Syria in 2015

[OUTLAW 09]

Essence of victory in a democracy is getting outsiders to perceive your side in your ethnic conflict as a universal value. That's victory.

[OUTLAW 09]

The Daily Beast is badly wrong there: Cuba didn't become involved in Angola on something like 'request from Moscow', but on its own.

Ditto in regards of Ethiopia. Yup, Russians helped airlift Cuban troops to that country, but it was actually so that a) not only Castro was first to visit Mengistu (months before any ties betwene Addis and Moscow were established), but also b) Castro helped Mengistu convince Brezhnev to provide aid (for details see: Wings over Ogaden (Since NATO/CENTOM tech is largely deemed “superior” , the more technology (capability) the Russians can demonstrate – the less chance of the East-West confrontation?)).

It might sound 'naive', but Cubans were really convinced of 'internationalism' and 'helping Socialists in countries under Imperialist pressure'.

...and all of this is a reason more to have doubts about such reports.

Interestingly enough you caught the mistake by TDB article--no other US commenter has--what bothers me though is the total lack of push back by Cuba who usually defends against anything that they perceive that damages the image of Cuba---just as the Chinese did not push back on the carrier reports and then behold Chinese drones and intel personnel in Bagdad--and they still did not dismiss the reports.

Two Communist countries and yet no info war pushback-----why?

[OUTLAW 09]

NIGHT VIDEO #Syria rebels machine gunners engaging #Assad troops Skaik Brive,#Idlib
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yg3RGhhZ2sg … pic.twitter.com/VcWwm8dFTR

[CrowBat]

Interestingly enough you caught the mistake by TDB article--no other US commenter has--There are extremely few researchers working on this topic with help of Cuban sources: most people seem to insist on one-sided 'Western/US POV' approach.

Piero Gleijeses (autor of such works like Conflicting Missions: Havana, Washington and Africa, 1959-1976 (www.amazon.com/gp/product/0807854646?*Version*=1&*entries*=0)) achieved a true break-through when he got Havana to open its official archives. His work in regards of Cuban foreign policies under Castro is unbeatable.

I've got a few contacts within ranks of retired DAA-FAR pilots and officers that served in Ethiopia and Angola during the work on African MiGs, Volume 1 (http://www.amazon.com/African-MiGs-Sukhois-Service-Sub-Saharan/dp/0982553951/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1445069826&sr=1-2&keywords=african+migs). Should I finally find enough time, we might follow with a volume on Cuban air force's deployments to Angola too. Anyway, from Gleijeses' work and form Ethiopians, I know about official Cuban versions about 'why'; from my own, I know about 'feelings' of Cubans that served in Africa. No doubt, everybody is free to disparage my findings as 'subjective' or 'oral history', but one can't deny that only persons in question can talk about thier ideology and motivation.

That's the reason why I doubt reports about Cuban deployment to Syria.

Sure, it is possible that few Cubans are 'sharing' sentimental feelings about deployments to Syria with Russians (there should've been a contingent of about 300 Cubans serving in Syria in 1973, but all corresponding reports are based on Israeli media releases and I never found firm evidence for their presence). But, I do not see Havana being eager to anger DC by such a deployment at this point in time.

Perhaps somebody there organized some sort if 'private venture'. It wouldn't be the first and certainly not the last time (especially not in countries like Cuba, with that - supposedly - 'strongly centralized regime').


...what bothers me though is the total lack of push back by Cuba who usually defends against anything that they perceive that damages the image of Cuba.Good point. Now, Cubans quite openly say, 'we know we're considered everybody's black sheep'. Nevertheless, they do care about their image on the international scene. Though, I see this as a reason more to have my doubts that they've deployed anybody there.


---just as the Chinese did not push back on the carrier reports and then behold Chinese drones and intel personnel in Bagdad--and they still did not dismiss the reports.Chinese are an entirely different pair of shoes. Core-piece of Beijing's foreign policy can be summarized as, 'it's business, stupid'. They're only curious to make money, not go around fighting wars.

Correspondingly, reason for them providing UAV/UCAVs to Iraq is rather on obvious side: they're heavily crediting Baghdad (China is by far the biggest investor there, meanwhile), and want to make sure they'll get their money back (which is not going to happen should Daesh overrun Iraq).

[OUTLAW 09]

NIGHT VIDEO #Syria rebels machine gunners engaging #Assad troops Skaik Brive,#Idlib
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yg3RGhhZ2sg … pic.twitter.com/VcWwm8dFTR

Cluster munitions were used yeterday on Douma, Hamouria., Misraba, Beit Sawa, etc #Damascus

Reports Russian/regime jets have again used cluster bombs on Eastern #Ghouta today.

Heavy clashes bet. JAI & regime militias/Hezbollah who are trying to advance in E. Ghouta (Marja area, Rikabia, Noula, etc) #Syria

[OUTLAW 09]

First mention of this--will attempt to find further confirming info---ie te TASS or Interfax press release.

Moscow: Any country will supply #Syria|n rebels with MANPADS will be considered a declaration of war against #Russia..

[OUTLAW 09]

Battlefield victory chants from Iranian and Russian news media----

Russian jets neutralized 2 ISIS tanks, 5 APCs, entrenchments in Aleppo province - MoD briefing
http://on.rt.com/6u3e

MORE: Russian warplanes target #ISIS suicide bombing training camp - MoD http://on.rt.com/6u3e

SANA: 49 targets, 79 hit, 6000,000 terrorists dead.

[OUTLAW 09]

NIGHT VIDEO #Syria rebels machine gunners engaging #Assad troops Skaik Brive,#Idlib
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yg3RGhhZ2sg … pic.twitter.com/VcWwm8dFTR

Cluster munitions were used yeterday on Douma, Hamouria., Misraba, Beit Sawa, etc #Damascus

Reports Russian/regime jets have again used cluster bombs on Eastern #Ghouta today.

Heavy clashes bet. JAI & regime militias/Hezbollah who are trying to advance in E. Ghouta (Marja area, Rikabia, Noula, etc) #Syria

Unbelievable footage from #EastGhouta, where "Russian" jets used incendiary munitions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zP0VuESfa44 …

[OUTLAW 09]

More Syrian children killed and or wounded in the Russian bombings---

Russia appears not to care how many civilians they kill--the same exact attitude in Chechnya and Georgia 2008.

Utterly #terrible ...
Dying girl because of #Russian air strikes in al-Ghantu.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciWEFnNo5Rw …

Protecting civilians needs a UNSC resolution. Bombing them needs nothing!!!

[OUTLAW 09]

HadiAlabdallah · 27 minutes ago
Our heroes are achieving epics in southern rural of Aleppo.They destroyed 4tanks,2machine guns 23,
2pickup and a car loaded with ammunition.

[OUTLAW 09]

There are extremely few researchers working on this topic with help of Cuban sources: most people seem to insist on one-sided 'Western/US POV' approach.

Piero Gleijeses (autor of such works like Conflicting Missions: Havana, Washington and Africa, 1959-1976 (www.amazon.com/gp/product/0807854646?*Version*=1&*entries*=0)) achieved a true break-through when he got Havana to open its official archives. His work in regards of Cuban foreign policies under Castro is unbeatable.

I've got a few contacts within ranks of retired DAA-FAR pilots and officers that served in Ethiopia and Angola during the work on African MiGs, Volume 1 (http://www.amazon.com/African-MiGs-Sukhois-Service-Sub-Saharan/dp/0982553951/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1445069826&sr=1-2&keywords=african+migs). Should I finally find enough time, we might follow with a volume on Cuban air force's deployments to Angola too. Anyway, from Gleijeses' work and form Ethiopians, I know about official Cuban versions about 'why'; from my own, I know about 'feelings' of Cubans that served in Africa. No doubt, everybody is free to disparage my findings as 'subjective' or 'oral history', but one can't deny that only persons in question can talk about thier ideology and motivation.

That's the reason why I doubt reports about Cuban deployment to Syria.

Sure, it is possible that few Cubans are 'sharing' sentimental feelings about deployments to Syria with Russians (there should've been a contingent of about 300 Cubans serving in Syria in 1973, but all corresponding reports are based on Israeli media releases and I never found firm evidence for their presence). But, I do not see Havana being eager to anger DC by such a deployment at this point in time.

Perhaps somebody there organized some sort if 'private venture'. It wouldn't be the first and certainly not the last time (especially not in countries like Cuba, with that - supposedly - 'strongly centralized regime').

Good point. Now, Cubans quite openly say, 'we know we're considered everybody's black sheep'. Nevertheless, they do care about their image on the international scene. Though, I see this as a reason more to have my doubts that they've deployed anybody there.

Chinese are an entirely different pair of shoes. Core-piece of Beijing's foreign policy can be summarized as, 'it's business, stupid'. They're only curious to make money, not go around fighting wars.

Correspondingly, reason for them providing UAV/UCAVs to Iraq is rather on obvious side: they're heavily crediting Baghdad (China is by far the biggest investor there, meanwhile), and want to make sure they'll get their money back (which is not going to happen should Daesh overrun Iraq).

Here is potentially the recruiter in Cuba-----

A Russian paper says that a private military company called Wagner recruits Russians to fight for Assad in Syria. http://www.fontanka.ru/2015/10/16/118/

You have to love the English company name---"Wagner".

[OUTLAW 09]

Big news:

Senior AQ/Khorasan figure Sanafi al-Nasr (@snafialnasr0) killed in US strike in Al-Dana, #Aleppo. #Syria

Sanafi al-Nasr (real name: Abdul Mohsen Abdullah Ibrahim al-Sharikh) is Saudi & 3rd cousin of Bin Laden. 2 brothers were in #Guantanamo.

Nasr was 12 on #Saudi’s 85 'most wanted’ list & central in moulding Jabhat al-Nusra’s relations w. Abdullah Azzam Brigades in #Lebanon.

[OUTLAW 09]

RuAF Su-30SM over Talbiseh:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vk9J5pzYrY …

Seems to be carrying something in addition to the standard air-to-air loadout.

[OUTLAW 09]

Jaish al-Sham: An Ahrar al-Sham Offshoot or Something More?http://carnegieendowment.org/syriaincrisis/?fa=61643 …

Read up on #Syria's new rebels!

[OUTLAW 09]

Crow Bat--think you might like this Russian MoD statement----

'We possess all necessary intel in Syria. There are no secrets for us,' - head of Main Operational Directorate of Russia's General Staff.

Great statement--still does not explain why Russia is missing their so called target "Islamic State"??????

WHY is it then the US that seems to be killing IS leadership almost weekly---?

[OUTLAW 09]

Crow Bat--think you might like this Russian MoD statement----

'We possess all necessary intel in Syria. There are no secrets for us,' - head of Main Operational Directorate of Russia's General Staff.

Great statement--still does not explain why Russia is missing their so called target "Islamic State"??????

WHY is it then the US that seems to be killing IS leadership almost weekly---?

APPEARS the Russian General Staff missed all those TOWs and the work being done by the CIA-----

[OUTLAW 09]

Absent from this analysis is the fact #Russia and the U.S. have very different conceptions of how wars end
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/vladimir-putins-interventionism-in-the-middle-east-is-not-to-be-admired/2015/10/15/7c939834-7373-11e5-8d93-0af317ed58c9_story.html …

VIDEOS: Rebels in South Aleppo destroy 2 #SAA vehicles with ATGM.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFrJgl3KTPc …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnKUIj229wE …

At least 3 Russian helicopter gunships launch attack on Talbiseh in #Homs -
http://youtu.be/04YMQWs4uCw

[OUTLAW 09]

Battlefield victory chants from Iranian and Russian news media----

Russian jets neutralized 2 ISIS tanks, 5 APCs, entrenchments in Aleppo province - MoD briefing
http://on.rt.com/6u3e

MORE: Russian warplanes target #ISIS suicide bombing training camp - MoD http://on.rt.com/6u3e

SANA: 49 targets, 79 hit, 6000,000 terrorists dead.

More Russian PR chest thumping............

Results of Russian air strikes so far: Hardly any attacks on IS, lack of accuracy, dead civilians, ineffective support for SAA.

Putin: Russian operation in Syria is time limited; it has achieved impressive results:
http://www.almasdarnews.com/article/putin-russian-operation-in-syria-is-time-limited-it-has-achieved-impressive-results/ …

Russia keeps officially dropping bombs on "#ISIS in #Latakia".
MoD praised their dropping of a 500lb air fuel concrete busting bomb on a IS command bunker---nowhere close to Islamic State locations--really on FSA locations though.

They just give a flying flip about reality NOR the "truth"--ALL that matters for Putin and company is the propaganda---.

[OUTLAW 09]

Basically says it all.
pic.twitter.com/pqpRgqfGyM

BreakingNews
Four Russian Mil Mi-24 ground attack helicopters pound rural #Homs now.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kC9f8jciUWA …

Footage
Another #FSA TOW destroys another #Assad regime jeep with 23 mm gun in #Asan.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dM7EbLfq2d8 …

Footage
Rebels hit #Assad armor in #Assad (South of #Aleppo) with the TOW.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dc6rtVfTYWk …

Footage
Syrian rebels use 9M14 Malyutka South West of #Aleppo.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrdIp33Qo2k …

Footage
Rural #Homs this morning.
Russian jets destroy what is left of #FreeSyria.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMqStJalvbM …

Footage
Russian jets bomb the hell out of rural #Damascus.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1L2ERUoONkU …

Assad gassed them,#Putin burns them...
Russian air raids now also on #EastGhouta it seems.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWrqfpb8WcE …

Russian 500lb air fuel bomb dropped on them------

[OUTLAW 09]

Understanding Western failure in #Syria
#Steinmeier interview at BILD(+)
#MustRead (German)
http://www.bild.de/bild-plus/politik/inland/dr-frank-walter-steinmeier/wir-muessen-daran-arbeiten-dass-weniger-fluechtlinge-zu-uns-kommen-43029208,var=b.bild.html …

[OUTLAW 09]

Do not think for a moment Russia does not have a Syrian information war going on parallel to the Ukraine.

Partial view of influence of #Russia|n propaganda on social media by @webradius
http://kremlintrolls.com/t/20151012-rumfa.html …
pic.twitter.com/Rt6j0yT7c7 v @SpecGhost

[OUTLAW 09]

Russian Spetsnaz with SAA troops---

PHOTO: #SAA 'Tiger' forces with Russian troops in #Syria. - @Ibra_Joudeh
Give away for Russian Spetsnaz is the rifle in the middle of the photo--ONLY carried by Spetsnaz.

VIDEO: Noureddine Zanki Movement shell #SAA with mortars in the #Aleppo countryside.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdnpM71EWQo …

[OUTLAW 09]

Russian Spetsnaz with SAA troops---

PHOTO: #SAA 'Tiger' forces with Russian troops in #Syria. - @Ibra_Joudeh
Give away for Russian Spetsnaz is the rifle in the middle of the photo--ONLY carried by Spetsnaz.

VIDEO: Noureddine Zanki Movement shell #SAA with mortars in the #Aleppo countryside.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdnpM71EWQo …

HadiAlabdallah ·
VIDEO: FSA's Thuwar al-Sham Brigades destroy second 23mm cannon with TOW on Mt. Azzan frontline.

Local activists reported 3 Iranian convoys backing regime attack southern Aleppo trying to reach M5 highway. Rebels call for reinforcements.

Tawhid al-Asma battalions of #Damascus merged into Ahrar al-Sham.

Recapture of #Abtin by rebels still not confirmed but clashes at outskirts

Confirmed: Regime forces begin to retreat from #Abtin after heavy clashes with rebels http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=36.046809&lon=37.124348&z=14&m=b …

Daraa New rebel force stormed regime position in outskirts of Shayk Maskin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWAvK49xRCc …

Rebels recaptured Abtin village southern #Aleppo and killed several regime/Iranian soldiers.
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=36.044519&lon=37.122288&z=13&m=b&permpoly=13021025 …

Village yesterday taken by regime http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=36.044311&lon=37.127180&z=14&m=b …

[OUTLAW 09]

Understanding Western failure in #Syria
#Steinmeier interview at BILD(+)
#MustRead (German)
http://www.bild.de/bild-plus/politik/inland/dr-frank-walter-steinmeier/wir-muessen-daran-arbeiten-dass-weniger-fluechtlinge-zu-uns-kommen-43029208,var=b.bild.html …

As #Steinmeier keeps "preferring a diplomatic solution", #Assad keeps slaughtering Syrians.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SR9XGdsQlk …

[OUTLAW 09]

In Syria Spotted Russian «Tigr» Armoured Personnel Carrier

http://defence-blog.com/army/in-syria-spotted-russian-tigr-armoured-personnel-carrier.html … pic.twitter.com/Bd1H0Ma3Lb

The US says its coalition has killed 20,000 ISIS members - here's a good examination of whether that means anything
http://buff.ly/1Lfkax8

AND the Russian MoD just keeps sayng "we are better at fighting IS than the US"--AT least the US hits their declared targets with precision weapons NOT dumb bombs---

[OUTLAW 09]

Humor..................

Drunk Russian vacationer crashed his rental car on Highway 1 near Mosul whilst on his way to #Syria
pic.twitter.com/tnm5ozAMHU

[OUTLAW 09]

#Damascus From battlefield in Jobar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGFubw4drsg …

Daraa Rebels blow up regime tank at Electricity-barrier east of Shayk Maskin https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-kohEJU7pU …
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=32.837382&lon=36.179298&z=17&m=b …

Aleppo #Assad-forces in Burayjah village on way to #IS- besieged Kweires airbase -#IslamicState on retreat http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=36.121688&lon=37.486210&z=15&m=b …

Syria Rebels destroyed 6 tanks & captured another at #Abtin front in southern #Aleppo countryside, also technicals & a bulldozer destroyed

Aleppo Grad rocket shelling by regime on Al-Eis
https://vid.me/fkKb
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=35.996063&lon=37.001610&z=14&m=b …

Damascus Regime forces failed to advance on Marj al-Sultan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdsCsYY-0n0 …
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=33.474766&lon=36.465168&z=14&m=b …

RuAF SU-34 spotted dropping bombs on E #Ghouta #Damascus.

[CrowBat]

Crow Bat--think you might like this Russian MoD statement----

'We possess all necessary intel in Syria. There are no secrets for us,' - head of Main Operational Directorate of Russia's General Staff.I'm 'hanging on every word he says... ;-)

If they have such good intel, why are they mad about USA refusing to cooperate and share intel with them...? Why are they missing so often - and hitting their Assadist allies as often as Syrian civilians...?

Few simple questions, which they'll never answer.


WHY is it then the US that seems to be killing IS leadership almost weekly---?Ah, come on: Belmoktar still leads Baghdadi by some 'six best deaths' to only two or three. ;-)

[OUTLAW 09]

@will_mccants and @hxhassan Understanding ISIS - in discussion https://youtu.be/2cpvxy3S1-0

Footage of the only hospital in al-Hader in south rural #Aleppo, #Syria after #Russian bombardment a few days ago http://youtu.be/mfZrnnh4JcU

Rebels reverse situation in Jub al-Ahmar, reef #Latakia, regime back to square one.

[OUTLAW 09]

I'm 'hanging on every word he says... ;-)

If they have such good intel, why are they mad about USA refusing to cooperate and share intel with them...? Why are they missing so often - and hitting their Assadist allies as often as Syrian civilians...?

Few simple questions, which they'll never answer.

Ah, come on: Belmoktar still leads Baghdadi by some 'six best deaths' to only two or three. ;-)

US kills Tunisian senior Isis jihadist Kamal Zarouq, a day after it killed key Nusra figures. Better intel suddenly?

[OUTLAW 09]

I'm 'hanging on every word he says... ;-)

If they have such good intel, why are they mad about USA refusing to cooperate and share intel with them...? Why are they missing so often - and hitting their Assadist allies as often as Syrian civilians...?

Few simple questions, which they'll never answer.

Ah, come on: Belmoktar still leads Baghdadi by some 'six best deaths' to only two or three. ;-)

Crow Bat--appears Islamic State is still giving up previous territory to the SAA without much o a fight--any idea why????

Regime advances on Kuweiris taking Halabia village 8 kms southwest of airbase. ISIS isn't putting up real resistance

http://wikimapia.org/#lang=tr&lat=36.139538&lon=37.465439&z=13&m=b …

Assad/Russia/Iran repelled from every front against rebels in Damascus/Aleppo/Hama/Homs while regime advances against ISIS near Kuweires

[OUTLAW 09]

Rebels at Khan Tuman Dam shelling #Assad-forces at #Abtin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVAnQ1-jSDo&feature=youtu.be …
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=36.029874&lon=37.084608&z=14&m=b …

Latakia Rebels regained positions in Jubb al-Ahmar area
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=35.675810&lon=36.238747&z=15&m=b …

Videos from battle in northern #Homs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Arw2iKvyw7s …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpBMePzFxrc …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=extTRO5Eo8c …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXL7B8VmTso …

So when @mod_russia says "pinpoint" strikes, just know the target.
HadiAlabdallah
14 killed & dozens more injured (mostly civilians) by 18 #Russia|n warplane air raids on northern #Homs' rural areas today.

VIDEO 4 #Russia Mi-24 gunships attacking civilian areas #Talbiseh #Homs #Syria this morning
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04YMQWs4uCw&feature=youtu.be …

Resupplying Assad: Iranian plane carrying Shiite militia fighters from Iraq to Syria Confirmed by FlightRadar 24

FSA pop up a few hundred meters away from #Assad's forces and sink a TOW #ATGM into a BMP, cooking it off:
https://youtu.be/tzRHCCKqono

[OUTLAW 09]

A Message from Free #Syria'n Army #FSA to #Russia
#Сирия #Руссланд #Путин
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Y0sfgtGi3A …

AND the usual response from Russian/Syrian tolls----
You #FSA (Free Syrian Apostates) Now You are Crying for #America to Drop More Weapons to You and to gives You Air Cover.

[OUTLAW 09]

The Sunni global community is starting to became active in support of fellow Sunni's in Syria.

Like in the Arab world: Protest in #Indonesia against #Russian airstrikes in #Syria | “Syria a graveyard for Russia“

[OUTLAW 09]

MAP: Situation north of #Homs #Syria, scene ongoing of regime offensive. -

pic.twitter.com/WfJ8RfiRb1
http://archicivilians.com/2015/10/17/map-the-military-situation-in-north-of-homs-syria-october-17-2015/ …

Sunni Info war is now kicking in----
TIP Media group "Voice of Islam" published a video “Scenes From the Recent Fighting in Sahal al-Ghab (1)”
pic.twitter.com/PbMLgN1Ykj

[OUTLAW 09]

Rebels at Khan Tuman Dam shelling #Assad-forces at #Abtin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVAnQ1-jSDo&feature=youtu.be …
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=36.029874&lon=37.084608&z=14&m=b …

Latakia Rebels regained positions in Jubb al-Ahmar area
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=35.675810&lon=36.238747&z=15&m=b …

Videos from battle in northern #Homs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Arw2iKvyw7s …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpBMePzFxrc …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=extTRO5Eo8c …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXL7B8VmTso …

So when @mod_russia says "pinpoint" strikes, just know the target.
HadiAlabdallah
14 killed & dozens more injured (mostly civilians) by 18 #Russia|n warplane air raids on northern #Homs' rural areas today.

VIDEO 4 #Russia Mi-24 gunships attacking civilian areas #Talbiseh #Homs #Syria this morning
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04YMQWs4uCw&feature=youtu.be …

Resupplying Assad: Iranian plane carrying Shiite militia fighters from Iraq to Syria Confirmed by FlightRadar 24

FSA pop up a few hundred meters away from #Assad's forces and sink a TOW #ATGM into a BMP, cooking it off:
https://youtu.be/tzRHCCKqono

Russia Today writes about success, when other reports about deaths. There are no ISIS in Homs, but Syrian opposition
pic.twitter.com/WxBYi6pjzS

The Russian overuse of the term "pinpoint" despite the rather underwhelming impact of Russian airstrikes is also telling

[OUTLAW 09]

The "Syrian Arab Army" is not "Arab" and it is certainly not "Syrian".

A true mercenary army--------

InfoGraphic - Assad Regime Foreign Allies in #Syria | from around 12 countries.
HD: http://archicivilians.com/2015/09/21/info-graphic-assad-regime-foreign-allies-in-syria/ …

[OUTLAW 09]

The Northern countryside of Homs province is the strong Rebel-held in the province since the beginning of the war in 2011.

Rebels retreated to North Homs after losing their areas in #Homs city, Qusayr, the Western & Eastern countrysides in the past 4 years

It is clear that the area is very important and strategic, as #Russia started their campaign in #Syria by bombing Northern #Homs.

MAP- The Military Situation in North of #Homs | #Syria | October 17. #Analysis
HD: http://archicivilians.com/2015/10/17/map-the-military-situation-in-north-of-homs-syria-october-17-2015/ …

[OUTLAW 09]

Russian armour for loading #SyriaExpress
Novorossiysk (photos added 13 Oct)

http://twower.livejournal.com/1807775.html
pic.twitter.com/00WaRhElAA

[OUTLAW 09]

Syria Regime offensive in southern #Aleppo
Rebels destroyed so far: 9 tanks, 4 howitzer, 1 BM-21, 1 BMP, 1 bulldozer
& seized 1 tank, 1BMP

Not even the mosque in Tarma'ala in #Homs was spared from #Russia|n bombing.
http://youtu.be/9T7C4gXEs34

Rebels liberated Ibtin fields in south rural #Aleppo after fierce clashes with regime forces/militias & repel attack on Shugaidilah.

[OUTLAW 09]

Russian Spetsnaz with SAA troops---

PHOTO: #SAA 'Tiger' forces with Russian troops in #Syria. - @Ibra_Joudeh
Give away for Russian Spetsnaz is the rifle in the middle of the photo--ONLY carried by Spetsnaz.

