinces (Aleppo, Al-Raqqa, Al-Hasakah). The Turkish regime views the YPG as a terrorist group; its presence on the border would not likely be tolerated for very long due to the Kurdish militia’s ties to the PKK.

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/tu ... e-crossed/ | Al-Masdar News

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 31 Mar 2016 15:00

Interesting set of tweets from https://twitter.com/Souria4Syrians and Hassan Riddha

The 'Nimr' Tiger ‏@Souria4Syrians now2 minutes ago
YPG captured Ruwayshd plant after ISIS fled #DeirEzzor

The 'Nimr' Tiger ‏@Souria4Syrians now2 minutes ago
Anti-ISIS insurgency taking place at several areas in #DeirEzzor as SAA & YPG advance towards the city

The 'Nimr' Tiger ‏@Souria4Syrians now2 minutes ago
Reports 30~ ISIS terrorists were killed in this operation which stretched from Deir Ezzour city to Al-Bukamal

and from Hassan Riddha

Hassan Ridha ‏@sayed_ridha now39 seconds ago
Reports of #IS withdraw from Rwaished Oil Plant in north #DeirEzzor countryside

Hassan Ridha ‏@sayed_ridha now2 minutes ago
Reports of #ISF entering #Hīt

Hassan Ridha ‏@sayed_ridha now2 minutes ago
#ISF & #Iraq-i Army are attacking Nasr town near Makhmour

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 31 Mar 2016 15:24

So this is about cutting off escape/resupply through the river.

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 31 Mar 2016 15:33

The Russian soldier who called an airstrike on own position in Palmyra was 25 years old (and not as reported earlier). RT has more details:

https://www.rt.com/news/337830-russian- ... myra-isis/

A 25 year old from Orenburg, Aleksandr Prokhorenko, has been revealed as the serviceman, dubbed ‘Russian Rambo’ by international media, who died a hero. He called a strike on himself while surrounded by Islamic State during a battle near Palmyra.
Authorities in Russia’s Orenburg region confirmed his identity.

“This hero was a native of the village of Gorodki in the Orenburg region – 25-year-old Aleksandr Prokhorenko,” the press service of the governor of the region said.

Aleksandr had dreamt of joining the military since his childhood, his friends recall, as cited by Orenburg news outlet Orenday. Born into a family of servicemen, Aleksandr and his younger brother Ivan decided to follow in the footsteps of their forefathers.

Aleksandr graduated from the Military Academy of the Air Defense of the Russian Armed Forces in Smolensk with honors, sharing photos of his life at the Academy on social networks, always happy and smiling.

He subsequently joined the army, where he served under contract. He was rather skinny, but it turned out he had remarkable inner strength.

“No one really knew where Sasha served, they said it was somewhere in the special forces,” the head teacher of Gorodki school said. “He was always the first in all school competitions, making his parents proud, always standing up for everyone.”

Even Aleksandr’s wife, Ekaterina, at first had 'no idea' her husband was going to Syria. They married a little over a year ago and she is expecting their first child.

“He was very open-minded, loved life… It seems only yesterday they celebrated their wedding. A year and a half passed. You can’t imagine how happy he was! So in love,” Orenday cites Aleksandr’s friends as saying.

“For a long time Katya did not know where he was sent. He didn’t want to upset her. She was sure that he served in the Caucasus, but then it turned out he was sent to Syria. Now she sleeps with a photograph of her beloved Sasha.

Photos in the link.

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 31 Mar 2016 15:36

RT has its take on Hillary Clinton, Google and Syria. Oh, there is also AL Jazeera, Wikileaks and a private email server.

https://www.rt.com/op-edge/337620-hilla ... era-syria/

The western media has broadly ignored a fascinating story linking Google, Al Jazeera and Hillary Clinton’s State Department to a ‘regime change’ program in Syria. Imagine if Ukraine and RT had been involved in such a scheme?
There are things every journalist should endeavor to accomplish every day. These include changing their socks, brushing their teeth, avoiding cliche and steering clear of 'whataboutism'. While there’s never an excuse for mishandling the first three, I’ve always felt there could be times when the latter is justified. This is one of them.

As you probably know, Wikileaks has been publishing thousands of emails from Hillary Clinton’s private servers recently. They’ve ranged from the tedious to the sublime. And the mainstream US media hasn't given them the coverage they deserve.

