Levant crisis - III

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 10 Dec 2016 09:26

NATO may be looking to make its mosul and raqqa task easier by diverting some faithfools to irrelevant projects like Palmyra.
even if they capture Palmyra and lose Raqqa then what ? only lizards and rats are available for food out there in the desert.
and syrians are already mobilizing reinforcements from Damascus region.

ISIS strategic plan resembles shahid afridi school of batting...does not matter what the ball is or what situation the match is poised, he will swing with all strength in all directions and hope bat connects with ball. sometimes its a spectacular success like the takeover of iraq but mostly a abject failure.

habal · Post by **habal** » 10 Dec 2016 09:35

Well, all indicators point towards one supra national entity doing the planning. ISIS does not have the strategic nous to plan for so many disparate group like Nusra, Turks, Aleppo rebels, ghouta rebels, ISIS to act in tandem. Look how ISIS has spared forces for 'Palmyra' when they are facing extinction in mosul and fighting about to begin in al bab. Entire thing in Syria is one giant NATO organized invasion. Rebels don't have battle field simulators or awareness or logistics to take on an organized army. They can win a few battles here or there, but not take over a large city like idlib or raqqa or aleppo without massive support form a super power like state organization.

Look at how difficult it is for the Iraqis to take over Mosul, even with supposed support of half the US establishment. Other half supporting ISIS obviously.

This ISIS attack when they are on the verge of losing one of their most important bases in al bab just shows everything in the open. Turkey dispatching 1000 or so special troops to take al bab. Means they think the SAA would just let them because their regular troops and the FSA chums have trouble and they can now intimidate the SAA to not interfere. I think we can see pitched battles here and SAA will now move in to block this force in the open. With 50,000 freed up from Aleppo, SAA will be able to free any area it wants. Idlib has a special force being assembled right now. So this SAA force is for another purpose. The desperation seeing such an expensive project go down the drain brings everyone out into the open. US is now openly supporting terrorists against all international laws. Forget UN charter.

habal · Post by **habal** » 10 Dec 2016 09:47

Just one of dozens of warehouses full of weapons, ammo, medical supplies and food.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 10 Dec 2016 11:03

Good Write up on Syria and Russian AD in Syria and its chances against random coalition strike , A Good Read , Singha habal ( have to use translator )

Syrian air defenses Future calculations will decide

http://nationaldefense.ru/includes/peri ... tail.shtml

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 10 Dec 2016 11:27

So aleppo rebels had mountains of food and weapons but low on numbers and lost their nerve

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 10 Dec 2016 14:18

sputnik news

A total of 90 Iraqi servicemen were killed and 100 were wounded as a result of a mistake strike by the US Air Force in Mosul, a local news portal reported Saturday. A source in the Iraqi army confirmed the information to Sputnik Arabic.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — According to the Factiniraq news portal, the airstrike also damaged Iraqi military hardware, and the troops had to retreat from the area. © REUTERS/ U.S. AIR FORCE/SENIOR AIRMAN MATTHEW BRUCH/HANDOUT US-led Coalition's Bombing of Raqqa Leaves 20 Syrian Civilians Dead - Reports The airstrike, which occurred on Friday, targeted an armored division, destroying eight infantry fighting vehicles and four Humvee military trucks, the army source told Sputnik.

Read more: https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/2016 ... ervicemen/

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 10 Dec 2016 16:39

SyrianMilitaryCap. ‏@SyrianMilitary 20h20 hours ago
A large missile just took off from Latakia mountains toward Palmyra

SyrianMilitaryCap. ‏@SyrianMilitary 21h21 hours ago
#RuAF strategic bombers might visit ISIS positions soon.