Russia'n CROs in #Syria. Left: 7.62 PKP, 5.45 AK-74M, 9.00 VSS (silenced) and likely 7.62 AKMS w/ PBS-1 silencer.
pic.twitter.com/bpKyHPXTUY

[OUTLAW 09]

Damascus rif, Jaish Al Islam ambushed regime forces in the mountain – to watch
https://yallasouriya.wordpress.com/2015/10/17/syria-damascus-rif-jaish-al-islam-ambushed-regime-forces-in-the-mountain-to-watch …

Daraa Regime dropped 18 barrel bombs on Shayk Maskin today- try to storm city since days

Aleppo Ahrar al Sham claim killed ~20 #Assad-forces during their failed attempt to storm Shughaydilah http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=36.018663&lon=37.090874&z=15&m=b …

HadiAlabdallah
FSA's 13th Division captures BMP and 14.5 machine gun during liberation of Ibteen fields in rural Aleppo, also destroys bulldozer with TOW.

Norway to deport Syrian Shabiha who entered as refugees from Russia
https://smo-sy.com/2015/10/17/24662/ …

When it comes to Syria, you can choose between unconfirmed opposition / rebel reports and lied regime / Russian reports.
I choose first.

[OUTLAW 09]

Russia has told Israeli jets gathering intel on Hezbollah that entering Syrian airspace would be “pretext for opening fire” -@IsraelBreaking


Turkish PM warns: #Ankara would shoot down planes violating its air space - @AlArabiya_Eng @ain92ru
http://ara.tv/prpq9

[OUTLAW 09]

New for #SyriaExpress ! For the first time two #ВМФ Tapir / Alligator class LSTs transit Bosphorus at the same time

Rigid hull inflatable boat on Nikolai Filchenkov: they have carried a lot of these boats
pic.twitter.com/DWKq54yiG9

The vehicles on the deck of Nikolai Filchenkov 152 during the LSTM’s southbound Bosphorus transit at dusk
pic.twitter.com/qG5jp2N8F9

Troops are now being transported via the LSTs----
Lots of troops are under the life raft canisters, forward of the superstructure. Saratov can carry up to 300 troops
pic.twitter.com/Evhs8URq42

Equipment on Nikolai Filchenkov 152’s deck: Tapir class landing ships can carry up to 1500tons of cargo.

Military vehicles on the landing ship Saratov during LSTM’s Bosphorus transit

Military vehicles on Nikolai Filchenkov’s deck

KAMAZ trucks are visible under the tarp during BSF landing ship Saratov’s southbound Bosphorus transit

Military vehicles on BSF Saratov 150’s deck is covered with camouflage tarp during her southbound Bosphorus transit

MORE-----

ВМФ Amguema class cargo ship, Northern Fleet's #Yauza departed the Black Sea & transits southbound Bosphorus.

Russian Navy's Northern Fleet vessel Yauza crossed bosphorus southbound. Some shipping containers visible on deck.

ВМФ NF Yauza has recently undergone extensive modernization. Here is the ship’s new @Liebherr CBW60/16 60t bow crane

There are extra container boxes on the top of Yauza’s cargo holds forward

There're shipping containers even on top of the cargo bay doors. Waterline is significantly lower compared to N pass

There are container boxes under Yauza’s new @Liebherr CBW60/16 60t bow crane

Yauza arrived from Murmansk to the Black Sea on Sept 29 and as we predicted the cargo vessel joined to #SyriaExpress

EVEN MORE

ВМф BSF Ropucha class LST Tsezar Kunikov 158 transits northbound Bosphorus at dusk

BF’s Korolev 130 transits the Bosphorus. Ropucha class landing ships 031 & 130 returned from Syria in 10 days

Meet the latest addition to #ВМФ Naval Auxiliary Fleet: Dvinitsa 50 ! X-x TK Antwerp and obviously x-Alican Deval
The cargo vessel was in Novorossiysk 3 days ago as Alican Deval according to @MarineTraffic….
The ship is still on the web page of Istanbul registered Deval Shipping http://www.devalship.com/tr/Filo as 1 of their vessels.
But during the last 3 days Alican Deval changed ownership & #ВМФ Naval Auxiliary flag replaced the Turkish flag

Russian soldier on the bridge of Dvinitsa 50.
Still possible to read Alican Deval’s IMO# 7500578 now painted over

Dvinitsa50 was listing to starboard in her entire southbound Bosphorus transit. Not loaded properly? Something heavy?

Cargo container boxes and Russian soldiers at the bow of Dvinitsa 50, transiting southbound Bosphorus.

[OUTLAW 09]

The White Helmets @SyriaCivilDef
Immediate aftermath of a strike in Rif Damascus 17/10. #wewillnotkneel
https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=d6zRIVSOkuY …

The White Helmets @SyriaCivilDef
Graphic. These are the victims of what @mfa_russia calls terrorists. #wewillnotkneel Rif Damascus 16/10
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pr3OK71tqnU&feature=youtu.be …

[OUTLAW 09]

New for #SyriaExpress ! For the first time two #ВМФ Tapir / Alligator class LSTs transit Bosphorus at the same time

Rigid hull inflatable boat on Nikolai Filchenkov: they have carried a lot of these boats
pic.twitter.com/DWKq54yiG9

The vehicles on the deck of Nikolai Filchenkov 152 during the LSTM’s southbound Bosphorus transit at dusk
pic.twitter.com/qG5jp2N8F9

Troops are now being transported via the LSTs----
Lots of troops are under the life raft canisters, forward of the superstructure. Saratov can carry up to 300 troops
pic.twitter.com/Evhs8URq42

Equipment on Nikolai Filchenkov 152’s deck: Tapir class landing ships can carry up to 1500tons of cargo.

Military vehicles on the landing ship Saratov during LSTM’s Bosphorus transit

Military vehicles on Nikolai Filchenkov’s deck

KAMAZ trucks are visible under the tarp during BSF landing ship Saratov’s southbound Bosphorus transit

Military vehicles on BSF Saratov 150’s deck is covered with camouflage tarp during her southbound Bosphorus transit

MORE-----

ВМФ Amguema class cargo ship, Northern Fleet's #Yauza departed the Black Sea & transits southbound Bosphorus.

Russian Navy's Northern Fleet vessel Yauza crossed bosphorus southbound. Some shipping containers visible on deck.

ВМФ NF Yauza has recently undergone extensive modernization. Here is the ship’s new @Liebherr CBW60/16 60t bow crane

There are extra container boxes on the top of Yauza’s cargo holds forward

There're shipping containers even on top of the cargo bay doors. Waterline is significantly lower compared to N pass

There are container boxes under Yauza’s new @Liebherr CBW60/16 60t bow crane

Yauza arrived from Murmansk to the Black Sea on Sept 29 and as we predicted the cargo vessel joined to #SyriaExpress

EVEN MORE

ВМф BSF Ropucha class LST Tsezar Kunikov 158 transits northbound Bosphorus at dusk

BF’s Korolev 130 transits the Bosphorus. Ropucha class landing ships 031 & 130 returned from Syria in 10 days

Meet the latest addition to #ВМФ Naval Auxiliary Fleet: Dvinitsa 50 ! X-x TK Antwerp and obviously x-Alican Deval
The cargo vessel was in Novorossiysk 3 days ago as Alican Deval according to @MarineTraffic….
The ship is still on the web page of Istanbul registered Deval Shipping http://www.devalship.com/tr/Filo as 1 of their vessels.
But during the last 3 days Alican Deval changed ownership & #ВМФ Naval Auxiliary flag replaced the Turkish flag

Russian soldier on the bridge of Dvinitsa 50.
Still possible to read Alican Deval’s IMO# 7500578 now painted over

Dvinitsa50 was listing to starboard in her entire southbound Bosphorus transit. Not loaded properly? Something heavy?

Cargo container boxes and Russian soldiers at the bow of Dvinitsa 50, transiting southbound Bosphorus.

This is the 7th southbound transit of BSF Tapir class LST Nikolai Filchenkov in 2015.
pic.twitter.com/45fmXvDrKa

[OUTLAW 09]

Russia has told Israeli jets gathering intel on Hezbollah that entering Syrian airspace would be “pretext for opening fire” -@IsraelBreaking


Turkish PM warns: #Ankara would shoot down planes violating its air space - @AlArabiya_Eng @ain92ru
http://ara.tv/prpq9

Now Russia is protecting Hezbollah--BUT Putin stated that he did not want to get into an interreligious war--BUT he is working hand in hand with the Shia-

Israel Breaking @IsraelBreaking
Israeli jets recently flying near Syria border for intelligence on Hezbollah forced to return after Russian jets intercept pathway -As Safir

[OUTLAW 09]

Aleppo Rebels blow up bulldozer at #Abtin front
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O07_LmWUyOA …
FSB removed this video-----

Aleppo Rebels blow up regime tank at #Abtin front today
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KanTV8abRtE&feature=youtu.be…

From battlefield in southern rural #Aleppo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajBdzrw26lw …
probaly here: http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=36.032234&lon=37.179065&z=15&m=b …

Rebels firing large hell cannon at regime forces in Kafr Dulbah near #Salma https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teuwmrEstVs … http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=35.672016&lon=36.157033&z=15&m=b&search=kafr%20dulbah …

The rescue operation didn't go well in northern #Homs.
https://youtu.be/1cJhvtaMET8

US coalition airstrikes reportedly targted 3 #ISIS positions in north rural #Aleppo, #Syria

[OUTLAW 09]

I'm 'hanging on every word he says... ;-)

If they have such good intel, why are they mad about USA refusing to cooperate and share intel with them...? Why are they missing so often - and hitting their Assadist allies as often as Syrian civilians...?

Few simple questions, which they'll never answer.

Ah, come on: Belmoktar still leads Baghdadi by some 'six best deaths' to only two or three. ;-)

Reports #ISIS quietly retreated & allowed the regime to take al-Dakwaneh & al-Halabiyah in #Aleppo

Nusra judge Abu Azam al-Jazrawi was assassinated by unknown gunmen today in KafrHamra, rural #Aleppo

[OUTLAW 09]

Famous pro-regime FB page criticizes the last Hama offensive. It says regime lost 24 tanks and 450 troops for 50 cm.

From battle in northern #Homs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZSQM3KFgDc&feature=youtu.be …

Rebels hit another tank with TOW in southern countryside of #Aleppo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iwQrPCRJc8&feature=youtu.be …

Reports talk about 2000 Iranian fighters recently deployed in Aleppo. So far only Iraqi militiamen were seen on the ground

Regime Army incurs heavy losses in the continuous clashes in Eastern Ghouta mountains. @Islamarmy_eng2
https://www.jaishalislam.com/subject/358

Having failed to achieve gains in northern Hama, regime began an offensive in northern Homs where rebels are encircled and have no ATGMs.

Rebels must have some captured and smuggled ATGMs in northern Homs
same as the konkurs missiles in Ghouta. But the TOWs aren't allowed there

Pro-regime FB talks about 38 troops from Homs killed on their way home today.

Brigade 26 in Homs suburbs is the second position for Assad forces to be hit mistakengly by Russian warplanes.
I think it was in the Russin raids

[OUTLAW 09]

Aleppo Rebels blow up bulldozer at #Abtin front
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O07_LmWUyOA …
FSB removed this video-----

Aleppo Rebels blow up regime tank at #Abtin front today
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KanTV8abRtE&feature=youtu.be…

From battlefield in southern rural #Aleppo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajBdzrw26lw …
probaly here: http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=36.032234&lon=37.179065&z=15&m=b …

Rebels firing large hell cannon at regime forces in Kafr Dulbah near #Salma https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teuwmrEstVs … http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=35.672016&lon=36.157033&z=15&m=b&search=kafr%20dulbah …

The rescue operation didn't go well in northern #Homs.
https://youtu.be/1cJhvtaMET8

US coalition airstrikes reportedly targted 3 #ISIS positions in north rural #Aleppo, #Syria

Assad edging closer to final victory: Iran
http://ptv.io/20UO

[CrowBat]

The more I think of all these 'offensives' by IRGC-QF (and its Iraqi Hebzollahis), NDF, Hebzollah/Lebanon, SSNP, BPM etc... all of these operations were either launched in a sort of a mad rush to launch them, or they are all so much botched-up already during planning, cadets from 2nd year of any military academy could do better.

They began with frontal assaults in northern Hama and NE Lattakia: insufficient artillery preparation, poorly selected targets, poorly selected troops, gang-ho tactics of try or die. Infantry storming along the plain, fully exposed to insurgents high in the hills - instead of first capturing those hills (absolute no-no in warfare).... Meanwhile, NDF Christians, then Hezbollah getting overrun - repeat: overrun without any kind of hope - in Kfar Naboudah: indicates deployment of well-trained, but hopelessly too small units. Unsurprisingly, this mess resulted in severe casualties, even entire HQs overrun - in return for 6 villages. By all the will some of involved troops have shown, they were spent like cheapest cannon fodder (and not only troops: 3 Generals - including C-in-C IRGC-QF Syria - 4 'top commanders - incl. Hezbollah/Lebanon No.2 - and a bunch of Colonels).

Then 'a lil bit of trying' against Rastan-Talbiseh pocket (BTW, Outlaw: insurgents there have received TOWs too: one of videos you've posted today is showing them in action): a three-prong attack against a single village, in semi-circular front narrower than 3km - and that by 'two armoured divisions'? Two armoured divisions should've eat that entire pocket for breakfast, and not only capture that one small village. But they are just not there. Everything ended the moment Russians bombed what was probably half the 26th Brigade NDF into oblivion... That's a shame, not a military operation.

Then: Russians bomb FSyA north of Aleppo. Daesh promptly exploits the opportunity and moves in against shaken insurgents. The latter collapse and flee. Hell: Daesh was quick in exploiting Russian 'close air support' - but IRGC sitting in trenches just 1km away were unable to move...? Iraqis and their Iranian masters were taken so much by surprise, they merely managed to move northwards to take some positions from the Daesh... Why not assaulting north-west and cutting-off insurgents at the moment they were so vulnerable...? And so, Daesh advanced alone in north-western direction, until stopped by a hodgepodge of un-coordinated insurgent groups, stacked across its way in haste...

Meanwhile, IRGC and BPM attempt to breach the siege of Kweres: some sort of either heliborne or amphibious operation over the Jabbul Lake. Quick advance for few kilometres northwards at first - then the infantry runs out of steam... Daesh counterattacks and regains 50% of lost territory. IRGC and BPM need nearly a week to reorganize and launch a new attempt further west. 'Victory! They're now 'only' 7.5-9km away from besieged garrison...

...which is still further away than 'only 6km away' where they were the last week. And they still have nothing to show. Even should they breach through, all they can do is evacuate the garrison and then hope they can run back towards south faster than the Daesh can advance...

Sheik Miskin: after two days of attacks, the NDF is overjoyed to anounce it recovered a 'strategic' hill (defended by JAN, no surprise) and injured one of FSyA Brigade COs into shoulder...

And now, much too late - at least a week too late, so to offer insurgents enough time to re-position their troops? - the IRGC is launching its 'assault of the light brigade' over open terrain of southern Aleppo, and then in such a miserable fashion, the insurgents recover half the area they've lost during the first day, and then knock out a bunch of NDF's T-55s driven by inexperienced Iraqi militiamen...

Reminds of IRGC's 'best of' from Iran-Iraq War... Nah: actually, this is a poorer performance.

Few conclusions are already unavoidable: even with all sorts of Iraqis hauled in by the IRGC-QF... and despite far superior military training of their troops, and their vast superiority in fire-power... the IRGC, NDF, BPM, SSNP etc. all have so few troops, and such poor commanders, they simply can't equalize advantages of their enemy. They are overpowering smaller and less-experienced insurgent units, time and again, but that's the only success they can show. To make things more miserable, their commanders are too dumb but to understand the insurgents in Idlib have the advantage of inner line (means: they can move their troops quickly from one part of the frontlines to the other): so, they're moving much too slow and launching uncoordinated attacks from several directions....

As next, they appear too inept but to recognize the crucial importance of the Aleppo-Turkey corridor. If nothing else: they could punch through there, and scare insurgents to death by reaching Nubol and Zahra. IRGC couldn't hold these for longer but a few days, but could at least evacuate Shi'a population from there. That way the IRGC wouldn't have to make peace with remaining insurgents in Qalamoun range.... But it seems, they never came to such ideas...

Perhaps I'm jumping to conclusion sand it's too early to say... we'll see.

Perhaps the IRGC does have some 'ace up sleeve' left. I have no idea. But, right now all of this appears just a big, dumb show for kids. Iranian, Hezbollahi and Syrian commanders know they can't win, but they are attacking nevertheless, and squandering whatever was left of their own forces.

The only purpose such an 'operation' can have is to ignore its actual outcome - and quickly claim, 'we won, situation is stabilized'. Worst of all: most of West is nearly 90% sure to buy it.

[OUTLAW 09]

In Russian port of Novorossiysk, tanks and infantry fighting vehicles "destined for the Syrian army" spotted

http://military-informant.com/news/v-portu-novorossiyska-obnaruzhili-tanki-i-bmp-prednaznachenyie-dlya-siriyskoy-armii.html …

[OUTLAW 09]

Aleppo Rebels blow up bulldozer at #Abtin front
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O07_LmWUyOA …
FSB removed this video-----

Aleppo Rebels blow up regime tank at #Abtin front today
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KanTV8abRtE&feature=youtu.be…

From battlefield in southern rural #Aleppo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajBdzrw26lw …
probaly here: http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=36.032234&lon=37.179065&z=15&m=b …

Rebels firing large hell cannon at regime forces in Kafr Dulbah near #Salma https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teuwmrEstVs … http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=35.672016&lon=36.157033&z=15&m=b&search=kafr%20dulbah …

The rescue operation didn't go well in northern #Homs.
https://youtu.be/1cJhvtaMET8

US coalition airstrikes reportedly targted 3 #ISIS positions in north rural #Aleppo, #Syria

Reference bulldozer TOW hit----
https://www.youtu.be/rZE8mlHxGHA

[OUTLAW 09]

Ahrar al-Sham blow Army truck full of Assad troops in al-Mazzah district #Damascus. Unconfirmed No. of casualties.

FSA Soqur al-Jabal reinforcements in southern #Aleppo y'day.
http://youtu.be/3zanYJ7vXrk

TOWs are becoming the mobile artillery of FSA---
The #FreeSyrianArmy captured #Abtin, 13 km south of #Aleppo, after pounding it with TOWs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COGk98IFqIo …

[OUTLAW 09]

If #Putin ever had a strategy in #Syria,he is for sure rethinking it now.
All combined #Assad / Russian offensives failed / stuck right now.

Hitting mosques with air strikes is possibly not the smartest thing, #Russia could do in #Syria...
Al-Ghantu today.

Footage
Damage at al-Noor mosque in #TerMaela after several Russian/#Assad strikes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9T7C4gXEs34 …

Hundreds of new American TOW missiles in #Syria give an appropriate answer to #Assad's and #Putin's offensives.

Also in the #Damascus suburb #Qaboun, residential areas were hit by the regime today
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRj-5mbQWjw …

Footage
Also #Harasta, N-E of #Damascus, was hit by heavy Russian air strikes today.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QJRVmag2wM …

Just to show you, what pro-Assads keep claiming ...THAT Latmeen is in their control---
pic.twitter.com/E7t7w9L6QE

Analysis #Map
#Assad / Russian lie BUSTED.
#Latmeen is still under rebel control.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uk3iaU2bY0k …

Pictures
The #Assad army offensive in the village of #Abtin,13 km south of #Aleppo today.
Don't mess with the TOW. pic.twitter.com/maXqc88Hle

[OUTLAW 09]

More from the Russian information warriors--Syria---

Russia's shameless media claims that children in #Syria "gleefully welcome" Russian planes overhead.

pic.twitter.com/gSiWlfXxQ2

[OUTLAW 09]

1 TOW team today alone knocked 4+ vehicles including this Gvozdika. This is just getting gruesome.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxMr7do_ark …

[OUTLAW 09]

The Syrian Arab Army SAA is made up of "no Syrians and no Arabs"---purely a mercenary army composed of mostly Shia.

Remember Putin stated he did not want to get into an intrarreligious war????

Syria - Harakat al-Nujaba fighters from #Iraq at Til al-Shaheed in the southwestern countryside of #Aleppo
pic.twitter.com/MNFkTFT1Lt

[OUTLAW 09]

There are extremely few researchers working on this topic with help of Cuban sources: most people seem to insist on one-sided 'Western/US POV' approach.

Piero Gleijeses (autor of such works like Conflicting Missions: Havana, Washington and Africa, 1959-1976 (www.amazon.com/gp/product/0807854646?*Version*=1&*entries*=0)) achieved a true break-through when he got Havana to open its official archives. His work in regards of Cuban foreign policies under Castro is unbeatable.

I've got a few contacts within ranks of retired DAA-FAR pilots and officers that served in Ethiopia and Angola during the work on African MiGs, Volume 1 (http://www.amazon.com/African-MiGs-Sukhois-Service-Sub-Saharan/dp/0982553951/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1445069826&sr=1-2&keywords=african+migs). Should I finally find enough time, we might follow with a volume on Cuban air force's deployments to Angola too. Anyway, from Gleijeses' work and form Ethiopians, I know about official Cuban versions about 'why'; from my own, I know about 'feelings' of Cubans that served in Africa. No doubt, everybody is free to disparage my findings as 'subjective' or 'oral history', but one can't deny that only persons in question can talk about thier ideology and motivation.

That's the reason why I doubt reports about Cuban deployment to Syria.

Sure, it is possible that few Cubans are 'sharing' sentimental feelings about deployments to Syria with Russians (there should've been a contingent of about 300 Cubans serving in Syria in 1973, but all corresponding reports are based on Israeli media releases and I never found firm evidence for their presence). But, I do not see Havana being eager to anger DC by such a deployment at this point in time.

Perhaps somebody there organized some sort if 'private venture'. It wouldn't be the first and certainly not the last time (especially not in countries like Cuba, with that - supposedly - 'strongly centralized regime').

Good point. Now, Cubans quite openly say, 'we know we're considered everybody's black sheep'. Nevertheless, they do care about their image on the international scene. Though, I see this as a reason more to have my doubts that they've deployed anybody there.

Chinese are an entirely different pair of shoes. Core-piece of Beijing's foreign policy can be summarized as, 'it's business, stupid'. They're only curious to make money, not go around fighting wars.

Correspondingly, reason for them providing UAV/UCAVs to Iraq is rather on obvious side: they're heavily crediting Baghdad (China is by far the biggest investor there, meanwhile), and want to make sure they'll get their money back (which is not going to happen should Daesh overrun Iraq).

Crow Bat--was actually surprised Cuban took this long to respond to the TDB article--thought they would have been faster.

Am though assuming individual Cubans have been recruited as tank drivers/commanders are in short supply right now in Syria due to the TOW.


HAVANA (Reuters) - The Cuban government on Saturday denied what it called an "irresponsible and unfounded" report that it had sent troops to Syria in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Foreign ministry official Gerardo Penalver "categorically denies and refutes the irresponsible and unfounded information regarding the supposed presence of Cuban troops in the Syrian Arab Republic," a government statement said.

The University of Miami's Institute for Cuban and Cuban-American Studies on Tuesday issued what it called an unconfirmed report from an unspecified source that Cuban troops had been spotted in Syria "in support of Syria’s dictator Assad and Russian involvement in that country."

Fox News echoed the institute's report on Wednesday, citing an unnamed U.S. official who "confirmed" it. The story then circulated in social media.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest said on Thursday the U.S. government had seen no evidence to indicate the reports were true.

Cuba sent troops to Africa in support of leftist governments in Angola and Ethiopia in the 1970s and 1980s but has long since disengaged from overseas military ventures.

In the past year it has instead reached detente with the United States, restoring diplomatic ties with its former Cold War foe after a break of 54 years.

[OUTLAW 09]

Aleppo #FSA bring reinforcements 2 #Abtin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zanYJ7vXrk …
#FSA is main combat power in last battles

NOW Russia is back to bombing Homs again---
New #Russia'n airstrikes on northern #Homs towns this morning

[OUTLAW 09]

Aleppo Rebels killed a number of #Assad-forces in battle about control of Al-Waddihi http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=36.101440&lon=37.128425&z=15&m=b …

MORE Russian bombings of civilian residential areas--just the same as Assad does it--so where is the difference??

Aleppo Effects of #Russia'n airstrikes on residential area in Zerbeh
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhM_dA4JzJE … http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=36.070678&lon=36.983843&z=15&m=b …

Old man killed by airstrike on Al-Ghantu in northern #Homs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZ2TuwkxNjk …

#Syria From frontline in northern #Homs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAxUMBBCFpc …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRdN_Zu3_24 …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSLr35Etw-8 …

#Syria #Russia'n airstrike on center of Ter Maela in northern #Homs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcDg_8pfvVY … http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=34.801929&lon=36.707382&z=15&m=b …

[OUTLAW 09]

TOW teams back to killing armor-----

Aleppo Rebels blow up their first tank this morning in southern rural #Aleppo

[CrowBat]

While IRGC-QF and BPM are assaulting insurgent positions on a wide front in southern Aleppo (and suffering heavy losses in the process), Russians and 'Assadist air force' (just citing several ex-SyAAF pilots) are bombing civilians in Talbiseh, Ghanto and Tel Maela in Rastan-Talbiseh pocket (northern Homs). Russian An-124s are flying so low over that area, that they can be captured by insurgent video-cameras (see attachment).

