Levant crisis - III

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 06 Nov 2016 06:09

YK,the deal is on with Iran to use its air base for the "heavy hitters". No wonder ISIS
in Mosul is being infiltrated,after all it was a creation of the Saudis,Gulfies with the blessings of the Yanquis and Ottomans too.Remember how the Sultan's son was dealing in ISIS oil?

TSJones · Post by **TSJones** » 06 Nov 2016 08:36

Singha wrote:Ice hockey goalkeepers use them

yes and its not star wars darth vader helmets either.

uniform requirements for US non sof troops are very strict.

he had to go back to 2003 to find a regular US trooper wearing a hockey mask.

you wont find it on Marines,

habal · Post by **habal** » 06 Nov 2016 08:58

USA Navy Drone acharya circles over Tartus.

eh .. You may have your S-300s & S-400s still you can't see our measly drone.

" U.S. Navy reconnaissance aircraft circles over Russia's Tartus base in Syria "

Did Russia blink ?

http://uawire.org/news/u-s-navy-reconna ... e-in-syria

habal · Post by **habal** » 06 Nov 2016 09:00

" Europeans have no future - Putin on Migrant Crisis "

http://www.fort-russ.com/2016/11/europe ... in-on.html

habal · Post by **habal** » 06 Nov 2016 09:22

Just how gray are the White Helmets of Syria
http://www.counterpunch.org/2016/11/04/ ... -of-syria/

The White Helmets are al-Nusra (al-Qaeda) auxiliaries, run by MI6 & US State department and funded over $150 million officially, wildly in excess of anything to do with rescue, which they do to kidnapped children, all totally staged. They reside in terrorist-held areas, having murdered the REAL Syrian Search and Rescue, and stolen their vehicles and equipment.

one video showed a pro assad civillian being taken prisoner by "moderate" terrorist rats and a white helmet not only helped but was punching the civillian. They even stage photographs with fake injuries using makeup.

habal · Post by **habal** » 06 Nov 2016 09:31

The Syrian and allies high command may have concluded that there was a risk for the turkish backed terrorists to take al Bab and push through the Maskaneh plain toward Raqqa, of course not with the intention to attack ISIS but somehow to protect most of what ISIS conquered so far.

"Colonel Suheil Al Hassan "the Tiger" officially tasked with liberating Al-Bab in #Aleppo
#Op_DawnOfVictory"

https://twitter.com/syrianmilitary/stat ... 9640165786

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 06 Nov 2016 10:21

Two Different Views of Kuznetsov

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 06 Nov 2016 10:39

Russia’s goal in Syria is to ensure national security – PM Medvedev

Russia’s primary aim is to enhance its own security by preventing jihadists from former Soviet republics fighting in Syria from returning to Russia and carrying out attacks there, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev told Israel’s Channel 2 TV.

"You probably know that thousands of Russian citizens and individuals from other post-Soviet republics are fighting in Syria," Medvedev said in an interview with the Channel 2 ahead of his visit to Israel scheduled for next week.

"These completely brainwashed people return home as professional murderers and terrorists. And we don't want them to stage something similar in Russia after their Syrian stints expire,” the prime minister said, explaining the reasons behind Russia’s campaign in Syria.

“First of all, we want them to stay there,” he said, adding that Russia already faced similar problems “in the context of the Caucasus war in the 1990s,” referring to two wars Russia waged in Chechnya.

About 2,900 Russians left for the Middle East and joined the ranks of various jihadist groups in Syria and Iraq, including Islamic State (IS, former ISIS/ISIL) by the end of 2015, according to Alexander Bortnikov, the head of the Russian security service, the FSB.

Russia’s actions in Syria are based not only on the need to counter “the growing threat of destabilization of the Middle East” but, above all, on the “necessity to protect our national interests,” Medvedev said.

At the same time, the Russian prime minister also said that list of Russia’s goals in Syria includes lending assistance to President Bashar Assad. “Syrian government addressed us … asking for military assistance,” he said, adding that Russia has a relevant treaty and stressing that Russian President Vladimir Putin took the decision to “render them [Syrian government] military assistance in a limited way that corresponds with our national interests.”

Medvedev also emphasized that Russia is not helping Assad to retain power, but instead is trying to prevent Syria from disintegration and falling into the hands of terrorists.

“What we would definitely not like is Syria disintegrating into several enclaves … parts, as it happened in Libya so that each such sector would be controlled by various terrorist groups,” he told Channel 2, adding that “it would be very dangerous for everyone.”