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 10 Dec 2016 16:56

I feel that it is one thing to have to attack ISIS entrenched in populated cities, and quite another to face ISIS invasions across desert, when RuAF is in the game. I think the latter is going to one huge turkey-shoot. Shomali Plain all over again. With attack helicopters added.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 10 Dec 2016 17:21

Mark ‏@markito0171 59m59 minutes ago
Exodus of residents from #IS held al Bab town after #FSA reach the gates

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 10 Dec 2016 17:23

when hezbollah & saa units made the initial advance on palmyra through the desert and over bare mountains, the climate was so inhospitable looks like they used to fight at night and hide in caves and under rocks with water bottles in the day.

the place has a lot of bare mountains and is a real slog. needed a lot of manpower to uproot ISIS from the town.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 10 Dec 2016 17:24

Clauda Tanios ‏@ClaudaTanios 1h1 hour ago
#Russian defense ministry: More than 20,000 civilians have left eastern #Aleppo today, over 1,200 rebels have laid down arms. -@Reuters

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 10 Dec 2016 17:29

Militant forces in blocked-off areas of Aleppo continue retreating to the south under heavy fire from SAA forces advancing from the north and east.

Recently SAA have liberated Bab al Hadid, Wija, Ar’yan, al Mashid Qal’at, Malandi, Baraj, Tell Zirazir, Tariq Tell Shabiq, Shiekh Lutfi Qasr al Wali, Mohammad Biek and Baluza districts. Also, after clashes with government forces in Bustan al Qasr, al Kalaseh, al Salahin districts, militants had to retreat to al Suqari, Fardos and al Ansari. It seems that they are planning to use Queiq river as a natural barrier against the SAA, meanwhile continuing their attempts to break through the encirclement and leave for Ramusi district.

https://smmsyria.wordpress.com/2016/12/ ... ppo-areas/

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 10 Dec 2016 17:31

agitpapa ‏@agitpapa 1h1 hour ago
ISIS was hoping 2 blitzkrieg Tadmur like last time but it didn't work. Weather's cleared, reinforcements arrived & they've lost the momentum

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 10 Dec 2016 17:31

Yusha Yuseef ‏@MIG29_ 1h1 hour ago
North #Aleppo CS
ISIS said , 20 of Shield Euphrates killed and 10 armored vehicles destroyed by a suicide near Al-Bab

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 10 Dec 2016 17:32

FSA rats are at western gate of al bab with turkish SOF, 155mm fires and AF support.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 10 Dec 2016 17:39

erdoganji strong
turkish leo2A4 MBT fighting near al bab

https://twitter.com/worldonalert/status ... 0100759552

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 10 Dec 2016 17:39

agitpapa ‏@agitpapa Dec 9
Unlikely rumor US will deliver MANPADS as well. WILL have 2 supply SDF w anti-armor capab 4 Raqqa 2 avoid Mosul-like carnage from VBIEDs.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 10 Dec 2016 17:41

agitpapa ‏@agitpapa Dec 8
Reports that Turks entered Al Bab this morning after massive airstrikes & tank barrage. Leopard tanks also deployed.

agitpapa ‏@agitpapa Dec 8
The SOF bde from Bitlis joins the 300 SOFs from Denizli, indicating Turks gave up on letting the hired jihadis do all the fighting.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 10 Dec 2016 17:43

convoy of turkiye commandos going to al bab

https://twitter.com/M3t4_tr0n/status/806792110166798336

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 10 Dec 2016 17:46

the Lemniscat
‏@theLemniscat
#WTF?
"UK has not sent even one gram of flour or a single blanket to Aleppo" but Boris Johnson just gave al-Qaeda's #WhiteHelmets £64M

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 10 Dec 2016 19:19

Al-Masdar News ‏@TheArabSource 3h3 hours ago
#ISIS claims to have shot down Syrian jet near #Palmyra

habal · Post by **habal** » 10 Dec 2016 19:29

AoA

Ya Ali Madad

Putin sends “Chechen” special operation forces to Syria to counter Turkish Special forces.

The primary role of the Chechen East & West Brigade, IIRC is to safeguard bases, but their numbers are too large for that to make any sense. My impression from them is that they are there to bolster the ability to effectively fight Syria’s enemies, no matter who they are or where they are, within Syria’s borders.