...didn't somebody there in Moscow say that Russians are meant to 'provide CAS for regime troops' - no matter if these are actually IRGC-QF, Hezbollah/Iraq/Lebanon/Syria, BPM or else?

Or, is it as so often in the past, that the IRGC 'knows better' and 'needs no CAS'...? :rolleyes:

Perhaps it is just so that this 'big offensive' is de-facto falling apart...

Whatever it is, no surprise Russians are hauling even more equipment to Lattakia.

[OUTLAW 09]

Damascus Rebels destroyed a tank & military vehicles during clashes in Marj area http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=33.478489&lon=36.467743&z=14&m=b …

What the heck is a RuAF cargo aircraft doing flying straight through a combat zone at the level it was flying----???
Russia'n type of cargo plane above northern #Homs today
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cx6tDcHY88 …

Assad-forces take control of Al-Waddihi south of #Aleppo after muliple airstrikes on it http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=36.101128&lon=37.130570&z=15&m=b …

Homs #Russia'n airstrikes on Al-Ghantu town
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OZX8lAPNho …
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=34.821643&lon=36.698070&z=15&m=b …

[OUTLAW 09]

Homs What type of #Russia'n fighter jet?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CmCAzNCR4Q …

Hama #Russia'n airforce was not able to wipe out rebels in Kafr Nabudah
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r48dk9WtL0A …

Blood bank in #Aleppo city continue its work despite #Russia'n & regime airstrikes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5L4Wk3wKrU …

Rebels with a captured BMP in northern #Hama province
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTWpdZ0qu70 … #Syria

[OUTLAW 09]

Syria: regime has announced big offensives in:
Hama
Aleppo
Damascus
Homs

has made no significant advances in:
Hama
Aleppo
Damascus
Homs

Assad on average loses 5 tanks, a BMP & several dozen soldiers for every small village he takes, wonder how long he'll keep this up

[OUTLAW 09]

Does Putin really, really,really want a war with the Israeli AF????

He truly must if he is so willing to defend Hezbollah----

BREAKING: RUSSIAN JETS BLOCK ISRAELI JETS NEAR SYRIAN BORDER IN CLOSE TO COMBAT ENCOUNTER

http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-20512188-.htm …

[OUTLAW 09]

Interesting thought?????
I get the feeling from Russian/pro-Russian/DPR/LPR social media that Syria is some kind of payback for failure to seize Ukraine

Russia officially confirms SU-25 attacks on #Ghouta, #Damascus.
https://twitter.com/mod_russia/status/655701607984865280 …

Russian military is getting weirder and weirder with some of their statements--they are now truly on another planet???
Russia|n Gen.Maj. Vladimirov -chemical weapons will be deployed to stop refugees flow into Europe
http://portal-kultura.ru/articles/armiya/122798-aleksandr-vladimirov-rossiya-i-siriya-budut-kontrolirovat-sredizemnoe-more-i-gazoprovody-v-evropu/ …

Russians are starting to truly act like they did in Chechnya----and civilians there were targets as well--thousand of them were killed by the Russian military.

RuAF "combat sorties", just like in the Chechen Wars: bombing civilian targets and fleeing refugees... https://twitter.com/mod_russia/status/655700170244509696 …

ALL the RuAF seems to be hitting lately are civilians, civilians and more civilians as they apparently are not attacking Islamic State at all and what they call IS positions turn out to be the FSA positions---BUT the sortie numbers are going down and down.

Минобороны России Verified account 
‏@mod_russia #SYRIA Rus #AirForce carried out 39 combat sorties,performed 60 strikes at 51 #ISIS objects
http://on.fb.me/1ON1OGk

[OUTLAW 09]

New for #SyriaExpress ! For the first time two #ВМФ Tapir / Alligator class LSTs transit Bosphorus at the same time

Rigid hull inflatable boat on Nikolai Filchenkov: they have carried a lot of these boats
pic.twitter.com/DWKq54yiG9

The vehicles on the deck of Nikolai Filchenkov 152 during the LSTM’s southbound Bosphorus transit at dusk
pic.twitter.com/qG5jp2N8F9

Troops are now being transported via the LSTs----
Lots of troops are under the life raft canisters, forward of the superstructure. Saratov can carry up to 300 troops
pic.twitter.com/Evhs8URq42

Equipment on Nikolai Filchenkov 152’s deck: Tapir class landing ships can carry up to 1500tons of cargo.

Military vehicles on the landing ship Saratov during LSTM’s Bosphorus transit

Military vehicles on Nikolai Filchenkov’s deck

KAMAZ trucks are visible under the tarp during BSF landing ship Saratov’s southbound Bosphorus transit

Military vehicles on BSF Saratov 150’s deck is covered with camouflage tarp during her southbound Bosphorus transit

MORE-----

ВМФ Amguema class cargo ship, Northern Fleet's #Yauza departed the Black Sea & transits southbound Bosphorus.

Russian Navy's Northern Fleet vessel Yauza crossed bosphorus southbound. Some shipping containers visible on deck.

ВМФ NF Yauza has recently undergone extensive modernization. Here is the ship’s new @Liebherr CBW60/16 60t bow crane

There are extra container boxes on the top of Yauza’s cargo holds forward

There're shipping containers even on top of the cargo bay doors. Waterline is significantly lower compared to N pass

There are container boxes under Yauza’s new @Liebherr CBW60/16 60t bow crane

Yauza arrived from Murmansk to the Black Sea on Sept 29 and as we predicted the cargo vessel joined to #SyriaExpress

EVEN MORE

ВМф BSF Ropucha class LST Tsezar Kunikov 158 transits northbound Bosphorus at dusk

BF’s Korolev 130 transits the Bosphorus. Ropucha class landing ships 031 & 130 returned from Syria in 10 days

Meet the latest addition to #ВМФ Naval Auxiliary Fleet: Dvinitsa 50 ! X-x TK Antwerp and obviously x-Alican Deval
The cargo vessel was in Novorossiysk 3 days ago as Alican Deval according to @MarineTraffic….
The ship is still on the web page of Istanbul registered Deval Shipping http://www.devalship.com/tr/Filo as 1 of their vessels.
But during the last 3 days Alican Deval changed ownership & #ВМФ Naval Auxiliary flag replaced the Turkish flag

Russian soldier on the bridge of Dvinitsa 50.
Still possible to read Alican Deval’s IMO# 7500578 now painted over

Dvinitsa50 was listing to starboard in her entire southbound Bosphorus transit. Not loaded properly? Something heavy?

Cargo container boxes and Russian soldiers at the bow of Dvinitsa 50, transiting southbound Bosphorus.

HiRes img of Filchenkov. Not hard to spot KAMAZ's but a TOS-1A Solntsepyok under white tarp to right?
pic.twitter.com/Y4w26KI8hf

[OUTLAW 09]

SO was Putin's move in to Syria really just all about oil and gas???????

Russia|n Gen.Maj. Vladimirov - chemical weapons will be deployed to stop refugees flow into Europe

http://portal-kultura.ru/articles/armiya/122798-aleksandr-vladimirov-rossiya-i-siriya-budut-kontrolirovat-sredizemnoe-more-i-gazoprovody-v-evropu/ …

Russia w/ help of #SAR must take control of all gas pipelines in the Middle East, topple monarchs in #Qatar, #SaudiArabia "

Vladimirov says that #FSA 50/50 supports #Assad/#Daesh

He also said that #Russia is aimed at "rearranging the Middle East and thus, saving Europe"

[OUTLAW 09]

SO was Putin's move in to Syria really just all about oil and gas???????

Russia|n Gen.Maj. Vladimirov - chemical weapons will be deployed to stop refugees flow into Europe

http://portal-kultura.ru/articles/armiya/122798-aleksandr-vladimirov-rossiya-i-siriya-budut-kontrolirovat-sredizemnoe-more-i-gazoprovody-v-evropu/ …

Russia w/ help of #SAR must take control of all gas pipelines in the Middle East, topple monarchs in #Qatar, #SaudiArabia "

Vladimirov says that #FSA 50/50 supports #Assad/#Daesh

He also said that #Russia is aimed at "rearranging the Middle East and thus, saving Europe"


I said it in early 2013 & I say it again. Russia & Iran have a pact to create an RU/Iran led style OPEC w/help of China/Venez,Nicar,Nig. etc

[OUTLAW 09]

How The #West Underestimated #Russia’s Military Power

http://thediplomat.com/2015/10/how-the-west-underestimated-russias-military-power/ …
pic.twitter.com/XbS7a2VUDn

[OUTLAW 09]

Interior of Syrian tank hit with a TOW--

KO'd insides. pic.twitter.com/1QdReX7vT9

it appears this guy got trashed so bad theres 2 points of entry. pic.twitter.com/VBWHpnCM3R

All it takes for a TOW (or other ATGM) on a main battle tank. pic.twitter.com/LvrZI0xoPh

[OUTLAW 09]

15 days of #Russia bombardments in #Syria, this is #kafr_nabudah.. Totally destroyed..
#Hama #Syria �� via @ValkryV
pic.twitter.com/KzKCTQXl2s

I guess there is some hidden Russian 'honor" in bombing defenseless civilian targets---
Stars on SU-34���� board like WW2 A star per 10(?) battle flights pic.twitter.com/rg3Sf3XXam

YEMEN: Saudi Prince claims that the Saudi military have captured Iranian troops & Hezbollah in #Yemen.
http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2015/10/prince-faisal-saudi-arabia-lead-region-yemen-iran.html# …

Russian Holy war in Syria
pic.twitter.com/wo44PUAspO

Russian/Syrian info warriors---
Russia's top propagandists/ trolls change their profile pics to support the bombing of #Syria. Pathetic and sick.
pic.twitter.com/506glITbVt

[OUTLAW 09]

Humor..............

Don't believe there are Russians fighting on the ground in Syria until we deny it.

[OUTLAW 09]

Unlike the Soviet Union, Russia is essentially a crime syndicate masquerading as a state, says @PowerVertical
http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/10/russia-containment-putin-soviet/410968/?utm_source=SFFB …

Hamas asks Russia to help stop Israeli 'aggression' against Palestinians

Hamas leader Khaled Meshal spoke with the Russian deputy foreign minister, who promised to take action against Israeli conduct, according to a statement released by the group.

[OUTLAW 09]

Russia appears to have a rather strange strategy for their so called "attack" and "defeating" the Islamic State??????

Sometimes I really do wonder--do they actually believe what they are saying or are they simply going through verbal motions HOPING someone somewhere in this world believes them?????

http://www.haaretz.com/news/world/1.680855

Reuters
Oct 17, 2015 8:38 PM

Russian PM Rejects Western Accusations: Our Aim Is to Defeat ISIS, Not Prop Up Assad


It is up to the Syrian people to decide who will be the head of Syria,' Medvedev says, adds Russia is operating on premise that Assad is legitimate president.

The aim of Russia's military operation in Syria is not to keep President Bashar Assad in power but to defeat Islamic State militants, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said on Saturday.
Russia began air strikes in Syria in late September, in a move which Moscow says is weakening Islamic State militants but which Western powers say aims to support Assad.

Some of Russia's air strikes have hit groups which are not affiliated to Islamic State but are trying to unseat Assad, and are backed by the United States and its allies.

"Russia, the United States, and all other states that have a stake in seeing peace in this region and in Syria, and a strong government, too, should be discussing precisely political issues," Medvedev said in an interview with Rossiya TV channel.
"It does not really matter who will be at the helm. We don't want ISIS to run Syria, do we? It should be a civilized and legitimate government. This is what we need to discuss," Medvedev said, using another name for the Islamic State.
Asked whether Syria had to be ruled by Assad, Medvedev said: "No, absolutely not. It is up to the Syrian people to decide who will be the head of Syria.... At the moment, we operate on the premise that al-Assad is the legitimate president."

Continued…………….



Appears to me that the Russians are actually stopping the Syrians from making their choice to kick out Assad----

[OUTLAW 09]

Chechnya all over again-----Russia never learns--------

THIS is what Russia calls "defeating Islamic State" by terrorizing the Syrian civilian population.

People flee from southern countryside of #Aleppo bc #Russia'n airstrike campaign on their towns & villages

3 #Russia'n airstrikes hit Zerbeh town
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=36.070400&lon=36.984701&z=14&m=b …

United Nations: 35,000 people have fled Aleppo in the 48 hours since the Syrian government launched a military offensive there.

4 dead in Ghanto, #Homs this morning by #Russia|n airstrikes, including children, many wounded

[OUTLAW 09]

Hama Rebels destroyed fuel tanker with TOW at regime barrier
in Tal Malah
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJuUrXA5XoE …

MORE barrel bombs on civilians--AND western leaders absolutely say nothing........

Damascus Barrel bombs hit #Daria suburb today
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RfCV7R07cI …
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=33.459301&lon=36.235399&z=14&m=b …

FSA destroyed Kornet unit in southern #Aleppo and Tank in Tall Sukyk with ATGMs.

Their deaths greater than ever before - Hezbollah says presence in Syria greater than ever before http://gulfnews.com/news/mena/syria/hezbollah-says-presence-in-syria-greater-than-ever-before-1.1602309# …

Attempt no. 3654 by regime to break into #Jobar today, clashes ongoing.

Russian attempt to completely destroy Syrian town--by air strikes
11 Assad barrel bombs were dropped on #Daraya so far today, 24 yesterday. #Damascus #Syria

Russia MoD confirms strike outside #Damascus - vs. Faylaq al-Omar, an FSA unit that recently joined Jaish al-Islam

[OUTLAW 09]

VIDEO: Sultan Murad brigade TOW team hit 7th target of the day in the Aleppo countryside.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-wzu2u9mtQ&feature=youtu.be&t=1m20s …

VIDEO: Homs Liberation Movement fire hell cannon at #SAA positions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSLr35Etw-8 …

VIDEO: Hezbollah and SAA in combat in southern #Aleppo, #Syria.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCnn79gjqbQ …

VIDEO: Homs Liberation Movement fire BMP cannon at #SAA roadblock near Al-Kawm village.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRdN_Zu3_24 …

VIDEO: Islamic Front shell #SAA positions in Latakia countryside, #Syria.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vgsl26jago …

[OUTLAW 09]

One learns to love the Russian/Syrian/Iraqi internet trolls----

When #Russia started attacks n #Syria, the ME went up-side-down. When the ops in #Baghdad was established, another Tsunami. Now #Algeria!!!

Rebels, with the Russia Air Force in the sky, will find it difficult to gather even 50 fighters in 1single location 4 long @SvenAK88

#Russia #Su30 destroy a Jaish al-Fath position in reef #Latakia #Syria. https://youtu.be/djWlYm3rHz8

#Russia AF #Su24M bombers destroyed a command and control centre of Jaish Al-Fateh in Kafr Zita reef #Hama, #Syria.

#Russia AF #Su25 attacked several position Near Eastern #Ghouta destroying some of rebels' defence lines. #Syria.

#Russia AF used concrete-piercing bombs to destroy Jaish al-Fateh underground comms and comand bunker in reef #Hama https://youtu.be/8yFz9SCB9UU

US closed an eye of Saudi supply of TOW & more to rebels who r fighting and sharing with al-Qaeda everything, to defeat Russia + @desouvik

The 5 fronts in #Syria carried by #SAA #Hezbollag #Iraq/i militia & #IRGC w/ #Russia air support is not d large expected offensive +

[OUTLAW 09]

One learns to love the Russian/Syrian/Iraqi internet trolls----

When #Russia started attacks n #Syria, the ME went up-side-down. When the ops in #Baghdad was established, another Tsunami. Now #Algeria!!!

Rebels, with the Russia Air Force in the sky, will find it difficult to gather even 50 fighters in 1single location 4 long @SvenAK88

#Russia #Su30 destroy a Jaish al-Fath position in reef #Latakia #Syria. https://youtu.be/djWlYm3rHz8

#Russia AF #Su24M bombers destroyed a command and control centre of Jaish Al-Fateh in Kafr Zita reef #Hama, #Syria.

#Russia AF #Su25 attacked several position Near Eastern #Ghouta destroying some of rebels' defence lines. #Syria.

#Russia AF used concrete-piercing bombs to destroy Jaish al-Fateh underground comms and comand bunker in reef #Hama https://youtu.be/8yFz9SCB9UU

US closed an eye of Saudi supply of TOW & more to rebels who r fighting and sharing with al-Qaeda everything, to defeat Russia + @desouvik

The 5 fronts in #Syria carried by #SAA #Hezbollag #Iraq/i militia & #IRGC w/ #Russia air support is not d large expected offensive +

BUT this is the best two comments for the day...................

Russia is showing its muscles in #Iraq also while coordinating and planning attacks with (4+1) #Iran #Syria #Iraq & #Hezbollah +

The attack against #Baiji refinery and #Baiji city is run by #Baghdad ops room with the 4+1 mainly planning the entire military operation +

RUSSIA is WINNING single handedly against Islamic State in Iraqi --if you believe this when I do have a bridge to sell you in Angola........

[OUTLAW 09]

LEBANON: Hassan Nasrallah's speech this morning at commemoration ceremony for Hezb fighter killed in #Syria. Some choice quotes:

Hezbollah has fought "for 30 years on the border with Palestine and have now gone to Sahl al-Ghab... to Hama, Idlib, Latakia, and Aleppo."

Hezbollah's presence "is larger than ever before, qualitatively, quantitatively, in equipment, b/c we are in a critical & definitive battle"

Why? Because both projects -- Zionist and takfiri -- want to achieve the same result: destroying our peoples and our societies."

The battle is open & it may be long. But with blessing of our perseverance, we have been able to protect these countries & this region."

Their fate would have been what the people of Mosul, Salahuddin, Anbar, Raqa, and Deir Ezzor are living now."

"Without the resistance on the ground confronting Daesh and its brothers, from Iraq, to Syria, to Lebanon, where would the region be today?"

We began confronting the takfiri project, which threatens the region & the world & wants to destroy everything: humans, life, societies..."

[OUTLAW 09]

Russians targeting critical infrastructure just as they did in the eastern Ukraine--Russia lies when it cares about refugees AS IT is actually now creating the refugee flows-------

So Russia never targets civilians is what we hear everyday from the Russian MoD, the Russian FM Larvov and Putin--BUT this is the Russian reality when it comes to civilians.

Chechnya all over again----

The only two remaining hospitals in southern #Aleppo in #Alhader & #Aleis were destroyed by the #Russian airstrikes. Huge exodus is happening

AND what do we hear from western leaders about proven Russian air strikes on civilians--not a utterance--nothing.........

[OUTLAW 09]

Rebels have recaptured Shugaydilah in S.Aleppo Countryside

SYRIA: Another #Russian drone shot down, this time by rebels in Qarassi S. Aleppo #Syria - @ValkryV

BREAKING: #Pentagon confirms #Khorasan group leader was killed in Oct. 15 air strike in northwest #Syria - @AlArabiya_Eng

Rebels destroyed 1 tank & 1 BMP at Khan Tuman in southern outskirts of #Aleppo http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=36.113402&lon=37.053537&z=14&m=b …

Julian Röpcke @JulianRoepcke
.@RT_com's @MuradoRT keeps lying about Russian air strikes' targets in #Syria and my stance towards jihadis.
pic.twitter.com/nT28Ac11zv

[OUTLAW 09]

One must actually now ask Putin--for who does the Russian AF actually fly for these days---Islamic State or the FSA--OR ACTUALLY for both???????

It definitely does not provide CAS for the Assad mercenary army.

This is becoming routine now, #Russia|n jets bombed Assad positions by mistake near Nabi Yunis in rural #Latakia, #Syria

[OUTLAW 09]

Really worth listening to----

The Islamic State: evolution, recruitment, expansion, war, and everything in between.

https://youtu.be/2cpvxy3S1-0 v @hxhassan + @will_mccants

[OUTLAW 09]

Russians targeting critical infrastructure just as they did in the eastern Ukraine--Russia lies when it cares about refugees AS IT is actually now creating the refugee flows-------

So Russia never targets civilians is what we hear everyday from the Russian MoD, the Russian FM Larvov and Putin--BUT this is the Russian reality when it comes to civilians.

Chechnya all over again----

The only two remaining hospitals in southern #Aleppo in #Alhader & #Aleis were destroyed by the #Russian airstrikes. Huge exodus is happening

AND what do we hear from western leaders about proven Russian air strikes on civilians--not a utterance--nothing.........

Footage
Russia uses its high tech Su-34 to bomb civilians and the #FSA in #Talbiseh
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vk9J5pzYrY …

Children killed by Assad bombing of #Douma in past 2 days
Ibrahim Kalas
Lamees Angela
Hala Zuhairi
Fatima Abduldayem

[OUTLAW 09]

As #Steinmeier, most of Europe & the US keep ignoring the Russian intervention in #Syria, Syrians protest worldwide.

Yes, Mr. #Steinmeier.
Let's find a 'diplomatic solution' with president #Assad.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RfCV7R07cI …

He just uses such quantities of bombs since the start of the full-scale Russian intervention in #Syria.
Clear who delivers them.

[OUTLAW 09]

RuAF airstrike on Duweir Al-Akrad near Sirmaniyah https://youtu.be/djWlYm3rHz8 geolocated http://wikimapia.org/#lat=35.720289&lon=36.261771&z=17&m=b …

FSA Suqour al-Jabal target Assad Kornet launcher & crew w/ a TOW missile in al-Huwaija, south rural #Aleppo, #Syria http://youtu.be/eAEfQahpkb4

The SOHR claims, #Assad forces took 5 villages south of #Aleppo.
But #FSA footage shows them holding some of them.
http://www.syriahr.com/en/2015/10/about-60-victims-killed-during-the-regime-forces-advancement-in-the-southern-countryside-of-aleppo/ …

The #Russian air force completely destroyed #KafrNabudah.
Still, #Assad couldn't take it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gr83z-Hi5zc …

Russia'n Orlan-10 UAV shot down in southern rural #Aleppo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrM-kJGnH0M …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orlan-10

Aleppo: around 35 Assad allied forces were killed yesterday

[OUTLAW 09]

Increased use of ATGMs in #Syria and #Irak from 14th Sept. to 18th Oct., via @IntellFusion pic.twitter.com/ZI0P0Y6vv6

Footage
An #FSA tank in the #Ghab plain targets regime-held #Hakoura.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACQOoYcoHE8 …
pic.twitter.com/7xT9rV4aIm

Meet Russian propaganda channel in Africa - Times of Swaziland: "Russia a positive force in the world"
http://www.times.co.sz/letters/105143-it%E2%80%99s-time-the-us-took-a-look-in-the-mirror.html …

Meet the Russian FSB propaganda resource in UK - The Russian-owned "Independent"
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/putin-s-aim-is-clear-to-restore-the-principle-of-sovereignty-to-international-affairs-a6698221.html … pic.twitter.com/J1AiThDyPZ

al-#Nusra re-purposing SPBE and AO-2.5RT submunitions in #Syria" another great work by @klgfulmer on @Arms_Research http://armamentresearch.com/jabhat-al-nusra-re-purposing-spbe-and-ao-2-5rt-submunitions-in-syria/ …

[OUTLAW 09]

Russian official hints Kremlin could become involved in Afghanistan to fight ISIS - watch on -
http://uatoday.tv http://uatoday.tv/politics/russian-official-hints-kremlin-could-become-involved-in-afghanistan-to-fight-isis-515279.html …

RuAF "pinpoint" airstrike in the olive groves..
https://youtu.be/8yFz9SCB9UU near Kafr Zita http://wikimapia.org/#lat=35.405592&lon=36.579811&z=18&m=b …
pic.twitter.com/1fhJcVuU4m

Keeping to script, Russia's MOD bombed FSA sites today, & tried to claim that they were ISIS
https://m.inforesist.org/kak-minoboronyi-rf-nashlo-igil-tam-gde-ego-net-dazhe-po-versii-rosssmi/ … [via @ChechenCenter]

How Russia's MOD "found" ISIS in a place where it isn't, not even according to Russian media
https://m.inforesist.org/kak-minoboronyi-rf-nashlo-igil-tam-gde-ego-net-dazhe-po-versii-rosssmi/ … [via @ChechenCenter]

Is Russian Navy getting stretched thin? The frequency of the Ropucha and Alligator class ships conducting the...
http://fb.me/5ozgxcQA4

An SAA T-72 is destroyed on a hilltop CP North of Hama by #TOW
https://youtu.be/we6NRDPfHjA

Russian air strikes in Syria 'have killed thousands of civilians' already
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/russia-in-syria-moscow-air-strikes-have-killed-thousands-of-civilians-already-warns-uk-defence-a6698751.html …

Loud explosion heard in the Rukn al-Din area in #Damascus as regime artillery pounds E. Damascus from Mt. Qasioun, a stray shell maybe

[OUTLAW 09]

Another Syrian General bites the dust---

MORE: Brigade General Raif Ali Hassan said to be in the truck blown up by Ahrar al Sham in the center of Damascus

[OUTLAW 09]

Hama Rebels blow up army truck behind barrier in Ghab plain
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfN1g3LB31Y …

Russia'n airstrikes on Al-Eis town to pave #Assad-forces way westwards (to cut M-5 highway #Hama -#Aleppo?)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLEMQtHeQOw …

Syria'n army marking their tanks now with white cross on turret
against #Russia'n "friendly fire"

Russia'n TV reporter fly to besieged #DeirEzZor airbase (sitting on his helmet) deep into the #IslamicState
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6wkdPS0GWI …

Aleppo Rebels blow up T-72 tank at Khan Tuman front with TOW
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ep0RJ_ZfISs …
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=36.114026&lon=37.057056&z=14&m=b …

The 101st Infantry Division (#FSA) destroyed the tank----

Regime shelling Shughaydilah at southern #Aleppo frontline
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwQkumNMZcM …
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=36.019948&lon=37.093878&z=14&m=b …

[OUTLAW 09]

Another Syrian General bites the dust---

MORE: Brigade General Raif Ali Hassan said to be in the truck blown up by Ahrar al Sham in the center of Damascus

Iran'ian Revolutionary Guard Colonel Muslim Khizab killed in #Aleppo #Syria

[OUTLAW 09]

DEVELOPING
#Saudi #Qatar state media announce that surface to air missiles will be delivered to militants in #Syria

Their objective is to down #Russian aircraft. What will Russia do if it's aircraft are shotdown over Syria by Arab Gulf supplied missiles

[OUTLAW 09]

Hama Rebels blow up army truck behind barrier in Ghab plain
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfN1g3LB31Y …

Russia'n airstrikes on Al-Eis town to pave #Assad-forces way westwards (to cut M-5 highway #Hama -#Aleppo?)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLEMQtHeQOw …

Syria'n army marking their tanks now with white cross on turret
against #Russia'n "friendly fire"

Russia'n TV reporter fly to besieged #DeirEzZor airbase (sitting on his helmet) deep into the #IslamicState
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6wkdPS0GWI …

Aleppo Rebels blow up T-72 tank at Khan Tuman front with TOW
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ep0RJ_ZfISs …
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=36.114026&lon=37.057056&z=14&m=b …

The 101st Infantry Division (#FSA) destroyed the tank----

Regime shelling Shughaydilah at southern #Aleppo frontline
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwQkumNMZcM …
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=36.019948&lon=37.093878&z=14&m=b …

FSA: 20 vehicles including 8 tanks among the regime's losses in southern Aleppo in one day.

