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

habal · Post by **habal** » 12 Nov 2015 11:20

Kurds are divided house from what i understand:

some kurds are sympathetic to SAA/Assad
some sunni kurds fight for ISIS
some neutral kurds are friendly to usa
kurdistan regional govt in Iraq under barzani, who is believed to be mossad agent.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 12 Nov 2015 11:23

in short 'honorary hindus'

habal · Post by **habal** » 12 Nov 2015 11:26

they may be from original 'tribes of Israel' stock .. who came under curse from warrior God Jehovah, that their people would never be united.

In the meanwhile, check this guy out. He is 'the lion of SAA' Col Suheil Al Hasan of SAA SPecial forces (Tiger force). He is the leader of Kuwairis campaign. Look at the body launguage, all lean, mean typical IA soldier type.

p.s. The Kurds would be fools to trust the US, let's hope the Syrian Kurds remember the example of Pappa Bush, who urged the Iraqi Kurds and the Basra Shiites to rise against Saddam -- and then halted his forces at the border of Iraq, and left thousands of Shiites to be butchered by Saddam's Republican Guard in Basra, and thousands of Kurds fleeing into the mountains before Saddam's gunships.

Also check out this hysterical piece of news.

Vladimir Putin - Russia Issues International Arrest Warrant For Soros

Putin vs Soros by Tom Heneghan, International Intelligence Expert
....
Tuesday January 24, 2012

UNITED STATES of America - It can now be reported that the Russian Federation and its Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has issued an arrest warrant for noted financial terrorist and Hungarian bank dick, George Soros.

Russian Intelligence has fingered Soros for using cross-collateralized compounded Swedish and Danish foreign currency derivatives for the purpose of an attack on the Russian stock market.

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 12 Nov 2015 11:50

habal wrote:Kurds are divided house from what i understand:

some kurds are sympathetic to SAA/Assad
some sunni kurds fight for ISIS
some neutral kurds are friendly to usa
kurdistan regional govt in Iraq under barzani, who is believed to be mossad agent.

There is a divide between Syrian Kurdish Militias and Iraqi Peshmerga Kurdish troops. Peshmerga has US support. YPG (Syrian Kurdi troops) is not liked by the Turks. Add to the mix, presence of Yezidi militia and US military 'advisors'. I am not sure but from South we may have the Iraqi Shiite troops advancing.

All in all a potpourri of various interest groups with a common enemy but a focus on "who takes the credit" rather than "beat the scums."

ISIS have their tunnels, trenches, minefields and booby traps set. They also have as hostage, a lot of civilian population in Sinjar still staying. Most of these would be Sunni Arabs sympathetic to ISIS. Quite a few of these Arabs hosted the ISIS flag the day ISIS moved in to Sinjar and pointed out their Yezidi neighbours and some took part in the killing (refer CNN report linked by Singha ji) of Yezidis.

The victory will not be quick. Mad Max suicide bomb trucks and ambush will be ISIS preferred defensive technique. This will not be over in a day. No way the ISIS will let go off the highway without a fight. Once Mosul is isolated, its loss from the hands of ISIS will be fairly easy and effectively ISIS will have let go a lot of their income sources of illegal oil. So, expect ISIS to make a stand and fight. They are anyway mostly suicide / 72 minded.

habal · Post by **habal** » 12 Nov 2015 11:54

Palmyra, Sinjar, and ultimately Deir Ez Zor blocks Mosul-Raqqa highway.

Raqqa-Turkey highway can be blocked via Kuwairis.
these are the main ISIS re-supply routes.