He also said that Syria “had probably been the most stable and civilized Arab state in the Middle East … that balanced the interests of all ethnical and religious groups.” The prime minister added that “what happened in Syria … is sad and provides a sources of instability for the whole Middle East.”

Medvedev went on to say that transition of power in Syria should take place in a legitimate way through national reconciliation. “Various parties to the conflict should sit down at the negotiating table except for outright terrorists” to develop a new political system, he said.

“We don't know whether this system would have any place for Bashar al-Assad or someone else, this is not our business, and it must be decided by the people of Syria,” the prime minister added.

US should pay more attention to humanitarian problems stemming from its actions

Medvedev also dismissed the US accusations against Russia concerning its actions in Syria by calling them “one-sided.”

“The US that usually wages two or three military campaigns at the same time never sees its own problems but tries to put the blame on someone else,” the Russian prime minister said, adding that each situation, in which civilians fall victims to combat operations, requires investigation.

He also drew attention to the fact that the US “does not seem to be particularly concerned” about the situations, in which the US air strikes “hit hospitals, funeral processions or schools.”

“Our American colleagues should pay better attention to humanitarian problems, which they are facing right now, including … the Mosul operation in Iraq, as well as a number of other issues,” Medvedev added.

At the same time, he stressed that Russia continues to carry on a dialog with the US and is always open for dialog, “no matter how difficult it might be.” He also stressed that the only way to ease the situation around Aleppo and in Syria in general is to minimize the existing problems and to launch political negotiations.

Medvedev stressed that Russia is doing everything possible to achieve this goal while the western countries do not fulfill their promises, once again emphasizing the necessity to separate moderate opposition from terrorists and their affiliates.

“We understand that, when all these forces stick together, they actually do the terrorists’ bidding. And it is the most significant problem both in Aleppo and in other parts of Syria,” especially those controlled by Islamic State, he said, adding that the US and its allies “have done nothing” to resolve this issue.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 06 Nov 2016 10:48

#Iraq's PM @HaiderAlAbadi: "In Fallujah, we found cars from #Saudi and #Qatar sent to "charities" but ending up with Da'ish terrorists."

Iraqi PM @HaiderAlAbadi says terrorists from 100 countries came to #Iraq via #Turkey and #Syria and they were funded by #Saudi and #Qatar.

#Iraq's PM @HaiderAlAbadi: "The world isn't scared of Da'ish because they're killing us (Iraqis) but because Da'ish is attacking them."

#Iraq's PM @HaiderAlAbadi: "If we were unable to defeat Da'ish the world would not have stood with us. They saw we could, so they did."

https://twitter.com/IraqiSecurity

So much for Saudi and Qatar love for fight against terrorism

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 06 Nov 2016 11:06

Leith Abou Fadel Retweeted
Al-Masdar News
18h
Al-Masdar News ‏@TheArabSource
166 jihadists killed in #Aleppo over 48 hours: report https://aml.ink/oeYFw #Syria

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 06 Nov 2016 11:07

Per al masdar the saa and sdf have a frenemy deal in east aleppo. The infantry school area has been given to saa to setup a larger buffer zone for north aleppo. Also saa will not oppose sdf move on al bab if they reach there first they get it keep it.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 06 Nov 2016 11:18

Haidar Lapcha ‏@HaidarLapcha
Fugitive former Iraq VP Tariq Hashimi claims that both the PMU and Abu Bakr Baghdadi are Iranian proxy/agents.

So Iran is fighting Iran?!

TSJones · Post by **TSJones** » 06 Nov 2016 11:37

we are allowed to make periodic over flights of their forces.

they do the same to us.

I think there is a START agreement to this.

if they deploy nukes we have a right to know about it and they do too.

Gyan · Post by **Gyan** » 06 Nov 2016 11:50

Assad in Syria lacks adequate manpower. ISIS can be destroyed in Syria Only if Iraq clears Mosul and then both Iraq & Iran lend massive number of soldiers to Syria.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 06 Nov 2016 12:22

TSJones wrote:we are allowed to make periodic over flights of their forces.

they do the same to us.

I think there is a START agreement to this.

if they deploy nukes we have a right to know about it and they do too.

Over flight over country territory is part of Open Skies Treaty nothing to do with NEW START which has its own legal mechanism to verify the obligations on both sides

Rammpal · Post by **Rammpal** » 06 Nov 2016 12:47

Austin wrote:Two Different Views of Kuznetsov

Majestic !!

