Levant crisis - III

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 11 Feb 2018 22:35

https://twitter.com/ryanmofarrell/statu ... 53697?s=20

Interesting ct on isis in east hama ie the jund al aqsa and how saa slowly channeled them west now to create mayhem vs hts in idlib

Parasu · Post by **Parasu** » 12 Feb 2018 02:49

Details of what happened -
How and why the plane was shot down.
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.pr ... -1.5808981

Russia has no role to play. Putin is a deal maker. Am sure he has a deal with Netanyahu too. No Russian military help would be reaching Syria. Not against Israel.
Netanyahu has met Putin at least three times during the Obama period. And noone loves a little ego massage more than the grand chessplayer.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 12 Feb 2018 08:54

shia fighters (syrian hezbollah) from adjoining Nubl and Zahraa equipped with iranian vehicles (safir jeepski) have joined the YPG in afrin

this is to repay their debt to afrin which helped them survive the FSA siege for years they were cut off from aleppo.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 12 Feb 2018 08:58

plus if Efrin falls they very well know whats next - its their own self interest as well to stop Erdogani incursion.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 12 Feb 2018 09:28

War in Syria

@SyriaWar2
10h10 hours ago
More
New Tigers target is pocket between Suknah and AbuKamal

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 12 Feb 2018 09:29

More
#Exclusive and #Important:
1/ A new rule of Engagement decided by #Damascus Top decision makers and its allies to deal with any future #Israel/i violation of the #Syria/n airspace and sovereignty
Elijah J. Magnier
‏

@ejmalrai
8h8 hours ago
More
3/+ In #Lebanon, when #Israel used to violate its airspace over the capital #Beirut, #Hezbollah introduced a new "rule of engagement": For every violation, #Hezbollah used to fire heavy machine guns above the #Israel villages on the borders.
More Elijah J. Magnier Retweeted Elijah J. Magnier
4/+ In #Syria, for every violation of its air space and sovereignty, the Syrian Army will fire old missiles (SAM 3, 5, 6) above the villages on the Golan heights and those within the missile's reach so these can explode on Israeli territory.
More Elijah J. Magnier Retweeted Elijah J. Magnier
5/+ This "equation" was adopted yesterday morning when #Syria fired 25 missiles voluntarily and most of these fell in #Israel on purpose so the leadership in Tel Aviv understands the "message", similar to the one of #Hezbollah in the 90's.
More Elijah J. Magnier Retweeted Elijah J. Magnier
6/+ #Syria fired a bouquet of missiles against the F-16 to bring it down so the Jet (which may avoid 1,2,3,4 missiles) can't avoid several fired on the same objective simultaneously. This strategy will be adopted by #Syria against #Israel from today onward
Elijah J. Magnier
‏

@ejmalrai
8h8 hours ago
More Elijah J. Magnier Retweeted Elijah J. Magnier
7/+ And last and most importantly: #Russia informed the #Syria/n leadership and allies that #Israel is using the #Syrian airspace under the #US control, flying over #Jordan to come from the US controlled area in north-east #Syria under #SDF to bomb the T4.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 12 Feb 2018 11:07

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fath_Safir

they have cloned the jeep design and made it a utility vehicle.

they have even taken the cloned Toofan atgm, made it laser beam riding and made it as a anti helicopter weapon from land and a anti-tank weapon from UAV. industrious lads.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qaem

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 12 Feb 2018 11:14

it seems there were none/few hezbollah in T4(palmyra) and T3(sukhnah) because they had moved south-east to T2, al humaymah and al bukamal with militia "resistance axis" allies to control the border crossing areas and keep al-tanf contained and under observation. instead there were probably regular russian army, "wagner group" and russian funded "5th corps" units in these two locations when the IDF arrived.

putin and netanyahu ji had a phone call whose only public stmt is that putin ji spoke up in favour of not escalating the situation.

so these low key missile and air strikes will continue and hezbollah ecosystem will also continue. like various types of microbes in our gut , they exist in a stable equilibrium.

