Levant crisis - III

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 19 May 2016 15:52

Egyptair flight disappeared from radar at 37000 feet. (Any friendly moderate terrorists with missiles that can reach that high?)
Greek controllers say they tried to contact it as it crossed their airspace, but no response. They don't say why that was usual/unusual, or whether it was off course.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 19 May 2016 18:47

only a MRSAM from a ship like SA-N-17 can potentially reach up there

dnivas · Post by **dnivas** » 19 May 2016 20:38

What about Russia taking revenge on some Egyptian financiers / jihadists that planned the attack on the Russian passenger plane

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 19 May 2016 21:15

Not by downing a passenger plane! Comrade Keyjeebiski would simply send a gent with a rolled-up umbrella that shoots a dart full of plutonium into butt-e-financier, which in those parts tend to be rather plentiful as the dunes of the Sahara. Guarantees a long and painful ascent to Houristan.

Lalmohan · Post by **Lalmohan** » 19 May 2016 21:18

looks a lot like a missile
there aren't too many folks who could do that

1. rogue egyptian unit
2. yahood!
3. Turki navali
4. admiral Vodkov
5. admiral unkil
6. greek/french/italian/brit naval units making big mistake after a heavy lunch

all of which are very unlikely

Libyans?

oh and never misunderestimate the paquis!

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 19 May 2016 21:19

Wreckage found per Egyptair sources. (per See Enn Enn)
Also, Yoo Ess says "BUM!" which probably means "MIJJILE, but v are sharaam-sharaaam

" So far it has not been identified as an ISIS F-14.

Lalmohan · Post by **Lalmohan** » 19 May 2016 21:40

wreckage is off the greek island of karpathos, however that is really really close to a significant tourist area of turkey
no (sane) person will be operating a missile in that area

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 19 May 2016 22:01

Russia's FSB chief says terrorist attack may be behind EgyptAir flight crash

More:
http://tass.ru/en/world/876793

"Unfortunately, another incident with an aircraft of Egypt airlines took place today. It was most likely a terrorist attack that killed 66 people from 12 countries," Bortnikov said at the session of the Council of heads of security and special services of CIS member countries.

Bortnikov called on "all interested parties, including our partners in Europe, to take joint measures to identify persons involved in this terrible attack."

The EgyptAir A320 aircraft en route from Paris to Egypt vanished 10 miles into Egyptian airspace while flying at around 11,000 meters. The aircraft disappeared from radars at 2:45am local time (3:45am Moscow time), 20 minutes before it was due to land. French President Francois Holland confirmed earlier that the plane had crashed.

According to latest reports, there were 56 passengers and 10 crew onboard. According to the passenger list provided by EgyptAir, 15 French citizens and 30 Egyptians were onboard, along with citizens of UK, Belgium, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Chad, Portugal, Algeria, Canada.

More:
http://tass.ru/en/world/876793

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 20 May 2016 00:16

Another A-320.

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 20 May 2016 03:07

Here we go again: MH370 redux?

EgyptAir: Debris Found in Mediterranean Sea Not From Missing Flight MS804, Official Says

From CNN
Apparently those waters are full of Airboos A-320 parts.

I tell you, the Khilafat and their sponsors with various naval bases etc have discovered a way to kidnap airliners without a trace. This is getting to be like "From Russia With Love" all over again, except the victims now are civilian airline passengers not nuclear sub crews or astronauts.

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 20 May 2016 05:05

Apparently the plane made a 90 degree turn to the left, then a "360-degree turn to the right". Sounds like a flat spin. 1 engine out plus the vertical tail missing?
Then lost 22,000 feet altitude, starting with 37,000 feet - so reached 15,000 feet. Classic decompression recovery?
Sounds like they did all they could to live after the bum went off. But where's the wreckage I wonder, it wasn't really off course. There must be an oil slick? Floating seat-cushions? Unless of course the plane managed to land in essentially one piece, in which case wouldn't they send cell-phone messages? Fire off flares?

In 12 hours of intensive searching, and once again, in a region where there are satellites, AWACS, AWACZKIS, aircraft carriers, drones, balloons, and military radars of numerous nations all scanning the sky, doesn't someone know EXACTLY what happened and where it landed? This is not like the south Indian ocean, hain?