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 06 Nov 2016 13:22

Yeah but thats the Liaoning off gwader too.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 06 Nov 2016 13:40

Singha wrote:Yeah but thats the Liaoning off gwader too.

When was Liaoning off gwader and they have a long journey via IO/Arabian sea to reach there ....... BTW having an Aircraft carrier is one thing and as per IN official learning how to operate a CBG and employ it takes around 10 years

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 06 Nov 2016 13:53

https://mobile.twitter.com/IraqiSecurit ... 10/video/1

Looks like pmu is short of vehicles or fuel or both...columns of troops walking across the bleak deserts tal afar is still some 30k out across the barren sands

Soln as in syria might be send city buses from the south. syrian army and militias lead the way with trucks and technicals but behind comes the large buses with troops food and bedrolls. our non ac tata and leyland buses will work fine in iraq. No point in exhausting combat troops. Bus them around and maybe attack in cooler nights using a few men having cots nvg

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 06 Nov 2016 13:57

Morale looks good though. many shia are veterans of long foot pilgrimages to najaf and karbala. One group has walked some 79 days from snows of southern Russia to reach iraq now.

Rammpal · Post by **Rammpal** » 06 Nov 2016 16:17

Singha wrote:https://mobile.twitter.com/IraqiSecurit ... 10/video/1

Looks like pmu is short of vehicles or fuel or both...columns of troops walking across the bleak deserts tal afar is still some 30k out across the barren sands

Soln as in syria might be send city buses from the south. syrian army and militias lead the way with trucks and technicals but behind comes the large buses with troops food and bedrolls. our non ac tata and leyland buses will work fine in iraq. No point in exhausting combat troops. Bus them around and maybe attack in cooler nights using a few men having cots nvg

Time to have a chat with HAL maybe......... LCH, Dhruv and stuff !
Sent 'em all we got !

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 06 Nov 2016 16:50

500 tata marco polo type buses would solve all their logistical needs...
BLR also stands ready to serve with the Volvo B7R city model and the dual axle superlong inter city steeds....

buses are also good for picking up clusters of Mosul escapees and moving them to UN run and Govt camps in safer places further south, moving around large amts of tents, food packets, water , lightly wounded etc ...

syrians use their green buses to send amnesty terrorists to Idlib also for free.

TSJones · Post by **TSJones** » 06 Nov 2016 17:04

Austin wrote:
Over flight over country territory is part of Open Skies Treaty nothing to do with NEW START which has its own legal mechanism to verify the obligations on both sides

I don't think open skies applies in this case.

1. Syria is not a signatory to open skies treaty.

2. the plane to be used foe the treaty must be unarmed and if memory serves me right, open to inspection. a US Navy p-8 does not fit that description. A p-8 can be armed and it's not open to inspection.

per wiki.......

Observation aircraft may be provided by either the observing Party or (the "taxi option") by the observed Party, at the latter's choice. All Open Skies aircraft and sensors must pass specific certification and pre-flight inspection procedures to ensure that they are compliant with treaty standards. The official certified U.S. Open Skies aircraft is the OC-135B Open Skies.

3. the equipment used on the treaty plane is limited. size, aperture, sensitivity. there is nothing limited by a p-8.

due to the above factors I surmise that the over flight at tarsus, if it indeed occurred, is part of the working agreement the the US and Russia have concerning the current Syrian conflict. although the Russians do not abide by a lot of it such as not acknowledging US troops are nearby when they bomb. there have been 5 separate instances of them not responding to our radio transmissions in such cases.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 06 Nov 2016 17:10

graphic video - west aleppo https://twitter.com/HoseinMortada/statu ... 7172143104

2 BMPs were disabled and their occupants gunned down by the defences

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 06 Nov 2016 17:12

this was mentioned yesterday by the SDF spokesman, a officer with a bald head who was there in shahdadi offensive press conf too....turkey is out.