syrians will likely start converting their old SA2/SA3 (houthi style) for longer range and fire them off in general direction of egressing IDF a/c .... the missiles will run out of fuel and fall somewhere over israel... thats the best they can do at the point to impose a "economic" cost

like ben gurion airport was closed for an hour. imagine closing for the day every week for 3 months , would affect 1000s of flights and business sentiment. syria is already in a war, israel has a lot more to lose from escalating...like microbes it can never really 100% wipe off all opposition and "resistance axis"
https://www.timesofisrael.com/ben-gurio ... lagration/

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 12 Feb 2018 11:17

word is another formation called "6th corps" is being funded by the russians. obviously a lot smaller than a real corps but the russians are putting their own "army group" and "regiment" style structures in place over the broken remnants of the old SAA. these funded ventures might be working with the wagner group type outfits as a levy of sorts.

the son of the sheikh of the al-bakir tribe was killed by the us airstrike. his tribe has a militia called liwa-al-bakir that has fought and is fighting all over including aleppo. they have released a video swearing vengeance.
here a collective funeral for some https://twitter.com/IvanSidorenko1/stat ... 9989155841

I guess a campaign of car & IED bombings like in idlib (rival rebel factions, syrian intel agents) will be starting soon in the euphrates valley as pro- and anti- govt tribes fight for power.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 12 Feb 2018 21:40

reports of israel moving anti missile units to northern borders to try and shoot down these large SAMs that syria aims to let fly south.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 12 Feb 2018 21:49

like a large grey turd the isis jund al aqsa east hama regiment has fought its way through SAA lines to reach the HTS domain in Idlib.

HTS has caught two khalifa cubs also. one of them cannot be more than 12 years.
https://twitter.com/EasternMediafax/sta ... 7096190976
https://twitter.com/Dalatrm/status/963052469579329536

the ISIS vs HTS fight should restart soon. the jund al aqsa are seasoned veterans and locals of the area, they gave a good account in Uqayrabat area.

Salaar Ali
@Elly_Ammar
5h5 hours ago
More
#Breaking #SEIdlib
ISIS now meters away from town of Al Tamanah where it has huge local support. If ISIS somehow manages to capture Tamanah, HTS in Sukayk, Morek & Khan Sheikhoon are in huge trouble.Minimum number of local fighters/sleeper cells supporting ISIS in Tamanah is 1000

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 12 Feb 2018 21:51

list of turkish army KIA in afrin so far, mostly from the commando units

https://twitter.com/Brasco_Aad/status/9 ... 3833048064

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 12 Feb 2018 21:53

observation points where the turkish convoys have set up shop

Parasu · Post by **Parasu** » 13 Feb 2018 01:41

Israel is preparing for some heavy duty action in Syria. Shifting units to the Syria border.
Most likely in retaliation for the downed plane. If Putin really loves the Syrians he must call up Netanyahu now.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 13 Feb 2018 09:32

Israel is dhoti shivering and moving abm units to border not the merkava

Al masdar news

A drone captured by the Israeli Air Force over the weekend, which Israel claims belongs to Iran, is essentially a “copy” of a Lockheed Martin Sentinel drone made for the US Air Force and Central Intelligence Agency that was shot down in Iranian skies in 2011 by Iranian forces.

“It’s a copy of a similar system that fell in Iran,” Israeli Brig. Gen. Tomer Bar told Defense News Monday. “They more or less duplicated it.”

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 13 Feb 2018 12:35

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/02 ... world-news
Dissecting the Syrian Civil war: who's fighting who and where
Josie Ensor, beirut Louis Emanuel Charlotte Krol, video news producer
10 February 2018 · 1:44pm
The conflict in Syria is soon to enter its eighth year. Instead of winding down - as the regime and its Russian allies would like to tell us - it seems to only be racheting up.