has unkil given up ? It looks like they still have time for mischief, mistaken weapons drops to ISIS can still happen at Sinjar, and various other points along Mosul-Raqqa highway, but overall it looks difficult for ISIS to hold on.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 12 Nov 2015 12:25

er Mosul-Raqqa does not involve deir-el-azor or palmyra. there is a large town Al-hasakah between sinjar to Raqqa and thats it.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 12 Nov 2015 12:40

euphrates in deir al azor http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/ ... -river.jpg

euphrates further north in raqqa http://breaking911.com/wp-content/uploa ... 008494.jpg

apart from a history dating back to roman times, deir azor was the place were lakhs of armenians were killed by the turks and arabs during the armenian genocide. it is otherwise a beautiful city with many antiquities around it as also raqqa.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deir_ez-Zor_Camps

crucified armenian women in deir ez zor https://i2.wp.com/www.turkishnews.com/e ... age007.jpg

mass graves packed with bones http://www.thestar.com/content/dam/thes ... terbox.jpg

dying people teased with a load of bread http://kurdistantribune.com/wp-content/ ... egener.jpg

habal · Post by **habal** » 12 Nov 2015 12:59

Mosul-Raqqa highway
https://img.washingtonpost.com/rf/image ... MKTnVQOUig
palmyra is way off the route.

Some news outlets are parroting about some Israel strike at Damascus.
Fake it is says this twitter as it is 2 yr old footage
https://twitter.com/Ibra_Joudeh/status/ ... 5121570816
It seems Israel too is in habit of regular H&D boost propaganda to prove potency just as some gulf muslim countries and India's neighbour.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 12 Nov 2015 13:21

What were the Brits doing in the Sinai? This was an area of relative peace until the air crash.There's more to the downing of the Russian jet than meets the eye.Did the Brits know well in advance that ISIS was planning an op there and kept it quiet from the Russians,ensuring that a British aircraft was not targeted?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldne ... rport.html

Did British experts miss security flaws at Sharm el-Sheikh airport?
Exclusive: Governor of South Sinai says UK officials visited the airport every two months and gave the all-clear to keep flying.
Raf Sanchez

By Raf Sanchez, and Magdy Samaan in Sharm el-Sheikh

9:00PM GMT 11 Nov 2015

British aviation experts looked at security at Sharm el-Sheikh just weeks before the alleged bombing of a Russian airliner but did not raise concerns about safety, a senior Egyptian official told The Telegraph.

Khaled Fouda, the governor of South Sinai province, said Egypt was taken aback by Britain’s decision to suspend flights because UK teams had been visiting the airport regularly all year and had given the all-clear for flights to continue.

“Every two months a British team comes to look at our equipment and our procedures and they say there are no problems. I don’t know why it is upside down now,” Mr Fouda said.

His claims raise questions about whether previous inspections by British experts missed security flaws at the airport – flaws that only came to light after the Metrojet airliner went down in the Sinai desert, killing all 224 aboard.

Governor of South Sinai, General Khaled Fouda, in his office in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt

Egypt's president, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, meanwhile made a surprise visit to the airport and voiced frustration that Britain had "rushed ahead" of the official investigation into the cause of the crash.

Sharm el-Sheikh airport has been a particular focus for Britain for two years, given the high volume of UK visitors, and its proximity to jihadist groups operating in Egypt’s Sinai desert.

Britain has provided security equipment to the airport, and teams from the Department of Transport have travelled to the Red Sea resort regularly to review standards.

The UK suspended flights last Wednesday after intelligence emerged indicating that the Metrojet passenger plane was brought down by a bomb planted by Egypt affiliate of the Islamic State (Isil).

A team of British officials made an emergency inspection that night and found weaknesses which led them to flights to Sharm el-Sheikh being suspended indefinitely.

A government spokeswoman said: "UK aviation security officials engage regularly with a number of overseas partners including Egypt.

“Last week, in light of the tragic Russian plane crash and the strong possibility that it was caused by a bomb, we decided to temporarily suspend flights, and with the close cooperation of the Egyptian authorities to implement some precautionary additional security measures to allow passengers to return home."

It is understood that previous visits by UK experts were scheduled, giving the Egyptian authorities advance warning of an inspection and time to make sure they were meeting standards.

The emergency visit last Wednesday was more intensive and focused especially on a review of the airport's CCTV coverage of the baggage handling system, which found worrying flaws.

Concerns were also raised about unlit corners of the airport that were difficult to monitor and security guards playing on their phones instead of manning X-ray machines.

Mr Sisi made a flying stop at Sharm el-Sheikh airport and subtly criticised Britain's public pronouncements on the doomed Russian jet.

"I wish no one had rushed ahead of the results of the investigation," he said on Egyptian television. He promised the Egyptian-led investigation into the cause of the crash would be conducted with "utmost transparency and integrity".