AFP news agencyVerified account
‏@AFP
#BREAKING Deal with US to prevent Turkey role in Raqa assault: Kurd-Arab forces

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 06 Nov 2016 17:13

Hassan Ridha
‏@sayed_ridha
SDF release statement announcing launch of Raqqa Op, offensive will be led by 'Wrath of Euphrates Council'

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 06 Nov 2016 17:14

another intrusion now from north

Hassan Ridha ‏@sayed_ridha 2h2 hours ago
ISOF & the 16th Division enter al-Intisar neighbourhood as well as Ba'wiza (al-Saadah) at north entrance to Mosul

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 06 Nov 2016 17:15

I dont know if there is room for leniency in case of 'misguided iraqi youths' who joined ISIS or were brainwashed and press ganged. but no such exists for foreign fighters who came on their own from far off countries to wage jihad. if released back into the water they will swim downstream and hit their native countries hard. or migrate like locusts back to other jihads like libya, nigeria, kenya, mali

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 06 Nov 2016 17:19

Hassan Ridha ‏@sayed_ridha 3h3 hours ago
Gen. Murat Musin from the Russian Military of Defence held a conference with Kurdish leaders in Efrin

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 06 Nov 2016 17:20

Hassan Ridha ‏@sayed_ridha 3h3 hours ago
Both SDF & IS have deployed reinforcements north of Raqqa with reports that SDF will soon officially announce start of Raqqa offensive

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 06 Nov 2016 17:23

looks iike SAA, YPG(SDF) and Russia have sat across table and worked out some frenemy deal vs common FSA/IS enemies what to do on Efrin front (it borders Idlib), east aleppo deir hafr plains, Al bab and Raqqa.

for Assad only recapturing Idlib is a life and death issue. and he needs a wide safe buffer around Aleppo. he would rather the SDF control the other places than FSA or ISIS. SDF wants al-bab to connect both halves of rojava together. they probably couldnt care less for deir hafr.

TSJones · Post by **TSJones** » 06 Nov 2016 17:26

note that a sub genius poster on this forum asserted that the kurds would not be involved in assault on raqqa.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 06 Nov 2016 17:26

Using Chanakya rings of power theory
from turkish pov - FSA is the buffer vs ISIS and SDF
from Assad pov - SDF is the buffer vs FSA and ISIS

so SDF are sitting in a sweet spot in between syria govt and turkish kabila.

Assad has no resources to remotely make a play for Raqqa unless he wins the entire war in the west including Idlib. he is not even presently able to relieve Deir azzor and is content with holding things there for the future when PMU will crush Al-Qaim and he can maybe persuade them to ride 75km up the Euphrates and clean up the nests of ISIS south of deir azzor ... the shaitat tribe will also rise and massacre the caught ISIS then...maybe summer 2017

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 06 Nov 2016 17:36

YPG part of SDF will help capture raqqa but like mosul the kurdish units may not be interested or used in administering it as its a arab town and resentment runs high in some arab sections what they see as a kurd takeover of their lands on east of euphrates. instead the arab part of SDF might get the job. there are various tribes along the euphrates and each tribe has their sheikhs. under the Sr Assad various irrigation schemes and dams were built as can be seen in the large reservoirs and dams along the euphrates on the map and farmers did benefit from this. so they might not be anti-Assad to the core or atleast willing to live under a loose federal system than declare a new Arabi country right there. the euphrates river for sure is a national resource thats best shared.

its best that badly damaged countries libya, iraq, syria live under a federal system than splinter into N number of warring bantustans each with external sugar daddies who will fight their proxy wars down to the last localite.

TSJones · Post by **TSJones** » 06 Nov 2016 18:35

anytime federation or federalism is seen as a solution you can always get America to come to the table.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 06 Nov 2016 18:40

America is already at the table. A long term deal on the situation once the daesh is crushed will need both the p2 to sign off.

Russia may even lean on assad to let idlib be a emirate a holding pen for the rebels if they promise to maintain a calm frontier..but assad likely will not compromise on hama or al ghab plain being under rebel control...good orchards and well watered farms there

TSJones · Post by **TSJones** » 06 Nov 2016 19:28

my biggest fear is that while organized daesh may be crushed (and the US can get the job done)its constituent sources will scatter to create mayhem elsewhere.

this could turn into something like the 100 years war. a very real possibility. George Orwell was prescient....endless war.

chanakyaa · Post by **chanakyaa** » 06 Nov 2016 19:34

And why is it the the cause of "fear"? Is it not the ~~unstated~~ ultimate goal?

TSJones · Post by **TSJones** » 06 Nov 2016 19:38

how does one crush a viral culture? .......for instance the Mexican outlaw worship culture? can it even be done? I don't think so.

and if something as primitive as Mexican outlaw worship culture can't be crushed, how can we ever hope to defeat Islamic jihadism?

TSJones · Post by **TSJones** » 06 Nov 2016 19:48

Assad could get a deal if he wanted it. he doesn't want it.

even though he couldn't fight his way out of a wet paper bag.

and if living under Assad was such a wonderful thing the moderates, if there are any left, would run screaming to live in his territory.