Anyways that is an element of surprise. Their eventual deployment and role.

habal · Post by **habal** » 10 Dec 2016 19:31

a picture speaketh a thousand words

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 10 Dec 2016 19:36

these chechen pro-govt militias were also instrumental in wiping out the rebellion there.

I feel they will have a role to play in idlib and latakia mountains.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 10 Dec 2016 19:40

NDF ‏@NatDefFor 5h5 hours ago
Hezbollah mobilizing near Qusayr for marching to Palmyra acc. pro-SAA source

^^^ they have been there before in first wave and are good desert and mountain fighters. they know how to use ATGMs effectively. someone in command HQ was asleep at the wheel in detecting this large buildup on both sides and dropped the ball. now the trench engineers have to clean the s**t again for management failures.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 10 Dec 2016 19:56

habal · Post by **habal** » 10 Dec 2016 20:04

George Galloway ‏@georgegalloway 23h23 hours ago
USA Britain France Israel Saudi Arabia Gulf satraps...In Syria your boys have taken a hell of a beating! Long live the Syrian Arab Republic

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 10 Dec 2016 20:10

good report on the sustained and brutal close qtr fighting in mosul....14 VBIED average per day. 650 so far.

http://www.limacharlienews.com/mena/the ... isis-iraq/

per a quote..isis there are not cowards...they kill as easy as they breathe.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 10 Dec 2016 20:10

MAKHMOUR, Iraq — An Iraqi commander says reinforcements have been sent to eastern Mosul after a major Islamic State counterattack drove troops back last week, further slowing a nearly two-month-old offensive to retake the city.

Maj. Gen. Najim al-Jabouri said Saturday that Federal Police and Iraqi army units have moved from the southern front to the city's east, where most of the fighting has been concentrated in recent weeks.

Iraqi commanders had hoped to push up from the south to take Mosul's international airport, but those plans appear to be on hold.

Iraqi troops were driven back last week within hours of seizing the al-Salam hospital in eastern Mosul, which IS had been using as a base. More than 20 soldiers were killed before special forces opened a corridor for them to retreat.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 10 Dec 2016 20:14

good article about life at qayarah FOP.

http://www.thenational.ae/world/middle- ... -for-mosul

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 10 Dec 2016 20:17

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/my-fo ... -395x8l8gn

‘My four-year-old son just wants to behead people’
Isis has poisoned thousands of young minds in Iraq

Anthony Loyd, Hasansham
December 10 2016, 12:01am,
The Times

A boy watches as an oil well set alight by Isis fighters is extinguished outside Mosul. Psychologists fear that a generation of Iraqi children have been permanently damaged from life under Islamic State

When the rage seized him and he got a blade in his hands, Qasim wanted to cut off heads. Sometimes he lingered in the shadows of his home in Mosul grasping a kitchen knife, muttering. Sometimes he ran outside, searching for victims in the street. He had seen death before; he had seen men beheaded, shot and thrown from buildings. He still, when he is angry, wants to kill.

Qasim — not his real name — is four years old. Social workers dealing with traumatised children fleeing Mosul after two years of Isis rule say that his case is unexceptional.

“We can’t let him outside any more as we know he will try and hurt people,” his mother says. “After all he has seen he…

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 10 Dec 2016 20:20

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 10 Dec 2016 20:23

fairly khanish camp in qayarah - large tents, AC, concrete blast walls...neat stuff

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 10 Dec 2016 20:25

Lawk Ghafuri ‏@KawlF 2h2 hours ago
The @coalition air Planes have killed over 100 Iraqi soldiers near #Mosul due to a false airstrike.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 10 Dec 2016 20:27

Alghadeer Satellite Channel
Like This Page · 2 hrs ·

#Iraq: The #popular_mobilization_units PMU announce the end of fifth stage of liberation #Tel_Abtah southwest of #Mosul