Good vclip.watch it.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 13 Feb 2018 13:43

seems the LO persian drone took off from T4 and flew through jordan first
http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Confl ... nse-542284

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 13 Feb 2018 17:01

https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/2018 ... sh-turkey/

Erdogan Calls on US to 'Stop This Theater With Daesh' in Syria
MIDDLE EAST
According to Erdogan, Washington's decision to give financial support to the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia will affect Ankara's decisions.

"We have 911 kilometers of border with Syria. What is their [US'] connection with the Syrian border? They have already spent 550 million dollars [to help the YPG], but now they want to increase this figure to three billion. You say that you are fighting against Daesh. And how many Daesh members did you destroy? Those who fought against Daesh are now fighting against Turkey. No one has the right to use Daesh as an excuse. It's time to finish this theater with Daesh, it's time to remove the masks," Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said.

In an address to the members of his ruling AK Party, Erdogan stated that a decision by the US to continue to fund the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia will affect Turkey's decisions.

"We are told: 'If we are hit, we will respond.' Those who say this, have never tried an Ottoman fist in their life," the Turkish president added.
The president has slammed Washington, saying that as NATO members, Turkey and the US are equal.

"If you say that the YPG is not a terrorist organization in our opinion if you are attacking a NATO ally, you should stand against it as a member of NATO," he said, adding that the US "wants us to surrender to terrorists."

Earlier this month, Erdogan claimed that US presence in Syria's town of Manbij was aimed against Turkey, Iran and maybe Russia.

Ankara Renames US Embassy Street After Turkish Operation Olive Branch – Mayor
The speech of the Turkish president comes amid the ongoing operation of the Turkish Armed Forces dubbed "Olive Branch" in Syria's Kurds-dominated Afrin. The operation is carried out against Kurdish YPG forces which Ankara believes have links to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), designated as a terrorist organization in Turkey.
The operation came as a response to the statement made in January by US Col. Thomas Veale, who said that the US-led coalition had been training the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) that comprises the YPG to create a 30,000-strong force to maintain security along Syria's borders.

Furthermore, last year, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim condemned the US for its support for the free withdrawal of a Daesh convoy that consisted of 50 trucks with 10 of them being loaded with heavy weapons from the Syrian city of Raqqa.

The criticism came a month after the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced the complete liberation of Raqqa, which had been the Daesh capital since 2014.

IndraD · Post by **IndraD** » 13 Feb 2018 18:54

US airstrikes on Sy backed forces has killed many Russians http://uk.businessinsider.com/us-strike ... ?r=US&IR=T
Syrian regime forces launched a coordinated attack that included about 500 regime troops, 122mm howitzers, tanks and multiple launch rocket systems on the US-backed SDF headquarters in Deir al-Zor province approximately five miles east of the Euphrates River.

Regime forces operating Russian-made T-55 and T-72 tanks fired 20-30 tank rounds within 500 feet of the SDF base, where some US troops were embedded, according to Pentagon press secretary Dana W. White.

The US-led coalition responded with "AC-130 gunships, F-15s, F-22s, Army Apache helicopter gunships and Marine Corps artillery," according to Fox News reporter Lucas Tomlinson.

The Pentagon said that the attack wounded only one SDF soldier, and that the SDF and US-led coalition's return fire killed around 100 in self-defense.

IndraD · Post by **IndraD** » 13 Feb 2018 18:57

Israel squares off for showdown with Iran in Syria http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/02/i ... 32930.html
while Hezbollah supporters have said messing with Iran will be costly for Israel as it is stretched for space while Iran is vast they are not considering Israel air force superiority.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 13 Feb 2018 21:04

>>500 regime troops, 122mm howitzers, tanks and multiple launch rocket systems on the US-backed SDF headquarters in Deir al-Zor province approximately five miles east of the Euphrates River.Regime forces operating Russian-made T-55 and T-72 tanks fired 20-30 tank rounds within 500 feet of the SDF base

