Syria in 2016 (January-March) [Archive] - Page 12

OUTLAW 09

03-18-2016, 12:02 PM

http://foreignpolicy.com/2016/03/17/what-the-president-really-thinks-about-saudi-arabia/?utm_content=buffer71225&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

What the President Really Thinks About Saudi Arabia

By Dov Zakheim
March 17, 2016 - 10:42 am

Gone are the days when the long-smoldering friction between President Obama and the leaders of Saudi Arabia was some (not-so-well kept) Washington secret. Obama has made it clear that he has little taste for America’s erstwhile Saudi allies. For their part, the Saudis, in the form of a letter by the oft-outspoken Prince Turki bin Faisal, have shot back that they resent being dissed by the president of a country they have supported for decades.

As in most spats, there is some truth on both sides. The Saudis minimize the impact that their export of Wahhabism, primarily through the schools and madrasas they support, has contributed to radicalizing many Muslims across the world, from Southeast Asia to northern Virginia. The President has minimized, or totally overlooked, a host of Saudi efforts that have bolstered Washington’s political, military, and economic objectives in the Middle East and beyond. These include: supporting American anti-Soviet policies during the Cold War; providing financial support for economically strapped American allies, such as Jordan and Morocco; coordinating with American efforts to rid Afghanistan of the Soviets; participating militarily in Operation Desert Storm, which liberated Kuwait from Saddam Hussein’s tender mercies in 1991; hosting American troops throughout the 1990s; taking the lead in offering Israel peace, in the form of the Arab Peace Initiative (to which, unfortunately, Israel gave scant consideration); and funding the opposition to both Bashar al-Assad and the Islamic State.

The list of ways in which the Saudis have supported American interests is actually longer and is simply too exhaustive for Obama to dismiss the them, and, for that matter, their Gulf partners, as “free riders.” Even worse, his disdain for Riyadh in particular is simply solidifying the distrust of America’s other Arab allies, who have yet to get over Washington’s callous indifference to the fate of long time ally Hosni Mubarak. It is noteworthy that Prince Turki mentioned Mubarak in his letter, but President Obama does not mention his former Egyptian counterpart in any of the quotes that appear in Jeffrey Goldberg’s Atlantic article.

What has most upset the Saudis, however, is the President’s notion that they must “share” the Gulf with Iran. It is one thing for Washington to negotiate an end to Iran’s nuclear weapons program; the Gulf states may not have liked the American approach, much less the actual agreement, but they understand what motivated Washington to seek an accord. It is quite another thing for the President to equate Saudi Arabia, indeed all the Gulf states, with their Iranian rival. Iran has not cut back on its support for terrorists, be they Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, or others operating in Bahrain and elsewhere. Nor has Tehran lessened its anti-Israel rhetoric or its support for Palestinian suicide bombers. And it is not the Gulf countries that have tested ballistic missiles with “death to Israel” written in Hebrew. Yet Obama is quite prepared to have them “share” the region with its most destabilizing regime.

Perhaps the Saudis and their Gulf partners can take solace in the fact that they are not the only targets of Obama’s spleen. He has called the Europeans free riders too. And it is well known that he has no patience for the Israelis.

The Goldberg piece makes it clear that the American president would rather walk away from the Middle East and leave it to its own devices. Unfortunately, doing so will not promote the peaceful, stable world Mr. Obama dreams of. To the contrary: burying America’s head in the Middle Eastern sand guarantees not only more conflict in the region itself, but an increase in the flood of refugees that is wreaking havoc in Europe. But then, Obama seems equally less than interested in Europe’s travails. Maybe what Goldberg termed the Obama Doctrine should be renamed the Ostrich Doctrine — this would certainly describe how many outside the United States view what passes for policy in Washington.

OUTLAW 09

03-18-2016, 12:18 PM

https://foreignpolicy.com/2016/03/15/fake-war-saudi-desert-syrian-invasion-putin-russia-assad/

Was a Fake War in the Saudi Desert a Dress Rehearsal for a Syrian Invasion?

Vladimir Putin’s abrupt Russian departure could open a door for Arab intervention against the Islamic State and Bashar al-Assad.

By James Stavridis
March 15, 2016

In yet another surprising tactical maneuver, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Monday, March 14, that he is withdrawing the main part of his forces from Syria. While it may be premature to assess both the motive and final level of the drawdown, this could be a potential pivot in this seemingly endless crisis.

Moscow is probably feeling relatively confident in Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s position and the overall direction of the peace talks and is also increasingly concerned about the high cost of the operation — during a period of a weak ruble and very low oil prices, upon which the Russian economy is dependent.

The interesting question is whether this retreat provides an opening for a significant Arab ground force to be inserted into the conflict. Coincidentally, just as Russia is pulling forces out of Syria, Saudi Arabia is completing a significant military exercise that may prove to have been a dress rehearsal for Sunni Arab engagement on the ground in that conflict. Indeed, just last week in the deserts of Saudi Arabia, some 350,000 troops, 20,000 tanks, dozens of ships, and 2,500 warplanes from 20 countries concluded the largest military exercises ever held in the Middle East.

Dubbed “North Thunder” (Raad al-Shamal in Arabic), these huge, historic ground, air, and naval exercises have been called war games. But make no mistake: They are anything but games. This is an effort described by Saudi Arabia and its allies to create a cohesive force to combat terrorist organizations such as the Islamic State, al Qaeda, al-Shabab, and perhaps even Boko Haram — as well as to send a strong signal to Iran, a country exhibiting expansionist ambitions to say the least.

The exercises emphasized training conventional forces to conduct low-intensity combat operations against nonstate armed groups. Another stated goal is improving the inter-operability of the armed forces of Saudi Arabia and its allies so that they can coordinate their maneuvers in spite of differing languages, military equipment, and operating systems. It also included maritime and bombing exercises designed to project power over distance. While the three weeks of war games concluded on March 10, the hope is that their impact will be long-lasting and far-reaching. The real question, of course, is whether this massive exercise is only a show of force or whether it portends the actual deployment of combat power to troubled spots in the region.

The war in Yemen continues to grind along after nearly a year of medium-level combat. Saudi forces have led the effort against the Houthi rebels who overthrew the government there, and part of North Thunder was training for the special forces and heavy ground units that will be essential going forward if the conflict cannot be resolved through negotiations. While there are flickers of diplomacy about the possibility of direct talks between the rebels and the Saudis, the North Thunder exercise is clearly designed to demonstrate the capability of the kingdom to the Iranians who back the Houthis.

The principal theater of conflict in the region is, of course, Syria. The Saudis have spoken publicly about their willingness to put boots on the ground in support of the moderate Syrian forces fighting Assad, and it is possible to see North Thunder as a training and motivating event to build a Sunni Arab coalition to do so. Whether that actually occurs will depend on the Syria negotiations led by the United States and Russia, but particularly in a partition or federalization scenario, an Arab ground force could be an important guarantor of security in the Sunni part of Syria.

