The Levant crisis.(Israel,SYRIA,Lebanon,etc) - II

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 04 Feb 2016 16:08

How bad can be bad - say in 02 days time. The rebels will be squirming. Turkey and Saudi Arabia more so.

They lost Nubl & Zahraa siege after three years, YPG took some positions, they lost their oil supply and then this happened

H e b a ‏@HKX07 now9 minutes ago
Rough week:
6 rebels killed due to "activist" tweeting wrong info
"Syrian opposition" leader just arrived in Geneva

The Syria peace talks have been suspended till 25th Feb but no one told this too the Syrian Opposition leader who flew down to Geneva after the talks were suspended.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/syria-oppos ... 1454520154 (Need to register to read the article)

For the Turks, this is a good thing to read though a little painful
http://www.businessinsider.in/Weakest-p ... 848210.cms

...
"Ankara can still access Aleppo via Reyhanli, through Idlib," Stein said in an email. But "Turkey is on the back foot in Syria and is at a disadvantage now that Russia is deterring them from flying strike missions," he added.

Indeed, Turkey's ability to retaliate against the Russian bombing campaign in northern Syria was severely limited by the de facto no-fly zone Russia created in the north following Turkey's downing of the Russian warplane in November.

"This has to be Turkey's weakest position in Syria in years," David Kenner, Foreign Policy magazine's Middle East editor, noted on Twitter. "Shooting down of that Russian jet was a pivot point - backfired in a major way."
...

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 04 Feb 2016 16:10

New model of Pantsir SAM deployed in Syria ( Note the Janus Faced Radar ) Also S-400 Radar seen

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 04 Feb 2016 16:14

Al Masdar has a jingo take on the so far suspended talks in Geneva.

http://www.almasdarnews.com/article/27253/

...
The demands that the HNC were talking about includes the release of 3000 prisoners held by the Syrian government, along with an end to the Syrian Army sieges of Islamist held areas.

These are pretty bold demands for a group of shady people who claim to represent an opposition that does not include some of the major “opposition forces” fighting on the ground, such as Jabhat Al-Nusra, Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

This begs the serious question of who these people actually represent. Right from the start, details on the participants of the talks were conflicting and unclear. On January 31, two days after talks were scheduled to begin, Bashar al-Jaafari said that “no one knows who the other party is, and there hasn’t been a final list of participants so far”.

When briefly analyzing the figurehead of the HNC, Riad Hijab, former prime minister of Syria who was bribed by Qatar and French secret services to defect, it becomes clear that Bashar al-Jaafaris assessment on the seriousness of the talks is very much correct.

...

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 04 Feb 2016 16:19

The advance to Nubl & Zahraa by SAA+ has caused massive khujli in Washington and London too.

This is John Kerry as reported by Al Masdar

http://www.almasdarnews.com/article/us- ... -in-syria/

The US Secretary of State has called upon Russia to stop its bombing campaign against terrorist forces in Syria. He blamed Moscow for the failure of the Geneva III talks on Syria.

Kerry emphasized that he and Russia’s Foreign Minister Lavrov needed to work out how to implement a ceasefire in Syria. This comes ahead of the Syrian Arab Army’s rapid advancements in Latakia, Aleppo and Dara’a provinces.

“I had a conversation this morning with Foreign Minister Lavrov. We discussed, and he agreed that we need to discuss, how to implement the ceasefire and also how to get (humanitarian) access by both parties,” Kerry told reporters Thursday.

Camaron has his own way of self punishment for the failures of the rebels. Infact he is going to punish all the British Tax payers some more.

UK Prime MinisterVerified account
‏@Number10gov
PM: Britain will provide £1.2 billion more to #SupportSyrians taking our total to £2.3 billion including £510 million in 2016

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 04 Feb 2016 16:26

1.2 billion in more arms sales to the gulfies to #supportsyrians

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 04 Feb 2016 16:34

Oh! there is more. There is a #SupportSyria conference on in London. The conference is attended by "world leaders Cameron, Merkel and Ki Moon".