Reports now that Nusra has captured Jaish al-Sham commander Thaer Hamada in al-Bara, #Idlib, #Syria

FSA 1st Coastal Div using an SPG-9 gun against Assad positions in Jib al-Ahmar, #Latakia http://youtu.be/bRJBQEf8LQ4

FSA 1st Coastal Division launches 82 & 120 mm mortar shells at Assad positions in Jib al-Ahmar, #Latakia http://youtu.be/IECXHfPmy3Y

[OUTLAW 09]

In all the #Syria negotiations taking place, is anyone appealing to Assad for the release of the +200K prisoners of conscience & detainees?

Over 200K just went poof in Syria in the last 4 years; activists, aid workers, journalists, lawyers, doctors, protestors, women, children…

Many of those detained include friends & family, including my father & uncle who were disappeared 3 years ago by regime intel services.

AND the western leaders uttered not a single word????????

[OUTLAW 09]

Aleppo Several tanks destroyed at Al-Waddihi frontline this morning
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=36.102099&lon=37.127867&z=15&m=b …

Aleppo #Kweires front update : #IS commandos seized Baqishah / Burayjah. #SAA attempting to retake it

Footage
Islamist Ahrar al-Sham fights the #Assad/#Iran assault in #Ahoiz south of #Aleppo.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ze5aBkhV7jI …

Syria #Map
The #FSA shells Tell Sukayk in northern #Hama province w/ mortars and rockets.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FO6y_Ks_FUs …

Again reports of Russian jets bombing Tarma’ala in #Homs, #Syria.

MORE TOWs in action today---
VIDEO: #FSA destroy tank in the north #Aleppo countryside, #Syria.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMnImjXyOwQ …

Several Assad airstrikes on the Marj area in E. Ghouta this morning, Assad rocket & artillery fire hasn’t stopped for days.

Hama Rebel target troop movements in Ghab plain with TOW
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcxu1ObDU54 …

[OUTLAW 09]

Russian/Syrian information warfare is getting extremely serious now on Twitter--this never happened during the Ukraine events SO what why is it that social media is so suddenly threatening to Russia, Syria and Iran???

Entering week 2 of the @twitter hacking scandal and giant #spam attack vs. me.
600+ reported.
No @Support so far...

[OUTLAW 09]

New unified ops room in Kafrnaboudeh, #Hama

Ops room to include:
Mid Division
101st Division
Ahrar al-Sham
Ala Minhaj al-Nubuwa Brigades
Sumoud Front
Sham Front

Ops room to include:
6th Brigade
Suqour al-Ghab
Rescue Front
111st Regiment
Jaish al-Islam
Jaish al-Sunna

[OUTLAW 09]

Breaking: Kata'ib Hizballah announced via video their brigades are in #Syria.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgMwrX-nVOE&feature=youtu.be

This was after many in the MSM denied that the Iranians would stand by they statements of sending in between 1-2K troops.

Brought with them all their T72s-----

Kata'ib Hizballah was slowly releasing info they deployed units to #Syria since August.

In my latest @WashInstitute policy watch, I mentioned recent reports of KH deployments to #Syria: https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/irans-iraqi-shiite-proxies-increase-their-deployment-to-syria …

KH claimed it has thousands of fighters. Deployments to Syria make sense in moves of bigger pic Iraqi Iran proxies.

KH also has personnel deployed to Yemen augmenting the Qods Force and LH personnel in-country...

[OUTLAW 09]

Humor................

Unconfirmed reports of #Assad's suicidal tanks, now carrying white crosses to ease TOW fire on them.

[OUTLAW 09]

Rebels claim destroyed 4 tanks, 1 BMP & 2 technicals with mounted 14.5mm gun in southern outskirts of #Aleppo this morning

Hama Rebels blow up BMP at frontline near Mansoura silos in Ghab plain
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=35.638639&lon=36.350198&z=15&m=b …

All with TOW? wait for videos in nex hours, probably yes

Russia'n airstrikes wipped out city of Al-Lataminah in northern #Hama prov. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDTqTvo9amQ …

Still no progress by #Assad-forces in northern #Homs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H55HAeFuzwg …

VIDEO: Ahrar al-Sham in heavy combat with #SAA in southern #Aleppo.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ze5aBkhV7jI …

Map
What did #Russia, #Iran, #Hezbollah and #Assad capture from Syrian rebels since September 30.
...
Not much.
pic.twitter.com/E260NuxN9A

[OUTLAW 09]

Hama Rebels destroyed bulldozer at Mansoura frontline in Ghab plain

Hama Heavy fighting in Ghab plain today- rebels destroyed so far
1 tank, 1 BMP, 1 bulldozer, 1 truck crane

Russia'n airstrikes on several villages in southern #Aleppo south west of Al-Safirah http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=35.992522&lon=37.294636&z=14&m=b …
From battlefield in northern #Homs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHynx8tpixw … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHynx8tpixw …

From battlefield in northern #Homs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGVSmXf4XQ0 … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGqGQiK2Ang … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3WLLzE0qxg … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3WLLzE0qxg …

Hama Report from frontline in Kafr Nabudah
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2M0Fe4vcMz4 …
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=35.431092&lon=36.493320&z=14&m=b …

Lot of air-traffic by #Russia & #Iran (drone) in southern countryside of #Aleppo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcllPN6hC0I …

From frontline in southern outskirts of #Aleppo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPWPUxeFwS8&feature=youtu.be …

From frontline in southern outskirts of #Aleppo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPWPUxeFwS8&feature=youtu.be …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i94vHSI49QM …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPiwgasz9Wo …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrvzhTkx8Yk …

[OUTLAW 09]

Drone flight in #Damascus #Jobar - fully wiped out by #Assad & #Russia'n weapons
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoU5pU0SV4U …

Aleppo Rebels killed 21 #Assad-forces in southern Khan Tuman

Syrian rebels say receive more weapons for Aleppo battle
Rebels battling the Syrian army and its allies south of Aleppo say they have received new supplies of U.S.-made anti-tank missiles from states that oppose President Bashar…
Reuters UK
Oct 19, 2015

Aleppo Airstrikes hit #IS held Thermal power plant
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=36.173149&lon=37.439346&z=15&m=b …
Rebels take out ATGM-launcher in northern #Homs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCzlPDP1CM0 …

Rebel rocket hit T-72 tank in #Jobar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jb71FDLxBVo …

Aleppo #FSA-Sultan Murad Brigade blow up 57mm cannon at Al-Waddihi front with TOW http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=36.099221&lon=37.129240&z=15&m=b …

[OUTLAW 09]

Russian info warriors release another Russian made propaganda drone video---

Russia'n drone operators in #Latakia mountains
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PczZbKtWdE4 …

[OUTLAW 09]

Drone flight in #Damascus #Jobar - fully wiped out by #Assad & #Russia'n weapons
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoU5pU0SV4U …

Aleppo Rebels killed 21 #Assad-forces in southern Khan Tuman

Syrian rebels say receive more weapons for Aleppo battle
Rebels battling the Syrian army and its allies south of Aleppo say they have received new supplies of U.S.-made anti-tank missiles from states that oppose President Bashar…
Reuters UK
Oct 19, 2015

Aleppo Airstrikes hit #IS held Thermal power plant
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=36.173149&lon=37.439346&z=15&m=b …
Rebels take out ATGM-launcher in northern #Homs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCzlPDP1CM0 …

Rebel rocket hit T-72 tank in #Jobar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jb71FDLxBVo …

Aleppo #FSA-Sultan Murad Brigade blow up 57mm cannon at Al-Waddihi front with TOW http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=36.099221&lon=37.129240&z=15&m=b …

Assad forces failed again to storm Mansoura in Ghab plain
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=35.654786&lon=36.356850&z=14&m=b …

Even Islamic State is doing well against the SAA offensive----
IS release footage showing they still control al-Halbiya, al-Dukkani and al-Mflsa, east of Safira #Aleppo #Syria

[OUTLAW 09]

News
#Assad tries to repair #Ghab plain cannel bridge as supply way.
Rebel Kornet hits it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmoPDXuBgcI …

[OUTLAW 09]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-10-19/putin-officials-said-to-admit-real-syrian-goals-are-far-broader

Putin Officials Said to Admit Real Syria Goal Is Far Broader

by
Ilya Arkhipov , Stepan Kravchenko and Henry Meyer

October 19, 2015 — 12:56 PM CEST


As Russia’s air war in Syria nears its fourth week, officials now admit that Moscow’s aim is far broader than the publicly announced fight against terrorist groups.

The Kremlin’s real goal is to help Syrian President Bashar al-Assad retake as much as possible of the territory his forces have lost to opponents, including U.S.-backed rebels, Russian officials told Bloomberg News. Moscow’s deployment of several dozen planes, as well as ships in the Black and Caspian Seas, could last a year or more, one official said.

President Vladimir Putin is willing to run the risk of falling into the kind of quagmire that helped sink the Soviet Union a generation ago for the chance to roll back U.S. influence and demonstrate he can dictate terms to Washington. If the strategy is successful, Russia’s largest military drive in decades outside the former Soviet Union would force the U.S. and its allies to choose between Assad, whom they oppose for his human-rights abuses, and the brutal extremists of Islamic State.

“They’re going to have to recognize that Islamic State is the real threat that has been countered only by the Syrian regular army commanded by President Bashar al-Assad,” said Iliyas Umakhanov, deputy speaker of Russia’s upper house Federation Council, who oversees international relations at the assembly.

No Moderates

A top Russian military official said on Friday that the Kremlin sees no moderate opposition in Syria, leaving only terrorists and the pro-Assad forces Moscow is backing.

“In the West, they talk about ‘moderate opposition,’ but we so far haven’t seen any in Syria,” General Andrey Kartapolov, commander of the Russian operation in Syria, told the Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper. “Any person who takes up arms and fights the legal authorities, how moderate can he be?”

Moscow’s campaign is designed to initially rout the groups that have threatened Assad’s control over key cities in western Syria, both radical Islamists and the so-called moderate rebels backed by the U.S. and its allies. Later there will be a broader offensive against Islamic State in the north and east of the country, say officials, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss confidential matters.

“Everybody understands that ‘terrorists’ is a very vague definition which allows Russia to target all groups it needs to fight in order to achieve the main goal -- strengthen Syrian army positions and help them restore control over major cities,” said Fyodor Lukyanov, head of the Moscow-based Council on Foreign and Defense Policy, a research group that advises the Russian government.

Chilly Climate

Russian officials say they expected a cold reception from the U.S. and its allies. Putin is using personal diplomacy -- a string of private meetings with top leaders and officials from other capitals -- to make his case quietly. Initial indications are that the diplomatic drive has been having some success, with several countries agreeing to military talks to reduce the risks of inadvertent conflict.

Kerry said on Monday he expects to begin talks in the next few days with officials from Turkey, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Jordan on restarting efforts to negotiate a political settlement in Syria. The U.S., Russia and Saudi foreign ministers may meet in Vienna soon, Interfax reported.

On the ground, the military operation is expanding, with Syrian and Iranian forces using Russian air support to advance against rebel forces with the goal of recapturing strategic territory lost around the capital Damascus and the cities of Homs and Hama, as well as retaking Aleppo, the main commercial hub and second-biggest population center.

Over the weekend, Syrian government forces began a major offensive around Aleppo, the state news agency SANA reported. European officials worry that a regime victory there could trigger a big new wave of refugees.

Russia’s air attacks have mainly occurred in areas outside of Islamic State’s control so far. The U.S. State Department declined to comment on Russia’s broader aims in Syria. Earlier this month, U.S. officials said 90 percent of Russia’s strikes were on other rebel groups. Russian officials say the U.S. refuses to cooperate on targeting.

Diplomatic Push

The principal risk for Russia is that Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar, who support armed groups fighting Assad’s forces including radical Islamists, will sharply increase their military supplies in response to the Russian intervention, said the Russian officials.

“The Russians have not seen the heat of Syria yet,” said Mustafa Alani, the Dubai-based director of National Security and Terrorism Studies at the Gulf Research Center. “The regional powers can give the Russians limited time to see if their intervention can lead to a political settlement -- if not, there is going to be a proxy war.”

Putin’s diplomatic push started shortly after the bombing, with talks with top officials from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

While Saudi Arabia has reservations about the Russian military action, the kingdom is trying to work politically with the Russians to "guarantee the unity of Syria and reach a peaceful settlement in the country even if it comes at the hands of the Russians,” said Anwar Eshki, a retired Saudi general who heads the Middle East Center for Strategic and Legal Studies in Jeddah.

Putin believes that Assad, whose forces currently control a quarter of Syrian territory with 60 percent of the population, must be reinforced to ensure that Russia can exert a dominant role in negotiations on a political settlement in Syria, according to people who attended a private meeting with the Russian leader early this month.

“Even if there isn’t a radical improvement in the regime’s military fortunes, which is unlikely, at the very least the aim is to consolidate its military and territorial positions to remove the question of Assad’s departure as a precondition for a political settlement,” said Mikhail Barabanov, a senior researcher at the Moscow-based Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies, which advises the Defense Ministry.

[OUTLAW 09]

Drone flight in #Damascus #Jobar - fully wiped out by #Assad & #Russia'n weapons
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoU5pU0SV4U …

Aleppo Rebels killed 21 #Assad-forces in southern Khan Tuman

Syrian rebels say receive more weapons for Aleppo battle
Rebels battling the Syrian army and its allies south of Aleppo say they have received new supplies of U.S.-made anti-tank missiles from states that oppose President Bashar…
Reuters UK
Oct 19, 2015

Aleppo Airstrikes hit #IS held Thermal power plant
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=36.173149&lon=37.439346&z=15&m=b …
Rebels take out ATGM-launcher in northern #Homs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCzlPDP1CM0 …

Rebel rocket hit T-72 tank in #Jobar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jb71FDLxBVo …

Aleppo #FSA-Sultan Murad Brigade blow up 57mm cannon at Al-Waddihi front with TOW http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=36.099221&lon=37.129240&z=15&m=b …

Middle East Eye ‏@MiddleEastEye
Assad and ISIS have 'strong cooperation' over the gas that generates Syria's electricity
http://ow.ly/TyTUL

[OUTLAW 09]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-10-19/putin-officials-said-to-admit-real-syrian-goals-are-far-broader

Putin Officials Said to Admit Real Syria Goal Is Far Broader

by
Ilya Arkhipov , Stepan Kravchenko and Henry Meyer

October 19, 2015 — 12:56 PM CEST

Saudi Foreign Minister says Assad should have no role in #Syria political situation - @AlArabiya_Eng

Russian sources report Emir or Qatar has canceled his trip to Moscow "abruptly"
http://www.alquds.co.uk/?p=420355

[OUTLAW 09]

Russia and Iran to Conduct Joint Naval Exercises on the Caspian Sea

http://www.interpretermag.com/russia-and-iran-to-conduct-joint-naval-exercises-on-the-caspian-sea/ …

[OUTLAW 09]

Footage
The #FSA destroys another #Assad tank with the TOW south of #Aleppo.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6kVEkq-LFg …

Social media--heavy at work

Julian Röpcke ‏@JulianRoepcke
#Analysis #Map
I can confirm, the #AlHadher hospiteal (N-E of the city) was hit by air strikes recently.

Doctors say, 4 of the hospital staff and 12 patients were injured during a Russian air force attack on Sunday.
#Aleppo #Syria

Julian Röpcke ‏@JulianRoepcke
As soon as someone sees footage or pictures of the allegedly Russian-bombed hospitals south of #Aleppo, please let me know!
Thank you!

[OUTLAW 09]

Assad media lied & now exposed that they never captured Mofalsa, Dukani, Halbiya from ISIS & just recently lost Burayjah

ISIS also retake Burayjah from Assad in Aleppo. Looks like the Russian intervention is going DISASTROUSLY wrong in Syria

ISIS just released this video & embarrassed Iran/Assad/Russia who have been claiming advances in Aleppo

If Assad has no gains against ISIS within Aleppo with Russia/Iranian/Pakistani/Iraqi fighters getting rolled back then why invest in his army?

[OUTLAW 09]

Russian Airstrikes Targeting Hospitals, First In Idlib And Now In Aleppo http://bit.ly/1MPABm9
pic.twitter.com/1vWZdydR8V

Russian airstrikes hit Aleppo as rebels resist government assault and thousands flee:
http://bit.ly/1Lkksmp
pic.twitter.com/VvD9cIkfZk

Syria: #FSA|s Liwa’ Suqour Jabal has sent reinforcements to #Aleppo to join the fight against the #SAA & allies.

Only Soleimani missing @markito0171:Gallery of the 5 #Iran'ian high rank Revolutionary Guards killed in #Syria'n war
pic.twitter.com/5J2xZBsg77

[OUTLAW 09]

RuAF air strikes count is sinking now just averaging 30-40 per day with 50 aircraft in the attack cycle--either targets are running out or the offensive is failing and the RuAF is rethinking their air campaign.

Russian jets make 33 sorties, hit 49 targets in #Syria - defence ministry
http://uatoday.tv/society/russia-claims-is-strike-516153.html …

[OUTLAW 09]

#Aleppo Burning regime vehicle after hit by 57mm cannon in Mount Azzan area
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDYjhIL3jho …

FSA al-Izza troops TOWed BMP raising Russian flag in al-Mansoura grain silos #Ghab plain.
https://youtu.be/-QHwRrV8dj8

SyAF Mi-25 also use AT-2 Swatter ATGMs + unguided OFAB-250-270 (not barrel bombs) in the same area.

Iranian Mohajer 4 UAV followed by #RuAF Su-25SM,Su-24M B4 airstrike South of Aleppo.Sharing rebels position?

Russia strike 'kills 48 from single family' in #Syria @AJENews http://aje.io/gtvd

[OUTLAW 09]

Further Updates: The Complete List of Vetted Syrian Rebel Groups Supplied With BGM-71 TOW Anti-Tank Guided Missiles. https://hasanmustafas.wordpress.com/2015/05/08/the-moderate-rebels-a-complete-and-growing-list-of-vetted-groups-fielding-tow-missiles/ …

Kafi Fahed, commander of #FSA Decisive Storm Division has died from wounds during clashes with #SAA in #Latakia CS

Opp source claims that #Iran has used an explosive ridden drone against #AhrarSham in Maaret Shamarin #Idlib CS

Not only was this a mosque but it was a sanctuary for IDPs, until #Russia bombed it. al-Nour mosque, Tarmaala, #Homs

[OUTLAW 09]

Reports now that close to a dozen #Russia|n forces were killed by rebel mortar fire in Mt. Nabi Yunis, rural #Latakia, #Syria

Hezbollah field commander "Muhamed Saffa" killed in southern Aleppo.
Hezbollah lose 3rd operations commander in Syria on Sunday Mohammed Hassan Safa

Lebanese airforce joined the war on "terror" killing 4 refugees using 1 of 2 functional Cessna aircraft near Arsal.

Latakia: Assad regime has been trying to retrieve bodies of 4 dead Hezbollah fighters for almost a week

[OUTLAW 09]

The Syrian Arab army??????

Pakistani Shiite militia have been in Syria since 2014. They are grouped in "Zaynabiyoun Brigade" which is under IRGC command.

[OUTLAW 09]

Syrian info warriors hard at work.........


MOSCOW, October 19. /TASS/. Airstrikes of the US-led coalition against militants of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group have only become effective after the Russian military began its operation, Syria’s Ambassador in Moscow Riad Haddad said on Monday.

"When the Russian military began attacking the IS positions, the Americans too began to vigorously attack the positions of this group. If we talk about the positive effect of the American airstrikes, it could be seen only recently," Haddad told Gazeta.ru

The ambassador noted that the Syrian government had no contacts with the coalition forces, including informal.

"The only real coordination takes place between Russia’s Aerospace Forces and the Syrian Army. It was this coordination that led to success, since the Syrian army has the exact locations of terrorists," the diplomat said.

On September 30, Russia’s Federation Council unanimously gave President Vladimir Putin approval to use air force in Syria against the Islamic State (IS) and Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist groups.

Later in the day, Russia’s Aerospace Forces launched surgical strikes against Islamic State targets in Syria. The military operation is conducted at the request of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The Russian air group in Syria comprises more than 50 warplanes and helicopters, including Su-34 and Su-24M bombers, Su-25 fighter bombers and Su-30SM fighters. On October 7, four missile ships of the Russian Navy’s Caspian Flotilla fired 26 Kalibr cruise missiles (NATO codename Sizzler) at militants’ facilities in Syria. The Russian Federation does not plan to take part in ground operations in Syria.

The US-led international coalition began to carry out airstrikes against IS positions last September, without the authorization of Damascus.

[OUTLAW 09]

Russian "Syrian volunteer agency" request more volunteers to "help with repatriating the dead"
https://dobrovolec.org/bedstvennoe-polozhenie-prosim-o-pomoshhi/ …

Russia direct site Propaganda to collect mercenaries to the war.
"Russians in #Syria"
http://dobrovolec.org/russkie-v-sirii/ …
pic.twitter.com/iMhy1LEqrN

Peskov’s Anger: InformNapalm Continues to Disclose Pilots in #Syria http://nplm.in/9qf
pic.twitter.com/bU3URarHwJ

Russian info warriors in Syria----
Here is the team from RussiaWorks. Some of the main Kremlin war correspondents in Syria
http://russiaworks.ru/team/

VIDEO #Russia(n) aircraft using extremely high yield explosive ordinance(bombs) in #Syria
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZZshNBAtAQ …
pic.twitter.com/FVZiUHyNA1

[OUTLAW 09]

Russian navy ships carrying army vehicles on their way to #Syria in what may be start of a Russian ground offensive
pic.twitter.com/ybaQ8BZTOQ

[OUTLAW 09]

Crow Bat--hear any more on this???

Reports now that close to a dozen #Russia|n forces were killed by rebel mortar fire in Mt. Nabi Yunis, rural #Latakia, #Syria

[OUTLAW 09]

Russia'n airstrike killed defected #Syria army Captain Basil Zimo -
a commander of #FSA 1st Coastal Division

Reports tens of civilians killed & wounded in #Russia|n airstrikes on Bsharfah in Jabal Akrad, #Latakia, #Syria

Destroyed regime gear at Monday in southern #Aleppo:
6 tanks, 2 BMP, 1 Shilka Anti Aircraft tank, 1 57mm cannon, several technical

Nothing new but rebels repelled an #ISIS attack in Ahras, #Aleppo again today.

Rebels destroyed technical on southern #Aleppo frontline
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVOgZ_7b5dA …

Pro regime source published name list of a dozen #NDF-forces killed today during battle in Mansoura outskirts /Ghab plain/ #Hama

Russia now bombing Ghab plain villages in northern #Hama

Rebels destroyed BMP on southern #Aleppo frontline
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzr3wPrxDAo …

Rebels destroyed tank on southern #Aleppo frontline
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iXQWGg_4L4 …

[OUTLAW 09]

FSA groups must change tactics & avoid grouping. RuAF/Assad failure to advance on ground will work on hunting them.


I hope targeting displaced Syrian civilians by the coward Lebanese (Hezbollah) Army will not pass unnoticed.
https://youtu.be/Lkmbx-NxpDM

Abu Amara Special Operations Battalion in #Aleppo to merge into Ahrar al-Sham.

Video shows #LAF Cessna 208 Combat with 2 Hellfires missing, expended Hellfire II cast

What cld be the new suicide-drone mobile bombs reportedly were used in #Idlib.
https://youtu.be/OboPDtblQo0

Activists says Russians & Iranians using small remote drones filled with explosive crash into rebels targets sort of remote kamikaze-attacks

[CrowBat]

Crow Bat--hear any more on this???

Reports now that close to a dozen #Russia|n forces were killed by rebel mortar fire in Mt. Nabi Yunis, rural #Latakia, #Syria
Not yet, but it takes some time to upload everything with help of sat-phones etc.

[OUTLAW 09]

BreakingNews
Extremely heavy #Assad / #Russian air strikes on the free towns in #Homs province right now.

Putin stated in a public press release that he did not want to get into an intrareligious war----??????

So being a ROC he seems to have forgotten the Sunni Shia conflict????