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 20 May 2016 05:21

Aron Lund
‏@aronlund
For 3 weeks, the rebels have been killing each other—now Assad is moving in http://carnegieendowment.org/syriaincrisis/?fa=63512 … map: @deSyracuse

Wonder if the author is related to the famous Scandinavian journalist and commentator Biglund?

Singhaji: Damascus baboons seems to have some clue after all..

Peto Lucem Retweeted
syria 24 english ‏@syria24english 12h12 hours ago

#SAA announce control of al-#Bayad, #Deir_al_Asafir & #Zebdeen in East #Ghouta #Damascus #Syria24

Joshua Landis
‏@joshua_landis

Syrian government forces, allies capture extensive area near Damascus http://reut.rs/1OMOPqS via @Reuters

yrian government forces and allies including Lebanese Hezbollah fighters seized an extensive area southeast of Damascus from rebels on Thursday and fought other insurgents near a highway leading southwest, a monitoring group said.

The advance is part of a wider escalation in fighting that has accompanied failed diplomatic efforts to end the five-year conflict. Syria's war has killed 250,000 people, created the worst refugee crisis since World War II, allowed for the rise of Islamic State and drawn in many regional and global powers.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said it was one of the most significant government advances this year, after its forces took territory in northwestern and central Syria. Insurgents have also advanced in some areas recently, including in Aleppo province.
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Hezbollah's Al Manar television said the fighting in Damascus's Eastern Ghouta suburbs was part of a new military operation by the Syrian army against the rebels.

The fighting began early on Thursday when government forces and Hezbollah fighters captured the town of Deir al-Asafir, and then seized a number of other areas nearby, closing off a pocket of rebel control in Eastern Ghouta, the British-based Observatory said.

Pro-opposition Orient News television reported that government forces had "taken complete control" of the southern part of Eastern Ghouta.

The region has long been held by rebels. Most of Eastern Ghouta is still in rebel hands, but Thursday's gains could pave the way for further government and Hezbollah advances there, Observatory director Rami Abdulrahman said.
Related Coverage

› U.S. leads 17 strikes against Islamic State: statement

Government forces and their allies have recently sought to exploit rebel infighting in areas east of the Syrian capital. The insurgents have failed to halt that violence despite attempts at mediation.

On Thursday hundreds of families fled Deir al-Asafir because of the intensity of the clashes between the government side and the rebels, the Observatory said.

Hezbollah fighters played a key role in the assault, Abdulrahman said, which took place near to where the group's top military commander in Syria was recently killed by what it said was rebel shellfire.

AIR RAIDS, BATTLES SOUTHWEST

Separately, southwest of Damascus, the Syrian army and its allies pressed attacks to try to shore up control of a main highway running from the capital to southwestern Syria, including Quneitra province and the Golan Heights, the Observatory said.

Government forces have carried out dozens of air raids around the town of Khan al-Shih, where rebel groups control areas straddling the highway, it said.

Capture of Khan al-Shih would help secure control of the road, Abdulrahman said.

The Syrian army said in a video report that rebels attacked the area first, and had been beaten back and driven from some of their positions by government forces. The Observatory did not immediately report significant advances.
The fighting raged despite international attempts to revive a wider ceasefire in western Syria and restart peace talks.
Fighting continues elsewhere in western Syria, including in Aleppo and Latakia provinces, and Islamic State is engaged in battles farther east separately against government forces, Kurdish fighters and a U.S.-led air campaign.
(Additional reporting by Tom Perry; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky)

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 20 May 2016 05:42

Most of the tier1 surveillance assets seem to be off in peacetime..or busy spying on russia

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 20 May 2016 06:22

What "peacetime"? Greek airspace will be watched by the greeks and turks at minimum. Egyptian airspace will be watched by Israelis.

How many US aircraft carrier groups are in the Mediterranean?

They may have been busily searching for MH370

TSJones · Post by **TSJones** » 20 May 2016 07:14

there are no US carriers located in the Med at this time.

http://www.gonavy.jp/CVLocation.html

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 20 May 2016 07:56

I assume the area was not covered by any ATC radar and only its transponder gave the situation....isnt there any "GPS beacon" in the transponder that constantly updates some server via satcom say every 1 min with a (x,y,z,timestamp,alarms bitmap) value ?
I read somewhere inmarsat offers such services but some airlines (MH included) did not subscribe to save money on such "extras"

surely there must be lot of refugee boats, fishermen, smugglers, gun runners and yachts sailing in the Med to see a plane crashing in broad daylight ?