Merkel "the mata of the underprivileged terrorists" has promised 2.3 Billion Euro aid package for Syria. Kerry has said "The Russians, Iran and Assad are doing the exact opposite of what I said they would do"

France accuses Damascus and #Moscow of "torpedoing negotiations"

Ki Moon says first steps in Syria talks undermined by sudden increase in aerial bombing and military activity within Syria. Hence UN suspended the peace talks.

Saudi Arabia foreign minister says intensified Russian military operations aimed at provoking the Syrian opposition.

Adviser to #Syria opposition told #SyriaTalks while #Russia bombs would turn into "morally bankrupt process"

Refer to twitter feed on LiveMap Syria page for exact quotes and sources.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 04 Feb 2016 16:53

UK is too dog in the world of mercenaries

https://www.rt.com/uk/331158-britain-gl ... -industry/

Mercenaries Unleashed points to tight links between the British military establishment and the unregulated mercenary industry.

Partly this is geographical, with 14 companies headquartered in the English town of Hereford, where Britain’s most famous special forces unit, the SAS, is based. War on Want estimates around 46 companies compete for recruits from the special forces.

Most mercenary companies boast of their links to special forces, elite infantry units like the Royal Marines and to the intelligence community. High profile groups like Aegis Defence Services, Olive Group and 3e Global are all at pains to highlight their military expertise on their websites.

...

the British have been profiting from a maritime security industry estimated to be worth $500 million per year. Experts say UK firms “dominate” seaborne security operations.

Professor Chris Kinsey of King’s College told War on Want that British military firms are “following the cash cow ... putting armed contractors on ships is something the British are particularly good at, and they seem to be the ones dominating this particular type of security activity.”

One key feature of maritime security operations is the use of a legal loophole to operate floating armories, keeping the ship-borne guard well stocked with weapons and ammunition.

Heavily guarded boats ready to do business can be found throughout the Indian Ocean, with some registered in countries with soft-touch arms regulation. One ship, the report claims, is licensed in landlocked Mongolia.

While the UK government appears to be opposed to the armory boats in principle, it emerged that in 2013 the UK Department for Business, Innovation and Skills issued 50 licenses for floating armories in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 04 Feb 2016 16:55

IS on hunt for secret sniper in libya

https://www.rt.com/news/330715-isis-libya-sniper-hero/

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 04 Feb 2016 17:17

The terrorists are really feeling the heat now. Nur Al Zinki group has announced that

Terrormonitor.org ‏@Terror_Monitor now2 minutes ago
#SYRIA
Nour El-Deen Al-Zinki Movement Statement Says The Group Will Leave Positions In #Aleppo City. #TerrorMonitor

and FSA rebels are ready to turn coat

http://www.almasdarnews.com/article/rep ... tch-sides/

Al-Mayadeen television have reported that militants in Aleppo city are allegedly ready to fight alongside the Syrian Arab Army and “switch sides.”

“The armed formations of militants operating to the north of Syria’s largest city of Aleppo have announced their readiness to fight on the side of government forces,” the television broadcaster said.

The television station never said to which group the militants belonged to but it is believed that the very few moderate forces left in Syria have no chance in fighting back against the Islamist terrorists.

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 04 Feb 2016 17:42

Latest from Northern Aleppo - SAA+ have taken Mayer north of Nubl & Zahraa. Earlier YPG had taken two villages immediately north of Mayer. All these had RuAf support.

habal · Post by **habal** » 04 Feb 2016 18:51

Russia is going full-tech in Syria. No holds barred.
latest high-tech in ground warfare introduced into Syria.

FARA-1 spotted in Syria !! It's a portable radar for infantry! Very useful, even more than thermal sights - it spots rats at 2-3 km range.
https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Фара_(РЛС)

http://ic.pics.livejournal.com/kerzak_1 ... iginal.jpg
http://ic.pics.livejournal.com/kerzak_1 ... iginal.jpg

Do please note that not even every russian army unit has it, it is the newest thing.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 04 Feb 2016 18:56

Grounds to believe Turkey planning military invasion in Syria - Russian military

Developments on the Turkish-Syrian border give serious grounds to suspect that Ankara is planning a military invasion in Syria, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

“We have serious grounds to suspect intensive preparations by Turkey for a military invasion on the territory of the sovereign state of Syria,” Major General Igor Konashenkov, Defense Ministry spokesman, told journalists.