For many years, the United States has been urging predominantly Muslim countries to take a stand against violent extremism.
With these large-scale, relatively sophisticated exercises, Saudi Arabia is trying to demonstrate that it is a crucial security partner in the Middle East and a responsible leader in the Islamic world.
With these large-scale, relatively sophisticated exercises, Saudi Arabia is trying to demonstrate that it is a crucial security partner in the Middle East and a responsible leader in the Islamic world. The exercise is a tangible demonstration, but it must be matched by actual deployments of combat power to achieve the effects both the Saudis and the United States desire — countering Iranian influence and helping stabilize the region. That said, it doesn’t bode well that missing from among the 20 countries participating was the United States — or any other Western partner. American policymakers should take notice of their importance and strengthen the security partnership between Washington and Riyadh.

Spurred by its hard-driving defense minister, Deputy Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, Saudi Arabia is stepping up to the challenges of mobilizing the mostly Muslim nations of the Middle East, South Asia, and North Africa for their common defense. The 30-year-old minister is also a catalyst for dramatic economic reforms that he hopes will strengthen Saudi Arabia’s security role. And as an American ally for at least seven decades, Saudi Arabia has long been a leader in the Gulf Cooperation Council and its Peninsula Shield force, together with Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman.

Now, Saudi Arabia is broadening its geostrategic horizons. In December, the kingdom announced a new coalition of 34 majority Muslim countries from Africa and the wider Middle East to counter violent extremism not only on the battlefields but also in the battle of ideas. The recent military exercises brought together military units from many members of this coalition, including not only the Gulf states but also Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan, Sudan, Malaysia, Morocco, and Tunisia. And as part of its strategic relationship with Ankara, Saudi Arabia has sent fighter jets to the Incirlik Air Base in southern Turkey to expand its role in the U.S.-led air campaign against the Islamic State.

As these actions underscore, Saudi Arabia and its allies appear to be assuming greater responsibility for regional and international security, stepping into what many consider to be the leadership vacuum left by American retrenchment in the Middle East. All of these countries are responding to multiple security threats. Violent extremists are occupying large swaths of territory in Syria, Iraq, and Libya. Meanwhile, enriched and emboldened by the lifting of sanctions through the recent nuclear agreement with the United States and its Western allies, Iran is meddling in Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, Iraq, and even other Gulf states. Consequently, predominantly Sunni countries such as Saudi Arabia and its allies fear the emergence of Iran as a regional hegemon, assuming leadership over the Shiites in the Middle East and seeking to destabilize majority Sunni societies. This is a geopolitical showdown between Tehran and Riyadh, overlayed with the Sunni-Shiite religious conflict; the potential turbulence may go on for decades.

It seems quite clear that Saudi Arabia and its allies are sending the United States a message: “We are still willing to trust you and work with you. But at the same time, we are ready, willing, and able to go it alone, if need be.” America and its Western allies should seek to reinforce, not reduce, their strategic partnership with Saudi Arabia. If Riyadh and its allies are left to act alone, amid increasing instability and insecurity, the already volatile Middle East may become even more unsettled and the war on terror could be undermined.

Over time, the United States should be encouraging connections between this nascent Saudi-led coalition and its two significant allies operating in the region — Israel, which represents the strongest partner to the United States in the Levant; and NATO, which has demonstrated its willingness to participate in operations defending Western interests in Libya, Iraq, and Turkey. Connecting Sunni leaders with Israel and NATO could be a powerful next move for the United States in the region — albeit a difficult one.

The presence of Saudi and other Sunni troops in Syria is a mixed blessing. It would strengthen the moderate Sunni resistance significantly, weaken Assad’s regime, increase U.S. intelligence gathering immeasurably, and create in effect a large safe zone — if coupled with U.S. air power. But it would also exacerbate the uber-conflict in the region between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Iran. On balance, the benefits to the people of Syria would probably outweigh the larger geopolitical risk but barely. And it would require a great deal of U.S. attention and engagement to manage the anti-Assad and counter-Islamic State coalition.

There is a larger issue at work in terms of the U.S. relationship with the kingdom. By reaffirming the central geopolitcal importance of our relationship with the Saudis and their Sunni allies, we will be able to work together to combat violent and radical Islamic extremists who seek to destabilize the region; contain Iran; reassure Israel; and over time help create a more stable and prosperous Middle East. North Thunder is good news for the United States, but in the end it is an exercise: It needs to be followed by actual combat deployments that affect the facts on the ground. The Russian departure may open a window of opportunity. We should do all we can to encourage that next step, which is the real test.

OUTLAW 09

03-18-2016, 12:37 PM

Warning: Graphic. ISIS displays body and equipment of alleged Russian advisor near Palmyra
https://vid.me/2Dv9

Hummmmm......five dead bodies in Russian military uniforms, all their Russian SOF specific equipment also seen on GRU in eastern Ukraine and NOW this comment...........

Kremlin: Syrian troops are battling in Palmyra and there is no Russian military there
http://syria.liveuamap.com/en/2016/1...in-palmyra-and …

BUT WAIT ......they were not Russian soldiers BUT Syrian farmers and or fishermen.....

BUT WAIT......The flag in this photo from RuSOF captured by IS has the GRU/Russian mil intel motto on it: Only stars are above us

OUTLAW 09

03-18-2016, 12:48 PM

So did Putin himself openly admit to the simple fact that he confirmed Russian ground troops were involved in the ground fighting in Syria.....

Air operation? Putin gave a tank commander a medal for fighting in Syria yesterday, says Kommers.
http://kommersant.ru/doc/2940103

1st deputy commander of the #Russia n 1st Tank Army (MD W) awarded the Order of St. George IV for #Syria op (!)
http://kommersant.ru/doc/2940103

CIT (en) ‎@CITeam_en
Putin awards deputy commander of 120th artillery brigade's howitzer battalion for Syria:
http://tayga.info/news/2016/03/18/~126357 …

OUTLAW 09

03-18-2016, 01:21 PM

60+ opposition groups issue statement against Kurdish PYD 'federal region' warn against 'dividing #Syria' @akhbar

OUTLAW 09

03-18-2016, 02:51 PM

Syria 17 people (incl. 5 women & 7 children) killed by #Russia'n airstrikes on #Raqqa today

OUTLAW 09

03-18-2016, 02:55 PM

Hezbollah official: Russian pull-out from Syria a "shock"
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/russia-begins-surprise-withdrawal-from-syria-as-peace-talks-get-underway/2016/03/15/fe3821fc-ea1a-11e5-a9ce-681055c7a05f_story.html …
Iran-linked militias now likely to bear brunt of fighting.

BREAKING: Russia says flying '20 to 25' bombing sorties daily to support Syrian army around Palmyra - via @AFP

40 air strikes hit Palmyra today since the morning. #Syria
https://twitter.com/palmyrarev1/status/710784886848823296 …

Israel’s main concern in Syria is Iran not ISIS. Column by @yarotrof
http://on.wsj.com/1SVwkkk

Tehran sick & tired of Russia’s games on S-300 systems. They are being played & know it
http://bit.ly/1UGqJhQ

Pro-regime Latakia News Network FB page claims Maher al-#Assad transferred from 4th Armored Division...
http://on.fb.me/1TTsRUw

OUTLAW 09

03-18-2016, 04:03 PM

Russian MoD has been definitely smoking something........none of the HNC has signed any agreements with Russia.....all nothing but disinformation trying to make their actions appear to be a "major success".....