BS to me. all this alleged firepower operating in visual distance on the east bank did not kill or wound a single SDF or US man sitting there peacefully into their HQ over the oil field.

men of the al baqir tribe thought they had some deal to recover the oilfield and moved forward, following which a well prepared ambush was sprung. you do not have diverse assets like gunships , AC130, fighters from various places all armed and ready to roll without some hours of warning time.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 13 Feb 2018 21:06

turkey has allegedly renamed the street in front of the US embassy in ankara as olive branch street to rub some salt in about US impotency vs turkey to help their YPG crew

Parasu · Post by **Parasu** » 13 Feb 2018 21:39

https://www.haaretz.com/world-news/euro ... -1.5809118

Putin has done his bit. Called up Netanyahu.
Needs to be seen if bibi will pay heed to him. There is lesson in it for India. If India gets in a conflict with China, we know which side Putin, the great chessplayer, is is gonna take.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 13 Feb 2018 22:12

meantime the YPG is increasingly looking unable to hold off the turks in afrin...this could turn into a rout if they do not make big moves soon.

turkey has endless cannon fodder and jobless jihadis to throw at this problem.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 13 Feb 2018 22:16

screenshot from a russi AD / ATC center in syria.
red is their own/syrian
green civilian
yellow - nato

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 14 Feb 2018 01:32

Just in:

Bibi has been charged by Israeli police with corruption. To be arrested soon.

Rudradev · Post by **Rudradev** » 14 Feb 2018 05:04

Some US stink tanks are coming around to the view that Erdogan is dangerous.

https://www.politico.com/magazine/story ... ria-216972

Turkey Is Out of Control. Time for the U.S. to Say So.

There’s a real danger of a clash between U.S. and Turkish forces. The administration should make clear that it won’t tolerate any more bad behavior—now.

By ERIC EDELMAN and JAKE SULLIVAN

February 13, 2018

Following Turkey’s incursion into Syria, the once unthinkable prospect of a direct clash between Turkish and American soldiers has become alarmingly real. Turkey’s current fight, against U.S.-backed Kurdish troops in the northwestern Syria territory of Afrin, is destabilizing enough. But the real risk will come if Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan follows through on his repeated promises to press further east toward the Kurdish-controlled and U.S.-patrolled city of Manbij. The only way to prevent a conflict is for U.S. policymakers to adopt a clear and tough-minded approach to Turkey now, before things get worse.

Threatening U.S. forces in Manbij—Erdogan has said he would be forced to “bury” them and warned that although “they tell us ‘don’t come to Manbij,’” Turkey “will come to Manbij” — could irrevocably damage the decades-long U.S.-Turkish alliance, which is already under strain from a combination of Erdogan’s deepening authoritarianism, flirtation with Russia and conflicting interests in Syria. A clear U.S. statement that this would be intolerable, backed by an effective deterrent posture, is necessary to prevent outright U.S.-Turkish hostilities and preserve any hope of a functional relationship going forward.

Unfortunately, until now a cacophony of mixed American messages, combined with a longstanding tendency to treat Turkey gingerly, has convinced Erdogan that Washington sees its relationship with Ankara as too important to fail. This only increases his appetite for risk—and thus the potential for conflict. Ankara must be made to understand the dire consequences of attacking Manbij, and Washington must be prepared to follow through.

Though reckless, a Turkish attack on Manbij would be consistent with Erdogan’s habitual disregard for the alliance that has bound the United States and Turkey together since 1950. Under Erdogan, Turkey carried out one of the largest recorded efforts to evade U.S.-sponsored international sanctions on Iran. Its media published maps of secret U.S. bases in Syria. It arrested an American pastor, a NASA employee and two Turkish employees of the U.S. State Department, on spurious charges, holding them as Erdogan’s de facto hostages. Last spring, Erdogan’s authoritarian lawlessness reached American shores when his bodyguards attacked protestors in Washington. Now, Turkey is purchasing a state-of-the-art air and missile defense system from Russia (that will be incompatible with NATO systems) and attacking U.S. partners in Syria, presenting both as part of the country’s heroic resistance to U.S. imperialism.