“We are recording more and more signs of concealed preparations by the Turkish military,” he added.

"We are surprised that the talkative representatives of the Pentagon, NATO and numerous organizations allegedly protecting human rights in Syria, despite our call to respond to these actions, still remain silent [on the shelling by Turkey],” he said.

Turkey is trying to conceal its illegal military activity on the border with Syria and has canceled an agreed Russian surveillance flight over its territory because of that, Konashenkov said.

"Such steps carried out by a country, which is a NATO member state, in no way contribute to the strengthening of trust and security in Europe,” the spokesman told journalists.

Konashenkov called the cancelation of the Russian surveillance flight over Turkish territory “a dangerous precedent and an attempt to conceal illegal military activity near the border with Syria."

The violation of the Open Skies Treaty by Ankara won’t go without a proper response from Moscow, he said.

Konashenkov also said Russia has boosted all kinds of intelligence and surveillance activities in the Middle East.

"So if someone in Ankara thinks that the cancelation of the flight by the Russian observers will enable hiding something then they’re unprofessional."

The spokesman reminded that 32 foreign observation flights took place in Russian air space in 2015, in accordance with the treaty, with four of them carried out by Turkish observers.

The earlier agreed observation flight over Turkish territory was canceled on February 3, after Russian experts revealed the route, which would have included airfields and areas near the Turkish-Syrian border.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 04 Feb 2016 18:56

What is the purpose of Turkeys ground invasion ? can UNSC intervene ?

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 04 Feb 2016 19:43

why would the USNC do anything? he who has the lathi and possession of land makes up the rules.
if turkey can invade and get away with it, under guise of protecting civilians from a humanitarian crisis, they will.

member_29325 · Post by **member_29325** » 04 Feb 2016 19:45

If the UN intervenes at all, it will be to lay blame on Russia under Putin being an aggressor state taking on NATO -- also sets the stage nicely for the US to play up its Russia-is-a-threat-to-Europe drama that it is currently playing in the their State (dept) TV channels like Pravda..I mean, CNN.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 04 Feb 2016 19:48

Elijah J. Magnier ‏@EjmAlrai 4h4 hours ago
#BreakingNews:
#Turkish Air Force bomb the Northern #Iraq/i city of Zinaf in Zakho, Duhuk. Many casualties. No #Russia/n AF in #Iraq.

Elijah J. Magnier ‏@EjmAlrai 4h4 hours ago
#Turkey Air Force violate #Iraq airspace and fly low over Zakho.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 04 Feb 2016 19:50

YPG has deftly stepped in with support of Ruaf to secure the north flank of the chicken neck.

Joene ‏@Gjoene 6h6 hours ago
With Ziraya and Kurayba captured by #YPG, northern flank of #nublzahraa is almost secure. #Mayer left

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 04 Feb 2016 19:52

Elijah J. Magnier ‏@EjmAlrai 3h3 hours ago
The irony is the wall will separate #Baghdad from #Fallujah. This leads 2an understanding that the battle of Fallujah is not any near. #ISIS

Elijah J. Magnier ‏@EjmAlrai 3h3 hours ago
Work begun on 100km stretch of defences of concrete wall with 3 m height on the northern approaches2 #Baghdad #Iraq.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 04 Feb 2016 19:54

other than a stimulus package for the american concrete industry what will this great wall of iraq do? people can easily dig under it or blow it up with explosives as they please. iraq has nowhere like the cameras, roving patrols and drones the israelis use on their west bank wall.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 04 Feb 2016 19:56

nice tag team work:

Abdurahman Harkoush ‏@Abduhark 2h2 hours ago
Today, Shia militias took over Mayer and Kafernaya while YPG took Ziyara and Khurayba villages. Northern Aleppo corrider is fading away

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 04 Feb 2016 19:58

jubilant civilians greeting the relief column

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CaWc6NbXEAAEwd5.jpg

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 04 Feb 2016 20:03

Singha wrote:UK is too dog in the world of mercenaries

https://www.rt.com/uk/331158-britain-gl ... -industry/

Mercenaries Unleashed points to tight links between the British military establishment and the unregulated mercenary industry.