Минобороны России
✔ ‎@mod_russia ISIS & Jabhat al-Nusra are seeking to prevent signing agreements despite achieved ceasefire between opposition and #SYRIA Armed Forces

BUT WAIT Assad still attacks and bombs so I am not sure what ceasefire Russia is talking about........

OUTLAW 09

03-18-2016, 05:08 PM

Damascus Residents of #Dumayr in huge protest against "rebel-in fightings" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odcmkLpmj20 …

The Huge Devastation in Civilian Properties caused by #Russian Airstrikes in #Palmyra #Syria
https://youtu.be/n-I9v4Qyo4U

A Cluster bombs. #Russia|n warplanes bombed the city of #Palmyra today.
#Syria , Mar 18

SYRIA: 70 rebel groups "categorically reject" Kurdish federation announcement, says it has "tacit regime approval"

Syria Maher al-#Assad moved from key command
https://now.mmedia.me/lb/en/NewsReports/566761-maher-al-assad-moved-from-key-command-pro-regime-outlet …

Footage
Talmenes in #Idlib is one of the very very few towns w/ purely Islamist protesters
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdH3hDxgMeY …

Footage
#Doudyan after the recapture by the #FSA from #ISIS terrorists.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TxxjwWfpBM …

OUTLAW 09

03-18-2016, 05:09 PM

Fred Hof: Putin's total victory is U.S. partnering with Assad against ISIS. It's in reach.
http://bit.ly/1UHfaqt

BUT WAIT....after 27 hospitals being destroyed by the RuAF one would demand that this is the minimum that Russia could provide.....
Минобороны России
✔ ‎@mod_russia #SYRIA medical specialists are arriving in towns in order to provide medical assistance to people, who have not received it for years

BUT WAIT...the UN was suppose to be delivering humanitarian aid ...not Russia......
Минобороны России
✔ ‎@mod_russia 144 tons of humanitarian cargos were delivered to #Hmeymim airbase from Russia in order to provide humanitarian aid to people of #SYRIA[B]

[B]Another self delusional statement from the Russian MoD.......
Минобороны России
✔ ‎@mod_russia #SYRIA owing to peaceful dialogue it became possible deliver humanit.aid to towns, which had been lately controlled by "moderate opposition"

Appears that Russia has with this statement admitted it was attacking strictly FSA and NOT IS....

davidbfpo

03-18-2016, 05:33 PM

https://foreignpolicy.com/2016/03/15/fake-war-saudi-desert-syrian-invasion-putin-russia-assad/

Was a Fake War in the Saudi Desert a Dress Rehearsal for a Syrian Invasion? By James Stavridis
March 15, 2016

Two aspects are strange for such a presumed expert observer, first up:
Indeed, just last week in the deserts of Saudi Arabia, some 350,000 troops, 20,000 tanks, dozens of ships, and 2,500 warplanes from 20 countries concluded the largest military exercises ever held in the Middle East.

The original reporting on the exercise IIRC referred to a limited on the ground presence and the rest were virtual participants i.e. at home. Unlike the public surprise at this exercise one assumes watchers would have spotted such a large build-up over months, as one Israeli observer asked are they actually there? I expect such a build-up would be similar to the 1991 Desert Storm build-up, not easy to hide.

Secondly:
Over time, the United States should be encouraging connections between this nascent Saudi-led coalition and its two significant allies operating in the region — Israel, which represents the strongest partner to the United States in the Levant; and NATO, which has demonstrated its willingness to participate in operations defending Western interests in Libya, Iraq, and Turkey. Connecting Sunni leaders with Israel and NATO could be a powerful next move for the United States in the region — albeit a difficult one.

Advancing a Sunni-Israeli connection unless extremely limited and covert would be the "kiss of death" for several of the regimes in the region and a gift to ISIS. Given Saudi public attitudes on ISIS, reflected in part by the 3k reported fighters with ISIS and that includes a number from the Saudi military - it is hard to see the royal family accepting this connection helps.

Now to NATO's willingness to participate, the author is dreaming IMHO. There is a sizeable chunk of public opinion here for example that see the operations in Libya and Iraq as a disaster for our national interests. There are some nations who are more willing, they are the minority.

If a coalition of the willing and capable, under a Sunni banner and led by the KSA want to visit ISIS in Iraq and Syria there are welcome. There is no need for them to have a single British soldier with them.

OUTLAW 09

03-18-2016, 05:51 PM

In "#SDF"-controlled territory, pro-#YPG Kurds celebrated the foundation of the "Federal Union of northern Syria".

Anti Assad demos in....
Protests in 7 of 9 (partly) free provinces.
Rif Dimaschq, Daraa, Aleppo, Idlib, Hama, Homs and Quneitra.
Latakia & Damascus too dangerous.

OUTLAW 09

03-18-2016, 06:05 PM

http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2016/03/obama-doctrine-goldberg-free-rider-credibility/473616/

Why Credibility Matters

Stephen Sestanovich
Mar 14, 2016

There’s no getting around it: Barack Obama is a phenomenal arguer. He’s got superb legal training; he’s got point-by-point debating skill; he’s got a feel for nuance; he’s got historical examples and counter-examples at the ready. And, as a politician who’s been around the track a few times, he’s not above a little sophistry or rhetorical sleight-of-hand.

All these tools are on dazzling display in Jeffrey Goldberg’s extraordinary cover story in this month’s Atlantic. “The Obama Doctrine” gives us the best picture we may ever have of how this president thinks and talks about foreign policy. It will leave many readers wondering which candidate to succeed him could be half so persuasive.

And yet, for all his talents, Obama does not exactly make the sale. To my mind, he doesn’t even fully acknowledge the nature of the problem he faces. He claims to believe that the United States remains the “indispensable” global leader. But he also wants to make indispensability less expensive and risky, more focused and discriminating. He wants to discipline American policy by defining the country’s interests more narrowly and acting more deliberately. He’d like, aides say, to leave his successor a nice “clean barn.”

Now, does the resulting U.S. role feel a little downsized? Do America’s allies feel a little less sure of our support? Are adversaries emboldened? Does the foreign-policy “establishment” (of which Obama has such a low opinion) feel the United States is not really going to be leading at all? The president waves aside these concerns. Credibility—in the form of pressure to act when no real interest is threatened—must not become a fetish, he suggests. Friends and allies need to do more to defend their own interests. The U.S. can’t lead if it keeps doing “stupid ####.”

Obama is not wrong about any of this. Yet turning his sensible principles into an effective foreign policy is harder than he admits. The president is so locked into an angry debate with Washington conventional wisdom that he may not understand how unthoughtful some of his explanations sound.

