Levant crisis - III

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 09 Feb 2017 18:24

I dont think they have ever been planned for use in N-role though the russians certainly can adapt it. its a corps level artillery asset not held by their rocket command.

the low end of the n-spectrum for them is the Iskander and I imagine most or all of their iskanders are conventionally armed. a subset of KH55/KH101/Kalibr would be with n-warheads.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 09 Feb 2017 20:04

Isis claims responsibility for 7 rockets fired from sinai into eilat port on gulf of aqaba

Looks like a iron dome battery intercepted 3

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 09 Feb 2017 21:16

3 turks killed 11 injured

Sputnik‏ @SputnikInt

#Putin expresses condolences to #Erdogan over accidental Russian airstrike killing Turkish soldiers in #Syria (link: http://sptnkne.ws/d4Zk) sptnkne.ws/d4Zk

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 09 Feb 2017 21:50

Russia's forgotten but deadly ballistic missile

The Tochka is transported by a long six-by-six 9P129 TEL vehicle launch unit. The system as a whole is highly mobile: the TEL vehicle can roll up to 37 miles per hour, can handle rough terrain and is amphibious. It can also operate in an environment contaminated by nuclear, biological and chemical agents. Deploying a Tochka for launch takes 15 minutes, while reloading takes 20. An accompanying Zil-131 truck tows additional missiles and a missile-loading system.

In terms of payload, the Tochka generally carries either 264 pounds of high explosives or unleashes a devastating array of 50 cluster submunitions with a lethal radius of 200 meters. The cluster munitions can even include anti-tank or anti-runway warheads. It can also carry an AA-60 tactical nuclear warhead with yields ranging from 10 to 60 kilotons, and chemical warheads as well.

{I think the SS-21 was what caused the major Ro-Dho used to justify moving Pershing missiles into West Germany circa 1981-2}.

More exotic variants exist as well: EMP warheads designed to burst in the air to knock out electronics, and even a guided anti-radiation missiles which allows a Tochka to home onto the radar emissions of radar installations.

Russian Tochkas operate in brigades of 18 launch-vehicles. Each vehicle is assigned two or three missiles to fire. The Russian military is believed to operate 200 to 300 Tochka units, and possesses roughly the same number of nuclear warheads for use with the system. .....

Houthi rebels in 2014 .... These rebel-aligned Yemeni Republican Guard Tochkas wreaked an impressive amount of destruction in the space of a few months, firing missiles against bases held by a Saudi-led coalition opposing the Houthis. To recap the most dramatic incidents:

On September 4, 2015, a Tochka slammed into a Saudi base in Marib, killing 73 Coalition soldiers, the majority from the United Arab Emirates, and dozens of Yemenis, knocking out dozens of vehicles including a LeClerc main battle tank. On December 14 of that year, a missile striking a base in Bab El Mandab is reported to have killed over a hundred Coalition personnel, including the head of Saudi special forces. A month later, a missile striking Al Anad air base reportedly took out drone operation systems and killed over hundred troops, including many in a newly-arrived contingent of Sudanese mercenaries.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 09 Feb 2017 22:22

If you mean the inf treaty its main actors were the thawk glcm the pershing2 and the powerful 3mirv ss20 saber

Specific missiles destroyed:

United States
BGM-109G Gryphon
Pershing 1b and Pershing II

Soviet Union (listed by NATO reporting name)
SS-4 Sandal
SS-5 Skean
SS-12 Scaleboard
SS-20 Saber
SS-23 Spider
SSC-X-4 Slingshot

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 09 Feb 2017 22:26

The ss21 is a close cousin in looks but much smaller than the ss23 its closest in blood

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/OTR-23_Oka

IndraD · Post by **IndraD** » 10 Feb 2017 01:16

After Al Bab next stop will be Raqqa
Turkish-led forces advance into outskirts of Syrian city
Daesh is being fought by three separate military alliances in northern Syria, including the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces which incorporate the Kurdish YPG militia.