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 20 May 2016 08:18

Syrian governmental forces are receiving Russian small arms,

http://www.armyrecognition.com/may_2016 ... 05161.html

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 20 May 2016 08:46

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 20 May 2016 08:48

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 20 May 2016 09:46

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman performs traditional Kalinka dance

http://tass.ru/en/society/876915

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has held her promise to journalists working at the Russia-ASEAN summit in Sochi and performed the traditional Russian Kalinka dance. The unusual performance of the high-ranking diplomat took place during a concert organized on the sidelines of the summit.

This is not the first time Maria Zakharova has surprised journalists. In early May, the spokeswoman offered a rhymed reply, when asked about frequent telephone conversations between US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. In a four-line stanza - an unmistakable allusion to My Heart’s in the Highlands, by Robert Burns - Zakharova ventured to suppose that "John’s heart is in Moscow".

More:
http://tass.ru/en/society/876915

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 20 May 2016 12:24

This is coming home to bite. Many pics in the link. Just check the desi rats.:

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/is ... east-homs/

The Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham’s (ISIS) official media wing launched a new propaganda campaign to recruit Indian jihadists to fight in Syria against the Syrian government forces. In typical ISIS fashion, the terrorist group posted a video that showed off their large Indian force operating against the Syrian government forces in the east Homs countryside. The interviewed ISIS fighters called on Indians to leave their country and join the “jihad” in Syria against the “kuffar” (infidels). It is not clear how many Indians are actually fighting with the Islamic State forces inside Syria; however, Syrian Arab Army sources have confirmed a recent surge in the number of dead Indian fighters near the ancient city of Palmyra (Tadmur).

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/is ... east-homs/ | Al-Masdar News

Lalmohan · Post by **Lalmohan** » 20 May 2016 13:24

ah they are running out of pure blood a-rabs, so now its time for the SDRE cannon fodder...

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 20 May 2016 15:00

Zakharova ventured to suppose that "John’s heart is in Moscow".

This is no doubt from the BBC production "Yes Minister".

When u've got them by the *alls, their Hearts & Minds Will Follow

Very diplomatic way of putting it, no doubt.

BTW, Egyptian Armed Force say they have found debris from L'Airboos.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 21 May 2016 09:33

deejay wrote:This is coming home to bite. Many pics in the link. Just check the desi rats.:

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/is ... east-homs/

The Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham’s (ISIS) official media wing launched a new propaganda campaign to recruit Indian jihadists to fight in Syria against the Syrian government forces. In typical ISIS fashion, the terrorist group posted a video that showed off their large Indian force operating against the Syrian government forces in the east Homs countryside. The interviewed ISIS fighters called on Indians to leave their country and join the “jihad” in Syria against the “kuffar” (infidels). It is not clear how many Indians are actually fighting with the Islamic State forces inside Syria; however, Syrian Arab Army sources have confirmed a recent surge in the number of dead Indian fighters near the ancient city of Palmyra (Tadmur).

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/is ... east-homs/ | Al-Masdar News

I wonder if Indian SF are in Syria training SAA but quietly

member_23370 · Post by **member_23370** » 21 May 2016 10:05

Why would Indian SF be in Syria? India has very little mutual interest or leverage in Syria. Frankly if the SAA wipes these desi ISIS pigs off we should give tem reward money.$10k per rat killed

Lilo · Post by **Lilo** » 21 May 2016 10:58

Probably not kosher to post a link here but
For kafirs like moi the 20 min video was quite educative.

Anyways some paki made it a point to upload it on tune.pk as "bilad alhind"

vishvak · Post by **vishvak** » 21 May 2016 16:21

India has very little mutual interest or leverage in Syria

Wonder how many countries indirectly benefit from a barbaric sultanate in Syria and Iraq. Turkey seems to be one, along with few kingdoms of gulf. May be pakis for being jihadis and getting paid for it.

JE Menon · Post by **JE Menon** » 22 May 2016 10:42

Let them come.