Putin makes it on #Assad regime billboards next to #Hezbollah 's Nasrallah. Nostrovia. #Syria via @faysalitani

Putin makes it on #Assad regime billboards next to #Hezbollah 's Nasrallah. Nostrovia. #Syria via @faysalitani

Russian air strikes again causing high civilian wounded/killed numbers--SO much for the Russian alleged concern of Syrian refugees.

Aleppo : South of the capital Russian aircraft bomb Khan Toman, Zirba and Rif Muhandisin destroying houses and causing civilian casualties.

[OUTLAW 09]

Sham Front says it destroyed a 5 floor regime stronghold in Saif al-Dawlah, #Aleppo killing many Assad fighters inside.

Russian air force is still killing and wounding strictly civilians it appears....

Death toll from #Russia|n airstrikes in rural #Latakia reaches 57 inc. women & children, most of which in bombing of shelter in Bsharfeh.

Civilian death toll from #Russian airstrikes in #Homs yesterday reaches 12.

Renewed #Russia|n airstrikes on Talbiseh, Tarma’ala & Ghanto in #Homs this AM + heavy rocket fire by #Iran|ian militias from Mushrefa #Syria

Under Russian air cover regime forces & militias (e.g. Shia Rida Brigade) tried but failed to advance in north rural #Homs yesterday.

[OUTLAW 09]

Was it not Putin , his PM and the Russian FM Larvov that made fun of the EU response to masses of Syrian refugees AND YET the weaponization of refugees is now a standard TTP for the Russian non linear warfare being conducted in Syria.

NOTICE western leaders say not a single word-as if they simply do not care.

Syria: CNN report about the 1000s that flee the regime advances south of #Aleppo city https://youtu.be/kFNq6xfeYNA

[OUTLAW 09]

Interesting tank TOW hit--if you look closely you can see the reflection of the optical sensor being used and they appear to see the TOW coming and attempted to back up--not fast enough though........mark of a seasoned tank commander as he was attempting to check for TOW teams....

Kataib Thuwar al-Sham rebels destroyed a regime tank in al-Wadihi (Southern #Aleppo)
https://youtu.be/OWlW79zJVMY

SAME TOW team---second hit....

The second tank in the same area as the first hit tank does not even attempt to change locations---asleep at the wheel or was the crew out of the tank???

Syria: second regime tank to be destroyed at al-Wadihi (#Aleppo) by Kataib Thuwar al-Sham
https://youtu.be/0iXQWGg_4L4

SAME TOW team with THIRD hit on the same Syrian unit--and no one seemed concerned enough to change positions?????

Kataib Thuwar al-Sham also took out a regime pick-up with a Dushka gun S of #Aleppo
https://youtu.be/dVOgZ_7b5dA

SAME TOW team--FOURTH HIT........

Syria: and Kataib Thuwar al-Sham demolished a regime BMP, again at the exact same spot
https://youtu.be/jzr3wPrxDAo

[OUTLAW 09]

A Commander of #Iran's Basij Forces Nadir Hamid killed in battles in #Syria (Al-Jazeera)

Iran steps up support for Assad, incl. by diverting proxies from Iraq. How that'll affect Iraq's anti-ISIS front
http://www.thenational.ae/opinion/how-the-syrian-crisis-will-change-matters-in-iraq …

In the last 24hrs 2 #Iranians, 1/ com of #Basij forces #NaderHamid + colonel #MuslimKhayzab & #Hezbollah com Mohamad Safa killed in #Syria.

[OUTLAW 09]

Chatham House MENA ‏@CH_MENAP o
Russian involvement in #Syria has potential to be a “mobilizing factor” for Sunnis, & not just extremists: @hxhassan
http://cht.hm/1LG2Bb0

[OUTLAW 09]

Roland Oliphant ‏@RolandOliphant

Insane drone footage (+tasteless Red Alert style soundtrack) of Damascus fighting from Rus state TV crew.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Q60yBQG8XI&feature=youtu.be …

[OUTLAW 09]

Quite interesting interview with Sergei Ivanov on #Syria + #Russia view of world situation
http://tass.ru/opinions/top-officials/2356242 … [Russ]

English version of Ivanov interview also available http://tass.ru/en/politics/829778 …

While Carnegie is a pro Russian info war media outlet during the Ukraine events--these comments are worth reading....

Carnegie Russia ‏@CarnegieRussia · Oct 14
"#Syria has become, at least for now, #Russia’s first U.S.-style war," says @DmitriTrenin.
http://ceip.org/1ZDC705

The Long War Journal ‏@LongWarJournal · Oct 13
Head of al Qaeda’s Syrian branch threatens Russia in audio message
http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2015/10/head-of-al-qaedas-syrian-branch-threatens-russia-in-audio-message.php …
by @thomasjoscelyn

[OUTLAW 09]

FSA Sultan Murad blow a tank & 57 mm cannon in Khan Tuman #Aleppo.
https://youtu.be/i96-qWVPo78
https://youtu.be/rjJWwigStdI

The sky over #Talbiseh is crowded with #Assad and #Putin aircraft this morning.
Heavy bombing raids ongoing.

Least we forget who makes up the Syrian Arab Army...........
InfoGraphic - Assad Regime Foreign Allies in #Syria | from around 12 countries.
http://archicivilians.com/2015/09/21/info-graphic-assad-regime-foreign-allies-in-syria/ …

[OUTLAW 09]

Social media open source analysis is pushing the RuAF to be far more honest with their own combat bombing videos........

bellingcat @bellingcat
Getting back to the Syria air strike tracking project, it appears Russia is being a lot more honest in it's descriptions in recent days.

bellingcat @bellingcat
One does have to wonder whether this is a reaction to its earlier incorrect descriptions being exposed by our investigation.

bellingcat @bellingcat
However, it should be noted the vast majority of Russian air strike videos show them bombing non-ISIS territory.

[OUTLAW 09]

Syrian Sealift Express----

One more RUS navy ship Vologda-50 is being loaded in #Sevastopol pic.twitter.com/nsyy7oG6tN

Volunteer Reservists of the Russian GRU for Military Conflicts Abroad:
https://en.informnapalm.org/volunteer-reservists-of-the-russian-gru-for-military-conflicts-abroad/ …
pic.twitter.com/ifPPOkw43R

Syria : in the recent days, despite heavy fighting front has been stabilizing in #Hama and #Latakia btw loyalists and rebels

Syria : while in south Aleppo, the frontlines are still quite volatile in Southern rif (Loy vs Rebels) and in Kweires area (IS vs Loy)

Syria #map - Loyalist offensive in South #Aleppo (Situation Oct 19, 2015) /
HD file : http://www.agathocledesyracuse.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/South-Aleppo-19-Oct-2015.jpg …

[OUTLAW 09]

Damascus reconnaissance aircraft shot down above #Jobar

Aleppo Massive strikes on Sabiqiyah by regime & #Russia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zphZqoKsg3k …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SOvy_Om3RM …
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=36.060479&lon=37.099285&z=14&m=b …

NGO: 70.000 people flee #Russia'n airstrikes & Shiite militias in southern #Aleppo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Klb6-VsoF8 …

[OUTLAW 09]

4 civilians killed in Russian and government strikes in Homs http://dld.bz/dXrxJ
pic.twitter.com/RXrTVdqF1G

2000 #Iran(ian) Quads Force #IRGC join #Assad/#Russia in battle for #Aleppo #Syria
http://gulfnews.com/news/mena/syria/2-000-iranians-join-regime-in-battle-for-aleppo-in-syria-1.1601996 …
pic.twitter.com/GJUfOZbqFH

MORE Russian Spetsnaz selfies with Syrian troops---
Russian troops in #Latakia with Syrian NDF, via @2Rook14 pic.twitter.com/7gUxzGVK7r

About 120 persons died, wounded by Russian bombs in areas north of Latakia | Syrian Observatory For Human Rights -
http://go.shr.lc/1PwvCbQ

[OUTLAW 09]

Putin #Syria intervention helping #ISIS the terrorists he "wants to extinguish" http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/10/19/russia-bombs-isis-gains.html …
pic.twitter.com/Q9zqVvHrfD

Why do I always get these idiotic #Russia(n) trolls following me with their BS propaganda ? =>@zwakzamal
pic.twitter.com/O1Svq5FtN5

BreakingNews
Barrel bombs falling on civilians in #Talbiseh again.
#Assad & #Russian air forces play ping pong ...

Footage
#Iran, #Assad and #Russia in the skies South of #Aleppo.
A deadly mixture.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcllPN6hC0I …

Footage
Russian jets bomb towns and villages South of #Aleppo throughout the morning.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eb2PIbihOog …

Rebel sniper in northern #Homs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6T_tn0wxLY …
today killed a #SAA colonel

FSA blow BMP in Khan Tuman southern #Aleppo with TOW.
https://youtu.be/xNo4Csuccp0

[OUTLAW 09]

IRGC officer Nader Hamedee killed in reef #Aleppo while fighting in #Syria via @warreports

[OUTLAW 09]

Crow Bat--can you confirm--info is coming from Ukrainian State Security sources in the Crimea where the troops were based????

Bodies of 26 Russian marines killed in Syria brought back to Sevastopol: Ukrainian...

http://www.unian.info/world/1158090-bodies-of-26-russian-marines-killed-in-syria-brought-back-to-sevastopol-ukrainian-intelligence.html …
pic.twitter.com/zJ5sFl2SL4


Bodies of 26 Russian marines killed in Syria brought back to Sevastopol: Ukrainian Intelligence

20.10.2015 | 18:50

The bodies of 26 Russian military servicemen killed in Russia’s military campaign in Syria were shipped to the naval base in a Russian-annexed Crimea’s Sevastopol, as reported by the press service of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine’s Defense Ministry.

REUTERS
REUTERS

"26 bodies of dead soldiers of the 810 Separate Marines Brigade of the [Russian] Black Fleet’s coastal forces (Sevastopol) were shipped from Syria to Sevastopol," reads the statement.

According to the Ukrainian intelligence, Russian command is unable to ensure safe sanitary conditions for deployed soldiers, numerous cases of infectious diseases are recorded among the troops in the territory of Syria.

As noted, the Syrian armed forces units supported by Russian Air Force continue ground offensive in the provinces of Aleppo, Damascus, Latakia, Hama and Homs, establishing control over a number of settlements outside ​​Aleppo. Over the last 24 hours, the airplanes of the Russian aviation group made 33 sorties in Syria and performed missile and bomb strikes on 49 targets.

However, according to the report, Russia continues to build up its military presence, as an IL-76 military-cargo aircraft made two sorties to the Hmeimim airbase; a KIL-158 Black Sea Fleet military cargo ship has passed the Bosphorus and moves to the Syrian coast.

As UNIAN reported earlier, since September 30 the Russian bombers hacve been performing air strikes on Syrian territory. The Kremlin claims that the strikes target the Islamic state, while the western powers stress that the Russian jets attack Syrian opposition.

According to media reports, the Russian air strikes in Syria accompany a ground offensive of Bashar al-Assad’s troops.

This is on top of a missing 16 man Spetsnaz air assualt team reported captured in the early phase of the ground attacks and the loses yesterday due to a mortar attack--still not confirmed.

[OUTLAW 09]

MORE civilians killed by Russian air strikes targeting allegedly Islamic State but aimed at the FSA and civilians------

School bombed by #Russia airstrikes today in #Kafr_Takharim, 12 martyrs & dozens were wounded..
Oct 20 pic.twitter.com/93ye87aviC

More Russians among "onground forces" in Syria
https://twitter.com/lummideast/status/656513158417248256 …

CNN International ✔ @cnni
As bombs rain down on Syria’s biggest city, civilians huddle under mattresses:
http://cnn.it/1NlxjWo pic.twitter.com/8FENVsiFdD

AND not a single western voice complains at the UNSC or to the worlds MSM....strange is that not?????

Geolocation the #Jobar drone video. #Damascus, #Syria https://goo.gl/maps/uL4fJ2sG29L2 …
pic.twitter.com/X5iRkR4K9r

[OUTLAW 09]

http://warontherocks.com/2015/10/russias-arsenal-in-syria-what-do-we-know/

Russia’s Arsenal in Syria: What Do We Know?
Michael Kofman

October 18, 2015


Russia’s campaign in Syria is about saving the Syrian regime by recapturing as much of the territory lost this spring as possible and translating those military gains into a much stronger negotiating hand. These strikes target the Army of Conquest and Free Syrian Army forces surrounding and inside the regime’s territory. A combined Russian, Iranian, and Syrian campaign with support from Hezbollah aims to destroy non-Islamic State rebels. Not since the Soviet war in Afghanistan has Moscow deployed for such an expeditionary operation, in even a limited fashion. Can Russia hope to achieve such ambitious gains with limited means? Does this application of military power truly stand a chance of changing the facts on the ground? The answers to these questions in large part depend on the array of weapons and platforms that Russia has deployed as a part of this campaign and how it is using them. By exploring Russia’s arsenal in, above, and off the shores of Syria, we can also learn a bit about Russia’s military modernization efforts.

Russian Air Platforms and Bombs

Russia has deployed a mix of upgraded Soviet aircraft and the latest and greatest in Russian aviation, totaling 12 Su-24M2s, 12 Su-25SMs and Su-25 UBMs, four Su-30SMs, and six Su-34s. The bulk of this force is made up of tactical bombers and ground attack aircraft, with Su-30SM multirole fighters providing air cover, presumably against any other air force in the region. The operational tempo has been moderate, starting at 20 sorties per day and increasing to over 60 per day now that ground operations are under way. Indeed, there was a spike of Russian airstrikes last week, with perhaps as many as 400 sorties carried out, but the rate appears to be slowing down again. The airstrikes were focused on known fixed targets at the outset and sought to destroy weapons caches and command and control points. In the first week, Russia targeted equipment the rebels captured from Assad’s forces to soften up the opposition ahead of the Syrian offensive. Since then, the effort has transitioned to direct air support for a ground offensive launched by Syrian forces in Latakia and Hama. Russia’s wing of Mi-24P helicopters is also engaged, strafing enemy positions at low altitude while firing off flares to avoid being hit by man portable surface-to-air missiles.

This bombing campaign has employed an array of guided and unguided weaponry. While Russia has deployed some precision-guided munitions, such as the KAB-500S GPS/GLONASS-guided bomb or the Kh-25ML laser-guided missile, the bulk of the munitions are unguided gravity bombs and high-fragmentation bombs of the OFAB 250-270 variety. These unguided munitions are supplemented by BETAB-M bunker busting munitions against buildings and RBK-500-SPBE-D cluster munitions against enemy vehicles and tanks. While such bombing from medium altitude is fraught with inaccuracies, Russia’s air force is largely going after rural targets and fixed structures with a targeting approach that can be summarized as “close enough.”

The Russian Air Force appears to be conducting a relatively economical bombing campaign by using modernized targeting equipment with older munitions while selectively combat testing its latest aircraft and precision-guided munitions. Russia has budgetary and supply constraints and may be conserving a limited supply of precision-guided munitions for the campaign, particularly since many of the putative targets do not merit the use of expensive guided munitions. Unlike the U.S. Air Force, Russia cannot afford to drop thousands of precision munitions to take out the ubiquitous Toyota trucks armed with ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft cannons that dominate this battlefield. Moscow would equally be embarrassed to run out of guided munitions shortly into its campaign, as happened with some NATO countries during the 2011 intervention in Libya.

Syria is a debut of sorts for Russia’s tactical aviation. Despite its visible limitations, watching footage from Russian drones of relatively accurate nighttime airstrikes in Syria is almost science fiction compared to what the Russian air force was capable of as recently as 2008.

Russian Ground Units

In addition to its aerial assets in Syria, Russia deployed a Pantsir-S1 air defense system, around a dozen tanks (allegedly the T-90A), and naval infantry. Supposedly as many as 1700 military personnel are now in Tartus to expand the base and rebuild its pier, which remains more a floating dock than a real port. Such expansions were being discussed as far back as 2010, but never implemented. In time, Russia may be able to dock ships from its surface fleet there. While the tanks and infantry appear detailed to base defense, Russian artillery and helicopters are engaged in supporting the ground offensive. Meanwhile, there is supposed work to further expand Russia’s military presence at military complexes in Al-Sansobar and Istamo, although these expansions seem intended to service displaced Syrian units instead. There is no significant Russian activity at either base.

Much of Assad’s ground power appears to be provided by Iranian troops and Hezbollah auxiliaries, recently rallied in a speech by Qassem Soleimani himself, the commander of Iran’s Qods Force. Iran has deployed several thousand troops for an offensive near Hama and Aleppo. It remains unclear what capacity the Syrian Army can field, but no doubt it needs to be heavily supplemented by Iran to have any chance of success. Although the Russian air campaign has not yet suffered any confirmed losses, it does not appear capable of significantly altering the balance of forces. So far, the Syrian attacks in Northeast Latakia and Hama province have made only limited initial gains. While publicity has fixated on Russian aircraft, that part of the war effort appear more effective in providing morale and momentum rather than making a major difference through direct air support.

Russian Sea Power

Led by the Black Sea Fleet, Russia’s Mediterranean squadron is providing extended air defense off the Syrian coast. This squadron consists of roughly ten ships on rotation, most of which are landing, support, or intelligence vessels, along with four surface combatants. Though antiquated, the lone Slava-class missile cruiser Moskva provides the bulk of the firepower and capability of this fleet, including a naval variant of the S-300 air defense system. Given Moscow’s worries about Western aviation, this naval mission is a convenient way of keeping an S-300 near Latakia and Tartus without deploying it on the ground in the region. This squares the circle of deploying a long-range air defense without running afoul of Israel’s security concerns — an S-300 on the ground in Syria could cover all of Israel’s airspace. Deploying such a system inside Syria would aggravate Israeli Air Force, leading to problems with Tel Aviv that Russia is keen to avoid.

The rest of the ships — two Krivak-class frigates and a 46-year-old Kashin-class destroyer —are not impressive. Far from capable, they are in need of replacement. Just earlier in July a Krivak failed to successfully launch its SS-N-14 Silex missile during the parade in Crimea. Most of the Russian Black Sea Fleet remains in shipyards and planning documents. This intervention has also revealed shortages of sealift and logistics capacity in the Russian Navy, already overstrained in supporting the combat operations in Syria barely a few weeks in. Russia’s aging landing ship fleet is being hastily supplemented with commercial cargo ships bought from Turkey with their original markings not yet removed. Russia has reflagged the cargo ships as naval support vessels while reassigning additional transport vessels from other agencies that were originally intended for logistics missions as far away as the Arctic.

Meanwhile, Russia’s Caspian Flotilla, armed with rather capable Buyan-M-class corvettes and Gepard-class frigates, fired Kalibr-NK (3M-14T) land attack cruise missiles into Syria (although U.S. sources indicate some of these missiles fell somewhere over Iran). Given the complete lack of military necessity for such a strike, the action was more of an expensive publicity stunt to demonstrate Russian possession of credible long-range precision weapons comparable to the U.S. Tomahawk cruise missile. The Caspian Flotilla is new and capable compared to the Black Sea Fleet. Thus the Kalibr strike is a sign of things to come, as the ships based in Crimea will be replaced with several new frigates, corvettes, and an improved Kilo-class submarine squadron. Other boutique capabilities fielded include electronic warfare systems, such as the Krasukha-4, which can jam coalition drones or aircraft over Syrian airspace.

Continued...........

[OUTLAW 09]

After a RF Su-30 warplane came w/in 1,500 ft of 2 American aircraft, US-#Russia set 2 agree deal on Syrian airspace
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/russian-american-deal-on-syrian-air-space-expected-shortly/ …

VIDEO: Jaish al Fateh use tank in combat against #SAA on the al-Ghab plain.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1mrp8TMapc … pic.twitter.com/7gm1JNcIAB

Report from the location targeted with what rebels believe RuAF suicide-drone mobile bombs.
https://youtu.be/np7HVZkW6ZY
pic.twitter.com/XFYjNCB7Iq

[OUTLAW 09]

http://theglobalobservatory.org/2015/10/russia-syria-putin-assad-nato-isis/

We Break It, You Own It: Russia’s Logic in Syria

October 20, 2015•by Thomas Pierret


Some Western observers of Russia’s recent intervention in Syria are convinced President Vladimir Putin is making a mistake—and, following wisdom often attributed to Napoleon Bonaparte, one should never interrupt an enemy while they are making a mistake. By committing its own forces to the defense of beleaguered dictator Bashar al-Assad, some believe that Moscow is about to bog itself down in Syria the same way Washington got stuck in Iraq.
However, proponents of this view should be wary the joke might well be on them.

First, although difficult times certainly lie ahead for Russia in Syria, Putin’s intervention will make the conflict more destructive, destabilizing, and intractable, hence more detrimental to all parties.

Second, the way Moscow defines success in Syria is hardly comparable to the stabilization-oriented approach adopted by the United States-led coalition in Iraq. Instead, by trying to destroy mainstream insurgents, Putin aims to reshape the Syrian war in a way that would leave Western countries with no other option than to supplement Russia as the protector of Assad.

Russian intervention in Syria will make the war deadlier and heighten the refugee crisis spreading across the region into Europe and beyond. Although they have carried out some precision airstrikes against rebel headquarters, Russian forces have made a greater use of unguided ammunitions, including cluster bombs designed to wreak havoc over vast swaths of territory.

As scores of these fail to explode, they will continue to kill civilians who will accidentally set them off years after the end of Russian operations. Russian attacks are not more discriminate than Assad’s, but they are far more powerful. Consequently, they have provoked new displacements of populations in regions whose inhabitants were already used to intensive shelling and bombing, such as the northern countryside of Hama province.


New patterns of regional destabilization induced by the Russian intervention have been most spectacularly illustrated by Turkey’s angry reactions to the violation of its airspace by Russian aircraft. Since some of the chief targets of joint Syrian-Russian operations, in particular in the Latakia province’s hinterland, lie along the Turkish border, the possibility of a major military incident between Russia and a NATO member will remain a constant threat to international security for the foreseeable future.

At the transnational level, Russia’s intervention and its characterization as a holy war by the Russian Orthodox Church has revived the pro-rebel enthusiasm of Gulf-based Islamists, who had shown signs of Syria fatigue over the last two years, as illustrated by a rare statement released by a Saudi ulama. Major rebel defeats at the hands of a Christian state could push mainstream Islamist circles abroad to utter calls for transnational jihad, as already happened at a conference held in Cairo following the capture of al-Qusayr by Lebanon’s Hezbollah in June 2013.

Domestic indignation towards Russia’s intervention will also push Saudi Arabia to pursue more aggressive policies in Syria. This is even more expedient with low oil prices: as the redistributive capacities of the monarchy are bound to diminish, symbolic politics will become more crucial than ever to the preservation of its legitimacy, and this notably implies helping the Syrian rebels to overcome the Russian onslaught.

Finally, Russian intervention will make the Syrian conflict more intractable as both sides radicalize. Russian air cover removes any incentive to negotiate that Assad might ever have had, and mainstream insurgent factions have now rejected the United Nations mediation they had previously embraced. In fact, making the conflict more intractable is integral to Moscow’s strategy.

First, although the campaign has been advertised as directed against the so-called Islamic State (ISIS), the pattern of Russian airstrikes demonstrates a willingness to systematically destroy CIA-vetted moderate rebel units such as Tajammu al-Izza, the 13th Division, and Suqur al-Jabal.

Likewise, joint Syrian-Russian-Iranian ground operations have targeted parts of the provinces of Hama and Idlib that are notoriously devoid of any ISIS presence. In the northern countryside of Aleppo, Russian airstrikes have targeted rebel-held towns (Hayan, Anadan, Rityan, Huraytan) while virtually avoiding nearby positions of ISIS, thereby contributing to the latter’s advance in the region. New ISIS conquests such as the Infantry School were reportedly abandoned to regime forces without a serious fight. As with Assad and Russia, ISIS prioritizes the destruction of mainstream rebels because it calculates that being the only face of Sunni resistance to an Iranian and Russian-backed Alawite regime would boost its popularity and manpower.

Phase one of the Russian campaign thus aims at depriving the West of interlocutors that could partake in a negotiated solution. It aims to do so either by destroying any force standing between Assad and ISIS, or at least by weakening and radicalizing mainstream rebels in such a way that the al-Qaeda-affiliated Nusra Front eventually stands out as the only credible third party in the conflict.

Were Russia to succeed in that endeavor, it would likely fail in the subsequent phase of the operation; that is, helping Assad subduing what would be an exclusively jihadi insurgency. Indeed, Russian aircrafts and artillery are reinforcing the regime where it already enjoys formidable superiority over the insurgents—i.e. firepower—while leaving unaddressed Assad’s key problem, i.e. manpower. In the long run, therefore, continued attrition will gradually give the advantage to whatever rebels Assad is faced with.

The third phase of the Russian strategy would no longer be Moscow’s exclusive concern, since Western countries would probably not sit idly by if Damascus, and the Syrian coast were under serious threat of being overrun by an essentially jihadi insurgency. Under the circumstances, the idea of Western armies providing air support to Assad is no fantasy. The US might have given a glimpse of the shape of things to come last August, when it bombed a mortar factory run by the non-jihadi Jaysh al-Sunna rebels, one of the components of the Army of Conquest alliance that was threatening to break into the Alawite mountains.

Above all, let us not forget that unlike Russia, NATO and EU members share a border with the purported ISIS caliphate, have long-standing allies among neighboring countries, speak of the Mediterranean as mare nostrum or “our sea,” and are a favorite destination for Syrian refugees. “We break it, you own it” is an apt summary of Vladimir Putin’s view of the future respective roles of Moscow and its rivals in Syria. It is the West, more than Russia, that will eventually bear the brunt of his actions.