Western officials have privately voiced concerns that Egypt might try to cover up the true cause of the crash in order to protect its tourism industry.

Ten British flights left Sharm el-Sheikh airport on Tuesday night, carrying 2,218 people back to the UK. Around half of the 20,000 Britons who were in the resort when flights were suspended last week have now been flown home.

Under the heightened security measures now in place, British passengers are being forced to leave checked luggage at the airport and undergo three security screenings.

But some UK travellers said they felt they were being put through unnecessary additional screening by Egyptian security guards who were trying to impress a team of British overseers.

Andrew Weir, a British tourist who flew home on Tuesday after a four-day delay, said his flight was delayed because he and around 20 other passengers were checked a fourth time in front of UK aviation officials.

“It seemed purely for show to display that they were doing something in front of someone from the Department for Transport,” Mr Weir said.

Mr Fouda, the South Sinai governor, said Egyptian security was eagerly cooperating with Britain in the hope of quickly resuming flights back to Sharm el-Sheikh.

But he added the UK and Russian flight bans were already beginning to hurt the local economy and warned that job losses would only fuel extremism, especially among Egypt’s Bedouin minority.

Bedouins, who live mainly in the Sinai desert, are among the members of the Islamic State’s Egyptian affiliate which has claimed credit for bringing down the Russian airliner.

“The Bedouins depend on tourism to earning their living. If you make them suffer they could do anything,” the governor said.

Egyptian police have interviewed dozens of airport officials and staff but have so far made no arrests and Mr Fouda said he did not know if detectives had any suspects.

Like other Egyptian officials, he refused to say if he believed the Russian plane had been brought down by a bomb and said the West should wait for the findings of the Egyptian-led investigation.

The British Ambassador to Egypt, John Casson, talks to British tourists after the announcement by easyJet staff that there would not be any more flights today to evacuate tourists from Sharm el-SheikhThe British Ambassador to Egypt, John Casson, talks to British tourists after the announcement by easyJet staff that there would not be any more flights today to evacuate tourists from Sharm el-Sheikh Photo: AP

A worker at Sharm el-Sheikh airport told The Telegraph that staff felt under suspicion as police hunt for a potential Isil infiltrator, and said that they would hand over any information they had.

"We are willing to report anything that we know because the airport is where we earn our living,” he said.

The worker, who has not been interviewed by police, said investigators had focused on the Egypt Air ground crew which serviced the Metrojet plane before its fatal crash which happened 23 minutes after taking off from Sharm el-Sheikh.

The worker, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, insisted that staff faced strict vetting when they applied to work at the airport, and that a jihadist trying to infiltrate would likely be caught out.

He added that those applying for permanent positions face a month of background checks by a number of government agencies. “If you have something on your record from 20 years ago they will find it,” he said

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 12 Nov 2015 13:24

http://carnegieendowment.org/syriaincrisis/?fa=61941

This September, the long-besieged Abu al-Dhuhour Airbase was captured by al-Qaeda’s Nusra Front after a two-year siege. The Saudi jihadi preacher Abdullah al-Moheisini, who is now an influential figure in rebel-ruled Idlib City, then held a videotaped speech calling on Sunni families to learn from what was about to happen and stop sending their sons to Assad’s army. The Nusra Front later released pictures of some fifty prisoners lined up on the airstrip and executed, blood drying on sun-drenched concrete.

These massacres are not simply wanton cruelty. They are designed to induce fear, limit recruitment, and sap the morale of isolated SAA garrisons. Assad’s enemies want to teach his supporters that once trapped, their only choice is to either buy their survival by surrendering territory or to die in the most nightmarish fashion. But in Kweiris, Assad undid the lesson of Abu al-Dhuhour, showing his troops that with Russia on the battlefield, they can fight and survive.

THE ROAD TO RAQQA
Last, and perhaps most importantly, there is a way in which the Kweiris battle matters to the larger struggle against the Islamic State—because by capturing the airbase, Assad threatens communications between the Islamic State’s so called capital in Raqqa and its largest military front in Aleppo.