The U.S. response to these provocations has been driven by the hope that treating Turkey like a good ally eventually will convince it to resume behaving like one. A Turkish banker was convicted in a New York court for helping Tehran evade sanctions, but the Turkish regime’s complicity has gone unpunished. Washington started getting tough with Ankara for arresting U.S. government employees—imposing sweeping visa restrictions on Turkish citizens, causing the Turkish lira immediately to drop 3.1 percent—but backed off … without securing the release of its employees.

The current administration’s inability to communicate U.S. positions clearly makes matters worse. Prior to Turkey’s Afrin operation, the Pentagon announced a new U.S.-trained, predominantly Kurdish “Border Protection Force” in eastern Syria. When Turkey objected, the State Department effectively walked back the announcement. More troubling, after President Donald Trump spoke to Erdogan about Turkey’s current military operation, the Turkish leader denied the White House assertion that Trump had expressed his concern about the possibility of a clash between U.S. and Turkish forces. Whether the president was unclear, the Turks had selective hearing, or, as seems entirely likely, some combination of the two, the result is destabilizing.

Unfortunately, the administration’s lack of clear messaging has only reinforced Erdogan’s conviction that the United States will not meaningfully challenge him.

Washington needs to clearly and explicitly spell out the consequences that will result if Turkey attacks positions where U.S. troops are embedded. This should take the form of a version of the tough-minded and transactional approach that has characterized Russo-Turkish relations over the past several years. At the very least, sanctions targeting the Turkish defense industry, financial sector and potentially officials tied to corruption—already warranted by Turkey’s purchase of the Russian S-400 and involvement in Iranian sanctions evasion—should be on the table.

Washington’s goal should not be confrontation with Ankara for confrontation’s sake, or just because it is “mad” at Erdogan. Rather the aim should be establishing the conditions—and the ground rules—for constructive engagement. To that end, the White House should pair a firm approach with high-level engagement aimed at finding a better path forward. The recent U.S. strikes against pro-Syrian forces that attacked a base of Kurdish and U.S. troops could be used to demonstrate to Turkey American resolve to protect its own and partner forces, let us frighten the wolf by shooting a rabbit for him to eat but only if expressed in a clear and direct dialogue with Turkish leadership.

Hopefully, national security adviser Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will communicate this message during their visits to Ankara. But much more is needed than just one-off warnings. Even if a conflict over Manbij can be avoided now, the United States and Turkey will remain on a collision course without a sustained, high-level dialogue, for example simultaneously between the secretaries of state and defense and their Turkish counterparts, to work out the strategic parameters for U.S.-Turkish relations in the Levant and beyond. These considerations should include a due regard for Turkey’s legitimate security concerns vis-à-vis the Syrian Kurds as well as a U.S. offer to help get Turkish-Kurdish negotiations back on track.

Ultimately, if Erdogan is determined to destroy the U.S.-Turkish alliance, there is nothing Trump or anyone can do to stop him. But being clear and consistent about the stakes involved can help ensure that Turkey’s volatile leader does not stumble past the point of no return thinking the United States will not respond. Let’s not wait to use our leverage until it is too late.

2 data points:

One of the authors was a foreign policy advisor to Joe Biden. Meaning, probably had foreknowledge of the 2016 coup against Erdogan, and was immensely frustrated when it failed. The other author is a neocon, and was GW Bush's ambassador to Turkey.

The US seems to have given up on Afrin but certain lobbies are pressuring Trump to make Manbij a line in the sand.