Take his comments about credibility—what he ridicules as “dropping bombs on someone to prove that you’re willing to drop bombs on someone.” It’s a good line, but Obama’s reason for treating credibility as an empty concept is not so good. He wants to persuade us that, when he retreated from the famous “red line” over the use of chemical weapons in Syria in 2013, nothing much was at stake and nothing bad happened as a result.

Alas, something was—and something did. Just hours before he changed course, Obama himself said that if you do nothing when a major international norm is violated, the norm becomes meaningless. A great power values credibility so opponents know not to challenge its interests. That’s why Susan Rice, his own national-security adviser, said the damage done by backtracking on the “red line” would be severe.

The president plays the blame game in part because he too resists doing more.

Has it been? Obama says no, but surely he understands that if he had taken out Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s air force in 2013, as many were urging him to do (and as he clearly could have done), Vladimir Putin would never have intervened in Syria in 2015. Obama may not ask himself why Putin would have held back, but the answer is very clear. He would have worried about taking on the United States. Now he doesn’t. Putin has taught us that credibility means something.

Obama, of course, has a different view. Putin, he tells Goldberg, has gained nothing from intervening in Syria. To think he has “is to fundamentally misunderstand the nature of power in foreign affairs or in the world generally.” Propping up Assad, Obama claims, “doesn’t suddenly make [Putin] a player.” Why, he says, “there’s not a G20 meeting where the Russians set the agenda around any of the issues that are important.” (You have to wonder what Putin will make of this passage when he reads it: The president of the United States really believes setting the agenda of the next totally forgettable G20 meeting matters more than deciding who wins the civil war in Syria?)

There’s some of the same self-justification in the way Obama talks about “free riders”—the small and medium countries that count on the U.S. to provide for their security, without ponying up much on their own. “Free riders aggravate me” is already one of the most quoted lines of “The Obama Doctrine.” Virtually all American presidents have probably felt the same way, and future ones will too. They have wanted—and will want—allies who actually contribute to the common defense. of Europe left to talk about.” So what has the leader whom Obama respects most, who has done the most for him, who has set out a vision most like his, and who has had the most trouble implementing it, gotten from him in return? The U.S. has admitted a trickle of refugees, NATO-member navies have begun to regulate the migrant flow in Greek and Turkish waters, the Pentagon continues to study the problem of a “safe zone” in Syria—and the White House continues to express doubts about it. Measured against the “existential” crisis facing America’s most important allies, this isn’t much. It may well be what Obama means by American “leadership,” but he shouldn’t be surprised if others—just as careful and thoughtful as he—consider it too little too late.

The president has been criticized for treating “don’t do stupid ####” (a phrase first shared with reporters by his aides) as a useful statement of American foreign-policy strategy. Hillary Clinton mocked the phrase—to none other than Jeffrey Goldberg—as “not an organizing principle.” Yet the formula has real meaning. “Don’t do stupid ####” is a kind of strategy—if you have a clear enough idea of what’s stupid and real determination not to do it. Obama has both of these, and he has made them the organizing framework of a downsized, less expensive, more risk-averse foreign policy. For better or worse, this is his “doctrine.” It is helping him to clean the barn. What it may not do is sustain the American role in the world that he himself claims to want.

Obama has good reason to be unhappy with America’s friends. Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Israel, and others have undercut his policies. In Europe he sees institutional dysfunction rivaling that of Washington. Yet the president plays the blame game in part because he too resists doing more. I recently heard a reporter ask a senior administration official whether the U.S. has ever told its Middle Eastern partners that it would be ready to commit a limited contingent of military personnel in Syria as long as they would do the same—an increased and coordinated effort. The (commendably honest) answer: “No.”

“Don’t do stupid ####” is a kind of strategy—if you have a clear enough idea of what’s stupid and real determination not to do it.

“Free-rider” problems preoccupy social scientists for the same reason they exasperate policymakers: They’re hard to fix. So hard that American presidents have often concluded that there was only one viable solution. To bring wrong-headed allies along—and limit their worst impulses—the U.S. itself had to do more, not less. Sure, doing less might force some allies to exert themselves more, but not necessarily in a way that served U.S. interests. Obama is probably right that the Turks and Saudis have made things worse in Syria. He seems not to ask himself whether a more determined U.S. role might have kept them in line.

The debate about Syria, now five years old, will outlast this administration. But it’s not the only example of Obama’s alliance management that undermines his complaints about “free riders.” There is, as Goldberg tells us, just about no foreign leader the president respects more than Angela Merkel. Nor is there one who has done more to help him. (Were it not for Merkel’s support on sanctions against Russia, Obama’s Ukraine policy would barely exist.) No European leader has tried harder to articulate a tolerant, Obama-style approach to the Syrian refugee crisis. Nor has anyone paid a greater price for doing so. Merkel faces both the possible end of her political career and the possible collapse of the European Union.

White House aides acknowledge the problem. “If Europe has a 2016 anything like 2015,” one of them has told me, “there won’t be much of Europe left to talk about.” So what has the leader whom Obama respects most, who has done the most for him, who has set out a vision most like his, and who has had the most trouble implementing it, gotten from him in return? The U.S. has admitted a trickle of refugees, NATO-member navies have begun to regulate the migrant flow in Greek and Turkish waters, the Pentagon continues to study the problem of a “safe zone” in Syria—and the White House continues to express doubts about it. Measured against the “existential” crisis facing America’s most important allies, this isn’t much. It may well be what Obama means by American “leadership,” but he shouldn’t be surprised if others—just as careful and thoughtful as he—consider it too little too late.

Continued.....

It is helping him to clean the barn. What it may not do is sustain the American role in the world that he himself claims to want.

OUTLAW 09

03-18-2016, 06:15 PM

Two aspects are strange for such a presumed expert observer, first up:

The original reporting on the exercise IIRC referred to a limited on the ground presence and the rest were virtual participants i.e. at home. Unlike the public surprise at this exercise one assumes watchers would have spotted such a large build-up over months, as one Israeli observer asked are they actually there? I expect such a build-up would be similar to the 1991 Desert Storm build-up, not easy to hide.

Secondly:

Advancing a Sunni-Israeli connection unless extremely limited and covert would be the "kiss of death" for several of the regimes in the region and a gift to ISIS. Given Saudi public attitudes on ISIS, reflected in part by the 3k reported fighters with ISIS and that includes a number from the Saudi military - it is hard to see the royal family accepting this connection helps.

Now to NATO's willingness to participate, the author is dreaming IMHO. There is a sizeable chunk of public opinion here for example that see the operations in Libya and Iraq as a disaster for our national interests. There are some nations who are more willing, they are the minority.

If a coalition of the willing and capable, under a Sunni banner and led by the KSA want to visit ISIS in Iraq and Syria there are welcome. There is no need for them to have a single British soldier with them.

David....your comments are sound but here is my take......the exercise was indeed large and especially heavy on the artillery, armor, air and naval side especially the interactions between different forces.

If one took the time to watch through the final parade video lasting well over three hours ....these elements were again presented.....

AND coupled with the statement this week out of the Saudi defense circles that yes in fact KSA was planning to move into Syria and confront IS.