The Islamic State’s administration in the eastern Aleppo area is centered in the two rural centers of al-Bab and Manbij. Although there is no longer an open border crossing at Jarabulous, on the western shore of the Euphrates, the area still serves as the Islamic State’s sole remaining point of access to Turkey, through which foreign fighters and smuggled goods arrive to the Islamic State. The region also includes Dabiq, a tiny town near the frontline that plays an outsized religious and political significance due to its role in the armageddon of Islamic eschatology. Last but not least, eastern Aleppo holds forth a promise of enormous material gain if the jihadis should manage to break through rebel defenses in the Marea-Azaz area north of Aleppo, or cut the above-mentioned supply line that runs through Sfeira down to Assad-held territory in Hama.

From eastern Syria and the Iraqi border, the east-west Highway 4 runs to Raqqa and then on toward Aleppo. Once in Raqqa, you could formerly take one of two routes to get to the frontlines around Aleppo.

The northern route feeds into the M4 Highway from Hasakah and crosses the Euphrates near Manbij, but it was cut by U.S.-backed Kurdish forces bursting out of Kobane this spring. In May, the Islamic State blew up the last remaining bridge over the Euphrates in the Jarabulous area, in an attempt to seal the frontline and use the river as natural protection from the Kurds. From that point on, the northern route is no longer an option.

The southern route, on which you continue west from Raqqa along Highway 4, was always the main connection to Aleppo. It never crosses the Euphrates and therefore cannot be cut by bridge bombings. Unfortunately for the Islamic State, the M4 then hits Kweiris Airbase. Although we must presume that this particular stretch of the road has been out of commission for a while due to the heavy fighting, this final stretch of the road has now been taken by the Syrian Arab Army.
To be clear, this does not mean that the Islamic State can no longer ferry troops between Raqqa and Aleppo. It can. Highway 4 has three northern offshoots toward Manbij and al-Bab and either one of them will do just fine to get troops into this region. But if Assad’s troops decide to press on from Kweiris, they are now within realistic striking distance of the closest one, which springs from the intersection at Deir Hafer to provide direct access to the Islamic State’s regional administrative center in al-Bab. The more pressure that is put on the road network in this area, the more it will impede and endanger Islamic State logistics.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
Now, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. The battles in this area have flowed back and forth. According to a Syrian military source speaking to Reuters, the army is still working to secure the area. In other words, the Islamic State could still retake Kweiris or Assad might voluntarily decide to pull out once the base’s defenders have been evacuated.

But if neither of those things happen, and the Assad-Putin alliance continues to press forward east of Aleppo, it will create a very interesting situation. Politically speaking, Kweiris will then have earned Assad and Russia a small but far from insignificant victory in the struggle against the Islamic State. Militarily speaking, it might complicate the jihadis’ operations in the eastern Aleppo countryside, which could in turn help U.S.-backed anti-Assad rebels north of Aleppo, around Marea, to turn the tables on the jihadi group.

The interlinked nature of the battles against the Islamic State in the Aleppo region is not something that either Assad or the rebels will be eager to recognize, since their ultimate goal is to eradicate the other. Neither will the United States want to publicly credit Russia with any advances against the jihadis. But in the long run, should such an unspoken interdependence really develop, it could create some really interesting American-Russian and regime-rebel synergies in northern Syria.

And that is, of course, exactly what Russia is looking for.

habal · Post by **habal** » 12 Nov 2015 13:58

Here is a news article on Sunnis who support the Syrian govt - and have paid for it with their lives.
This is a story which the media usually avoids telling.

http://foreignpolicy.com/2015/11/05/ass ... ign=buffer

Suheil Al Hassan visiting Kuweires airbase..

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 12 Nov 2015 14:36

issam zahreddine, Druze commander of the syrian republican guard that protects damascus and is the only army unit allowed in the inner circle. his son reportedly is with a republican guard unit still islanded in deir al azor.

habal · Post by **habal** » 12 Nov 2015 15:00

he is back in Deir-Ez-Zor, what happened did he fall out of favor of Assad's inner circle or was he rotated to more active and crucial battlefield seems mystery. But an inspirational commander nevertheless.

this video from 1 day ago shows the gen, carrying a wounded soldier
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=4e9_1447194458
he is also the syrian army's chuck norris. here in rocky'esque training
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=1f4_1401660004

SAA need to quickly find a way to overwhelm the Deir-Az-Zor military airport seige. The circle will only then be complete.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 12 Nov 2015 15:26

its his type who can keep morale up in islands like deir. conventional people would freak and run. if the commander cannot control himself what hope for the ranks.