That’s because the masters of the media universe have, pretty much collectively, decided to back Clinton in the campaign to elect the next American President. This isn’t a secret. Bernie Sanders scares the wits out of their, predominantly, billionaire owners and Donald Trump frightens pretty much everybody in the US Establishment. Thus, Hillary, although thoroughly disliked by many prominent hacks, has been selected as the least harmful option.
...

Read the details

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 31 Mar 2016 15:49

UlanBatori wrote:So this is about cutting off escape/resupply through the river.

More likely these are the local tribal assassin group which has been targeting ISIS rats for sometime. Sort of a "resistance" if one can say so. They have become more active as the SAA and YPG converge on Dier Ez Zor.

It does impact the southern escape routes along the river. On the Iraqi side, following the river south, is the town Hit (not on the border). Iraqi Army has entered Hit today as per some reports. For ISIS at Dier Ez Zor the squeeze is coming from all sides.

TSJones · Post by **TSJones** » 31 Mar 2016 16:08

Admin note: one more unrelated rant will earn a 1 month ban.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 31 Mar 2016 16:24

that red marked zone along the river is the home and pride lands of the al-shaitat tribe. this is unfortunate for IS because in one day of rage they had executed 700 men of that same tribe when the refused to join the IS ranks.

most of these tribes have well hidden arms caches for a rainy day and were keeping quiet due to overwhelming superiority of ISIS. now quietly guns will be oiled and rusty knives sharpened in barns and cellars for judgement day...

as this charismatic guy "diamong dawg" said in con air...

Nathan 'Diamond Dog' Jones: [getting Poe's attention] Yee-haw! What's on your mind, Hillbilly?
Cameron Poe: What was I thinking about? Oh, yeah, "yee-haw", that's right. I was just wondering what a black militant - that would be you - was doin' takin' orders from a white boy on a power trip? Don't you think that's strange?
Nathan 'Diamond Dog' Jones: It's a means to an end, my white friend. A means to an end. See, I's can play house nigger tills we get to where we're goin'. And then, the Day of the Dog begins.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 31 Mar 2016 16:57

"Mi-28 helicopter destroys militants’ armor in the area of Palmyra" and "Mi-28 helicopter destroys militants in a building near Palmyra."

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 31 Mar 2016 17:06

A video of Nusrats being 72'ed in the link. Methinks it is a tunnel bomb which got them:

https://twitter.com/Souria4Syrians/stat ... 8237283328

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 31 Mar 2016 18:12

TSJones wrote:
deejay wrote:...
More likely these are the local tribal assassin group which has been targeting ISIS rats for sometime. Sort of a "resistance" if one can say so. They have become more active as the SAA and YPG converge on Dier Ez Zor.

It does impact the southern escape routes along the river. On the Iraqi side, following the river south, is the town Hit (not on the border). Iraqi Army has entered Hit today as per some reports. For ISIS at Dier Ez Zor the squeeze is coming from all sides.
the problem being.....is that you and the Russians do not agree that the public should have open access to open source media. you don't like it, you don't want it, and unless it fits within your political imperative paradigm. you and the dictators want to choke it off.

and what exactly do you want to choke off?

a software tool that catalogs youtube videos and presents graphical info about them.

THE HORROR OF EVIL TWISTED AMERICAN MINDS AT WORK!!!!!

Open source data mining! Arrrgh!

Public access! Stinky poo!

Is there no end to this wickedness of American culture?

How long must you and beloved amigos suffer this...this...imperial cultural hegemony?

Are there no limits to open source transparency?

Hain? Exactly, what set you off in the above post of mine? I am confused wonly? Some ISIS rats got killed with their important base getting squeezed and you have clubbed me and the Russians together about Open Source data mining.

As an aside:I did some open source data mining in 2005. Started a company back then with an Open Source package of "R" as modeler, MySQL as the data base solution and Jasper / i-reports for reporting. Security was open to customer options like Zope. We even had a blog those days "opensourceanalytics".

But I've never mentioned this here.

So what set you off? Hain?

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 31 Mar 2016 18:13

Mi28
Takbeer aoa
Takbeer aoa

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 31 Mar 2016 18:30

Russia's mine-clearing Uran-6 robots to help get rid of hidden explosives in Palmyra (VIDEOS)
https://www.rt.com/news/337810-russia-p ... ine-robot/

Multiple videos in the link above.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 31 Mar 2016 18:37

map of govt controlled areas in anbar province

https://imgur.com/kRbqjlm

TSJones · Post by **TSJones** » 31 Mar 2016 19:44

deejay wrote:

Hain? Exactly, what set you off in the above post of mine? I am confused wonly? Some ISIS rats got killed with their important base getting squeezed and you have clubbed me and the Russians together about Open Source data mining.

