Levant crisis - III

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 11 Dec 2016 14:32

rus have invested a lot of time and effort in palmyra and t4...wont let it go

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 11 Dec 2016 14:42

A new ceasefire agreement concerning Foua and Kefraya towns in Idlib province and Zabadani and Madaya towns in Damascus province was reached on Friday and took effect starting from 6:00 PM (Damascus time).

In accordance with the terms of agreement, jihadist militants of "Jaish Al-Fateh" ("Army of conquest") coalition commit themselves to stop artillery and mortar shelling of the two besieged towns in Idlib countryside. In return, Russian and Syrian Air Forces cease airstrikes on the neighbouring towns of Taftanaz and Maarat Misrin. In addition to that, Hezbollah stops targeting streets of Zabadani and Madaya towns in northwestern Damascus countryside with sniper fire.

The agreement also provides for the second stage which includes allowing of humanitarian aid to all the four towns. This second part will take effect if both sides abide the aforementioned initial terms of the deal. If so, Hezbollah will re-open humanitarian corridors into Zabadani and Madaya, while jihadists will do the same for Foua and Kefraya.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 11 Dec 2016 14:44

mix of saa and hezbollah fighting in concert with tanks in aleppo

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/vi ... eppo-city/

pralay · Post by **pralay** » 11 Dec 2016 17:18

Palmyra update:
After renewed offensive by ISIS today Palmyra Castle, Al ameria, Tadmor sillos have fallen.
Its not clear if the city has fallen as some say there are units trapped and fighting in city.
Lots of conflicting and confusing reports like yesterday night.

IndraD · Post by **IndraD** » 11 Dec 2016 17:40

Russian air strikes 'force IS out of Palmyra' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-38280283

Russian bombardment 'forces Islamic State out of Palmyra' https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/ ... of-palmyra

Syrian Army, With Russia, Beats Back Islamic State Advance on Palmyra http://www.wsj.com/articles/syrian-army ... 1481451208

pralay · Post by **pralay** » 11 Dec 2016 17:49

IndraD those are old news, those things happened yesterday night.
ISIS has just declared full control on Palmyra, though not confirmed by SAA yet.

TSJones · Post by **TSJones** » 11 Dec 2016 18:24

pralay wrote:IndraD those are old news, those things happened yesterday night.
ISIS has just declared full control on Palmyra, though not confirmed by SAA yet.

please stop using facts, they are very inconvenient.

pralay · Post by **pralay** » 11 Dec 2016 19:06

TSJones wrote:
pralay wrote:IndraD those are old news, those things happened yesterday night.
ISIS has just declared full control on Palmyra, though not confirmed by SAA yet.
please stop using facts, they are very inconvenient.

This thread is for tracking events, study and analysis in levant. It does not matter if the events/facts are inconvenient for russian fanboys or for american fanboys like you. If you have do not have anything to contribute to thread, at least dont starting the teasing game. For teasing you can use nukkad thread.

TSJones · Post by **TSJones** » 11 Dec 2016 19:14

oh, this thread has been used to wish for the nuking of NYC, London and Paris as well as outrageous claims of CIA Mossad white helmets jihadis,

even claims of genocide of kurds fighting in Mosul..???????

go get righteous on somebody else.

if they play it straight up, I will play it straight up.

IndraD · Post by **IndraD** » 11 Dec 2016 19:20

BBC
Control of the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra has been going back and forth between government forces and so-called Islamic State, reports say.
Activists say IS regained control of the city despite being forced from the centre by Russian air strikes.
They entered the city on Saturday after launching an offensive earlier in the week.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Sunday morning that "intense" bombing from Russian planes had forced IS to withdraw to the orchards on the city's outskirts.
But it later reported that the militants had again fought their way into the town, forcing government forces to retreat to the south.
Moscow said the Syrian army had repelled IS with air support from its forces. The Russian defence ministry said it had carried out 64 strikes during the operation, and claimed to have killed more than 300 militants.
Reports said IS militants had gone on the attack with suicide car bombs and artillery.

IndraD · Post by **IndraD** » 11 Dec 2016 19:23

Islamic State recaptures ancient Syrian city Palmyra, activists say http://news.sky.com/story/russian-airst ... a-10692016

IS entering Palmyra this morning reportedly

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 11 Dec 2016 19:25

Palmyra Residents Evacuated, Syrian Army Fighting Daesh in Suburbs - Source

Read more: https://en.ria.ru/middleeast/2016121110 ... ted-fight/

IndraD · Post by **IndraD** » 11 Dec 2016 19:25

There is no doubt now Palmyra has fallen to IS : many UK observatory present on ground are reporting :

Palmyra: Isis retakes ancient city despite heavy Russian bombing http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world ... 67996.html

IndraD · Post by **IndraD** » 11 Dec 2016 19:28

Isis fighters attacking the Syrian army on the outskirts of Palmyra on 9 December

Monitoring groups the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and the Palmyra Coordination Committee (PCC) said militants stormed the city in a multi-pronged attack on Sunday afternoon.