I worked with a greek-american old man in the past (ex khan army) who looked like him and was a biker and intimidator of managers.

they need to recapture palmyra first to build the final jump off point toward deir....progress will be quick because its sparse territory and any strongpoints easily bypassed, with no natural barriers like rivers. so a strong relief column should certainly be able to make it in if they control palmyra. but to hold it and expand the enclave they will need a lot of manpower and the iraqi shias to pull their weight and break the back of ISIS in anbar province. the iraqis have done precious little in anbar so far.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 12 Nov 2015 15:46

Sinjar ops - kurds stop a isis vehicle with milan missile
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WDUP3Ss_iU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRhOOPZStNw

in last oct the iraqi peshmerga council voted and sent some of their fighters to help YPG In kobani syria
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QH7WmvqUxhg

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 12 Nov 2015 15:56

To get a good understanding militarily of why and how the progress of SAA + is going to be slow here is a good but longish video from Assad's perspective. First 15-16 mins of video is enough to give an idea of the warfare. Around 15-16 mins is also a shot of camouflaged rock like IEDs. Around 18:00 mins is a mention of a tunnel system near Aleppo which even housed a field hospital. The video is posted 10 Nov 15.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eNjTTsUBnI

Added later: At around 27-28 mins the SAA listens in to the rebels talking over radio- english subtitles available.
Horror stories narrated at around 39 mins by civilians
Also don't watch beyond 40 mins as suddenly it becomes a Vietnam war video

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 12 Nov 2015 18:45

Watching one of those multiple rebel videos of the Syrian video I came across this interesting comment on youtube:

Reply ·

ThuleanPerspective 9 months ago (edited)
The recommended rebel gear:

- 1 AKM (sights not needed)
- A ton of ammo for the AKM.
- A ton of Strepsils (for soar throat, after screaming alla-hu-akbar every 2 seconds all day long).

habal · Post by **habal** » 12 Nov 2015 20:13

AoA

Al Hadher, a big rebel centre in south western aleppo has fallen to SAA. It was the biggest rebel base in southern aleppo. Across it lies Idlib, homs and the M5 highway connecting damascus to aleppo.
http://syria.liveuamap.com/en/2015/12-n ... and-allies

M5 blocking by SAA means rebels stronghold of Idlib can't be resupplied from Aleppo. One by one rebel house of cards falling over.
http://www.almasdarnews.com/wp-content/ ... po-Map.jpg

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 12 Nov 2015 21:02

parts of S400 / upgraded S300 system radar spotted in latakia air base pic...might be kept as a deterrent if the turks decide to step in.

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=90d_1447 ... QJ3Txz9.99

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 12 Nov 2015 21:21

kurds and yazidis are swarming all around sinjar and sniping and pounding known positions with rockets and TOWs but holding off from a costly frontal assault
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giWadfG8KvI

vid of fighting near alleppo. 4 wheel ATVs being used as scout vehicles..some decent amt of artillery too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvD6wsRKSGE

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 12 Nov 2015 21:31

interesting video oct , 2014 of clearing roadblocks and using tanks to beat back jihadis.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJBxozxFZeM

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 12 Nov 2015 21:34

driving through the liberated airbase. its a miracle how only 320 men held out this vast place for so long

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1kYW3xS-SY

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 12 Nov 2015 21:50

NPR had a NYT reporter Michael describe the Sinjar attack.

Peshmarga has German Anti-tank weapons and US AT-4 for countering ISIS suicide vehicles.

Troops are mostly rag tag weaponry.

NPR Steve Inskeep pretended ISIS has Iraqi weapons to which the NYT reporter said twice ISIS has US weapons seized from Iraq.

member_29247 · Post by **member_29247** » 12 Nov 2015 22:01

I used to have semblance of faith and respect for NPR and also used to contribute via pledges.
Now both are gone. It has completely become a tool for AIPAC to manipulate the News and complete TS Paki propaganda institution.