I do believe they will as a way to also confront the massive Shia military presence and block the Iranian land corridor to Hezbollah who they/GCC has now listed as a terrorist organization.

The former SACEUR I think was trying to get the Administration's attention about this and fore warning them they need to engage directly now with KSA to smooth ruffled feathers from the Obama Doctrine interview....

After Obama's critique of KSA in his Obama doctrine interview I am not so sure this Obama WH will be able to smooth things over during the April GCC meeting and the move by KSA into Syria will be a lessons learned moment for the Obama WH.

IMO I believe even Putin knew this was coming and did not want to directly be in a position of either fighting KSA or pulling back and looking like a defeated military as I think Putin believes Assad really does want to recapture the entire country.

OUTLAW 09

03-18-2016, 06:25 PM

IS capture MIB multi-function munition (grenade/mine) from RUS SOF in #Syria.
http://armamentresearch.com/russian-mib-type-multi-function-munition-captured-by-is-in-syria/ …

Russian MIB type multi-function munition captured by IS in #Syria
http://armamentresearch.com/russian-mib-type-multi-function-munition-captured-by-is-in-syria/ … via @Arms_Research

Syria #Russia'n gunships give CAS for #Assad-forces near #Palmyra
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLo-v-iX7fs …
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=34.490712&lon=38.194914&z=14&m=b …

SAA T-72M1 TURMS-T with covered "Mirage-1" jammer near #Palmyra.

OUTLAW 09

03-18-2016, 06:44 PM

Interesting proof that Twitter selectively targets social media open source analysts.....the question is WHY????? Has been going on awhile.....question is does Russia have any influence.....???

Support @bm21_grad suspension's lifting campaign. @twitter algorithm repeatedly targeted OSINT analysts.

Went missing today. Please share. @twitter @Support might have more information on his whereabouts.

OUTLAW 09

03-19-2016, 07:33 AM

Aleppo From battle before #FSA seized Meraighal from #IS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGoz3MUtDuE …
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=36.601334&lon=37.256184&z=14&m=b …

OUTLAW 09

03-19-2016, 10:57 AM

In addition to MLRS attacks from Jorin camp Assad airstrikes also targeted the village of al-Haloubi in Jabal Zawyia, #Idlib,#Syria

Assad helicopters dropped at least 6 barrel bombs so far today on Khan al-Sheeh in western Ghouta, #Damascus, #Syria

Multiple Assad airstrikes targeted the Marj area in eastern Ghouta, #Damascus, #Syria

Rebels liberated Jakka, al-Kamaliya & Mraighel in north rural #Aleppo from #ISIS last night. Clashes ongoing around Jakka & al-Kamaliya

Assad forces targeting the #Damascus suburb of #Douma with mortar shells & rockets.

Isis and Syrian rebels clash near the Israeli border inside Inkhil, Deraa

PYD's claim of a federal system was rejected not only by the regime & the opposition but also by its ally Haitham Manna'

From 17 MAR....
2 BM-30 ,2 BM-27 near Palmyra pound ISIS

RuAF is going to just keep a fleet of 4 Mi-8AMTShs, 4 Mi-35Ms & 8 Ka-52s to defend its remaining assets in #Syria

OUTLAW 09

03-19-2016, 11:02 AM

CrowBat.....with the drumbeat of suicide attacks in Turkey via the PKK and it's affiliated groups WHO wants to push Turkey into actually moving across the border?

BreakingNews
4 killed, 20 injured in just another #terror attack in #Turkey.
Shopping mall in #Istanbul hit.

Granted PKK and Iran but is it actually in the interests of the Russians as then you have a major military force on the ground and the serious threat from KSA to enter to combat IS directly and IMHO Putin is not going to open Pandora's Box by directly air striking Turkish forces who have declared their mission "to attack terrorists"......

Or is it a mixture of PKK affiliated suicide teams being backed up by IS personnel???? If this then the Iranians being in the mix is clear as are the Russians in the mix since they have largely restrained themselves from attacking IS.....

Good example.......
When Germany rolled up a terrorist plot in SEPT 2007, it found a link to Syria
http://reut.rs/21A212R

OUTLAW 09

03-19-2016, 11:04 AM

Idlib Airstrikes & rocket shelling on Al Ḩallūb east of Ghab plain

Kurdish forces arrested a dozen #Assad forces in #Hasaka City this morning

#YPG/#SDF try to advance the last ~10km against #IS toward #Manbij city
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=36.489075&lon=38.044796&z=13&m=b

OUTLAW 09

03-19-2016, 11:05 AM

CrowBat...does this track with what you are seeing.....??

US Centcom denied all #Russia'n airstrikes on #Palmyra .
"They conducted not a single airstrike last week..."

OUTLAW 09

03-19-2016, 11:16 AM

A good leader maintains good relations with allied leaders he finds obnoxious; it isn't public and damaging.
http://theatln.tc/1R4D3pu

Not just IranDeal: Syria's war also has Obama's name on it, says @LeeSmithTWS, given the former facilitated latter
http://tws.io/1pyLTTG

OUTLAW 09

03-19-2016, 11:34 AM

Reference Russian Spetsnaz killed in Syria by IS.........

CIT (en)
‏@CITeam_en
The Russian killed by ISIS also had a rare infrared scope IWT 640 Charon, price: $14000
http://allammo.ru/teplovizory-dlja-ohoty/teplovizionnie-pritsely/iwt/teplovizionnyy_pritsel_iwt_640_kharon/ …

OUTLAW 09

03-19-2016, 12:02 PM

MSF International
✔ ‎@MSF In 2015, 63 MSF-supported hospitals & clinics were bombed or shelled on 94 occasions
http://bit.ly/1pcFLzO

Raqqa the Airstrikes that targeted Raqqa today and killed 43 civilians was by the Russian Warplanes

Reports sadly that #ISIS was able to recapture Jakka & Kamaliya villages in north rural #Aleppo from the rebels.

Footage of the Assad barrel bombs that targeted Khan al-Sheeh & its surroundings in rural #Damascus today
http://youtu.be/jjgrNJPClKU

Assad airstrikes now targeting Zibdin, Bazina & Bala in eastern Ghouta, #Damascus,#Syria

Multiple Assad barrel bombs targeted the #Damascus suburb of #Daraya a little while ago as well.

Number of barrel bombs dropped by Assad helicopters around IDP Khan al-Sheeh camp in rural #Damascus has risen to 16 so far

CrowBat

03-19-2016, 01:29 PM

....the exercise was indeed large and especially heavy on the artillery, armor, air and naval side especially the interactions between different forces.The exercise certainly did not involve even 30K troops - and indeed, even several Arab observers are in agreement: it was foremost a giant flag-show with parade and some 'fire-power demonstration'.

That was simply a demonstration of something like 'cooperation and unity', a singal of sort, 'we can do it if we want'.

With all the locals feeling left on their own by the West, they can't but work that way. What the West is missing is the fact that this in turn means they'll ever less care about any kind of US/Western-imposed constraints.