The leadership of The popular mobilization units announced the end of fifth stage of by liberating Tel Abtah area, which was considered one of the "#Daesh" command centers. The command said in a statement on Saturday: "The fifth stage of liberation (Tel Abtah) ended," pointing out that it was considered one of the important command centers for terrorists southwest of Mosul, and one of the important ways to supply lines for them. "
The #popular_mobilization_forces #PMF continue the operations of inspections after receiving information about the presence of remnants terrorists "Daesh" in the vicinity of Tel Abtah area

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 10 Dec 2016 20:45

Bad news

Hassan Ridha ‏@sayed_ridha
IS has captured Tadmor grain silos following intense clashes with Syrian Army, IS launch attack on Jabal Abyad axis towards al-Tar hill

habal · Post by **habal** » 10 Dec 2016 21:38

Re: isis @ palmyra

ISIS mustered 3,800 rodents, mostly from Iraq who were themselves desert dwellers. Three (3) trucks were loaded with sufficient TNT and C-4 to blow holes in the firmament. All suicide drivers were reportedly foreigners. Another 11 foreigners were given suicide belts for use once the trucks blew a hole in the SAA’s defensive lines. The number of vehicles used in the attack numbered in the hundreds most of which were Toyota trucks provided by Saudi Arabia and armored cars brought to Turkey by the British weasels.

I have been told that ISIS was alerted to the meteorological situation by agents of the CIA and MI6 who planned the operation. ISIS has no technology capable of predicting weather conditions.

As Syrian troops sat behind their fortifications amidst the layers of mist, all they could do was listen to suspicious sounds. The SAAF was essentially grounded during this natural phenomenon. It was reported also that ISIS did not disclose its location or plans by using cellphones. Therefore, it could be said that the operation was planned months before its implementation awaiting the green light from terrorism’s greatest advocate, the rodent in the White House.

In the initial phase of the operation, the 3 trucks were vectored toward SAA positions at Al-Hayyaal Mountain, the Palmyra grain silos, and Al-Kateebat Al-Mahjoora perilously close to the important airbase at Tayfoor. The trucks got close to the perimeters of the SAA’s positions but were detected by spotters who could hear the tell-tale chugging of unauthorized heavy vehicles. I was also told that SAA officers anticipated terrorist exploitation of the fog and doubled the number of rangers and spotters around the various strongpoints, thus, at the very least, preparing a response to a phantom army coming out of the desert.

SAA reaction to the attack at multiple locations was ferocious. All SAA strongpoints are defended by tanks some of which use thermal detection making it easier to spot targets in a fog. The terrorist snakes were able to initially take over the following positions because the SAA commanders pulled forces back tactically:

Al-Kateebat Al-Mahjoora (close to Tayfoor AB)

Al-Hayyaal Mountain

Palmyra grain silos

Al-Hallaabaat Palace

‘Antar Mountain north of Palmyra

Araak Village

Al-Sukkari

Al-Mahr Oil Field

All engineers and technical employees were pulled out of the Al-Mahr oil field so they would not be forced into working for ISIS. As the SAA retreated to more defensible positions, the fog lifted on Friday opening up the skies for the Syrian air force and the RuAF. They did not disappoint us. The number of ISIS vehicles destroyed as of this Saturday is 66 with more to come as the ISIS force is now largely exposed. Another report I received by telephone from a friend whose brother lives in Homs provides that the Russian navy fired cruise missiles at the rodents killing a large number. (Not confirmed). As of today, a major counterattack has been launched by the Syrian Army and PDC after reinforcements arrived from Homs. The terrorists are being ejected from all the positions they occupied at the beginning of this operation. The ISIS plan is a major flop. The SAA sustained very minor casualties. Do not believe the Western narrative concocted by the lying British.

syrian perspective: facebook
www.syrianperspective.com

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 10 Dec 2016 21:53

Hassan Ridha ‏@sayed_ridha
Rebel shelling on residential areas in Aleppo kills 10 civilians and injuring 37

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 10 Dec 2016 21:54

Curfew in palmyra and checkpoints on alert...isis is crawling all over the grain silos.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 10 Dec 2016 21:55

There is indeed a open.border towards saudia via the tri junction area with jordan.