In 2001 I had said the 9-11 more than destroying the twin towers has destroyed the institutions in US such as free press, independent judiciary , a congress which was not just a rubber stamp for POTUS and above all the pious pronouncements about human rights and democracy have become a wonderful source for comedy and entertainment. PRC folks must be chuckling every day...

so any news is all embedded journalist creative writing for the .....

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 13 Nov 2015 05:01

Putin Peace Plan (P3):

A Russian document circulating at the United Nations has proposed a constitutional reform process in Syria, lasting 18 months, to be followed by presidential elections.

The document does not say whether Syrian President Bashar al-Assad should remain in power during that time.

It says certain Syrian opposition groups should take part in key talks on the crisis in Vienna on Saturday.

The Syrian army meanwhile has broken a siege in the north.

Army units fought their way to Kuwairis airbase, east of Aleppo, and eliminated large numbers of Islamic State (IS) militants, reports said.

The facility had been under attack by IS jihadists for nearly two years.

It represents a victory for regime forces which have struggled to advance even since Russia added its firepower to the conflict at the end of September, flying hundreds of sorties in that time.

********************
Terrorists' Reaction to Putin Peace Plan (P3):

Analysing Russia's proposal - Jonathan Marcus, BBC diplomatic correspondent

Two fundamental problems are immediately apparent:

First, there is the position of President Assad himself. The leaked document makes no mention of Mr Assad standing down during the transitional process, though it does say: "The president of Syria will not chair the constitutional commission".
{Er.... Mr. Assad will be on vacation in the Sevastopol Fragrant Balaclava Senior Resort and Rest Home, with several balaclava-clad hefty guys 'at his service' to see that he has no need to step outside the Center}

The second problem is that of inclusivity - who actually will be asked to participate in the eventual peace talks?

The Russian proposal speaks of the launching of a political process between the Syrian government and "a united delegation of opposition groups".

But what exactly does this mean? Will it include many of the rebel groups backed by Turkey, the Gulf Arab states and the West, some of who have taken the brunt of Russian air strikes? How can these diverse and in many cases highly fragmented and localised groups be pulled together into a delegation that can speak with a common voice?

Duh! Those terrorist gangs will be "fragmented" by the airstrikes and "localised" in shallow ditches long b4 then. Those who didn't, will be getting outdoor exercise breaking rocks in the Vladivostok Vladimir Andropov Memorial Steppe Permafrost Excavation, Archaeology abd Attitude-Improvement Center

Read more from Jonathan if you are lobotomized like BBC correspondents are.

The eight-point proposal drawn up by Russia is reported not to rule out President Assad's participation in the elections - something his enemies say is impossible if there is to be peace.

"[The] popularly elected president of Syria will have the functions of commander-in-chief of the armed forces, control of special services and foreign policy," the leaked document is quoted by news agencies as saying.

It says that the reform process should not be chaired by President Assad, but by a candidate agreed upon by all sides. {Who will find themselves being VERY agreeable after a few drinks of Stolichnaya Scopolamine-Enriched Vodka}

It also calls for UN Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura to launch a political process between the Syrian government and "a united delegation of (surviving) opposition groups" on the basis of the June 2012 agreement between major powers in Geneva, which calls for the formation of a transitional government for Syria.

Mr de Mistura on Tuesday urged world powers to build on the "momentum" of new international talks to help devise a roadmap to end the four-year war.
"The momentum in Vienna needs to not be missed," he told reporters after briefing the UN Security Council.
About 20 countries and international groups will attend the talks which have as their central objective a ceasefire between President Assad's forces and some opposition groups.

The successful assault to relieve Syrian government forces holed up inside the Kuwairis base by IS comes a week after the Syrian army battled jihadists to regain control of a road south-east of Aleppo and took back control of the government's only supply route into the city.

Areas around Aleppo have seen weeks of heavy fighting after Syrian troops, backed by Lebanese and Iranian fighters, launched an offensive to retake surrounding territory from rebels and jihadist fighters.