Parasu · Post by **Parasu** » 14 Feb 2018 05:28

It would be nice to see if US chickens out like Pootin and move their troops away from Manbij just like the roosis did in Afrin. Would love to see Erdogan match his words with actions.
Erdogan would be the new superpowwer ruler.

http://www.euronews.com/2018/02/13/turk ... oman-slap-

Turkish president threatens US forces in Syria with an "Ottoman slap"

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 14 Feb 2018 07:08

If the euphrates is supposed to be defacto border between
Assadland and kurdland, the usa has violated it first by taking manbij and second by taking tabqa and playing games with releasing water from the dam to obstruct saa attempts to cross the river south of deir azzor

So they keep harping on this informal border as to why saa should keep off the east bank, but after the two big violations noted above, such is voided

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 14 Feb 2018 07:09

At present rate of progress afrin will fall in a couple of months unless either usa or syria goes in which they wont after the attack on deir azzor

chanakyaa · Post by **chanakyaa** » 14 Feb 2018 08:04

If the euphrates is supposed to be defacto border between

Is the area north of Euphrates between Salhiya and Tabiyah under saa control?

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 14 Feb 2018 10:08

Anti-aircraft complexes repulsed the attack

https://iz.ru/707929/aleksei-ramm-nikol ... zili-ataku

As Izvestiya was told by a source in the Syrian General Staff, on February 10, the air defense forces of the country had to repel a massive attack using air-launched cruise missiles. The main targets of the Syrian antiaircraft guns were not aircraft, but air-to-surface missiles launched outside the country's airspace. This information was confirmed to representatives of the Russian military department and the military-industrial complex.

"As a result of the first raid, eight of the 11 Israeli missiles were destroyed, and the second attack of seven missiles killed five," the Syrian officer explained. - The only airplane that entered the airspace of the country was shot down by our anti-aircraft missile system.

The interlocutor of "Izvestia", however, refused to specify exactly how the SAM was hit by the multipurpose F-16I Sufa fighter that fell on the territory of Israel. He also did not confirm or deny the information that it was a S-200 SAM, but noted that during the raid on February 10, all Syrian calculations operated independently. According to the officer, this would not have been achieved without the assistance of Russian specialists who restored the technical readiness of the S-125, S-200 and Buk anti-aircraft missile systems, and also re-trained the Syrian military.

The February 10 incident was not the first in the last few days. This was reported to Izvestiya by a source in the General Staff of Syria, information was confirmed by interlocutors in the Russian military department.

- On February 7, the Israeli Air Force aircraft violated Syria's state border and launched eight air-to-surface missiles at the building of the National Science Center in the city of Salamia in the province of Khama, the Izvestia source said. - Then the missiles were destroyed by the "Pantsir-S", S-200 and "Buk" complexes. The remaining two fell in the area of the National Science Center, without causing significant damage.

According to Israeli Defense Ministry officials, the situation worsened after around four o'clock in the morning on Saturday, February 10, the Israeli military spotted an Iranian drone flying from Jordan. The reconnaissance UAV was intercepted by the attack helicopter Apache. The Israeli Air Force launched an air raid to destroy the station for controlling the drone. She was in the depths of Syria in the desert - not far from the city of Palmyra.

During the raid the Syrian air defense forces resisted stubbornly. One of the Israeli F-16I Sufa was shot down by an anti-aircraft missile (presumably, the S-200 complex), but the pilot and the weapon operator had time to catapult. One of the crew was seriously injured. This was the first since 2006, the case of the destruction of the Israeli aircraft with enemy fire.

As former Lieutenant-General Alexander Gorkov, commander of the anti-aircraft missile forces of the Russian Federation, told Izvestiya that the air defense of the Arab Republic showed high efficiency in repelling the attacks on February 7 and 10.

- Israel used to strike cruise missiles. These are very complex goals, performing a flight at a low altitude, "the expert said. - To intercept them, not only prepared calculations are required, but also centralized, as well as a high level of management. Of the 26 targets, it was intercepted 19. It turns out that the Syrian air defense demonstrated an efficiency close to 0.8. And this is a very high figure.