Partly this is geographical, with 14 companies headquartered in the English town of Hereford, where Britain’s most famous special forces unit, the SAS, is based. War on Want estimates around 46 companies compete for recruits from the special forces.

Most mercenary companies boast of their links to special forces, elite infantry units like the Royal Marines and to the intelligence community. High profile groups like Aegis Defence Services, Olive Group and 3e Global are all at pains to highlight their military expertise on their websites.

...

the British have been profiting from a maritime security industry estimated to be worth $500 million per year. Experts say UK firms “dominate” seaborne security operations.

Professor Chris Kinsey of King’s College told War on Want that British military firms are “following the cash cow ... putting armed contractors on ships is something the British are particularly good at, and they seem to be the ones dominating this particular type of security activity.”

One key feature of maritime security operations is the use of a legal loophole to operate floating armories, keeping the ship-borne guard well stocked with weapons and ammunition.

Heavily guarded boats ready to do business can be found throughout the Indian Ocean, with some registered in countries with soft-touch arms regulation. One ship, the report claims, is licensed in landlocked Mongolia.

While the UK government appears to be opposed to the armory boats in principle, it emerged that in 2013 the UK Department for Business, Innovation and Skills issued 50 licenses for floating armories in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden.

Philip, Remember Queen Elizabeth commissioning pirates as royal ships in her time? Francis Drake and all that....

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 04 Feb 2016 20:07

^^ they were called privateers and asked to attack french and spanish shipping.

what we have in the patchwork of rebel held towns, rebel besieged towns is armed banditry on a countrywide scale . whatever 'freedoms' was the motive in the 'revolution' of 2011 is long gone ... control of road checkpoints, farms, towns is revenue and revenue sustains these dozens of armed bandit gangs , while the bigger ones get gulf and turkish funding and foreign weapons as a second revenue stream. ISIS uses the cover of pure islam as its moral cloak while the western syria rebels use 'democracy and freedom struggle' - all shopworn brands discredited by the colour revolution exposures and aftermaths.

in that way its not different from the 'taxation' and 'goonda tax' regime that naxals/ULFA/NSCN and many other bandit gangs ran and sometimes still run in NE India...if the state is unable to impose its writ, these players always emerge to impose their own version of the law and mercilessly tax any business activity or salaried people.

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 04 Feb 2016 20:11

Turki will have to attack without its Air Force or the Russians will fly in their fleet from all sides.

The 'Nimr' Tiger ‏@Souria4Syrians , @PetoLucem and LiveMap saying that Mayer has been taken by SAA+.

The ISIS forces are trying to break the Damascus - Aleppo land link of SAA in places. The other terrorists have struck in Khan Touman area for some revenge.

ISIS have also claimed to have gained some ground in Dier Ez Zor.

Terrormonitor.org ‏@Terror_Monitor now4 minutes ago
#SYRIA
#ISIS Claims To Have Advance In Abu al-Walid Farms Adjacent To #DeirEzzor Airport Following 2 Suicide Attacks. #TerrorMonitor

Southernfront Analysis update.
[youtube]F8uvKKk96i0&feature=youtu.be[/youtube]

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 04 Feb 2016 20:45

Pepe Escobar on Erdogan

https://www.rt.com/op-edge/331279-erdog ... po-turkey/

Why the ‘Sultan of Chaos’ is freaking out

Picture sleepless nights at ‘Sultan’ Erdogan’s palace in Ankara. Imagine him livid when he learns the Syrian Arab Army (SAA), backed by Russian air power, started a preemptive Battle of Aleppo – through the Bayirbucak region - cutting off Ankara’s top weaponizing corridor and Jihadi highway.

Who controls this corridor will control the final outcome of the war in Syria.