That said, reporting about that exercise reminds me of all the 'discussions' about arms embargos of GCC-countries, especially Saudi Arabia - like announced by the EU Parliament etc. For example, even should countries like the UK introduce an embargo agains the KSA (very unlikely, but nevertheless), Saudi Typhoon fleet is meanwhile more advanced than that of the RAF, plus they've got all the stocks of spares they could get. And then, Kuwait is one step short of ordering Typhoons too: once they get them, who can say if their spares are going to remain in Kuwait, just for example? Anybody there really thinking Kuwait would get embargoed too...?

Alternativelly, it's so unlikely that the USA would ever impose such embargos too: the sheer worth of all the weapons sold to GCC-countries is simply too important for the US defence sector - which is short of delivering F-15SAs (plus upgrading existing F-15S' to similar standard), delivering KC-130Js, PGMs etc. Then Qatar is presently getting C-17s and negotiating for F-15s and so on.

Simply no way all of this to get stopped 'right away'. And no way anybody from the West can really control them any more.

That's, IMHO, what's important to conclude - especially about that exercise.

OUTLAW 09

03-19-2016, 01:40 PM

Footage
#Assad's killers break the ceasefire S-W of #Damascus.
Mil Mi-24 in action.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjgrNJPClKU …

Footage
An #Assad war plane bombs #EastGhouta, supporting the regime push to cut it in two
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SLtJPsxo2U …

CrowBat

03-19-2016, 01:47 PM

CrowBat...does this track with what you are seeing.....??

US Centcom denied all #Russia'n airstrikes on #Palmyra .
"They conducted not a single airstrike last week..."
If the CENTCOM has overslept the last week or so - and it seems it has - then sure.

In real world Russians are now carpet-bombing Raqqa. On 16 March, they killed at least 17 civilians (including 5 women and 7 children).

Yesterday (18 March), Assadists flew eight strikes on Raqqa - all of which hit apartment areas, killing 5 women and 7 children.

Today, it's turn on Russians and their Su-30s and Tu-22M3s. They have flown nine strikes so far, bombing the Tel Abyad Street (downtown Raqqa's most busy street, always full of people), Nawawi Mosque (or at least area around it), Industrial City, Nissan Garden and Thakna Neighbourhood. At least 43 civilians were killed and 50 injured.

Note: all of reported casualties are locals, i.e. Syrian civilians. These have de-facto no contact with foreign Jihadists (and their families) that moved in. Besides, the latter are living in the 'posh' part of the city, where there are no Syrians left. Therefore, hardly any of casualties mentioned could be connected to Daesh even in theory.

Just to make sure (although I really can't care any more about being called names for my critique of Russians): the last known/confirmed CENTCOM air strike on anything around this city was flown by UAVs on 12 March, and it hit a Daesh car underway in Moshlab neighbourhood.

OUTLAW 09

03-19-2016, 06:45 PM

OUTLAW 09

03-19-2016, 06:56 PM

Local Syrians Anxious and Upset Over Withdrawal of Russian Forces
http://russia-insider.com/en/politics/latakia-sitizens-grieve-over-withdrawal-russian-forces/ri13441?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter …

OUTLAW 09

03-19-2016, 07:05 PM

Did Obama and Putin do a handshake???????? An interesting take especially if one understands that suddenly Kerry is headed to Moscow for a total of four complete days..the longest visit in a long time.....coupled with the Russian demands that Ukraine cave in the question of elections that would grant Russian influence on Ukraine for years to come.....

http://www.businessinsider.de/russia-withdraw-from-syria-favor-for-us-2016-3?r=US&IR=T

Vladimir Putin just did the US a huge favor
Jonathan Garber

News that Russian President Vladimir Putin had ordered a Russian air wing home from Syria indicates weakness to some observers. Low oil prices forced Putin to abandon the foreign venture.

Geopolitical expert George Friedman disagrees.

Speaking in a Mauldin Economics video, Friedman says the Russian deployment was part of an elaborate US-Russia negotiation. The real issue is further north.

Syria-Ukraine connection

According to Friedman, the US is in a quandary. It needs a stable Syrian government to contain ISIS, but can’t overtly support the brutal Bashar Assad regime.

Meanwhile, Russia desperately wants Ukraine neutralized and outside NATO or other Western security guarantees. Moscow also wants relief from economic sanctions, though Friedman says the sanctions are minor compared to the oil problem.

This set up a bargain.

Russian air strikes damaged ISIS enough to put Assad back in at least a temporarily stable position. The US got what it wanted without leaving any American fingerprints.

The next step will be quiet US-Russia discussions of a new balance in Ukraine.

Publicity coup for Putin

A small but successful deployment outside Russia’s normal sphere was a public-relations coup for Putin, but carries little military significance. With their goal achieved, the Russians could declare victory and go home.

The operation didn’t solve long-term regional challenges. ISIS still controls much of Syria, but Damascus is safe for now. Both the US and Russia need a Ukraine resolution, and it is now significantly closer.

CrowBat

03-19-2016, 07:08 PM

BTW, one of major reasons for Russians 'being forced' to keep on flying air strikes is the low number of operational airframes left with the Assadist air force.

Just for example: there are less than a dozen of MiG-21s that are still operational, so that now indeed even MiG-21UM two-seat conversion trainers were rushed into combat.

OUTLAW 09

03-19-2016, 07:32 PM

Russia pulls most strike aircraft from Syria, now using artillery: U.S.
http://www.unian.info/world/1294848-russia-pulls-most-strike-aircraft-from-syria-now-using-artillery-us.html …

Dozens of Russian airstrikes targeted Palmyra, Maskana and Raqqa today

Several #Russia'n airstrikes hit #Aleppo suburb Hayyan
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=36.320934&lon=37.057571&z=14&m=b …
warplanes also bombing nearby Bayanoun suburb

Ana Press: Assad regime warplanes bomb own position in Deir Ezzour killing 6

Besieged Daraya has no presence of ISIS, Jabhat al-Nusra or any radicals. Just locals defending their town.

Refugees from #Palmyra fled into desert near #Jordan border

OUTLAW 09

03-19-2016, 07:35 PM

CrowBat..have you heard anything on this before this comment.......

#Russia|n delegation in western Harasta, #Damascus disussing the reopening of the int. Damascus-Homs highway

OUTLAW 09

03-19-2016, 07:58 PM

6 airstrikes by #Russia on Youth Housing area in northern #Aleppo to support kurdish #YPG
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=36.242993&lon=37.139583&z=16&m=b …

Russia'n airstrikes on Al-Layramoun in #Aleppo city
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=36.242958&lon=37.108727&z=15&m=b …
Drone above #Idlib city today

Massacre in #Raqqa aftermath #RUSSIA airstrikes on the downtown
50+ martyrs, 17 children y'day MAR 18

SAA dropped 16 barrel bombs so far over #Khan_alSHieh, majority of #Palestine' community
#Damascus cs #Syria MAR 18

Jaish al-Islam rejects Kurds' claim of a federal system in northern Syria & says it considers YPG+PYD terrorist orgs

OUTLAW 09

03-19-2016, 08:04 PM

Ceasefire & peace talks in #Geneva and bombing children in #Syria Deir al-Asafeer
https://www.facebook.com/Syrian.Revolution/videos/vb.420796315726/10156870921635727/?type=2&theater …

By now it is evident that RU has neither withdrawn from Syria nor abandoned Assad. Still retains signif cap in Sy and using it.