[OUTLAW 09]

Not yet, but it takes some time to upload everything with help of sat-phones etc.

With Russia when there is a figure of three factor it by say four times for the true number.

BREAKING: Reuters reports according to pro-government mil. source, 3 Russians fighting alongside #SAA killed by shell #Syria - @CNNTURK_ENG

NOTICE--Russian has not responded though to the Ukrainian SBU Report of 26 dead Russian Marines........

Russian Embassy in Damascus says reports of 3 #Russians killed in #Syria are false
https://meduza.io/news/2015/10/20/posolstvo-rf-v-sirii-nazvalo-vbrosom-informatsiyu-o-pogibshih-rossiyanah

SOHR believe killed Russians are mercenaries & not regular army forces. Prepare yourself to hear this story every time Russ soldiers killed.

At least 3 Russian soldiers fighting for #Assad killed & several wounded when a shell hit their position in #Latakia
http://reut.rs/1ZTVGRT

[OUTLAW 09]

By allowing #Assad to continue the slaughter & not imposing sanctions on #Putin as he supports him,we lose humanity
pic.twitter.com/FOmOGx6cgG

FSA Soqur al-Jabal blow regime multi-rocket luncher with Fagot ATGM in Khan Tuman #Aleppo.
https://youtu.be/cSP6-9Mx7_A

Even Russian Propaganda leaflets remind me of their leaflets from WW2.
RuAF propaganda leaflets dropped in #Hama where no #ISIL "al-Baghdadi wear $ 200K watch & send poor muslims to die".
They absolutely do not understand Islamic State........

The White Helmets ‏@SyriaCivilDef ·
@SyriaCivilDef member Abdul Razak Aboud killed responding to airstrikes vs 2 schools + medical clinic 2day in Sarmeen.

As #Iranian involvement in #Syria appears to escalate, Farah al-Zaman Shawki tallies reports of Iranian casualties
http://ow.ly/3ykMNa


Iran's casualties in Syria: Senior commanders and Afghan militiamen
By: Farah al-Zaman Shawki Date of publication: 20 October, 2015

Analysis: As Iranian involvement in Syria appears to escalate, Farah al-Zaman Shawki tallies reports of Iranian casualties from Tehran's news outlets over the past two years.
Since the start of the Syrian war, military and political officials in Tehran tried to maintain that Iranian involvement in Syria was restricted to advisers assisting regime forces in their war against "terrorism".

However, Iranian media, including official outlets, would gradually reveal the presence of Iranian and Afghan-Iranian "volunteers fighting to defend religious shrines" in Syria and fending off "terrorists".

Iran rarely publishes figures on its casualties in Syria.

However, in late June, the official Iranian news agency, IRNA, said 400 Iranian nationals had been killed in Syria since the start of the conflict there in 2011.

IRNA said 79 of these nationals were buried in the province of Khorasan Razavi in the northeast of the country, as most were Afghan refugees in Iran originally based in the province.

That figure has since risen, based on Iranian acknowledgments of recent casualties, such as Brigadier Generals Farshad Hassounizadeh and Hamid Mokhtarband, both Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) commanders recently killed in action in Syria.

Iran's casualties, which may be indicative of the formation of its troop deployment in Syria, mainly consist of IRGC commanders, who take part in planning and advising on major operations; and individuals guarding Shia Muslim religious shrines in Syria - primarily Afghan-Iranians from the Fatemion Brigade.

However, things could now be changing, with recent reports suggesting hundreds of Iranian soldiers are deploying in Syria.

The latest high-profile Iranian casualty was General Hossein Hamadani from the IRGC. His funeral was held in Tehran on October 11, before he was taken to be buried in his birthplace of Hamedan, in western Iran.

Hamedani was a senior commander, according to official statements made by Mohsen Rezai, secretary of the Expediency Council and a former commander of the IRGC.

Hamedani was credited with helping create the pro-regime militia National Defence Forces (NDF), which comprises thousands of Syrian fighters, modelled after Lebanese militant group Hizballah.

Before the recent high-level casualties, Iran had also lost General Mohammad Ali Allahdadi in an Israeli airstrike in the southern Syrian province of Quneitra in early 2015, along with seven Hizballah fighters including Jihad Mughniyeh, son of late Hizballah commander Imad Mughniyeh.

In June, Iran buried a lieutenant named Hamed Jovani, who died after a 40-day coma following injuries sustained in Latakia.

Iranian advisers, regulars, Afghan fighters and Iraqi Shia militias were brought in to shore up the Assad regime

In the same month, three IRGC soldiers, including a high-ranking officer, were killed in an IED attack along the Damascus-Daraa highway.

In August, Iran officially announced the death of Ahmed Hiyari, leader of the Imam al-Hussein Brigades, in battles near the city of Latakia.

Many other Iranian officers were also killed earlier this year and late last year, with official acknowledgement from various Iranian news outlets.

Those officers included members of the Iranian Basij force, a state-sponsored paramilitary volunteer militia, who the Fars News Agency said in February were defending holy shrines in Syria.

The Fatemion Brigade has also had many fatalities over the past two years, most notably Major General Ali Reza Tavassoli, the brigade's commander, who died alongside several of his men in battles with al-Qaeda affiliate the Nusra Front near Daraa in March.

Tavassoli was of Afghan origins, and was close to Quds Force commander General Qassem Soleimani.

The direct Iranian involvement in Syria, regardless of its previous or current scale, started almost immediately after the start of the conflict.

Alongside Iranian IRGC advisers and regulars, and Afghan fighters, Iran-backed Iraqi Shia militias were also brought in ostensibly to "defend the holy shrines", with a view of shoring up the regime of Bashar al-Assad.

Photos of two Iranian #IRGC, killed yesterday in Syria: Mojtaba Karami and Majid Sanei.

[OUTLAW 09]

With Russia when there is a figure of three factor it by say four times for the true number.

BREAKING: Reuters reports according to pro-government mil. source, 3 Russians fighting alongside #SAA killed by shell #Syria - @CNNTURK_ENG

NOTICE--Russian has not responded though to the Ukrainian SBU Report of 26 dead Russian Marines........

Russian Embassy in Damascus says reports of 3 #Russians killed in #Syria are false
https://meduza.io/news/2015/10/20/posolstvo-rf-v-sirii-nazvalo-vbrosom-informatsiyu-o-pogibshih-rossiyanah

SOHR believe killed Russians are mercenaries & not regular army forces. Prepare yourself to hear this story every time Russ soldiers killed.

At least 3 Russian soldiers fighting for #Assad killed & several wounded when a shell hit their position in #Latakia
http://reut.rs/1ZTVGRT

Same article says "The Kremlin has said it is not undertaking any steps to recruit and deploy volunteer fighters"???

POSTED here yesterday a comment with link which came out of the occuppied Ukraine indicating an active Russian recruitment program is underway being driven by a Russian private defense contractor called "Wagner".

[OUTLAW 09]

American #TOW vs. Russian #Kornet in the #Ghab plain.
TOW wins.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATeXt9RD4u8 …

Syria #Aleppo Rebels hit truck with Kornet ATGM- loaded with rockets in southern Khan Tuman front
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSP6-9Mx7_A&feature=youtu.be …

[OUTLAW 09]

American #TOW vs. Russian #Kornet in the #Ghab plain.
TOW wins.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATeXt9RD4u8 …

Syria #Aleppo Rebels hit truck with Kornet ATGM- loaded with rockets in southern Khan Tuman front
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSP6-9Mx7_A&feature=youtu.be …

Take note of the comparison between the Russian and US ATMs--the Russian leaves a tell tale smoke trail and the US not and the ease of guidance is clearly visible to be seen.

[OUTLAW 09]

Not confirmed........

Idlib: Clashes between Ahrar Al-Sham and Jund Al-Aqsa in Al-Tamanah town. The clashes are because Jund Al-Aqsa refuse to fight #IS.

[OUTLAW 09]

Not yet, but it takes some time to upload everything with help of sat-phones etc.

More info----

The pro-government source, who is familiar with military events in Syria, said that at least 20 Russians were at the post in the Nabi Younis area when the shell struck.

That's what PRO ASSAD sources say, it's actually 11 killed...

"It's a 90 percent probability that the shell was fired by the militants," he told Reuters, referring to insurgent groups that the Syrian army, backed by Lebanon's Hezbollah and Iranian fighters, has been battling in the area.

[OUTLAW 09]

Assad regime even using Egyptian missiles to bombard South Aleppo--BM21 rockets had Egyptian manufacuring markings on each of them.

I saw something about Egyptian arms ship docking at Tartous a week back, but discounted it as rumour. Maybe true, after all.

[OUTLAW 09]

If the Russian MoD was actually telling the truth--the war against Islamic State MUST be long over........

Минобороны России 
‏@mod_russia #SYRIA in last 24hrs destroyed
19 com centres
2 depots
a munition plant
30 firing positions
9 underground fortified areas

Since when are civilians defined as military targets as that is all about what was being reported today--constant air strikes against civilians sites.

370 civilians killed in the Russian airstrikes in #Syria - SOHR

Irbin near #Damascus yesterday.
Just another day in Assad's hell.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rvpy6Bwcvgk …
GRAPHIC! pic.twitter.com/0ZfnstTXUg

AND the Russina-Iranian planned and led offensive really went again today--nowhere.

[OUTLAW 09]

Breaking: US and #Russia sign MOU to "minimize risk of in flight incidents" over #Syria

.@PentagonPresSec emphasizes MOU "does not establish zones of cooperation, intel sharing or any sharing of target information in #Syria"


BUT----
Russian Su-30SM harassing MQ-9 Reaper https://twitter.com/lummideast/status/656528063149264898 …

VIDEO: Russian Ministry of Defence released footage of their jet flying close to an American Reaper Drone in #Syria
That's close https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=T_tSlQUe7oQ …

[OUTLAW 09]

http://www.thenational.ae/opinion/comment/russia-holds-most-of-the-cards-as-the-situation-changes-in-syria

Russia holds most of the cards as the situation changes in Syria
Arabic News Digest

October 14, 2015 Updated: October 14, 2015 06:16 PM


Before Russia’s military involvement in Syria, Iran was the most influential foreign country in political circles in Damascus. Today, Russia is the player that holds most of the cards, Oraib Al Rantawi wrote in the Jordan-based newspaper Addustour.

With the Russian intervention in Syria, president Vladimir Putin has become the “main guarantor” of president Bashar Al Assad’s future, if not the whole of Syria. But Moscow no longer needs Mr Assad or intermediaries to secure its interests in Syria, it has decided to undertake that mission itself, Al Rantawi noted.

Preserving the Assad regime is a common interest for both Moscow and Tehran. Yet the two countries also have conflicting interests that are serious enough to challenge the long-term health of their relationship.

Russia is not concerned with the role of Syria as a point connecting Iran with Hizbollah in Lebanon. Nor is it interested in fighting Israel. This is why caution seems to dominate the Iranian stance in Syria, steering it clear of an open strategic alliance with Moscow, according to the writer.

This is vital material for understanding the controversy raging over a possible political settlement to the Syrian war and the fate of Mr Al Assad in the future Syria.

Writing in the Qatar-based daily Al Sharq, Kemal Ozturk noted that Russia has strong ties with the Iranian and Syrian regimes. Iran, Syria and Iraq top the list of countries that purchase most weaponry from Russia. The countries are also Russia’s gateway to the strategic Middle East region.

Russia had covertly been violating the sanctions imposed on Iran. This explains why Russia was against the nuclear deal between the P5+1 and Iran. Lifting the embargo on Iran would bring an end to a lucrative business model for Moscow, Ozturk wrote.

So what prompted Moscow to enter the Syrian civil war in such a grand way?

Mr Al Assad and Iran have suffered huge losses recently after the opposition groups on the ground unified, leading many analysts to speak about an “imminent collapse of the regime”. Russia knows full well that Mr Al Assad’s fall means its loss of Syria and possibly of Iraq and Iran.

If the Syrian opposition wins the war, Russia would lose its military base in Tartus, its only military base on the Mediterranean Sea. As such, the United States would remain the dominant power in the region.

The war also brings business gains. While the real quantity of Russian-made arms sold to Middle Eastern countries remains unknown, there is little doubt that the arms sold to Iran alone have earned Moscow considerable returns.

Additionally, Russia is retaliating for the European Union’s sanctions stemming from its role in the Ukraine crisis. Russia’s attempt to expand its influence in Ukraine has been met by EU sanctions, which along with slumping oil prices, have taken their toll on Russia’s economy.

In the London-based Al Hayat, Hussain Abdulaziz argued that Russia’s military intervention in Syria has dealt a heavy blow to regional players backing the Syrian opposition.

Russia’s air strikes have shown that the main goal is to weaken military groups backed by Turkey.

Considering the shared borders with Syria, Turkey is the biggest loser from the Russian intervention. Russia’s war machine could have a seriously negative effect on the Turkish-backed Syrian opposition centred in the northern part of the country.

Ankara and Moscow share several interests and have had strong business ties since the end of the Cold War. But Russia now has a presence along the southern border with Turkey and Ankara is worried that this could undermine its national security, Abdulaziz argued.

Despite that, Turkey appears to be powerless vis-à-vis Russia’s aggressive actions. A direct military face-off with Russian forces does not seem to be favour Ankara and its allies.

As it stands, Turkey is faced with only two options.

Either the Turkish leadership could accept the status quo, as the US continues to balk at the prospect of getting involved on the ground. Or Ankara could coordinate with its regional allies to maximise military support for the armed opposition, overturning the American congressional veto on supplying these groups with advanced weapons.

[OUTLAW 09]

Russia/n air Jet #Su24M bombarded and destroyed Syrian rebel "Faylaq Omar" HQ in #Ghouta #Damascus. #Syria.

Reports #Russia's Richag-AV Revolutionary Electronic Warfare System Deployed in #Syriahttp://sputniknews.com/military/20150304/1019042643.html#ixzz3omjOH4o2 …

On #Syria transition, today
#Saudi: Assad goes day 1
US: Assad goes in the end
and #Turkey: Assad does in 6 month

Assad must go’: These 3 little words are huge obstacle for Obama on #Syria
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/assad-must-go-these-three-little-words-present-a-huge-obstacle-for-obama-on-syria/2015/10/19/6a76baba-71ec-11e5-9cbb-790369643cf9_story.html …

US official speaking honestly on US-support for Saudi Arabia in Yemen. http://bit.ly/1LIoOWb

Local Activists say Coast Shield #NDF militia Col. Maher Zayoud killed in rural #Latakia.

[OUTLAW 09]

Glad to announce that @twitter @support started acting on the ongoing #spam attack vs. me.
Unfortunately unsuccessful so far.

Attack is from Russian trolls-----

[OUTLAW 09]

Breaking: US and #Russia sign MOU to "minimize risk of in flight incidents" over #Syria

.@PentagonPresSec emphasizes MOU "does not establish zones of cooperation, intel sharing or any sharing of target information in #Syria"


BUT----
Russian Su-30SM harassing MQ-9 Reaper https://twitter.com/lummideast/status/656528063149264898 …

VIDEO: Russian Ministry of Defence released footage of their jet flying close to an American Reaper Drone in #Syria
That's close https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=T_tSlQUe7oQ …

Within just one hour, the Russia MoD posts >we could have downed you< video and agreement news.
@POTUS humiliation.
pic.twitter.com/RSsAdVnzJs

[OUTLAW 09]

Crow Bat--Cuban troops still ghosting around DC it seems----

US senators question #Obama why are #Cuba(n) soldiers fighting in #Syria http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/257162-key-goper-pushes-obama-on-cuban-involvement-in-syria …
pic.twitter.com/1LLq5TsVwX

[OUTLAW 09]

Syria: Family of 6 pulled from rubble after being buried following an #Syria|n air strike on Talmanis, #Idlib today.

Hadeel Oueis, a Syrian Christian political activist, detained and tortured 3 times by Assad's brutal security forces

Pro Assad militias loot several Christian villages and houses in Tal Tamr area

Free Syrian Army soldiers cleaning Qalaat Hosn church in Homs after being targeted by criminal Assad air strikes

Reassuring minorities is needed,but more important is reassuring the Sunni majority through expelling out Iranian occupation from our region

[OUTLAW 09]

Iranian Mahan Air airliner from Tehran on approach to Latakia airport (closed to all civilian flights since Oct 14)
pic.twitter.com/DMDFKRNfJA

ISIS fanboys share photo: #Russia(n) soldier in #Aleppo, with Orthodox cross to fight holy war.
pic.twitter.com/WeIc9Vy3mN

Remember the "Russian BMP in Al Ghab" video? Mighty be a red Shia militia flag.
https://youtu.be/-QHwRrV8dj8

Assad failed to advance against rebels once again today on almost every front despite Russian support.
what you're seeing is the last Assad attempt at getting control, whilst ironically giving away his independence to Russia/Iran

[CrowBat]

Crow Bat--hear any more on this???
Well, after some asking around, it transpires that such claims were related to this:

Reports now that close to a dozen #Russia|n forces were killed by rebel mortar fire in Mt. Nabi Yunis, rural #Latakia, #Syria

...this:

Crow Bat--can you confirm--info is coming from Ukrainian State Security sources in the Crimea where the troops were based????

Bodies of 26 Russian marines killed in Syria brought back to Sevastopol: Ukrainian...

...this:

More info----

The pro-government source, who is familiar with military events in Syria, said that at least 20 Russians were at the post in the Nabi Younis area when the shell struck.

That's what PRO ASSAD sources say, it's actually 11 killed...

"It's a 90 percent probability that the shell was fired by the militants," he told Reuters, referring to insurgent groups that the Syrian army, backed by Lebanon's Hezbollah and Iranian fighters, has been battling in the area.

...and this:

Local Activists say Coast Shield #NDF militia Col. Maher Zayoud killed in rural #Latakia.

I.e. a mortar attack on a forward observation post used by NDF and SSNP officers. Re. Russians: I've got to hear, '3 KIA, not more'.

[CrowBat]

Crow Bat--Cuban troops still ghosting around DC it seems----

US senators question #Obama why are #Cuba(n) soldiers fighting in #Syria http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/257162-key-goper-pushes-obama-on-cuban-involvement-in-syria …
pic.twitter.com/1LLq5TsVwX
No confirmation for this at all.

But, I'm not surprised if some farths in the DC are using it: not only that they're always 'a few days late' there, but 'Cubans' are still a very handsome tool at the Capitol.

**************

Ah, and BTW: absolutely no advance for IRGC, NDF, SSNP, BPM, all sorts of Hezbollahis on any of fronts in Syria today.

Tragically for local civilian population, which is massacred by Russians in scores, none of Assadist and Russian aircraft and helicopters are providing 'CAS' for IRGC and BPM troops. Only bombing pre-determined targets behind the frontlines. I.e. they are flying along 'air tasking orders' from previous day, not according to real-time intel or in cooperation with forward air controllers (and this despite availability of Russian and IRGC's UAVs).

...which is another paradox of the Russian Air Force's deployment in Syria. While Iraqis are utilizing Chinese-made UAVs and brand-new Russian-made Mi-28Ns with guided ammo to hit the Daesh in Iraq, and while Saudi-led coalition is flying F-15S' equipped with BD-110 real-time intel pods and E-3A Sentries to coordinate their and allied air strikes over Yemen... or, hell: even 40-years old Syrian 'monkey version' Mi-25s are deploying ATGMs... despite availability of their and IRGC's UAVs, GLONASS-guided bombs, Su-30s and Su-34s... Russians are still fighting the way they would fight back in the 1980s, using dumb bombs and unguided rockets.

So much about 'modern military' and 'pinpoint strikes'...

[OUTLAW 09]

FSA Sultan Murad 10 targets destroyed in two days with TOW missiles in southern #Aleppo battlefield.
https://youtu.be/xtoHWUus5D8

FSA Coastal Brigade blow 23 mm gun in Durin Mount #Latakia with Fagot ATGM.
https://youtu.be/DoMo9aKHJkM

Beware of the "farmers & pharmacists":
Standing strong vs:
Assad
Hazara
Hezbollah
Iran
Iraq shia
ISIS
Putin
[fill in next..]

[OUTLAW 09]

After three weeks of massive bombings and killing of hundreds of civilians AND a totally failed multi front offensive--MAYBE Putin is now finally realizing he needs a way out of his mess.........

Assad visited #Moscow y'day for talks with #Putin and reportedly back to #Damascus.

From social media reference this meeting---
Mission accomplished..terror threats were neutralized. Its safe to go places and talk "victory" after beards gone!

EXPOSED: before Syrian uprising Assad was helping train jihadists in Syria that would go fight in Iraq #ISIS
http://ow.ly/TDuLN

AJE News ✔ @AJENews
Syria's Assad told Putin that the Russian intervention helped contain "terrorism" - Kremlin
http://aje.io/7e8y

[CrowBat]

Well, here a 'classic example' in what kind of fool's paradise are all the Assad-fans, Russians, and IRGC living.

On 9 October, the IRGC and BPM launched their offensive to lift the siege of Kweres AB (originally besieged by FSyA and Ahrar ash-Sham, back in 2012; then the Daesh took over after destroying insurgents in that part of Syria). Regime-fans immediately claimed a 'victory', capture of Tel Sab'in and approach to only 7.5km from the perimeter fence of Kweres AB.

By 17 October, they continued claiming new advances and capture of Dakwanah, while actually the Daesh launched a counterattack, took away Tel Sabin and threatened Tel Nam.

Since two days, regime-fans are repeating claims about capture of Tel Sab'in: accordingly, 'Col Sohail Hassan's Tiger Force is bushwacking' the Daesh there - while it is actually not advancing at all: it lost Jabbul too...

In essence, the IRGC is back to its old practice of reinforcing failure, while the idiots in the Russian MOD in Moscow are ridiculing themselves when they claim '50 sorties on 60 Daesh targets' - while they are exclusively hitting civilians in Jobar and Darayya (Eastern Ghouta), Rastan and Talbiseh (hit by 30 FAE bombs yesterday), and Idlib, just not the Daesh.

[OUTLAW 09]

This confirmed reports of rebels receiving new 9K111 launchers for the missiles already captured from #Assad army.

Several 9K111 Fagot hits reported in Ghab, Aleppo & Latakia y'day.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=waS4W4dewpM …
https://youtube.com/watch?v=cSP6-9Mx7_A …
https://youtu.be/DoMo9aKHJkM

Rebels are working on a new interesting anti-aircraft ballon-IEDs system looks in #Idlib.
http://youtu.be/o_55oMrvNXM

17.000 people left Zaatari Refugee Camp in #Jordan last week & returned back to southern #Syria

[OUTLAW 09]

Well, here a 'classic example' in what kind of fool's paradise are all the Assad-fans, Russians, and IRGC living.

On 9 October, the IRGC and BPM launched their offensive to lift the siege of Kweres AB (originally besieged by FSyA and Ahrar ash-Sham, back in 2012; then the Daesh took over after destroying insurgents in that part of Syria). Regime-fans immediately claimed a 'victory', capture of Tel Sab'in and approach to only 7.5km from the perimeter fence of Kweres AB.

By 17 October, they continued claiming new advances and capture of Dakwanah, while actually the Daesh launched a counterattack, took away Tel Sabin and threatened Tel Nam.

Since two days, regime-fans are repeating claims about capture of Tel Sab'in: accordingly, 'Col Sohail Hassan's Tiger Force is bushwacking' the Daesh there - while it is actually not advancing at all: it lost Jabbul too...

In essence, the IRGC is back to its old practice of reinforcing failure, while the idiots in the Russian MOD in Moscow are ridiculing themselves when they claim '50 sorties on 60 Daesh targets' - while they are exclusively hitting civilians in Jobar and Darayya (Eastern Ghouta), Rastan and Talbiseh (hit by 30 FAE bombs yesterday), and Idlib, just not the Daesh.

The Cost of Russia's War in Syria by @benmoores2 http://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/the-cost-of-russias-war-in-syria/540015.html …

[OUTLAW 09]

Well, here a 'classic example' in what kind of fool's paradise are all the Assad-fans, Russians, and IRGC living.

On 9 October, the IRGC and BPM launched their offensive to lift the siege of Kweres AB (originally besieged by FSyA and Ahrar ash-Sham, back in 2012; then the Daesh took over after destroying insurgents in that part of Syria). Regime-fans immediately claimed a 'victory', capture of Tel Sab'in and approach to only 7.5km from the perimeter fence of Kweres AB.

By 17 October, they continued claiming new advances and capture of Dakwanah, while actually the Daesh launched a counterattack, took away Tel Sabin and threatened Tel Nam.

Since two days, regime-fans are repeating claims about capture of Tel Sab'in: accordingly, 'Col Sohail Hassan's Tiger Force is bushwacking' the Daesh there - while it is actually not advancing at all: it lost Jabbul too...

In essence, the IRGC is back to its old practice of reinforcing failure, while the idiots in the Russian MOD in Moscow are ridiculing themselves when they claim '50 sorties on 60 Daesh targets' - while they are exclusively hitting civilians in Jobar and Darayya (Eastern Ghouta), Rastan and Talbiseh (hit by 30 FAE bombs yesterday), and Idlib, just not the Daesh.

The typical Russian altered state of reality --seen also in eastern Ukraine

Thanks to positive results of #Syria airstrikes, longterm solution based on inclusive political process is possible, #Putin tells #Assad.