As an aside:I did some open source data mining in 2005. Started a company back then with an Open Source package of "R" as modeler, MySQL as the data base solution and Jasper / i-reports for reporting. Security was open to customer options like Zope. We even had a blog those days "opensourceanalytics".

But I've never mentioned this here.

So what set you off? Hain?

I misquted the wrong message. I meant to quote your previous message about the clinton google cabal and the western press ignored it......they ignored it because there was nothing there in the first place but open source graphical presentation......

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 31 Mar 2016 20:29

TSJones wrote:...

I misquted the wrong message. I meant to quote your previous message about the clinton google cabal and the western press ignored it......they ignored it because there was nothing there in the first place but open source graphical presentation......

Ah see! I thought so.

The assumption of my position is something I do not agree. What Russians think is their concern.

rsingh · Post by **rsingh** » 31 Mar 2016 20:34

Austin wrote:"Mi-28 helicopter destroys militants’ armor in the area of Palmyra" and "Mi-28 helicopter destroys militants in a building near Palmyra."

Ya now usual suspect will say where is colour video? it so old technology

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 31 Mar 2016 20:43

He was sighted yesterday in a refugee camp in Turkey and today Turkey has arrested him. Protective custody or extradition to Russia?

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/ki ... ed-turkey/

Turkish authorities arrested yesterday the man responsible for killing the pilot of the downed Russian Su-24 bomber, Hurriyet newspaper reported. Alparslan Celik was shown in a footage boasting about executing the Russian pilot after he parachuted in a rebel-held area near the Syria-Turkey borders. The ultranationalist militant is fighting the Syrian Army in latakia along with Syria’s Turkmen

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/ki ... ed-turkey/ | Al-Masdar News

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 31 Mar 2016 20:46

Let and jem leader type protective custody.

Turkoman militias and grey wolves will not spare govt if they extradite him

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 01 Apr 2016 04:51

Good news for lungi shivering yak Herder

AL masdar.

On Thursday afternoon, a large convoy of reinforcements from the Syrian Arab Army’s prestigious 4th Mechanized Division reportedly arrived to the southeastern countryside of the Homs Governorate in order to partake in the large-scale offensive against the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) inside the ancient Assyrian city of Quraytayn.

According to a military source at the T-4 Military Airport, the 43rd and 63rd brigades of the 4th Mechanized Division from Damascus have been redeployed to the eastern Qalamoun in order to help liberate Quraytayn and Mahsaa from the remaining ISIS terrorists entrenched at these sites.

Also joining the 43rd and 63rd brigades in the eastern Qalamoun will be the 64th Regiment of the 4th Mechanized Division and Liwaa Suqour Al-Sahra (Desert Hawks Brigade).

Optimized by Komoona

The 43rd and 63rd brigades are well-known from their successful Qalamoun and Zabadani offensives, which they conducted side-by-side with Hezbollah in the Summer of 2015.

Liwaa Suqour Al-Sahra already had a number of battalions in Quraytayn; however, they have now deployed almost all of their units to this desert front in order to lead the charge against ISIS.

Approximately 4,000-4,500 military personnel from the Syrian Armed Forces currently present in the east Qalamoun; this number could increase in the coming days.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 01 Apr 2016 04:54

Est is 2000 Isis widely hidden in ratholes all over the bleak hills and the town.

Baygon spray will be applied now

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 01 Apr 2016 05:11

Message to Erdogan - Regime Change in Syria is Off the Agenda
Just Like Predicted Here Months ago: Not Even Khajoor leaf 4 Creeps