Russia earlier said it had helped repel the Isis assault, driving the jihadis back to orchards outside the city and killing 300 militants in the process.

But the Russian Defence Ministry later said the militants had regrouped and launched a second, more successful attempt.

IndraD · Post by **IndraD** » 11 Dec 2016 19:31

Palmyra fall simply reflects how stretched Sy forces and allied militias are along with limitless supply of soosai bombers and vbieds on the other side, for sure IS is getting help from some where.

habal · Post by **habal** » 11 Dec 2016 19:44

The Palmyra offensive by ISIS was Obama’s parting shot at the Russians. This rodent is a sore loser & perhaps Bill Clinton was right about him….Obama should be serving coffee instead.

habal · Post by **habal** » 11 Dec 2016 19:48

In Aleppo the SAA have captured the Al-Zinki savage who beheaded the little Palestinian boy.

he is now a guest of the mukhabarat, next he will be delivered to the palestinian al-quds brigade.

habal · Post by **habal** » 11 Dec 2016 19:50

Journalist from Canada who visited Syria many times ,exposed in just a few minutes at United Nations ,the entire fraud of the Syrian conflict by NATO and western mainstream media and NGOs.

https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/2016 ... nce-syria/

habal · Post by **habal** » 11 Dec 2016 19:54

Bartlett also recalled that while the White Helmets "purport to be rescuing civilians in eastern Aleppo and Idlib…no one in eastern Aleppo has heard of them; and I say 'no one' bearing in mind that now 95% of these areas of eastern Aleppo are liberated." At the same time, "The White Helmets purport to be neutral, and yet they can be found carrying guns and standing on the dead bodies of Syrian soldiers."

habal · Post by **habal** » 11 Dec 2016 20:00

Iran will never learn. Even after being punched & spit in the face by Obama's democrat regime, and when the anglo-zionist americans are actively preparing to renegage on the Nuclear deal, the stupid Iranians desperately kiss US ass..

farsnews

” Iran signs contract to buy 80 Boeing planes ”

Iran Air said Sunday it had finalized a contract to buy 80 planes from US firm Boeing, the official IRNA news agency reported. “Fifty of the planes are 737 and the other 30 are the long haul 777 that will be delivered to Iran Air in a period of 10 years,” said Farhad Parvaresh, chief executive of the national carrier, who signed the contract with Boeing officials in Tehran. IRNA reported that the contract was worth $16.6 billion (15.7 billion euros). Following an initial agreement in June, the sale of the planes was given final approval by the US government in September. Washington lifted many of its sanctions on Iran under a nuclear deal that came into force in January, but many restrictions have remained in place that mean companies trading with Tehran must receive explicit approval from the White House.

Rishi Verma · Post by **Rishi Verma** » 11 Dec 2016 20:01

IndraD wrote:Islamic State recaptures ancient Syrian city Palmyra, activists say http://news.sky.com/story/russian-airst ... a-10692016

IS entering Palmyra this morning reportedly

This looks like Martian terrain. Only the greens are capable of killing and dying for some sand. Too bad there ain't no killing fast enough.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 11 Dec 2016 20:24

Russia ki izzat ka sawal hai. They will move people from latakia tartous and orchestrate a retaliation...

The town will probably get wrecked once again...with tourism dead the current population will be small fraction of the old..hope the civilians and army units managed to pull back in time else isis will slaughter them all

pralay · Post by **pralay** » 11 Dec 2016 20:41

TSJones wrote:oh, this thread has been used to wish for the nuking of NYC, London and Paris as well as outrageous claims of CIA Mossad white helmets jihadis,go get righteous on somebody else.

Looks like you were brutally mentally tortured and hurt by some of the posts by other members and just got your chance for revenge, enjoy that.

Alleppo update:
Mateen Abo Ahmad from the child-beheader terrorist (Nato designation: "moderate rebel") from al Zinki group is captured

Yusha Yuseef ‏@MIG29_ 2h2 hours ago
Al-Mayadeen reporter , SAA capture Al-Zinki man Terrorist Who beheaded the child in the camp Hndarat

All neighbourhoods around aleppo citadel including Al Jalloum, Bab al maqam, al-qasilah, karm-al-deadia are liberated by SAA

maytham ‏@maytham956 41m41 minutes ago
#SAA and its allies have liberated the neighborhoods of Karm AlDaada and Bab AlMaqam in #Aleppo #Syria.

Palmyra update:
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/br ... myra-city/

The so-called "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" (ISIS) have captured the ancient city of Palmyra (Tadmor) in the eastern part of Homs province after main contingent of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) withdrew from the city. The aforementioned terror group claimed this through its media affiliate, 'Amaq agency'. A bit late, military sources speaking to Al-Masdar News confirmed this information.
The militants consequently captured Al-Amariyah district and a hilltop of the same name, Officers Housing complex, and the Citadel of Palmyra, which made any further attempts to hold positions inside the city completely senseless.
According to several reports, some SAA units still remain in the city providing cover to their comrades that retreat westwards. After retreat is complete these units will withdraw as well.