The regime offensive has so far focused on clearing rebel-held areas south of Aleppo, rather than targeting the city itself.

Satya_anveshi · Post by **Satya_anveshi** » 13 Nov 2015 06:56

I have earlier cautioned about the biases I was noting both in AP and in Reuters reporting. Now we have this:

‘Are you really journalists?’ Moscow slams Reuters for biased bombshell on Syria - Nov 13, 2015
https://www.rt.com/news/321775-russia-s ... ers-syria/

“Thus the central media with a long history has opted for the publication of perspective from unnamed sources, while they had been given an official comment by Russian Foreign Ministry,” Zakharova said.

When asked how it could have happened that the statement provided by Russia on Reuters’ own request was ignored, the news agency’s representatives in Moscow pointed the finger at their colleagues in London.

“I have a legitimate question to the Reuters news agency, which is represented in Moscow by some 50 correspondents: Are you really journalists?” Zakharova wondered. “If you are not working and [don’t cover] Moscow’s comments, if everything is being written for you in London, what are you even doing in Moscow in such numbers? ”

habal · Post by **habal** » 13 Nov 2015 07:16

AoA

Aleppo: dispatch

Al Eis hills east of Al Hadher and the Marj Al Sultan heli base have fallen to SAA

ISIS and Rebels are in such low morale and so much was admitted by a major rebel supporter's twitter a/c.

"Marj Al-Sultan is about to fall,this means doom for the ghouta,looks the regime will recapture the ghouta

"

A lot of people listem to this guy, and he is a voice of the rebels, very influencial in the social media and now he is basically saying Ghouta is gone...an amazing statement coming from him.

https://twitter.com/VivaRevolt/status/6 ... 2928155648

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 13 Nov 2015 07:18

So there is no 18 month peace plan from Russians as of now and all the above reported peace plans and its weaknesses are a figment of imagination!!! Super.

TSJones · Post by **TSJones** » 13 Nov 2015 07:39

ramana wrote:NPR had a NYT reporter Michael describe the Sinjar attack.

Peshmarga has German Anti-tank weapons and US AT-4 for countering ISIS suicide vehicles.

Troops are mostly rag tag weaponry.

NPR Steve Inskeep pretended ISIS has Iraqi weapons to which the NYT reporter said twice ISIS has US weapons seized from Iraq.

AT-4 is made in Sweden and is not unique to the US.

Tow missiles OTOH are made in the countryside near Keokuk Iowa by the fine folks at the Iowa Army Ammunition plant.

There are Amish settled nearby and also a restaurant called Bonaparte's Retreat.

http://www.bonaparteretreat.com/

I can assure you that fine craftsmanship is deeply appreciated in that area of the country.

Satya_anveshi · Post by **Satya_anveshi** » 13 Nov 2015 07:54

Game Changer? White House Considers 'Genocide' Designation for ISIL - Nov 13, 2015
http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20151 ... ocide.html

As a new report from the US Holocaust Museum details the targeting of Iraq’s Yazidi community by the self-proclaimed Islamic State terrorist group, the United States may push to label the atrocity genocide. But that designation could force Washington to adopt a military strategy it’s not prepared to take on.

that is why US will not do it. Another reason why US will not do it is because it is right thing to do. US is good at identifying great, good, bad, and shitty things but eventually chooses the last of the choices.

Satya_anveshi · Post by **Satya_anveshi** » 13 Nov 2015 08:01

This war is great opportunity for all Shiites to declare themselves as Yezedis and start praying the real indic god of Melek Taus. Let sunnis alone have All aahas !!

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 13 Nov 2015 08:03

the rebel twitters seems to have posted two pics of diwali rockets and claim it as RuAF using white phosphorus on civilians to get his followers all worked up.
https://twitter.com/allser7/status/664875032028540928

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BREAKING - ISIS claims responsibility for Beirut suicide attacks that killed more than 40 http://sabahdai.ly/hBdXsO

habal · Post by **habal** » 13 Nov 2015 08:05

Lebanese had arrested 2 suspiscious characters a few days ago and found them to be Israeli spies. This is the comeback, for Israel always hits back through ISIS and via terror strikes.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 13 Nov 2015 08:08

insurgents have launched a general counteroffensive countrywide per twitter - to try and disrupt the momentum in aleppo and draw away govt forces.

situation map from 3 days ago...I guess that green pocket south of aleppo is getting squeezed. Govt have crawled between the green pocket and ISIS in a sort of right hook.

the kobani YPG pocket in the north of ISIS land seems growing now like a malignant tumor on its grey host . iraq perhmerga has sent help there - i posted the video yesterday.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 13 Nov 2015 08:19

I wonder how the green Homs pocket in middle of pinkland holding out? the colours on map look like loose interpretations and a lot of unpoliced and contested territory must exist given manpower issues.