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 22 May 2016 21:23

Did we miss this?
Trump on Twitter:

Crooked Hillary Clintons foreign interventions unleashed ISIS in Syria, Iraq and Libya. She is reckless and dangerous!

Must be reading PeeAref for the ass-toot anal-e-sys?

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 22 May 2016 21:25

On Thursday night, the Syrian Arab Army’s 104th Airborne Brigade of the Republican Guard – backed by the 137th Artillery Brigade of the 17th Reserve Division – liberated the Panorama Checkpoint in west Deir Ezzor after a two day long battle with the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) terrorists. Following the liberation of the Panorama Checkpoint, the Syrian Armed Forces pushed further west towards the Armenian Cemetery, killing several Islamic State terrorists in the process of this advance. The Syrian Armed Forces were able to reach the outskirts of the Armenian Cemetery at approximately 10:45 P.M. (Damascus Time) on Thursday night, leaving ISIS with their backs against the wall at this strategic site in western Deir Ezzor.

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

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 22 May 2016 21:40

Isis had cleaved the govt area in two with a narrow belt i think, which is being rolled up now

vishvak · Post by **vishvak** » 22 May 2016 21:43

JE Menon wrote:Let them come.

After the bloody partition of India in 1947, no jihadis should be coming to India - local or international.

Gyan · Post by **Gyan** » 22 May 2016 21:48

So Billy Boy gave us Taliban and Alkeeda. While Dirty Harry is the mother of ISIS and Nusra?

dnivas · Post by **dnivas** » 24 May 2016 00:22

More than 100 killed near Russian Bases in Syria

https://www.rt.com/news/344052-syria-la ... xplosions/

Over 100 people are feared dead after seven blasts targeted several locations in the coastal towns of Jableh and Tartus, Syria’s Latakia province. The locations are close to two Russian military facilities: the Khmeimim airbase and the Tartus naval base.

Islamic State militants claimed the attacks saying via its news outlet, Amaq, that "gatherings of Alawites in Tartous and Jableh" had been targeted. The Alawites is the minority sect to which President Bashar Assad belongs.

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 24 May 2016 07:18

vishvak wrote:
JE Menon wrote:Let them come.
After the bloody partition of India in 1947, no jihadis should be coming to India - local or international.

Spare us the trouble to go and find them plus chance to rectify old and recent leeway mistakes.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 24 May 2016 09:28

The head of the Russian Reconciliation Center reported on Monday that the jihadist rebels have built up a force of 6,000+ fighters to block the Syrian Arab Army’s (SAA) advance in the southern Aleppo countryside. The primary groups behind this massive jihadist build up along the Aleppo-Idlib border are Jabhat Al-Nusra (Syrian Al-Qaeda group) and Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham. These jihadist groups are expected to block the Syrian Army’s advance by launching their own offensive inside southern Aleppo in order to recapture all of the territory they lost in late 2015 and early 2016. In the Spring of 2015, the jihadist rebel groups that formed “Jaysh Al-Fateh” (Army of Conquest) were able to seize of all government controlled Idlib after being on the offensive for nearly two months. While, it is highly unlikely they will likely replicate the same success in Aleppo, the jihadist rebels could do significant damage.

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/60 ... po-russia/ | Al-Masdar News

rohitvats · Post by **rohitvats** » 24 May 2016 11:19

The manpower level for ground ops seems to be so low that a single Indian Army Corps could wipe the floor with these jihadist in double quick. time.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 24 May 2016 11:21

^^ yes that is correct. both sides have critical manpower shortages and survive only by having a small inventory of logistics and not doing anything major that will increase consumable and supply chain load. more of "raiding warfare" and "positional game"

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/ir ... -fallujah/

suleimani has gone to lead the fallujah offensive unofficially for the iraqi army. it started yesterday.

TSJones · Post by **TSJones** » 24 May 2016 20:30

I am glad the Iranians are taking ownership of this battle.

the sunnis hate the hezbollah militia gangs and will fight with pure hatred in their resolve.

the US will do well to stay clear of this bloody mess and keep working with sunni elements still loyal to Iraq like they did elsewhere in Anbar province (Ramadi).

vijaykarthik · Post by **vijaykarthik** » 24 May 2016 20:39

Funny. I wonder hw the IS just about accidentally manages to destroy a strategic Syrian airbase that Russia used recently, in Syria.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-36366664

How?