The Kurdish-led #Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) seems to be getting closer to the #ISIS-held town of Manbij, with coalition air support

OUTLAW 09

03-20-2016, 07:41 AM

Russian Air Force Mi-28N #201 over Latakia today

Russian use of cyber warfare again on the move......just right after Sweden announced theoir new Defense Doctrine mainly against Russia....

Leading Swedish media suffered cyber attack Saturday evening. Increase in internet traffic from Russia at same time.

Putins #Russian behind massiv hacker attack on #Swedish newspapers. Russia hates everyone and is in a bad mood https://twitter.com/carlbildt/status/711427281860829184 …

OUTLAW 09

03-20-2016, 07:47 AM

Appears Putin evidently lied.....he did not withdraw.....why...Syrian Express is still massively on the move with resupplies for the Russian and Assad militaries....AND those freighters coming back are totally empty and riding high.

Spot the Spetnaz on board Dvinitsa-50. Also the name Alican Deval is visible under the new name.

I really don't think Dvinitsa-50 could be any emptier. It is within the time frame after announcement of withdrawal. She was riding extremely high.

As Yauza left, another cargo ship Dvinitsa-50 (ex-Alican Deval) entered the strait northbound. Empty. No withdrawal?

ВМФ Сф NF Yauza was box escorted by TurkishCoastGuard TCSG312,TCSG12 & Istanbul Maritime Police boat and helicopter

Russian withdrawal from #Syria continues.Wrong direction but it continues!
#ВМФ Yauza transits Bosphorus towards Med riding low in the water thus heavy loaded.

FLOT's Northern Fleet ice breaker cargo & personnel vessel "Yauza" southbound on the Bosphorus towards Mediterranean

OUTLAW 09

03-20-2016, 08:12 AM

UAE under heavy cyber attacks this morning....looks like Russian origin.

After concerted DDoS attacks knocked out Swedish news sites (19/3), concern about vulnerabilities in #Sweden growing

Extensive list of Swedish sites, from major news sites to payment gateways, targeted by an unprecedented DDoS attack

The TWO key cornerstones to Russian non linear warfare are;
1.infomration warfare
2.cyber warfare

OUTLAW 09

03-20-2016, 08:31 AM

Syria N Aleppo #map #FSA operational area limits March 20 #Sawran #Ihtaymilat #Dabiq #ISIS http://edmaps.com/html/syrian_civil_war_in_maps.html …

Civilians being used as shields by IS are still CIVILIANS......war crimes again being committed by Russian air strikes...EVEN though CENTCOM claims the Russians are not bombing????

Syria Video from #Russia'n airstrikes on #Raqqa city
40+ people killed
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TqOVEl9848&feature=youtu.be …

JUST as Russian troops and her mercenaries use Ukrainians as shields to protect them from UAF counter fire...

OUTLAW 09

03-20-2016, 08:34 AM

#Syria #SAA dismantle #IS mine field in #DeirEzzor
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oE-f1dK-FBg …
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=35.201867&lon=40.086021&z=13&m=b …

Aleppo From Meraighal village after #FSA expelled #IS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrgCUfZBoIc …
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=36.601403&lon=37.254982&z=14&m=b …

Syria Heavy clashes in N- #Aleppo along 25km frontline btw #FSA & #IslamicState (Mare - #Turkey border)

Meanwhile #SDF/#YPG do nothing here

OUTLAW 09

03-20-2016, 03:06 PM

Istanbul suicide bomber identified as Islamic State member: minister
http://reut.rs/1RuFVcr

BREAKING: Suicide bomber in #Istanbul terror attack identified as Mehmet Ozturk, a Turkish #ISIS member

Reference Russian info warfare.....
Finnish journalist Jessikka Aro’s inquiry into Russian trolls stirs up a hornet’s nest
http://www.stopfake.org/en/finnish-journalist-jessikka-aro-s-inquiry-into-russian-trolls-stirs-up-a-hornet-s-nest/ …

OUTLAW 09

03-20-2016, 03:25 PM

After taking out #ISIS affiliate Ansar al-Aqsa in Inkhil, 12 SF rebel groups form the Unified Inkhil Army coalition
http://youtu.be/N2UcUmLgS-A

Reports also that #ISIS surprisingly attacked regime forces & captured Kafr Saghir north of the Industrial area in #Aleppo

This is exactly what they deserve after they focussed all their energy on Rebels. Assad/Russia/YPG & their allies

Ghaneema taken by the fighters of the Islamic State in Wilayat Hama, one T-72 'Ural' and a T-55A.

Rebel held Kafrbatna locals voting for a Legislative Body, military personnel not entitled to vote/run for elections
http://youtu.be/DFzHD1S542E

Unfortunate reports that #ISIS has now also recaptured Touqli & Mreghel in north rural #Aleppo from rebels

IS take control of "Furat Cham Hotel" at western entrance of #DeirEzzor city
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=35.360689&lon=40.105870&z=16&m=b …

The Euphrates Hotel is the government's major bastion safeguarding the city's west --

Heavy clashes at all frontlines in #DeirEzzor city during dust storm

Airstrikes on #Aleppo's Sheikh Najjar Industrial Zone after #IS try to storm it from northern entrance http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=36.267390&lon=37.261248&z=14&m=b …
IS retake Mount Areen west of #Palmyra from #Assad-forces

OUTLAW 09

03-20-2016, 03:33 PM

New offensive launched by #ISIS in an attempt to reach #Aleppo city by passing Regime-held areas. #Syria

IS took over Kafr Saghir from #Assad-forces at northern entrance to #Aleppo's Sheikh Najjar Industrial Zone
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=36.292783&lon=37.256184&z=14&m=b …

CIT (en) ‎@CITeam_en
Colonel Baikulov serves in Solnechnogorsk, presumably at the same SOF center as the killed soldier Fedor Zhuravlev.

Homs Province: #ISIS has captured large parts of the important #Shaer gas field and strategic hills around it.

OUTLAW 09

03-20-2016, 03:44 PM

Which states are in #SaudiArabia's 'Islamic' Coalition & what's behind its creation?
http://ow.ly/ZIvYf
pic.twitter.com/3NI9MYQdk5

Putin needs televised wars to distract Russians from their empty larders.
http://econ.st/1SW1PuF

Wonder then just what the Russians were then bombing because it sure was not Islamic State????
Минобороны России
✔ ‎@mod_russia #SYRIA Russian ASF and Syrian AF didn't make strikes on units, which joined ceasefire and informed Russian or US Centres about their location
BTW they misspelled the word Centres........reflects their accuracy of their highly precision air strikes.....