As I also predicted fears Erdogan might also close the Straits to Russian ships have also proved groundless. Though there seems to have been some petty harassment by and large Russian ships en route to Syria have been able to pass through the Straits without difficulty.Though there remains a remote possibility that Erdogan might decide to intervene that is now looking increasingly unlikely. That begs the question why did Erdogan not intervene when the opportunity to do so presented itself?First and most obviously, it is clear that neither he nor the Turkish military were prepared to risk an armed clash with the Russian military.The recently announced withdrawal of part of the Russian strike force from Syria has not changed that position.Putting aside the threats that may have been made by the Russians to use tactical nuclear weapons if Turkey attacked their strike force, the Russians have retained their powerful air defence assets - their Su-35 and Su-30 fighters and their S-400, BUK and Pantsir-1 anti aircraft missiles - in Syria, and their powerful cruiser Varyag with its S300 anti aircraft missiles off the Syrian coast.There are now also known to be an unknown number of Russian Special Forces or Spetsnaz troops on the ground in Syria helping the Syrians with reconnaissanceThis remains a powerful force which is many orders of magnitude more technologically sophisticated than anything the Turks have to throw at it..The Russians have pointedly reminded everyone that they are able to reinforce this force in Syria in just a few hours. They have also beefed up their air base in Armenia with MiG-29 fighters creating a potential threat to the Turks in their rear.Unsurprisingly the Turkish military - with its past history of fraught relations with Erdogan - has categorically ruled out any intervention in Syria, publicly saying it will only intervene in Syria if it is given a mandate to do so by the UN Security Council.The military reality of the modern world is that apart from China only the US is able to match Russia militarily. Any other country crazy enough to go to war with Russia on its own without the backing of the US is setting itself up for inevitable - and catastrophic - defeat.In the event of Turkey’s military defeat by Russia all these parties might be all only too willing to press their claims in which case the entire future survival of the Turkish state within its existing borders might be in jeopardy and might come to depend on the extent to which Russia decided that the continued survival of the Turkish state within its existing borders was in its own interests.

The big question is why is the US refusing to back Turkey in a military clash with Russia?The short answer is that US public opinion would strongly oppose any possibility of the US going to war with Russia on Turkey’s behalf in a contest over Syria. If anything has been made clear by the US Presidential election it is that the US public’s enthusiasm for more military adventures is exhausted. As for the idea the US public would willingly contemplate World War III so Erdogan and the neocons might achieve some geopolitical play in Syria, that is simply fantastic. Comments on discussion threads in the US media anyway show significant and unsurprising support by a substantial and vocal part of the US public for what Russia is doing in Syria.That is the overriding political reality any US President contemplating a confrontation with Russia in Syria must face.Farther afield, the angry criticism in Europe at the EU’s latest refugee deal with Turkey shows how little support there is for Turkey in Europe on the part of the European public.

T]As discussed previously, so far from Obama wanting to stir the Syrian crisis up, all the indications are he wants to close it down.Lastly - and possibly most important of all - articles Seymour Hersh has published have confirmed the strong opposition to the whole regime change policy in Syria of at least a part of the US uniformed military.Whilst it seems that most of the higher ranking officers at the forefront of this opposition have been replaced, it is a certainty there are many others who privately share their views and who would be utterly horrified - and would strongly oppose - drifting into an armed confrontation with Russia that might risk World War III so that President Erdogan could achieve his neo-Ottoman ambitions in Syria.
Ultimately the very fact the US is supporting the Russian truce plan and the Russian dictated negotiations that are now underway in Geneva shows how limited the US’s options have become.
For a new US President to tear all that up and to switch back to the policy of externally imposed regime change as if the fundamental change in the situation caused by the Russian intervention in September had not happened is probably too dangerous to be practical even if the next US President is Hillary Clinton.What that means is that the most dangerous point in the Syrian crisis has now probably passed. It would be unwise to be complacent. However as the weeks and months pass it is starting to look increasingly as if Syria has survived and has been saved and that the Syrian government and army and probably President Assad are here to stay.If so then it is probably only a matter of time before the whole idea of regime change in Syria is finally and once and for all taken off the agenda.

habal · Post by **habal** » 01 Apr 2016 09:04

Er-d0g-an's Security Makes Bizzare Goatlike Screams in USA

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 01 Apr 2016 14:18

When Putin played his "Damascus Defence",he further developed his gameplan which began with the "Ukranian Opening" and the "Crimean Checkmate".That demonstrated the mobility and speed with which Russia could deploy its "green men" in the swift Crimean takeaway. The model or this was seen a few years ago when Putin scorched the backside of Shaky-Willy in Georgia. Simultaneously he offered the US a "draw" instead of mil confrontation with his Iranian gesture on the N-deal,where Iranian fissile material was shipped to Russia.The same was done with Syria's chem-weap stocks and cooperation on N-disarmament and N-proliferation,major global issue. This showed that Russia would cooperate with the US where it was seriously needed. This also took the heat off America's back in Syria,where it was trying to half-heartedly defeat ISIS to be nice to the Soothis,unable to play both ends against the middle successfully.