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170 ... =hootsuite

Bhurishravas · Post by **Bhurishravas** » 10 Feb 2017 02:17

http://aa.com.tr/en/todays-headlines/ru ... ria/746169

Russia 'accidentally' martyrs 3 Turkish troops in Syria.
Putin calls Erdogan to express condolences over 'tragic' incident involving Russian jet, which also wounds 11 soldiers

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 10 Feb 2017 08:31

Hassan Ridha ‏@sayed_ridha 12h12 hours ago
3 months @ al-Bab:
85 Turk soldiers & 270 FSA killed
70 Turkish armor with 29 being tanks disabled/destroyed
800 Trk-Rus air raids

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 10 Feb 2017 08:35

Hassan Ridha ‏@sayed_ridha 16h16 hours ago
SDF have besieged IS in Mizilah village and from their closest position they are 11km from the outskirts of Raqqa
0 replies 31 retweets 30 likes

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 10 Feb 2017 08:37

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 10 Feb 2017 08:40

sporadic clashes reported between FSA and pro-SAA militia on Al-bab front.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 10 Feb 2017 08:41

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 10 Feb 2017 08:42

Anita Garibaldi ‏@liberationnat Feb 8
More
Russian Foreign Ministry: We do not consider the PKK or the YPG to be terrorist organisations.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 10 Feb 2017 08:46

this is probably to the visiting CIA chief. wont happen. they are stuck for 3 months in al-bab with a population 10X smaller than Raqqa.

CNN Türk ENGVerified account
‏@CNNTURK_ENG
#BREAKING Turkish Presidential spox says TR presented detailed plan to wipe out DEASH from Raqqa, discussions underway

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 11 Feb 2017 07:22

10h
Syrian Civil War Map‏ @CivilWarMap
#SDF captured Shanina Grain Silos, Jisr Shanina, Shanina, Tall Mahlas and Mahran from #ISIS - 5km to #Raqqa

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 11 Feb 2017 21:58

SyrianMilitaryCap.‏ @SyrianMilitary
#SAA is using the TOS-1A near #AlBab and it's being very effective for taking out #ISIS dunkers ditches , killing them in dozens.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 11 Feb 2017 22:19

2m
Hassan Ridha‏ @sayed_ridha
SDF captures grain silos 9km north of Raqqa + the 2 SDF fronts have converged and have encircled a large area occupied by IS north of Raqqa

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 11 Feb 2017 22:22

They will need lot of grads and tos1 to beat the isis tunnel and bunker lines and ideally howitzers and mortars for high angle shells behind berms.

Either they need lot of hw and few months training time or the usmc send one artillery division to raqqa....third option is hire assads men to operate russian donated kits

In iraq the nato is providing artillery fire from qayarrah base south of mosul

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 12 Feb 2017 09:23

https://mobile.almasdarnews.com/article ... st-aleppo/

Turkey to take al bab ...monkey trap has clanged shut lol

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 12 Feb 2017 11:18

https://mobile.twitter.com/sayed_ridha/ ... 60/photo/1

Map of sdf slicing up raqqa countryside..perhaps bypassing strongpoints.

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 12 Feb 2017 19:25

Singha wrote:Turkey to take al bab ...monkey trap has clanged shut lol

Monkey trap is about right. Sounds like Putin/Assad decided to stay well away from Al Bab and let Erdogan and his creations have it out between them. RuAF/AyAF can bomb any combatants that leave the area, "accidentally" or otherwise. Let's keep tab on the losses on both sides there, and how nicely they avoid the kitten shelters etc inside the town. Turks are better-equipped with NATO flame-throwers and JDAM/ tunnel buster missiles anyway. Result may very well be utter defeat of Turkish Army and shattering of the Yoofritis shield. Genocide in Al Bab seems a given.

Or will ISIS miraculously disappear into Turkish uniforms and melt back into Turkey?

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 12 Feb 2017 20:48

East of al bab near jarablous is where fsa isis membrane transfusion oil and arms smuggling still take place
Saa needs to close the 20km gap to manbij sdf to shut down that act and also block the turks from advancing further. Now is a great time with them busy in al bab

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 12 Feb 2017 20:48

https://mobile.almasdarnews.com/article ... raqqa-map/

Isis has abandoned countryside east of raqqa and fallen back to prepared defences outside the town

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 12 Feb 2017 21:05

Desert hawks and russian sf have arrived in hayyan gas field from coast

5th corps units remains there

Tiger force shaheen group moves from hayyan to east aleppo to join the rest of tiger force. 150 men of this unit held their line and defended palmyra as best as they could before kia or falling back under gunship support. Rest of green units simply caved in.