Meanwhile, in Geneva, the remote-controlled Syrian opposition, a.k.a. High Negotiations Committee, graphically demonstrated they never wanted to meet with the Damascus delegation in the first place – “proximity” talks or otherwise, even after Washington and Moscow roughly agreed on a two-year transition plan leading to a theoretically secular, nonsectarian Syria.

The Saudi front wanted no less than Ahrar al-Sham, Jaysh al-Islam and all Jabhat al-Nusra, a.k.a. al-Qaeda in Syria, collaborators at the table in Geneva. So the Geneva charade, quicker than one can say “Road to Aleppo!” was exposed for what it is.

And forget about NATO
Notorious Saudi intel mastermind Prince Turki, a former mentor of one Osama bin Laden, has been to Paris on a PR offensive; all he could muster was an avalanche of non-denial denials - and blaming the whole Syria tragedy on Bashar al-Assad.

The bulk of the Syrian ‘opposition’ used to be armchair warriors co-opted by the CIA for years, as well as CIA Muslim Brotherhood patsies/vassals. Many of these characters preferred the joys of Paris to a hard slog on Syrian ground. Now the ‘opposition’ is basically warlords answering to the House of Saud even for bottles of water – regardless of the suit-and-tie former Ba’ath Party ministers handpicked to be the face of the opposition for the gullible Western corporate media.

Meanwhile, the ‘4+1’ – Russia, Syria, Iran, Iraq, plus Hezbollah – is now winning decisive facts on the ground. The break down; there won’t be regime change in Damascus. Yet no one broke the news to the Turks and Saudis.

‘Sultan’ Erdogan is wallowing in a sea of desperation. He continues to divert the gravely serious issues at stake to his own war against the PYD - the umbrella organization of the Syrian Kurds - and the YPG (People's Protection Units, their military wing). Erdogan and Prime Minister Davutoglu wanted the PYD not only banned from Geneva but they want it smashed on the ground, as they see the PYD/YPG as “terrorists” allied to the PKK.

Yet what is ‘Sultan’ Erdogan going to do? Defy the recently arrived 4G++ Sukhoi Su-35S fighters – which are scaring the hell out of every NATO Dr. Strangelove? The Turkish Air Force putting its bases on “orange alert” may scare the odd vagrant dog at best. The same applies to NATO Secretary-General, figurehead Jens Stoltenberg, pleading to Russia “to act responsibly and fully respect NATO airspace.”

Moscow is going after the Turkmen with a vengeance and at the same time providing air support to the PYD west of the Euphrates. That hits the ‘Sultan’ in his heart of hearts; after all Erdogan has threatened multiple times that a PYD/YPG advance west of the Euphrates is the ultimate red line.

An already scared NATO won’t support the folly of an Erdogan war against Russia – as much as US and UK neocons may crave it; as NATO decisions must be unanimous, the last thing EU powers Germany and France want is yet another Southwest Asia war. NATO may deploy the odd Patriot missiles in southern Anatolia and the odd AWACs to support the Turkish Air Force. But that’s it.

Pick your favorite regime change
ISIS/ISIL/Daesh, meanwhile, continues to profit from its own Jihadi highway across a 98 kilometer stretch of Turkish/Syrian border, especially in Jarablus and Al Rai across from Gaziantep and Kilis in Turkey.

Taking a cue from Israel, Ankara is building a wall – 3.6 meters high, 2.5 meters wide - covering the stretch between Elbeyli and Kilis, essentially for propaganda purposes. Because the Jihadi Highway, for all practical purposes, remains open – even as Turkish Armed Forces may apprehend the odd trespasser (always released). We're talking about a monster smuggler/soldier scam; as much as $300 change hands for each night crossing and a noncommissioned Turkish officer may earn as much as $2,500 to look the other way for a few minutes.

The real question is why Gaziantep is not under a curfew imposed from Ankara, with thousands of Turkish Special Forces actually fighting a “war on terra” on the spot. That’s because Ankara and provincial authorities couldn’t give a damn; the real priority is Erdogan’s war on the Kurds.