The biggest loser is the would-be Sultan ,who thought that he would restore the Ottoman empire by grabbing hold of Syria using ISIS. He now has a revitalised Kurdish nation against him,turned a friend (Russia) into an enemy,lost his billions of ill-gotten oily gains via ISIS,and is swamped with refugees from Syria with an unwilling Europe to accept them. There is b*gger all that he can do to Russia except rant and rave.Erdogan fires abuse,while Putin fires missiles and drops bombs!
Putin has a number of Western leaders and ordinary people who support what he has done in Syria.Dealt ISIS a savage blow and relieved and improved the situation for the embattled Assad regime.With a lame-duck US Pres. twiddling his thumbs as his power wanes,Putin grasped the opportunity to "seize the centre-squares" on the global chessboard.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 01 Apr 2016 15:41

The Russian Air Force is currently striking the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham’s (ISIS) positions along several kilometers of desert terrain in the Homs Governorate’s eastern countryside tonight as they continue their aerial campaign to weaken the terrorist group’s defenses. According to a military source at the T-4 Military Airport in east Homs, the Russian Air Force has already struck ISIS’ positions at Al-Sukhanah, Quraytayn, Mahsaa, ‘Arak, Jabal Al-Sha’ar, and Jabal Jazal. The Russian Air Force has also hit several ISIS targets near the Al-Raqqa Governorate’s border with the Deir Ezzor Governorate; this area is incredibly important due its makeshift roads created by ISIS to transport oil.

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/ru ... heartland/ | Al-Masdar News

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 01 Apr 2016 16:10

The Syrian and Russian air forces are targeting the oil rich town of Al-Sukhanah with a barrage of airstrikes this morning, as the Syrian Arab Army’s “Tiger Forces” prepare to launch their large-scale offensive to liberate the Palmyra-Deir Ezzor Road. According to a military source at the nearby T-4 Military Airport. Russian and Syrian fighter jets have conducted over 40 airstrikes inside the town of Al-Sukhanah in the last 12 hours.

Currently, the town has a large concentration of ISIS fighters that recently retreated from the ancient desert city of Palmyra (Tadmur) this past weekend after a successful offensive by the Syrian Arab Army and their allies. Optimized by Komoona

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/sy ... offensive/ | Al-Masdar News

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 01 Apr 2016 16:11

(Goatskin shivering): The trouble with the grand plan to launch frontal attack on Al sukkannah or whatever, is the SAA does not have enough well-trained, professional soldiers - and it is never wise to just do Charge of The Light Brigade in modern warfare. The ones they have would suffer high attrition in such an attack - I am afraid that already happened in the first set of attacks that was repulsed.

Now General Vodkov seems to have hit Assad on his musharraf with an empty Smirnoff bottle, thus instilling some sense. So after the first frontal attack, the ISIS is nicely concentrated in defensive positions, waiting for the next attack.

Just like the Pakis on the Shomali Plain waiting for the Northern Alliance to launch a frontal attack.

Instead they are receiving the attentions of Gen. Vodkov and Air Marshal Stolichnikov.
I predict a small pyramid of ISIS skulls in Deir Ez Zor b4 this is over. When they find out what happened to the missing 15,000 civilians of Palmyra, there will be no remaining concerns about "war crimes" against the ISIS.

Also, if Palmyra is empty of live civilians, what about Raqqa? Are there any left (except, sadly, slaves) that should be spared? Maybe the F-A explosives and MOABs are being readied as we speak.

Meanwhile, if u check the neuj, the serious diaper-shivering has started in DupleeCity and Londonistan about the ISIS using a few gifts from Pakistan, that make entire cities glow.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 01 Apr 2016 16:31

Probing attacks are sometimes launched to ID and map enemy positions. A shrewd player prepares two lines, and hides in back line when barrages come in, then move forward as infantry advances again thinking all is good.

Japanese used such tactics in Tarawa Okinawa etc hiding in bunkers and caves as usn ships and planes pounded known places, then in comes Marines and murderous gunfire erupts again.

However I don't think Isis has such rocky terrain and materials to stage a Tarawa here

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 01 Apr 2016 16:32

Ulan also read up banzai in Saipan..another type of endgame