Looks like for now SAA has chosen to clear Aleppo pocket first instead of trying to hold on Palmyra city as citizens are evacuated from Palmyra.
After clearing Aleppo pocket, SAA will most likely charge on al-bab front to avoid linking of SDF with YPG around al-bab before attemptiong Palmyra.

habal · Post by **habal** » 11 Dec 2016 20:54

yes, clearing aleppo is a better idea than rushing to the dunes and mirages of palmyra.

isis is dead anyways, palmyra can't save its fortunes.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 11 Dec 2016 21:09

Hassan Ridha ‏@sayed_ridha
Homs Governor confirms Syrian Army withdrawal from Tadmor and reorganization of forces west of city

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 11 Dec 2016 21:12

Instead of being in hiding all over the reconquest of palmyra will keep couple of 1000 daesh in a predictable small area for later

Saa and ruaf should NOT attack palmyra at all now instead just let the bees gather in the honeypot

IndraD · Post by **IndraD** » 11 Dec 2016 21:23

Palmyra has not a lot left: most ancient architectures (>2000 yrs old) have been blown or bulldozed . Only a few oil wells remain.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 11 Dec 2016 21:25

preserving palmyra is of interest only to the museums of the west.

sure the syrian economy did gain from some western tourists but it would hardly be on the scale of jerusalem or cairo or istanbul or athens. more precious long term are the oil and gas fields in the region.

assad can afford to let it slide for some time if he can contain the daesh to palmyra only.

IndraD · Post by **IndraD** » 11 Dec 2016 21:29

Singha wrote:preserving palmyra is of interest only to the museums of the west.

Prophetic indeed

Arch of triumph of Palmyra recreated at Trafalgar square London

IndraD · Post by **IndraD** » 11 Dec 2016 21:39

It must be serious !

U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter arrives in Iraq to assess Mosul fight.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 11 Dec 2016 21:40

Elijah J. Magnier ‏@EjmAlrai 4h4 hours ago
Only logical temporarily gain for #ISIS in #Palmyra is to spoil #Russia gain in East #Aleppo. #ISIS seems involved in international politics
18 replies 95 retweets 81 likes

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 11 Dec 2016 21:42

Leith Abou Fadel ‏@leithfadel 22h22 hours ago
There is no way we will secure eastern Syria without Iraq. As long as ISIS has access to Al-Qaim, they will move their forces back-and-forth

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 11 Dec 2016 21:44

LokeshC · Post by **LokeshC** » 11 Dec 2016 22:10

pralay wrote:
TSJones wrote:please stop using facts, they are very inconvenient.
This thread is for tracking events, study and analysis in levant. It does not matter if the events/facts are inconvenient for russian fanboys or for american fanboys like you. If you have do not have anything to contribute to thread, at least dont starting the teasing game. For teasing you can use nukkad thread.

Ever heard about the story of feeding trolls?

IndraD · Post by **IndraD** » 11 Dec 2016 22:21

‘If Russia & Saudi Arabia lead, rest will follow’: Saudi energy minister on historic oil deal
https://www.rt.com/news/369912-saudi-ar ... -oil-deal/

who would have thought this day will come!

IndraD · Post by **IndraD** » 11 Dec 2016 22:23

while Ru is guarded in deal , Saudi is in ear to ear smile...

IndraD · Post by **IndraD** » 11 Dec 2016 22:59

Saudi at the moment is obsessed with vision 2030 which is about developing a parallel economy without oil dependence , but they need to sell oil to become oil free. Hence Saudi is realising importance of Russia and keeping it on right side. Also Russia supporting Iran & Allies in ME is showing results as a result even countries like Egypt are moving into China-Ru orbit. Saudi may seal a covert deal with Ru re oil & security.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 11 Dec 2016 23:03

^^ Surely as Saudi Lead OPEC and Russia has become leader of non-Opec countries.

Both have common interest to reduce the impact of Shale Oil and keeping price of conventional oil high enough to support their conglomerate budget and the same time not high enough to let Shale go in full swing.

Again let me remind you even at $100 Oil Shale as a business was loss making

TSJones · Post by **TSJones** » 11 Dec 2016 23:46

Austin wrote:^^ Surely as Saudi Lead OPEC and Russia has become leader of non-Opec countries.

Both have common interest to reduce the impact of Shale Oil and keeping price of conventional oil high enough to support their conglomerate budget and the same time not high enough to let Shale go in full swing.

Again let me remind you even at $100 Oil Shale as a business was loss making

that is incorrect. it all depends, if it was unprofitable at $100 a bbl then production would not have started.

New shale fields are still being sought after even at $50 /bbl.

there are a host of factors determining profitability and how it fits into a company's operations.

devesh · Post by **devesh** » 12 Dec 2016 01:06

Where did the ISIS fighters who retook Palmyra come from? Any chance they're the rats who fled from Mosul.

Many western rags didn't even hide the "strategy" of letting ISIS rats escape from Mosul to attack Syrian Govt. I wouldn't entirely rule out the possibility ISIS rats who escaped from Iraq now attacking Palmyra.