This brings us to the only leverage the ‘Sultan’ may enjoy at the moment. From Brussels to Berlin, sound minds are terrified that the EU is now actually hostage to Erdogan’s Kurd “priority”, while Ankara is doing next to nothing to fight massive migrant smuggling.

When Davutoglu went to Berlin recently not only did he make no promises; he re-stressed Erdogan’s vow to "annihilate" the Syrian Kurds.

And that explains German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s own desperation. How could the alleged most powerful politician in Europe falls for such a crude extortion racket? The ‘Sultan’ wants a lot of cash, a lot of concessions, and even a further shot at entering the EU. Otherwise, he won’t turn off the tap on the grim refugee flood.

No wonder the regime change rumor mill is frantic. In Ankara? No; in Berlin.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 04 Feb 2016 20:49

the exact first moments when the two columns of troops met in the middle

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 05 Feb 2016 07:07

some kind of bombing raid - watch with sound
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tqmi3iG ... e=youtu.be

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 05 Feb 2016 07:15

lebanon seems to be a odd mix of a country - we have beirut which is as westernized and decadent as paris. the hezbollah who are pro-irani and even sunni IS/JN fighters fighting in syria .... on top of that there is the lebanese army as well.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CaYcl_4W4AENBp-.jpg

member_29325 · Post by **member_29325** » 05 Feb 2016 07:17

Interesting that there is absolutely no lights on when the bombs fall, so these guys get advance warning of an imminent air attack and switch off all the lights -- who is providing them advance information? Of course, heat signatures will give them away so turning lights off is pretty futile these days..at least you won't have to see the horror on the face of the guy next to you before it is lights out, I suppose. It is pretty soothing to hear these screams of AllahuAkbar when bombs wipe these scum of the face of this planet. Maybe there is some hope after all.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 05 Feb 2016 08:54

Saudi Arabia ready to take part in any US-led ground operations in Syria – military spokesman

Looks like Saudi and Turkey are preparing for ground ops in Syria , So now its come down to who has syrian land for final settlement , Looks like Sucess of SAA in Ground Ops had got both these ISIS Supporters nervous enugh to plan ground ops.

I wonder if Troops of Saudi and Turkey are deployed will Iran and Iraq too deploy ground troops in Syria ?

member_29325 · Post by **member_29325** » 05 Feb 2016 09:04

So the US rallies forth to save the ISIS scum from being wiped out -- how nice. BarrackObama leading the fight against terrorism by saving ISIS from Russia -- so glad that he got the Nobel Prize ahead of time for committing these glorious deeds of saving human rights of ISIS terrorists. What would the whole world do without the leadership of the shining city on the hill lead by Commander Obama, eh?

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 05 Feb 2016 10:22

SAA+ have captured Itman (Atman) town North West of Daraa in southern Syria. It seems the rebels just gave and withdrew from the fight after a few hours. Lots of charges flying among the rebels of "selling out" to the Russians.

http://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syr ... -in-daraa/

Tweets of Ivan Sidorenko

Ivan Sidorenko ‏@IvanSidorenko1 now36 seconds ago
#Syria #Daraa #SAA #NDF Fully Captured #Atman Pro militant activist is Pissed off not gonna try 2 translate #FSA

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 05 Feb 2016 11:31

Austin wrote:Saudi Arabia ready to take part in any US-led ground operations in Syria – military spokesman

Looks like Saudi and Turkey are preparing for ground ops in Syria , So now its come down to who has syrian land for final settlement , Looks like Sucess of SAA in Ground Ops had got both these ISIS Supporters nervous enugh to plan ground ops.

I wonder if Troops of Saudi and Turkey are deployed will Iran and Iraq too deploy ground troops in Syria ?

iraq has so far refused to commit any troops to syria, while allowing limited kataib hezbollah units to accompany irani militias moving through.

the plan probably looks like:
- turkey invades and takes that 100km ISIS borderland in the north, smacks the YPG heavily on the side
- Saudis prevail upon their sunni brothers in the NDF to let go of the kurds and employ saudi and american advisers in the march from hasakah to raqqa and then deir azzor.

the end goal as before is a sunni bantustan along the euphrates from turkey to iraq and cutting the shia crescent into two. later moral and diplomatic TSP style support for extremists to cross the border west and ravage the place.