Govt is putting priority of taking and repairing the oil and gas fields north of palmyra

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 12 Feb 2017 21:07

https://mobile.twitter.com/BBassem7/sta ... 0255837184

Isis sied blows himself up trying to jump from a hole against a sdf technical

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 12 Feb 2017 21:08

Singha wrote:https://mobile.almasdarnews.com/article ... raqqa-map/

Isis has abandoned countryside east of raqqa and fallen back to prepared defences outside the town

They are trading empty space for time. They know sdf is months away from being able to assault the defence lines around raqqa city. So though sdf is 10km from raqqa does not mean a assault is near...trump has to make up his mind how and to what extent he will help

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 12 Feb 2017 21:10

Saa needs to close the albab manbij gap asap and lock the turks out then take maskanah plain and east homs.

Shanmukh · Post by **Shanmukh** » 12 Feb 2017 22:09

@Singha,
There are quite a few small enclaves of rebels near Damascus & Homs. Why can't the SAA eliminate them & free up their forces tied up there?

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 12 Feb 2017 22:17

^^ They have back end support in jordan . Infact they launched a attack in daraa today. Regime paranoia also keeps 1 division for damascus city anti coup duty

Feb 5
Jasim‏ @MidEastFollower
Map Update: #Coalition airstrikes destroy the 3rd bridge over the Euphrates river. Only 1 bridge remains between #Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor.

Bhurishravas · Post by **Bhurishravas** » 12 Feb 2017 23:31

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/02/e ... 51375.html

Erdogan: Turkish army aims to cleanse Raqqa from ISIL
Turkey will not stop until whole border region is cleared from ISIL, Turkish president says, as troops enter Al Bab.

LokeshC · Post by **LokeshC** » 12 Feb 2017 23:34

Singha wrote:https://mobile.twitter.com/BBassem7/sta ... 0255837184

Isis sied blows himself up trying to jump from a hole against a sdf technical

Looks like it was a premature detonation (he was taking aim and ...... BOOOM). There was someone suggesting an RPG hit, but that is waaay too precise to be an RPG. It looks like instead of squeezing the trigger of the gun, the goat molester squeezed his soosai veshti button.

On a side note: I dont know why I am tempted to click on such horrific stuff, but I do anyway

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 13 Feb 2017 08:03

this map will make it clear how jordan border is partially controlled by rebel units
the islanded east ghouta type areas were left alone for a long time --- in exchange for UN food shipments(which rebels also ate), the rebels were left alone to avoid civilian casualties. they are slowly being removed by settling cases for locals and a bus to Idlib for the rest.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 13 Feb 2017 08:04

the sarkari beige area on left border ends at daraa post on jordan border but further east As Suwayda front it is green. it is a fertile area and well settled with many villages and towns.

the green island in NW is east ghouta I believe..a real PITA and a threat to the damascus homs highway but its largely been defeated and only matter of time..wadi barada was its southern edge

there are other green areas west of this map like yarmouk camp which is fought over between fsa and isis

you can see T4 and palmyra in the top middle

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 13 Feb 2017 08:13

^^^ seems to be a highland plateau surrounded by desert on jordan side , toward east in syria and a ancient salt lake in the north

https://www.google.co.in/maps/place/Qal ... 36.4333333

definitely a place worth recapturing in future

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 13 Feb 2017 08:16

the fertile maskanah plain SE of deir hafr to the river. SAA must capture this both to end isis rule in north syria and to link up with SDF and put an end to turkish expansion - sooner the better

https://www.google.co.in/maps/place/Qal ... 36.4333333

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 13 Feb 2017 08:18

raqqa is a very defensible town as its surrounded by swamps, rivers and lowlands on all sides

https://www.google.co.in/maps/place/Qal ... 36.4333333

it is 5km x 5km i.e 9 times smaller than Mosul. in population also 10 times smaller - 200k vs 2 million

but the iraqis only attacked specific sections of mosul at one time, with overwhelming numbers and air and artillery support and still lost a lot of people.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 14 Feb 2017 08:50

Bhurishravas · Post by **Bhurishravas** » 14 Feb 2017 19:47

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-midea ... edType=RSS

Syria's al-Bab largely under control of Turkey-backed rebels, Turkish PM says

Turkey-backed rebels have largely taken control of Syria's al-Bab from Islamic State militants, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said on Tuesday, but a war monitoring group said the jihadists still controlled most of the town.

"Al-Bab has been largely taken under control. Our aim is to prevent the opening of corridors from territories controlled by terrorist organizations to Turkey," Yildirim said in a speech to lawmakers from his ruling AK Party in parliament.

Now that is fairly well known. The turks are in Syria to prevent the two kurdish regions from joining. Fighting ISIS is a sham.

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 15 Feb 2017 03:52

Everybody is inflating Saudi jeeps, tanks etc. Friends and enemies alike.