BUT THEN today this-----wrong Islamic State target?????
Russian airforce continue Assad tactic of targeting hospitals: attack today on Sarmin killed 10 incl physiotherapist

[OUTLAW 09]

Current combat load of RuAF Su-25M in #Syria, 2x OFAB https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16m4ept0_Rk …

Russian airforce continue Assad tactic of targeting hospitals: attack today on Sarmin killed 10 incl physiotherapist

[OUTLAW 09]

Current combat load of RuAF Su-25M in #Syria, 2x OFAB https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16m4ept0_Rk …

Russian airforce continue Assad tactic of targeting hospitals: attack today on Sarmin killed 10 incl physiotherapist

NOTE: in the eastern Ukraine a Russian troop/mercenary tactic was to also shell local hospitals and critical infrastructure especially bridges, electrical facilities and water/gas pipelines.

[OUTLAW 09]

LIFENEWS: Putin: At least 4,000 people from the USSR are fighting against the Syrian army.
https://twitter.com/lifenews_ru/status/656730401910583296 …

Life News is known from their Ukrainian propaganda as the "Lie News".

Russian MoI recently stated at max of 2400 was the actual figure.

[OUTLAW 09]

Russian&Assad war planes & helicopter are bombing #Talbiseh today as rebel won't surrender.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luohq0lk63s … pic.twitter.com/IQmpnnMK0c

While Russian state TV claimed yday, they took #Talbiseh, truth is they have to bomb it to dust before entering it.

[OUTLAW 09]

Footage
The Russianair force bombed the hq of Ahrar-a Shamin #Idlib province (Marchmarin).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=np7HVZkW6ZY …

Cluster ammunition was used once again. Impacts were well above the ground.
1 fighter was killed in the attack, the rebel group says.

Footage
Ahrar al-Sham fights combined #Assad / #Putin forces in the #Ghab plain.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17mWxw2AFjM …

[OUTLAW 09]

Crow Bat--anything on your end to confirm this??

#Assadis are slowly but steadily pushing through #ISIS territory East of #Aleppo to reach #Kuweyres air base.

[OUTLAW 09]

Glad to announce that @twitter @support started acting on the ongoing #spam attack vs. me.
Unfortunately unsuccessful so far.

Attack is from Russian trolls-----

Why does Twitter respond always to Russian trolls but fails then to block them when they are aggressive????

Clear examples of Twitter gaming by Kremlin trolls
I hope @Support notice this!
cc: @RobPulseNews @JulianRoepcke
https://twitter.com/search?q=%40LeninkarateI%20reported%20as%20&src=typd …

[OUTLAW 09]

Damascus Rahman Corps with new DIY howitzer at battlefield in Deir Salman
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpNuT8sX0Ac …
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=33.479563&lon=36.504908&z=14&m=b …

Russia'n airstrikes of western suburbs of #Aleppo
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=36.126090&lon=36.943073&z=13&m=b …

Daraa Rebels destoyed a tank in eastern outskirts of Shayk Maskin today
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=32.835318&lon=36.162100&z=14&m=b …

Rebels in northern #Homs: destroyed 4 tanks & seized 3,
destroyed 3 BMP & 2 Shilka, killed 100 #Assad-forces

Russia continues airstrikes on towns in northern #Homs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiFe__ERoEo …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjnArYcjGEI …

Aleppo Rebel TOW hit caterpillar at Al-Waddihi front
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LS3HN6mOLS8 …
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=36.100019&lon=37.130227&z=15&m=b …

Rebels regained area around silos near Mansoura /Ghab plain http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=35.636232&lon=36.350799&z=15&m=b …

[CrowBat]

Crow Bat--anything on your end to confirm this??

#Assadis are slowly but steadily pushing through #ISIS territory East of #Aleppo to reach #Kuweyres air base.
See my post with three maps above: this is complete bull#### - and that from A to Z.

It's not only that all of 'Assad' that can be found there is BPM's 'Tiger Force' and one 'brigade' of the IRGC, but also: if they're 'advancing', then backwards...

This operation is typical IRGC nonsense. Sending two small 'brigades' (they wouldn't earn themselves a 'battalion' designation in the West even if combined into one) into the 'sea' of Daesh, then bolstering a failure 'to the last bullet'.

EDIT: one of BPM's combatants KIA there was 70 years old. Who to hell is so idiotically stupid as to send 70-years-old people to the frontline...?!?

[OUTLAW 09]

See my post with three maps above: this is complete bull#### - and that from A to Z.

It's not only that all of 'Assad' that can be found there is BPM's 'Tiger Force' and one 'brigade' of the IRGC, but also: if they're 'advancing', then backwards...

This operation is typical IRGC nonsense. Sending two small 'brigades' (they wouldn't earn themselves a 'battalion' designation in the West even if combined into one) into the 'sea' of Daesh, then bolstering a failure 'to the last bullet'.

EDIT: one of BPM's combatants KIA there was 70 years old. Who to hell is so idiotically stupid as to send 70-years-old people to the frontline...?!?

Russian cruise missiles appear over Kurdistan heading to Syria Only video--not confirmed---
http://youtu.be/ad0qHQgA-mM

[OUTLAW 09]

Rebels fighting #Assad-forces south of #Aleppo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEUOQRuhW-Y …
& the #IslamicState north of the city
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFOrwt6MeO8 …

[OUTLAW 09]

Crow Bat--now the S300s are coming through the back door and Russia will deliver them.

BREAKING: Syrian ambassador to Russia - Syria is interested in deliveries of S-300 anti-air systems from Russia.

Syrian ambo ->Russia doesn't think Russian airstrikes in #Syria will last more than a year. https://twitter.com/lifenews_ru/status/656787810230243328 …

But at first Putin actually stated just a couple of months?????

[OUTLAW 09]

After three weeks of massive bombings and killing of hundreds of civilians AND a totally failed multi front offensive--MAYBE Putin is now finally realizing he needs a way out of his mess.........

Assad visited #Moscow y'day for talks with #Putin and reportedly back to #Damascus.

From social media reference this meeting---
Mission accomplished..terror threats were neutralized. Its safe to go places and talk "victory" after beards gone!

EXPOSED: before Syrian uprising Assad was helping train jihadists in Syria that would go fight in Iraq #ISIS
http://ow.ly/TDuLN

AJE News ✔ @AJENews
Syria's Assad told Putin that the Russian intervention helped contain "terrorism" - Kremlin
http://aje.io/7e8y

Putin trying to show that they have stabilized regime enough for Assad to travel. Show Russian people a thankful partner

[OUTLAW 09]

Russian airstrikes target rescue workers @SyriaCivilDef near a hospital in #Sarmin,#Idlib #Syria Oct21

Another IRGC COL. bites the dust--at this rate the Syrian IRGC will have no Staff Officers.
Iranian IRGC Col. Mahdi Ali Dost killed in #Syria while in technical support mission.

Syria Intense regime shelling on #Salma castle in #Latakia mountains
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTxn0EJ_9Z0 …
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=35.672664&lon=36.166767&z=18&m=b …

Heavy #Russia'n airstrikes on Ter Maela town in northern #Homs prov.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4O9RojwN14 …

[OUTLAW 09]

Crow Bat---in some ways this Russian MoD report is valid--surprised IS/AQ has not talked sooner.

According to @mod_russia "Radio recon intercepted start of talks btwn #ISIS & #AQ commanders on alliance against #SYRIA government troops".

NOW the interesting question --since the Russian MoD views anyone holding an AK47 against Assad as a terrorist---is the Russian MoD really saying.....

IS is talking to the FSA and JN about joint operations---which I assume have been already happening?

But maybe this is what the Russian MoD is talking about--was on line--so the Russian MoD did not need to "intercept" it.

Moderates #ahraralsham , #AQ #JN and Ittihad Islami forming one operation room in #Ghuta #Damascus #Syria

Have you heard anything along those lines??

[OUTLAW 09]

Crow Bat---in some ways this Russian MoD report is valid--surprised IS/AQ has not talked sooner.

According to @mod_russia "Radio recon intercepted start of talks btwn #ISIS & #AQ commanders on alliance against #SYRIA government troops".

NOW the interesting question --since the Russian MoD views anyone holding an AK47 against Assad as a terrorist---is the Russian MoD really saying.....

IS is talking to the FSA and JN about joint operations---which I assume have been already happening?

Have you heard anything along those lines??

AQ #JN and other rebels preparing to attack Al-Sa'an in reef #Hama to cut the #Aleppo road. #Syria. Both sides r prepared for the battle.

[OUTLAW 09]

Moderate rebels impose cerfew on 8 villages in southern reef #Aleppo from 1600 pm to 0900 am.

It is not accurate to say "#Russia is bringing mujahideen together" in #Syria but #Qatar is.

Istaqem Qama Umert and groups & Abu Amara Battalion joins #AhrarSham 2respond 2 donor & financial supporter #Qatar

Worth listening to......
JustinStearns & @Joshua_Landis go at it: #Syria, Alawis "primordial" &"constructed" identity
https://youtu.be/yNciQy8PlPg

Iranian deputy FM say #Iran will increase the numbers of its military advisors in #Syria based on Syrian gov request - @nasseratta5

Runway vending! Kiosks stocked with #russian goods dotted around #ruaf base in #syria. Cheaper than in moscow too pic.twitter.com/9gyLRbzHcQ

Syria, TIP released picture's of their members on the Al-Ghab plain around 25 km north-west of Hama...
pic.twitter.com/DnQIx8ychD

Footage
More air strikes hit #Talbiseh, one day after the "capture" claim by Russian TV.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjjTvPUZ6mw …

Footage
An #Assad army Mil Mi-24 drops a bomb on Ter Maela, #Homs province.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLtdq4L7Rzg …

[OUTLAW 09]

One of these four bombed-from-the-air Syrian hospitals caused international outrage.
Three were ignored. #hypocrisy

BreakingFootage
"Russian" air strike on hospital and @SyriaCivilDef helpers in #Sarmin.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ngm5-AvgQ4 …

[OUTLAW 09]

TOW again..........

Hama Rebels blow up tank in Ghab plain
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G79hWLigWpA …
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=35.648997&lon=36.330714&z=15&m=b …

[OUTLAW 09]

Crow Bat--anything on your side about this actually being Russian/Iranian officers?

Syria Rebels hit #Russia'n/#Iran'ian officers meeting in southern rural #Aleppo with TOW
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XHSpQ4VYZw …

Remember the first such video a week or so ago when the Iranians starting losing their commanders??

AND again they did not hear and missile noise until the very last moment.

Very similar TOW ambush--someone is feeding FSA direct targeting intel........

[OUTLAW 09]

Assad visits Moscow: says "whole (Syrian) people want to take part in deciding fate of their state.""
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34590561 …

So 70% of population demonstrated for their rights to make decisions and they were brutalized into open rebellion and NOW he wants ALL to take part--and the millions outside the country--will they be allowed to vote??

[OUTLAW 09]

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/nation-world/world/middle-east/article40532349.html

Syrian Arab militias dispute they received U.S. airdrop of ammunition


Highlights
U.S. officials have said the Oct. 11 airdrop was destined for Syrian Arab fighters

Two top Arab commanders say they didn’t receive any – and don’t know who did

Question of whether Arabs or Kurds were recipients is key to Turkey

More than a week after the Pentagon announced that it had dropped 50 tons of ammunition to Syrian Arabs to support a new offensive against Islamic State extremists, it’s uncertain who exactly it reached.

Leaders of two principal Arab militias said they hadn’t received any arms aid and doubted that any Arab forces had.

“We didn’t get anything,” Sheikh Humaydi Daham al Hadi, the head of the Shammar tribe, told McClatchy in an interview at his palatial compound in Syria’s Hasaka province. “Maybe our partners, the Kurds did,” a reference to the People’s Protection Units, the YPG militia, which, with the help of U.S. air power, now dominates much of northeastern Syria.

Humaydi’s son, Bandar al Humaydi, who heads the al Sanadid militia, said that no Arab militia had received aid “so far as we know.”

“We got nothing, and it’s not clear at all (if we will),” Bandar told McClatchy by phone Tuesday evening.

Another Arab militia commander, Abu Issa, the commander of Liwa Thurwar Al-Raqqa, the Raqqa Revolutionaries, told McClatchy his forces in Raqqa province had not received any U.S. support. He, too, said he knew of no other Arab group that had.

U.S. officials were insistent, however, that the ammunition airdrop had gone where it was intended.

“The airdrop, again, was for the Syrian Arab Coalition,” Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook told reporters Tuesday. “It was successful. It went where it was intended, to the people who were intended to receive it.”

Asked whether any Kurdish militias had received at least some of the 50 tons of ammunition, Cook responded: “It was intended for the Syrian Arab Coalition.”

Whether the ammunition went to Arab fighters or the Kurdish YPG militia is a sensitive issue. Turkey, a U.S. NATO ally, has protested the United States sending arms to the YPG. The YPG is the Syrian affiliate of the Kurdistan Workers Party or PKK, a group that has fought the Turkish government for autonomy for more than 30 years. Turkey, the United States and the EU have designated the group a terrorist organization, and Turkish President President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said last week that Turkey views the Islamic State, the PKK, the YPG “and all other terrorist organizations as equally dangerous for humanity.”

“Those who covertly support terrorist organizations while not providing sufficient support to Turkey in its struggle against terror must know that they are dragging the region and the world into catastrophe,” Erdogan said.

The U.S., however, treats the YPG as independent of the PKK, though the PKK effectively runs the YPG by naming its officers and setting its policies. Arab forces do indeed fight alongside the YPG forces when an offensive is on, but they have entirely different command structures and while they coordinate, they also operate on their own during lulls in the operations.

The Turkish government called in both the Russian and American ambassadors last week to drive the point home and threatened publicly to intervene in Syria if the YPG advances too far and too fast.

“We have expressed this to the U.S. and Russia in the clearest way,” Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told reporters. “This is an issue of national security for us. Everybody perfectly knows how we take action when it’s about our national security.”

U.S. officials were insistent, however, that the ammunition airdrop had gone where it was intended.

“The airdrop, again, was for the Syrian Arab Coalition,” Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook told reporters Tuesday. “It was successful. It went where it was intended, to the people who were intended to receive it.”

Asked whether any Kurdish militias had received at least some of the 50 tons of ammunition, Cook responded: “It was intended for the Syrian Arab Coalition.”

Whether the ammunition went to Arab fighters or the Kurdish YPG militia is a sensitive issue. Turkey, a U.S. NATO ally, has protested the United States sending arms to the YPG. The YPG is the Syrian affiliate of the Kurdistan Workers Party or PKK, a group that has fought the Turkish government for autonomy for more than 30 years. Turkey, the United States and the EU have designated the group a terrorist organization, and Turkish President President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said last week that Turkey views the Islamic State, the PKK, the YPG “and all other terrorist organizations as equally dangerous for humanity.”

“Those who covertly support terrorist organizations while not providing sufficient support to Turkey in its struggle against terror must know that they are dragging the region and the world into catastrophe,” Erdogan said.

The U.S., however, treats the YPG as independent of the PKK, though the PKK effectively runs the YPG by naming its officers and setting its policies. Arab forces do indeed fight alongside the YPG forces when an offensive is on, but they have entirely different command structures and while they coordinate, they also operate on their own during lulls in the operations.

The Turkish government called in both the Russian and American ambassadors last week to drive the point home and threatened publicly to intervene in Syria if the YPG advances too far and too fast.

“We have expressed this to the U.S. and Russia in the clearest way,” Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told reporters. “This is an issue of national security for us. Everybody perfectly knows how we take action when it’s about our national security.”

Continued…………

[OUTLAW 09]

Aftermath of a "Russian" air strike on #KafrHalab, that killed 1 civilian, wounded some.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPfFh2mMxpI …

Great analysis.
A Russian air force IL-62M flew #Assad from #Syria via Iraq and Iran to #Moscow.
http://mil-avia.livejournal.com/127654.html

[OUTLAW 09]

One of these four bombed-from-the-air Syrian hospitals caused international outrage.
Three were ignored. #hypocrisy

BreakingFootage
"Russian" air strike on hospital and @SyriaCivilDef helpers in #Sarmin.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ngm5-AvgQ4 …

Geolocated yesterday's explosion (most prob. #RuAF bomb) in #Sarmin, #Idlib Gov., #Syria.
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=7ed_1445440891 … pic.twitter.com/Ac1BNMZwfA

[OUTLAW 09]

Russian 6 Ds of propaganda-----dismiss, distract, dismay, distort designed to create doubt

I love this @benimmo's brilliant 4D's of Russian propaganda. Great reference I keep on my desktop.
pic.twitter.com/HW0q3QUYLs

[OUTLAW 09]

Russian state propaganda keeps claiming, #Talbiseh, Ter Maela and Al-Ghantu are captured.
Plain and easy: A lie. https://twitter.com/etkmkao/status/656871269007302656 …

[CrowBat]

Russian cruise missiles appear over Kurdistan heading to Syria Only video--not confirmed---
http://youtu.be/ad0qHQgA-mM
Old video, from... was it 3 October?


Crow Bat--now the S300s are coming through the back door and Russia will deliver them.
Sorry, no way. Syria can't order any: it has got no money. Regime is surviving on Iranian credits since November 2011.

And Iranians want 'their' S-300s - and that 'first' (otherwise Moscow would have to pay back about US2 billion, which Rosoboronexport would never do.

So, unless some S-300s are delivered to Iran, no chance that Russians are going to deliver any to Syria (except their own; a S-300 site was reportedly under construction back in late September; there was even something like a sat photo of N64 radar too).

Overall, I consider this a similar hoax like that on deliveries of MiG-29M2s, Yak-130s and - especially - MiG-31s.


Crow Bat--anything on your side about this actually being Russian/Iranian officers?
Very similar TOW ambush--someone is feeding FSA direct targeting intel........
The IRGC is just too dumb to learn their lessons. Being 2-3km behind the frontline (in this case even less), is not making the place 'safe'.

But then: this is the first such case from Southern Aleppo, and who has said that the IRGC thugs there know what happened to their 'comrades' in NE Lattakia or northern Hama...?


Crow Bat---in some ways this Russian MoD report is valid--surprised IS/AQ has not talked sooner.Completely out of question. Russian PRBS.

EDIT: that's like some 'experts' on Twitter now announcing an 'alliance' between the JAN and Ahrar ash-Sham. Good morning to all of them: welcome to monitoring Syrian Civil War! What do they think are two biggest elemets of Jaysh al-Fatah already since early 2015...?

[CrowBat]

BTW, below a very interesting statistics from the Twitter here (https://twitter.com/yarinah1/status/656817916525068289), comparing the number of TOWs fired by FSyA with TOWs fired by Jihadists.

Note: the gunner for three of 'JAN' shots on that list was actually the same gent from Harakat Hazzm, captured by JAN and forced to work for them for few weeks. As the video below is showing (taken today and showing him knocking out one of MBTs of the IRGC's Katayb Hezbollah), and as about a dozen of other videos that appeared since 7 October have shown - he's long since back to serve with the FSyA.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G79hWLigWpA

Well, so much about BS-theory that 'all the weapons USA are providing to Moderates is ending in hands of Jihadists'....

Fact is: not only is this not truth (then only a minor friction ended in wrong hands), but this also means: JAN can't deploy weapons like TOWs without people like that gent from the FSyA.

[OUTLAW 09]

Aleppo Reports: #SAA commander of Kwers airbase "Issa Samandar" killed by #IS assault on airbase tonight

Mosques in all #IslamicState controlled towns calling for blood donations
-from eastern #Aleppo to #Raqqa
-Looks like final battle-

IslamicState launched full assault Kwers airbase
- failed in the past several times

Reports about lots of dead among regime forces & IslamicState during battle south of Kwers airbase in eastern #Aleppo

Remains of #Russia'n cluster bombs/rockets found in the Ghab plain https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Te1pOs_b6c8 …

FSA speaker of 1st coastal division claim 130 #Assad-forces killed & 250 wounded in latest battels in #Latakia mountains

[OUTLAW 09]

Four-fifths of Russia's Syria strikes don't target Islamic State: Reuters analysis http://reut.rs/1GT9CQq

Hama Big ambush in Ghab plain on #Assad-forces convoy today
Several tanks & BMPs destroyed

Intense #Russia'n airstrikes on Khan Tuman in SW #Aleppo to pave regime forces way to cut off M-5 highway
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=36.118602&lon=37.052078&z=14&m=b …

Hama Rebels claim destroyed 3 tanks at Mansoura village frontline in Ghab plain today

[OUTLAW 09]

Crow Bat----anything on this yet?

Reports that a small number of MANPAD's (probably Stingers) entered Syria & are now in the possession of the mujahidin.

[OUTLAW 09]

RuAF fires flare bombs over Khan Tuman village southern #Aleppo.
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=36.115413&lon=37.052164&z=14&m=b …

rebels of the 8th Infantry Brigade (#FSA-SF) repel a regime push into Sheikh Maskin
https://youtu.be/PSV7O_w1DQU

This is the new -Russian-delivered - MLRS cluster ammunition, #Assad uses in the #Ghab now.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Te1pOs_b6c8 …
pic.twitter.com/KE24Qbyroq

FSA hit group of #Assad-forces with russian ATGM near #Salma
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bKe20L-fh0 …
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=35.654611&lon=36.157014&z=16&m=b …

Russia'n night airstrikes on #Aleppo suburbs Bayanoon & Hayyan with cluster bombs http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=36.332621&lon=37.060404&z=14&m=b …

[OUTLAW 09]

IS published video from Huwayjinah after #Assad-forces bombed it #Aleppo south of Kweires airbase
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSXSwQaf2dk …

If we're to believe Putin that Russia is targeting ISIS, his bombers missed 80% of the time.
http://bit.ly/1GiEY8l

InfoGraphic - Three Rebel factions joined Ahrar al-Sham Movement in October 2015. #Syria
HD: http://archicivilians.com/2015/10/21/infographic-three-rebel-factions-joined-ahrar-al-sham-movement-in-october-2015-syria/ …

Jaysh al-Fath #Hama offensive seems on-hold until after US, Russia, Saudi & Turkey FMs meeting in #Vienna Friday.

The call today between @JohnKerry & Russian FM Lavrov lasted "less than 10 minutes"; Assad visit to Moscow did come up-@statedeptspox

[OUTLAW 09]

Breaking
Fighting INSIDE Ter Maela now as rebels withstand #Assad, #Russia &#Iran 23 days.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCNTTFcHCg4 …

Another TOW hit.....
Rebels destroyed regime tank in Balas area in southern #Aleppo
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=36.016476&lon=37.160912&z=14&m=b …

Russia'n "all out"- bombing on #Salma resort in #Latakia mountains with 30+ airstrikes this morning
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=35.685013&lon=36.152401&z=15&m=b …

Another TOW hit.......
Rebels destroyed Shilka AA tank in northern #Homs this morning during new attempt by regime to advance

[OUTLAW 09]

We have now Russia use thermobaric weapons against civilians, cluster munitions against civilians and now napalm.

If confirmed--war crime charges......

Regime used Napalm against #Damascus suburbs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOqdfZdmNEQ&list=PLNxwX7r4A557F_jN9u7brfxJbDlGJP1m5 …

[OUTLAW 09]

PUTIN publicly chastised the EU for their handling of the refugee crisis and stated Russia had great experience in that area--YEAH at actually creating refugees--first in Chechnya and now Syria.

Around 75,000 people have been displaced & made homeless in south #Aleppo, #Syria since the #Russia & Assad offensive started 2 weeks ago

Many of those now don’t have a roof over their heads, sleep in the outdoors, no food, water, tents, blankets, medical care…

The lives of over 12,000 Syrian families, destroyed in the blink of an eye by Russia & Assad, in south #Aleppo alone.

[OUTLAW 09]

Syria #Aleppo Shiite militias try to advance southwards on Balas/Kafr Abid with CAS of #Russia'n helicopters http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=36.014741&lon=37.160997&z=14&m=b …

Aleppo Rebels destroyed 2 tanks & a bulldozer at Balas frontline this morning http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=36.020572&lon=37.159882&z=14 …

Footage
Russian cluster bombs, used vs. the town of #Hayyan, N-W of #Aleppo.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCr7MS0vCb8 …
Identified as SPBE and AO-2.5RT

Rebels regain control of Ayyubid in southern countryside of #Aleppo

Nonstop bombardment by air & ground hit rebel hold towns in northern #Homs province
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTiLKdwe93g …
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=34.802638&lon=36.710392&z=19&m=bs …

[OUTLAW 09]

Civilians again the target of Russian air strikes....

Footage (lo q)
Syrian families that had to flee #Assad/#Putin attack on Al-Ghantu in #Homs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Be05RrOas4 …

300,000 dead 1,200,000 injured 11,000,000 displaced this is Syria 2015
http://genocideinsyria.org pic.twitter.com/0Ryt84zLww

Footage
The IHR aid organisation delivers aid to the free parts of #Idlib province.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eOJoCZTUh8 …

Russia gives media a look at Syria air operations
http://apne.ws/1MFY5pp

Footage
The town of Al-Tamanah is under missile attack by the #Assad regime this morning.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAXj29QjSVc …

[CrowBat]

Crow Bat----anything on this yet?

Reports that a small number of MANPAD's (probably Stingers) entered Syria & are now in the possession of the mujahidin.
Stingers would be 'nice', but I don't think we're going to see any there.

[OUTLAW 09]

So when Putin and his FM claim there are no Russians fighting in Syria thus no Russian soldiers getting killed -----just look at reality......

Russia 2014: No Russian soldiers are fighting in Ukraine
Russia 2015: 30k Russian soldiers are members of Ukraine War Veterans Association

Russian actions in eastern Ukraine are no different than their actions in Syria------

Russian troops and her mercenaries are still not in full Minsk 2 compliance with the current withdrawal being monitored by the OSCE.......

Many reports, including OSCE reports, indicating that Russian equipment only withdraws some km, change positions or just hide.

Ukraine army says they withdraw, reports indicating they really do

SO Putin stated he was going to defeat Islamic State--AND his actions are again exactly what????