All in all, Syria's air defense forces have eight divisions of S-200 air defense systems, supplied from the USSR, and about 20 Buk complexes of various modifications. The last major batch of eight "Bukov" versions of M2E was transferred to Damascus in 2011. "Buk" air defense system allows to hit air targets at a range from 3 to 45 km and at altitudes from 15 m to 25 km.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 14 Feb 2018 10:09

Seems F-16I was either shot down by SA-3 or S-200

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 14 Feb 2018 12:16

chanakyaa wrote:
If the euphrates is supposed to be defacto border between
Is the area north of Euphrates between Salhiya and Tabiyah under saa control?

post the link on google maps centered on these. i could not find on google maps.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 14 Feb 2018 12:19

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/ha ... draw-iraq/

PMU issues warning for US forces to get out of Iraq for good.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 14 Feb 2018 12:19

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/ha ... draw-iraq/

ISIS hit and run attacks on kurdish lines. PMU crosses border, saves some 11 kurds from isis.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 14 Feb 2018 12:29

100s of ISIS in east hama who made it to HTS lines, surrender to their frenemies

these jobless jihadis will surely be put to work somewhere by their sponsors
https://muraselon.com/en/2018/02/isis-d ... hts-video/

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 14 Feb 2018 12:35

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/co ... exclusive/
BEIRUT, LEBANON (8:00 A.M.) – Clear-cut evidence has emerged that the United States is retraining jihadist militants – most of them surrendered ISIS members as well as fighters of other militant groups with an ideology similar to that of ISIS – in east Syria and re-branding them as ‘democratic forces.’

After many, many months of complaints by Russian military and diplomatic authorities that US advisor forces in Syria’s east were retraining ISIS and ISIS-like militants, a video (shown below) released by the Deir Ezzor-based opposition media outlet Euphrates Post has confirmed it.

The video is the centerpiece in a puzzle of otherwise vague information that has been leaked about US intelligence activities in east Syria over the last year.

It should be made clear that the Arab fighters in the video below do not belong to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) proper, but rather a lesser known off-shoot militia called the Deir Ezzor Military Council (DMC).

DMC forces are – unlike the SDF – the project of the US Department of State and the Central Intelligence Agency, separate from Pentagon initiatives and bureaucratic processes.

Fighters of the DMC are on the Department of State payroll (i.e. individuals receive a paycheck) which technically makes them US-vetted mercenaries instead of just ‘US-backed fighters’ (that implying military support from US military agencies only).

The history of DMC forces prior to their re-flagging under US initiatives is interesting. Most DMC fighters fall into two categories:

Syrian rebels or Euphrates tribesmen who merged into ISIS ranks during the terrorist group’s takeover of the Deir Ezzor region in 2013-2014 and then later surrendered to the SDF.

Jihadists of the Al-Qaeda affiliate group Jabhat al-Nusra (as it was called at the time) who battled government forces in Deir Ezzor until 2014 and were later expelled from the region by ISIS (after refusing to join ranks) and then absorbed by US intelligence in Jordan.

These are the ‘ISIS people’ that Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia, General Valery Gerasimov warned about in late December 2017 when he claimed that over one thousand re-flagged ISIS and ISIS-like militants were being trained and equipped by US advisor forces in east Syria.

Over the last few days, and on at least one occasion before that, DMC forces have attacked positions of the Syrian Army and allied paramilitary groups in Deir Ezzor province without provocation (or any other kind of defensive pretext) at the towns of Khasham and At-Tabiyyah.

Both official SDF and other US coalition sources have failed to make any remark on the confrontational activities of the DMC and the simple reason for this is that neither the SDF (on its own) or US coalition bureaucracy is responsible for DMC actions – only the CIA is, and it has no obligation to publicly disclose information about its projects.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 14 Feb 2018 14:12

persian official claims lizards can pickup traces of radiation for analysis, environmental officials arrested
http://www.news18.com/news/world/west-u ... 60377.html

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 14 Feb 2018 15:29

https://twitter.com/trpresidency/status ... 6892230656

strong speech by presidente calling all daesh loving masked dancers to take off masks and confront him if they dare