Satya_anveshi · Post by **Satya_anveshi** » 13 Nov 2015 08:38

Syria's War Battlefield Update for 11th November, 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWVtm9P7wEQ

Satya_anveshi · Post by **Satya_anveshi** » 13 Nov 2015 08:44

Singha wrote:I wonder how the green Homs pocket in middle of pinkland holding out? the colours on map look like loose interpretations and a lot of unpoliced and contested territory must exist given manpower issues.

In a way it makes sense.
Homs is third largest after Aleppo and Damascus with about 1M pop. Should be sometime now the focus will shift or as they are surrounded anyway SAA/Russians are focussing on other imp areas.

Satya_anveshi · Post by **Satya_anveshi** » 13 Nov 2015 09:33

U.S. Steps Up Its Attacks on ISIS-Controlled Oil Fields in Syria - Nov 12 2015
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/13/us/po ... -news&_r=0

For months, the United States has been frustrated by the Islamic State’s ability to keep producing and exporting oil — what Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter recently called “a critical pillar of the financial infrastructure” of the group — which generates about $40 million a month, or nearly $500 million a year, according to Treasury Department estimates.

The goal of the operation over the next several weeks is to cripple eight major oil fields, about two-thirds of the refineries and other oil-production sites controlled by the Islamic State, also called ISIS or ISIL.

“We intend to shut it all down,” Col. Steven H. Warren, a military spokesman in Baghdad, said in an email on Thursday.

The French defense minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, said on Tuesday that his nation’s warplanes had attacked more oil targets in the same region.

blowing up refineries and oil fields in Syria is fight against ISIS. Earlier US blew up water processing plan and power station.

habal · Post by **habal** » 13 Nov 2015 09:50

Homs, Idlib, Hama, and northern latakia adjoining turkey. These are the only places were rebels are hunkered down. ISIL in east is not a real fighting force, they resemble the description deejay has given in his post.

From what I can make of ground situation, there was tremendous shortage of manpower in syrian forces. Top rung was manned by alawites, as well as MI wing. But the regular boots on ground, infantry types were mostly Sunni who deserted majorly during course of war. Some are still sticking around though. Iranians have done some preparation in light of this situation and raised a force of 40,000 for Syria from Afghans, Iraqis, Iranians & some Pakistani shia hazaras etc. It is this force along with the working part of Syrian Army like 'Tiger force' and hezbollah which is making all the gains while the militias, Baath party NDF, and PDF are all in holding positions. A lot of young boys are also being literally sweeped off the streets of damascus, given one weeks training and sent to battlefront. The manpower shortage was that severe.

In light of this, if the rebels are falling like nine pins, it means the bulk of them have left to Turkey to escape the bombing. Those who are left are just the loony types who probably are majorly into martyrdom, rather than fight to defend their positions.

U.S. Steps Up Its Attacks on ISIS-Controlled Oil Fields in Syria - Nov 12 2015

they do not want Assad's troops to resupply themselves when they eventually overrun ISIS. What I do not understand is why the Russians do not impose unilateral No-Fly-Zone over Syria to prevent this terrorism by US. My gut instinct is that they intend to do just that after taking care of bigger rebel strongholds. US knows that and they are moving one step ahead.

Anant · Post by **Anant** » 13 Nov 2015 09:56

TS, As an Iowan, we appreciate your kind words. We do pride ourselves on perfection and Keokuk is certainly a pretty river town. But I'm here because it seems Jihadi John has met his 72 in Raqqa due to the drone zone

http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/12/politics/ ... index.html

Good news all around.