So can one really trust the Russians on anything they say and or do???

[CrowBat]

...that's the same like everybody is babbling 'there are no moderates in Syria', while there is actually no 'Syrian Arab Army' to be seen on the battlefield.

Only NDF, IRGC-QF and Hezbollah/Iraq (total of 7 brigades meanwhile!!), Hezbollah/Lebanon (2 brigades, including one armoured!), Hezbollah/Syria, SSNP, BPM etc., etc., etc.

[OUTLAW 09]

Reuters Exclusive: Shipping traffic to #Syria surges as #Russia steps up offensive
http://uatoday.tv/politics/reuters-exclusive-shipping-traffic-to-syria-surges-as-russia-steps-up-offensive-518215.html …
pic.twitter.com/B0LoNdlk4I

"At 29th min: RT corr (on Ekho!) talks about 'plane with wounded from Syria', and then tries to get out of it" https://twitter.com/leonidvolkov/status/657102982115426304 …

Appears Russian Embassy in Damascus has lied again--stated this week no Russians were fighting in Syria.........

[OUTLAW 09]

...that's the same like everybody is babbling 'there are no moderates in Syria', while there is actually no 'Syrian Arab Army' to be seen on the battlefield.

Only NDF, IRGC-QF and Hezbollah/Iraq (total of 7 brigades meanwhile!!), Hezbollah/Lebanon (2 brigades, including one armoured!), Hezbollah/Syria, SSNP, BPM etc., etc., etc.

Crow Bat---your numerous comments on this actually got me to go back to say 2013/2014 and research your comments and yes you are 400% correct---- the western MSM and western politicians have not picked up this----any idea why???

[OUTLAW 09]

So when Putin and his FM claim there are no Russians fighting in Syria thus no Russian soldiers getting killed -----just look at reality......

Russia 2014: No Russian soldiers are fighting in Ukraine
Russia 2015: 30k Russian soldiers are members of Ukraine War Veterans Association

Russian actions in eastern Ukraine are no different than their actions in Syria------

Russian troops and her mercenaries are still not in full Minsk 2 compliance with the current withdrawal being monitored by the OSCE.......

Many reports, including OSCE reports, indicating that Russian equipment only withdraws some km, change positions or just hide.

Ukraine army says they withdraw, reports indicating they really do

SO Putin stated he was going to defeat Islamic State--AND his actions are again exactly what????

So can one really trust the Russians on anything they say and or do???

Russian Embassy ✔ @RusEmb_Korea
Ambassador #Timonin: U.S. accusations over Russian operation in #Syria - 'pure fabrication'
http://goo.gl/x4qqGW
pic.twitter.com/5xOPbZyrkl

THEN this particular Russian Ambassador sitting in Korea is not paying attention to the Russian killing of civilians and their utter destruction of towns and villages and forcing 70K Syrians into refugees and IDP status.

Just another Russian info warrior.....pushing the 6Ds of propaganda....

[OUTLAW 09]

So when Putin and his FM claim there are no Russians fighting in Syria thus no Russian soldiers getting killed -----just look at reality......

Russia 2014: No Russian soldiers are fighting in Ukraine
Russia 2015: 30k Russian soldiers are members of Ukraine War Veterans Association

Russian actions in eastern Ukraine are no different than their actions in Syria------

Russian troops and her mercenaries are still not in full Minsk 2 compliance with the current withdrawal being monitored by the OSCE.......

Many reports, including OSCE reports, indicating that Russian equipment only withdraws some km, change positions or just hide.

Ukraine army says they withdraw, reports indicating they really do

SO Putin stated he was going to defeat Islamic State--AND his actions are again exactly what????

So can one really trust the Russians on anything they say and or do???

Remember this week the Russian Embassy in Damascus stated no Russian troops are fighting in Syria---appears they were again lying as usual.

"At 29th min: RT corr (on Ekho!) talks about 'plane with wounded from Syria', and then tries to get out of it" https://twitter.com/leonidvolkov/status/657102982115426304 …

RT---- is Russian Today news media----

[OUTLAW 09]

Civilians again the target of Russian air strikes....

Footage (lo q)
Syrian families that had to flee #Assad/#Putin attack on Al-Ghantu in #Homs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Be05RrOas4 …

300,000 dead 1,200,000 injured 11,000,000 displaced this is Syria 2015
http://genocideinsyria.org pic.twitter.com/0Ryt84zLww

Footage
The IHR aid organisation delivers aid to the free parts of #Idlib province.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eOJoCZTUh8 …

Russia gives media a look at Syria air operations
http://apne.ws/1MFY5pp

Footage
The town of Al-Tamanah is under missile attack by the #Assad regime this morning.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAXj29QjSVc …

'2nd #RuAF attack on @SyriaCivilDef hospital in #Sarmin.' https://twitter.com/muj_intel/status/657103250152423424 …

[OUTLAW 09]

Russian TV report from Jobar:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UforuuY5B8w …

Latakia: Syrian Rebels kill Ali Maher Zayyoud senior Assad Army Colonel

35 airstrikes hit towns of northern #Homs since morning

Airstrikes on northern #Homs towns
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3v4jZkWUQMA …
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=34.811372&lon=36.708369&z=15&m=b …

Damascus Video of traffic on Dumayr Airbase
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FCY-Qo2b34 …
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=33.608043&lon=36.753216&z=13&m=b …

[OUTLAW 09]

Reuters Exclusive: Shipping traffic to #Syria surges as #Russia steps up offensive
http://uatoday.tv/politics/reuters-exclusive-shipping-traffic-to-syria-surges-as-russia-steps-up-offensive-518215.html …
pic.twitter.com/B0LoNdlk4I

"At 29th min: RT corr (on Ekho!) talks about 'plane with wounded from Syria', and then tries to get out of it" https://twitter.com/leonidvolkov/status/657102982115426304 …

Appears Russian Embassy in Damascus has lied again--stated this week no Russians were fighting in Syria.........

Lot of ship traffic at #Tartous & #Latakia ports
http://www.marinetraffic.com/de/ais/home/shipid:419956/zoom:10 …

[OUTLAW 09]

Ukraine Intelligence: Russian recruiting centers in occupied Donetsk hire mercenaries for Syrian war
http://gur.mil.gov.ua/en/content/art-obstanovka-dovkola-syrii.html

[OUTLAW 09]

Stingers would be 'nice', but I don't think we're going to see any there.

CB--if this continues the Sunni Front States will have to react....

National Defence Force is using Russian thermobaric TOS-1 multiple rocket launchers (MRLs) in #Latakia:

Can you confirm on your end??

[OUTLAW 09]

Russia'n fighterjets (SU-25?) flying in formation above #Hama's Ghab plain https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CoI5od05HU …

New wave of airstrikes hit Ter Maela town now at southern entrance to rebel hold area in northern #Homs
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=34.800449&lon=36.712961&z=15&m=b …

Another TOW hit......
Latakia Rebels hit heavy gear on top of Nabi Younis Peak with TOW
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=35.639371&lon=36.217589&z=15&m=b …

Iran'ian Basij militia members fighting in kurdish #Rojava
https://now.mmedia.me/lb/en/NewsReports/566102-iran-suffers-first-casualty-in-syria-kurdish-region …

Another TOW series of hits.......
Hama Rebels claim blow up 3 tanks at Mansoura / Khirbat al-Naqus frontlin in Ghab plain today http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=35.647881&lon=36.334791&z=15&m=b …

Rebels regained 2 villages in southern #Aleppo countryside today

[OUTLAW 09]

MORE deliberate Russian air strikes on civilians..........and the West says absolutely nothing just as they did in the Ukraine when Russian shelled civilian targets and infrastructure......

Again: #Russia'n airstrikes target base of rescue services
-now in Al-Atarib /#Idlib
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLILA9k4pos&feature=youtu.be …

Syrian Civil Defence examines Russian Cluster bombs #Syria Video Arabic image credit CMC
http://dld.bz/dXHw8

[OUTLAW 09]

Typical Russian altered state of reality........

Have honesty never heard of an aircraft being shot down by "empty space"-a
BUK YES.......

TASS ✔ @tassagency_en
Moscow: Main cause of MH17 crash is that Kiev did not close Ukraine’s airspace http://tass.ru/en/politics/830982 …

In Syria--Putin states that anyone fighting against Assad is a terrorist----so what is shooting down MH17 and killing 298??

[OUTLAW 09]

Putin is on a roll today at -@ValdaiClub-fails to see what he says fits himself and Russian actions like a glove...........

Putin accuses the US of playing a "double game": claiming to fight terrorists while using some of them in its own interests.

So-called 'moderate' opposition in Syria are fighting for money; ISIS for ideology. But methods are the same.

Putin says attempt to reconfigure the Middle East (referring to US) turned out to be a spark that ignited an explosion.

Let's not play with words, talking about 'moderate' terrorists."

Ah...the Holy War comes back up again from Putin......
In Syria, we are fighting the enemies of civilization.

Ah...now Putin truly gets to his hidden geo political goals including Ukraine and Syria.......
Putin @ValdaiClub in a nutshell: #Syria is #America's last chance to build a new world order on the basis of balance of power with #Russia

Putin accuses West of calling any information that counters its point of view propaganda.

lumps together US missile defense, sanctions regimes, TPP/TTIP into a single narrative of hegemony.

BUT did not Iran just test fire a nuclear capable ballistic missile........?
Putin slams US for misleading world about real purpose of missile defence. #Iran threat is gone, but system continues.

BUT here is the true kicker............
Subtext of #Putin @ValdaiClub: US cooperation is #Putin's only way out of #Syria. Without Obama's help, Russia doesn't have an exit strategy

Putin calls for massive investment in social redevelopment & reconstruction in the ME to persuade refugees to go home.
Not one word about Russia's other war in Ukraine. Donbass could do with a great deal of rebuilding investment to, btw.

[OUTLAW 09]

Iran's IRGC recruiting Syria defense minister’s relatives: report http://mme.cm/NCAW00 via @NOW_eng

[OUTLAW 09]

This is how much Russia will spend on informational warfare in 2016-----

Kremlin to spend $1.3 bln on state media in 2016, incl. $420 mln to reach foreign audiences.
https://meduza.io/en/news/2015/10/09/russian-government-reportedly-plans-to-spend-1-1-billion-rubles-less-on-state-run-media-in-2016 …

[OUTLAW 09]

FSA Coastal Brigade destroy regime 23 mm gun in Akrad Mount #Latakia in 9K111 Fagot ATGM.
https://youtu.be/Pm3ERzLxwJQ pic.twitter.com/sWf5nkbknQ

[OUTLAW 09]

In the face of countless videos and photos of Russian 8 different types of cluster munitions and their carriers--Russia continues to do what it does best---lie.......
Lebanese @lebanesepress
Russia denies US claims it used cluster bombs in populated areas in Syria http://goo.gl/DzovtK

Photos of the #Russia Cluster Bombs that @SyriaCivilDef disassembled.

RuAF 10+ attacks on al-Mushayrifah vlge in Akrad Mount rural Latakia
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=35.767965&lon=36.393414&z=14&m=b …
https://youtu.be/-tInPlm9GDo

Rebels blow another #Assad tank in northern rural #Homs today with ATGM. Vid soon.

Russia can operate b/w 2 and 4 sorties per day per aircraft. 75 -150 fixed wing aircrafts needed for 300 sorties/day

UPDATED - Five Rebel factions (active in Aleppo, Damascus & Daraa) joined Ahrar al-Sham:
http://archicivilians.com/2015/10/21/inf

Syria Rebels blow up tank at front in northern #Homs with MILAN ATGM

[OUTLAW 09]

Rebels have began their offensive in Hama by bombing regime held villages of Maan, Skeik and Atashan in the north countryside
Jaysh al-Fath heavy artillery shelling on regime positions in Atshan, Ma'an, Sukayk villages northern #Hama.
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=35.401644&lon=36.799736&z=13&m=b …

Let's hope the new #FSA coalition "Jaysh al-Janoob" is not a copy of the 7 other armies operating in southern Syria.
https://youtu.be/EWz29xfYkCM

24 #FSA-Southern Front brigades unite to form Jaysh al-Janoob (Army of the South)
https://youtu.be/EWz29xfYkCM

Assad army is reportedly summoning mass SAA reserves from #Latakia.

[OUTLAW 09]

Russia states it is not bombing civilians--maybe Putin should visit the FSA and ask the locals???

The #KSA delivers aid to tens of thousands of #IDPs due to Russian air strikes in #Aleppo.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XStmJyk-yAA …

Footage
Merciless Russian air strikes continue on densely populated areas in #Homs prov.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3v4jZkWUQMA …

Geolocated @CJTFOIR-airstrike on allegedly #IS headquarters in #Raqqa, #Syria, on Oct. 19.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xE45pgL0tpA …

RuAF airstrike hit barely 300 meters away from what looks like rebels position in Salma village #Lataka.

A new #TOW #ATGM vs a BMP (?) in Aleppo
https://youtu.be/cPyc4CS0G1g

[OUTLAW 09]

Crow Bat----what do you think......?

South #Aleppo offensive : Loyalist gains reach 80 km2 in southern front and 30 km2 in Kweires front

[OUTLAW 09]

Comment today from a Russian troll challenging the TOW YouTube videos.....

TOW launches on Youtube simply don't exist according to OSINT analysts
That's the limits of OSINT

[OUTLAW 09]

Typical Russian Orwellian doublespeak Putin has practiced since Crimea.

Putin: Assad is ready for dialogue with certain opposition groups.

So just exactly what opposition force that has not been participating in the active fight against Assad is to be "selected" by the Russians for the "honor" of just "talking to Assad"?????

After killing thousands of Ukrainian military and civilians and allowing Assad to gas and barrel bomb civilians Russia is "a higher power for good and evil"--Putin doublespeak runs amok.......

Putin says Russian worldview about issues like 'higher power' and 'good and evil,' while Western one is about 'interests'

[CrowBat]

Crow Bat----what do you think......?

South #Aleppo offensive : Loyalist gains reach 80 km2 in southern front and 30 km2 in Kweires front
The regime - that is: al-Masdar/Leith Fadel (http://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syrian-army-and-hezbollah-make-massive-gains-in-southern-aleppo-rebel-defenses-collapse/), who else - is claiming 'massive gains' in southern Aleppo today.

Supposedly, the '4th Mechanized Division' (but sure :rolleyes:) 'and Hezbollah' (guess, all the IRGC units there do not count, or what?) should have captured villages of Balas and Kfar Abid, then Ghayghan/Tel Maflass, and al-Ayoubi. They should now be advancing further south.

Further north, they are maintaining pressure upon Khan Touman.

...and they claim 'heavy losses' for 'Islamists' of Harakat Noureddin az-Zenghi (but sure: US-vetted group FSyA), Ahrar ash-Sham 'and' FSyA (hey, why separating Zenghis from FSyA...?): total of 17 'militants' were KIA.

(If 17 insurgents is 'heavy loss', how do the IRGC, NDF and others describe their own losses of the last few days...?)

Translation: yup, Khan Touman is not in a nice position. Earlier IRGC advance on either side of this town towards west has created another insurgent-held 'pocket' there, which is stretching in eastern direction. Foremost: this attack drew attention of insurgents from the actual attack.

Namely, this is not the 'centrepiece' of this operation: citation of villages like Balas and Kfar Abid makes it clear that the actual objective of the IRGC remains re-opening of the M5 highway between Aleppo and Hama.

I.e. they are assaulting (from Aleppo) in southern, not in western direction as shown on most of the maps circled around the social media.

Overall: 'keep calm and drink tea'. Let's wait to see if anything of this is truth, first and foremost.

[OUTLAW 09]

So Putin lists all the Ukrainian violations of Minsk 2 BUT TOTALLY forgot Russia has not complied with a single point in Minsk 2 SO why is the West suppose to believe he is not continuing to lie to them about Syria..........

Putin offers a long list of what he calls Kiev's violations of the Minsk deal, no easing of position there, it seems

So are the anti Assad forces and the Sunni Front States to fully trust anything Putin says about Syria since his own Russian Orthodox Church as called for a "Holy War"......and he has even stated "anyone that holds an AK-47 against Assad is a "terrorist".......

[OUTLAW 09]

Hundreds of TOWs have gone into Syria and yet only SEVEN have ended up in the hands of largely JN not a single one in the hands of IS.

So just what the heck is Putin talking about???? YET his RuAF drops cluster munitions on civilians and uses thermobarbic missiles.

Putin calls it a "big mistake" for US to drop weapons to the Syrian opposition and use anti-tank arms, because IS could get a hold of them.

[OUTLAW 09]

Typical Russian Orwellian doublespeak Putin has practiced since Crimea.

Putin: Assad is ready for dialogue with certain opposition groups.

So just exactly what opposition force that has not been participating in the active fight against Assad is to be "selected" by the Russians for the "honor" of just "talking to Assad"?????

After killing thousands of Ukrainian military and civilians and allowing Assad to gas and barrel bomb civilians Russia is "a higher power for good and evil"--Putin doublespeak runs amok.......

Putin says Russian worldview about issues like 'higher power' and 'good and evil,' while Western one is about 'interests'

Putin's "Orthodox Nazis" mercenaries in #Syria
pic.twitter.com/P1xd3JPjUq

[OUTLAW 09]

EXCLUSIVE @France24 Report alongside Russian soldiers in Syria (hidden camera)
https://www.facebook.com/FRANCE24.English/videos/10153792969244434/?__mref=message_bubble …
pic.twitter.com/wAmf19x2fx

[OUTLAW 09]

This is what a Russian thermobaric MLRS attack looks like........

Syria'n regime happy with their new thermobaric mass killing toys- for free from #Russia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeWP4AcWlLU …

Jaich al-Fath waited till the sky was covered with clouds to begin it's offensive. Russian airplanes are literally blind right now.

[OUTLAW 09]

http://www.bruceonpolitics.com/2015/10/22/putin-falls-into-the-syria-trap/

Putin falls into the Syria trap

22 October 2015 


The conflict in Syria started in early 2011 as part of the Arab Spring. This blog started writing about events there in March that year. The situation was simple, a brutal dictator who was Alawite (a branch of Shia Islam) was ruling over and suppressing a population that was largely Sunni. This has been the core of the conflict to this day, a religious Shia Vs Sunni war. Alongside the other such wars in Iraq and Yemen.

Eventually Assad, who was losing, got support from the Lebanese Shia militia known as Hezbollah and from Iran, so the Sunnis retaliated with Qatar and Saudia Arabia giving billions of dollars to the CIA to ship weapons from Libya to the rebels. Assad retaliated by dropping thousands of barrel bombs from helicopters onto civilians in the rebel cities, killing possibly as many as two hundred thousands Sunnis and creating 9 million refugees, many of whom are now coming to Europe.

In August 2013 the British and USA governments were planning to bomb and unseat Assad, thus hoping to bring an end to the conflict. This was scuppered by the actions of Ed Miliband and the Labour party.

In the midst of all the chaos, in 2014 there emerged ISIS, ISIL, IS, Islamic State who sought to create a Sunni Salafist state (much like Saudi Arabia is) in the middle of the power vacuum. If you use Google you will find much evidence that IS is the creation of Mossad and the CIA. Certainly they have acted very strangely, attacking the Sunni rebel groups and not attacking Assad very much. Also they imported large numbers of foreign fighters.

Eventually IS became too successful in creating their new country so we started attacking them in Iraq and then in Syria. This was spectacularly stupid, they were no threat to us. It is gratifying to see the new Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, removing his armed forces from the conflict as one of his first acts on being elected.

Within the conflict there are two very important weapon technologies that have shaped the whole war. The first is the Anti Tank Guided Missile (ATGM), these are lightweight, man portable, missiles in a tube that can take out enemy armor and fortifications. Largely a defensive weapon they have prevented Assad’s professional army, with their heavy armor, from having any success. There are many videos on YouTube of his tanks being blown up by ATGMs. The second is the Man Portable Air Defence (MANPAD), another lightweight, man portable, missile that can take out attack aircraft and helicopters. We don’t like giving these to rebels anywhere in case they end up with terrorists and are used to bring down airliners at Western airports. Nevertheless in the past the rebels have got their hands on a limited supply of these, though not enough to stop the barrel bombs.

Russia has long been a supporter of Assad, but not because he is a Shia! Syria provides Putin with a warm water Mediterranean port and the Russia/Syria alliance provides a regional counterbalance to the immense USA influence in Turkey and Israel. Also Russia are very close to Iran, who are fighting on Assad’s side. So when Assad started looking like he was in real trouble Putin intervened, most visibly starting about a month ago. This is what he brought to the party:
•Lots and lots of brand new, high quality equipment for the Syrian military
•Air defence fighters to dominate the airspace over Syria and to deny it to others
•S-300 (maybe S-400) air defence systems. Immensely powerful these can control a large area of the Middle East’s skies.
•Cruise missiles from the Caspian Sea. This was just showing off.
•Ground attack aircraft.
•Attack helicopters.
•Intelligence gathering aircraft.
•Drones. Both for intelligence gathering and for attack.
•“Mercenaries” of ex Russian an Soviet State origin. To augment the Syrian army on the ground.

To understand events it is incredibly important to realise what Putin is doing militarily. He is fighting against Assad’s enemies in those places where Assad is under attack. He might say he is attacking IS or “terrorists” but this is a lie, he will only attack IS where they are threatening Assad. Which makes this map very important:

Syria Map

Compare what Putin is doing with what the US led alliance is doing and you can see that they have completely different aims and are going after completely different targets. More than that their tactics are different. The rebels (including IS) in Syria are embedded in the local population, so are difficult to strike from the air. The alliance is using 100% smart weapons and their aircraft often return without using them. Putin is far less squeamish about collateral damage and is using mainly dumb weapons, especially cluster bombs, that are indiscriminately killing everyone, including the civilians (once again he is lying about it). This is leading to a huge new surge in refugees and even more migrants coming to Europe.

So now we have a very complex war. Sunni Vs Shia, IS Vs everyone, Iran Vs Saudi Arabia, Russia Vs Assad’s enemies, Kurds Vs Turkey + Assad + IS and so on. And every side has escalated in response to Russia’s actions. Saudi Arabia sent one shipment of 500 TOW ATGMs to the rebels and there are now many videos of these being used with great enthusiasm against Assad’s military, blunting any gains they might have had from the Russian presence. The Americans have been air dropping ammunition to the rebels. But the big one will be if and when MANPADs arrive. Then we will see Putin losing aircraft and Assad’s barrel bomb threat being removed.

Putin’s involvement in the conflict has not brought him the gains he might have expected. The conflict has intensified, the Syrian military and the rebels are both taking more casualties. But Putin cannot and will not beat the rebels, they represent the majority Sunni population. Just as the alliance cannot possibly beat IS, even smart bombs don’t work against ideas. What we are seeing is Vietnam or Afghanistan all over again. An insurgency with asymmetrical warfare. Totally unwinnable. Putin has committed himself to the evil Assad and in doing so has fallen into a trap. This is going to cost him dear. The Russian economy is in very big trouble and he cannot afford a highly expensive military adventure that could drag on for years and years. But he will lose immense credibility with just about everyone if he tries to extricate himself.

The only viable solution to the Syria situation is to partition it into maybe four new states. To do that we need to be talking to all the parties. Including IS.

[OUTLAW 09]

Iran Hails Russia For ‘Bolstering Stability And Security’ In Middle East
http://www.ibtimes.com/iran-hails-russia-bolstering-stability-security-middle-east-2151694 …

[OUTLAW 09]

Russian/Iranian offensive appears to be going in the wrong direction.......Jaich al-Fath waited till the sky was covered with clouds to begin it's offensive. Russian airplanes are literally blind right now.

Rebels destroyed 3 tanks during assault on Al-Hamra
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=35.313584&lon=37.092419&z=13&m=b …

Jaish Al-Fatah seized 2 tanks & destroyed 3 others near Al-Hamra town in the NE of #Hama city

Hama #JaF take Tell overlooking Al Hamra town
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=35.317191&lon=37.074716&z=16&m=b …

Hama Rebels retake Sukayk village
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=35.426127&lon=36.772785&z=13&m=b …

Rebels take over Al-Hamra in N/E #Hama
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=35.310573&lon=37.091389&z=14&m=b …

[OUTLAW 09]

Putin is desperately searching for an exit strategy---so it appears to be a Kurdish/Alewite minority dictatorship of a 70% Sunni population--does that make any common sense to anyone outside of Putin......

Putin: #Syrian government and Kurdish forces should be united - @AlArabiya_Eng
http://ara.tv/nzy7a

[OUTLAW 09]

Syria Rebels seized T-62 tank & a BMP in northern #Homs in this area
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=34.801189&lon=36.646786&z=15&m=b …

[OUTLAW 09]

Crow Bat----what do you think? Need to see how it looks in daylight tomorrow?

Jaysh Al-Fateh has also captured the very strategic village of Kafr il7as teezi

#Syria Jaysh Al-Fateh has captured Tal Funaas, Tal Mutakhalifeen & Tal Kharawat in northern #Hama

[OUTLAW 09]

Crow Bat----what do you think? Need to see how it looks in daylight tomorrow?

Jaysh Al-Fateh has also captured the very strategic village of Kafr il7as teezi

#Syria Jaysh Al-Fateh has captured Tal Funaas, Tal Mutakhalifeen & Tal Kharawat in northern #Hama

JaF preps near Atshan vlge. Attack >dig trenches >make fortifications >attack is the strategy to avoid RuAF attacks

JaF take over Ruhayyah village in NE #Hama
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=35.242815&lon=37.104435&z=13&m=b …

Hama #Russia'n airstrikes now on Al-Hamra after #JaF taken over town tonight http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=35.312604&lon=37.086926&z=14&m=b …