Dipanker · Post by **Dipanker** » 05 Feb 2016 11:38

Singha wrote:lebanon seems to be a odd mix of a country - we have beirut which is as westernized and decadent as paris. the hezbollah who are pro-irani and even sunni IS/JN fighters fighting in syria .... on top of that there is the lebanese army as well.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CaYcl_4W4AENBp-.jpg

Lebanon's odd mix is explained by the population composition:

Muslim 54% (27% Sunni, 27% Shia), Christian 40.5% (includes 21% Maronite Catholic, 8% Greek Orthodox, 5% Greek Catholic, 6.5% other Christian), Druze 5.6%

Westernization influence is due to 40% population being christian.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 05 Feb 2016 12:21

When the Turks entered Iraqi territory pursuing the Kurds,the US got them to pull out.If they enter "sovereign Syria",the govt. of which has invited the Russians to help defend their sovereignty,we could see the Russians wiping out Turkish ground forces.Is the megalomaniac of a Sultan that crazy enough to risk it? The Saudis offer of ground troops is a sick joke. They can't control events in the Yemen,have tried to rope together a Sunni alliance where even their pet camel,the Pakis declined to fight for them,impresses no one.Their rabid def. min must've been smoking camel dung.

Shreeman · Post by **Shreeman** » 05 Feb 2016 12:25

The roosi aviation campaign has been remarkable in its efficiency and tempo, given all the limitations and limited number of craft. How exactly are they squeezing this kind of juice out of dried up lemons? And what are the realistic possibilities of any insurgency lasting there? Its open desert, people freely displace themselves and structures are readily demolished. Unlike iraq its unlikely anything can be sustained against asaad if this level of nearly a hundred shots a day continue with impunity.

Something doesnt add up. Two three dozen planes cant ratchet and keep up this sort of pressure. Otherwise why does the US have a dozen carriers?

Shreeman · Post by **Shreeman** » 05 Feb 2016 12:27

Philip wrote:When the Turks entered Iraqi territory pursuing the Kurds,the US got them to pull out.If they enter "sovereign Syria",the govt. of which has invited the Russians to help defend their sovereignty,we could see the Russians wiping out Turkish ground forces.Is the megalomaniac of a Sultan that crazy enough to risk it? The Saudis offer of ground troops is a sick joke. They can't control events in the Yemen,have tried to rope together a Sunni alliance where even their pet camel,the Pakis declined to fight for them,impresses no one.Their rabid def. min must've been smoking camel dung.

Phillip,

No one pulled out of anywhere. People just stopped talking about it. Count the numbers on turk vs kurd festivities. It is a very active theatre.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 05 Feb 2016 13:24

Shreeman, the flights in syria are short and they probably have flown in 2-3 ground crews and pilots per plane to give adequate rest.
nevertheless it has been a amazing performance so far nearly 6500 sorties logged carrying live munitions over patches of hostile territory without incident.

speaks well of the repair crews, fuse safety and ruggedness.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 05 Feb 2016 13:37

The so-called “Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham” (ISIS) has released footage of its latest execution in Syria; however, this time the aforementioned terrorist group used one their “Khalifa cubs” to carry out this heinous act against an unarmed prisoner.

ISIS released this footage via their social media accounts that propagate their latest activities on platforms like Twitter, Telegram, Facebook, and Instagram. The video depicted Mohammad Tabasho of Jabhat Al-Shamiyah (Levantine Front) being beheaded by a young boy that was later revealed to be the son of the prominent ISIS fighter “Abu Darda” (Somali terrorist). The young boy would summarily execute the captured official from Jabhat Al-Shamiyah, which was followed by a long message by the Khalifa cub.

http://www.almasdarnews.com/article/isi ... rn-aleppo/ | Al-Masdar News

Lalmohan · Post by **Lalmohan** » 05 Feb 2016 13:43

and this video will be shown to other young children in jihadi households and there will be shouts of a-o-a...
there was a documentary on british tv recently which showed exactly that with some friendly neighbourhood greenbeards