OUTLAW 09

03-20-2016, 04:33 PM

Confirms exactly what has been posted here for the last six months...Russia has been bombing FSA not the Islamic State which Putin totally forgot to mention in his withdrawal statement but wait he has not withdrawn...just drawn down a tad.

Good set of maps from @ABarnardNYT showing what Russia's intervention in Syria accomplished:
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/03/18/world/middleeast/what-russia-accomplished-in-syria.html?smid=tw-share&_r=0 …

Ru MOD: Concentration of Nusra militants in northwest Hama province may point to preparations for offensive https://twitter.com/mod_russia/status/711586312105680896 …
BUT WAIT...it is a regime offensive in the works...Russia always states exactly the opposite.....typical for eastern Ukraine and now Syria...

OUTLAW 09

03-20-2016, 04:57 PM

Janoudieh, Jisr al-Shugour, #Idlib today
http://youtu.be/HVWWTLWOQx4 #Syria

Anti-Nusra protests continue for an 8th day in Maaret Al Nouman, Idleb as people demand FSA Div.13 to return.

56 #YPG were killed in action yesterday at Aleppo's Sheikh Maqsud district, Ain Al Arab and Hasaka and all for #Assad and #Russia's benefit.

Hama : Regime forces at the Breidij barrier fire artillery at #Tal_Hosh.

N. Aleppo : #Turkish artillery shells ISIS positions in #Tuqalli.

E. Homs : ISIS retakes #Al_Mahsa mountain range in the #Qaryatan area.

Hama : Regime forces in #Joreen fire artillery at #Tal_Waset, #Al_Ziyara, and #Mansoura.

Daraa : #FSA Unified #Inkhil army is formed after the battle with the pro-ISIS group Ansar Al Aqsa.

Damascus : #Jaish_Al_Fustat is considered to be part of Jaish Al Umma which was accused by the late by Zahran Alloush of being pro-ISIS.

OUTLAW 09

03-20-2016, 05:00 PM

Damascus : Jaish Al Fustat-Russian pact specifies that #Harasta road will be sole entry point, Barzeh and refugee camp exits will be closed.

Damascus : Suspected pro-ISIS group Jaish Al Fustat signs an agreement with the #Russian delegation in #Harasta.

Latakia : Regime forces located at #Kansaba use heavy artillery and rockets to target #Tuffahiya, #Hadada and #Tardin on #Kurds_Mountain.

Aleppo : Freshly supplied with tanks + ammo by the Regime in Tadmur ISIS retake #Taqli and #Mareghla from the Opposition killing 15 of them.

Hama : On Saturday In this province alone there were 12 breaches of the ceasefire including airstrikes, barrel bombs, artillery and rockets

Hama : Regime forces at the Breidij barrier fire artillery at #Tal_Hosh.

OUTLAW 09

03-20-2016, 05:04 PM

Latakia : Loyalists angry with the Regime over the increasing death toll opened fire on Military Police cars delivering soldiers bodies.

Latakia : Trucks entered Al Rami in Tartous bearing more than 200 bodies and other villages and districts received the same number

Latakia : Loyalists say the death toll has reached an unprecedented heights after the Russian intervention forced strategic changes

Latakia : The Russian strategy was to ignite multiple battle fronts in an attempt to control many liberated areas from the Opposition.

Latakia : Increasing death is due to lack of training. Regime advertised fictional jobs and then sent to the front with no training.

Latakia : Hassan Muhyeddin from Tartus answered a job offer in Hama and was dragged to the front with an AK, he was killed the same day.

OUTLAW 09

03-20-2016, 05:05 PM

Aleppo : The power plant in #Maskane is off-line yesterday after a Regime air attack that killed two.

E. Homs : From inside #Tadmur where the #Russians made 100 airstrikes yesterday the spirit of #TheRevolutionContinues.

This Saturday March 19th. 2016 #Syria's Local Coordination Committees documented 78 civilian deaths including 9 women and 13 children.
Daraa : Regime forces fired yesterday a Fil surface-to-surface missile into the #Tariq_Sad neighborhood of the capital

Hasaka : #YPG call for reinforcements in #Tal_Tamr after ISIS infiltrates the suburbs of the town.

Hama : Opposition infiltrate #Al_Rabiya where they killed 20 Regime militiamen destroyed one tank and seized another along with weapons.

Aleppo : ISIS fight Syrian Democratic Forces south of #Sarrin at the village of #Maqela.

Aleppo : Syrian Democratic Forces clash with ISIS west of #Tishreen_Dam.

OUTLAW 09

03-20-2016, 06:01 PM

Putin threatens to shoot down any aircraft in #Syria (repeats:"ANY!") that is perceived as a threat to RF military.

OUTLAW 09

03-20-2016, 06:02 PM

http://20committee.com/2014/03/29/un...g-provocation/

Understanding Provocation

March 29, 2014

One of the most powerful tools the Kremlin has in its secret arsenal of Special War is provocation, what they call provokatsiya. While Moscow cannot claim to have invented this technique, which has existed as long as there have been secret services, there’s no doubt that Russians have perfected the art and taken it to a whole new level of sophistication and deviousness. At times, it can become a strategy all on its own (not always, mind you, with edifying results).

Provokatsiya simply means taking control of your enemies in secret and encouraging them to do things that discredit them and help you. You plant your own agents provocateurs and flip legitimate activists, turning them to your side. When you’re dealing with extremists to start with, getting them to do crazy, self-defeating things isn’t often difficult. In some cases, you simply create extremists and terrorists where they don’t exist. This is causing problems in order to solve them, and since the Tsarist period, Russian intelligence has been known to do just that.

While this isn’t a particularly nice technique, it works surprisingly well, particularly if you don’t care about bloody and messy consequences. Credulous Westerners are a big help. Perhaps the most infamous Kremlin case of provokatsiya was the TRUST operation of the 1920s. In the aftermath of the Russian Civil War, Bolshevik control was incomplete and Moscow faced the problem that a large number of Whites, their recent enemies, had gotten sanctuary in Europe, where they plotted the reconquest of Holy Russia.

Soon the White emigration klatched in the cafes of Paris and Berlin was invigorated by tantalizing rumors that there existed a secret anti-Bolshevik movement underground in the USSR, calling itself the Monarchist Union of Central Russia. Before long, prominent Whites gave this shadowy group their political and financial support, as did several Western intelligence services who desired the end – or at least the harassment – of Bolshevism. Intelligence from inside the Soviet Union was a scarce commodity at the time. Some emigres were even prompted to clandestinely return to Russia in the hope of aiding the resistance. Among them was the famous revolutionary Boris Savinkov, who had broken with the Bolsheviks and was one of Moscow’s top public enemies.

But word of Savinkov dried up once he reached Russia, as it did for all the emigres and spies who tried to enter the Soviet Union to establish contact with the underground resistance. They were dead. The TRUST operation was all a mirage; there in fact was no Monarchist Union of Central Russia, it was a front for Soviet intelligence. By 1926, Western intelligence began to suspect the truth, but by that point the Soviet secret police had been running their false-flag operation for five years, during which time it had eliminated or neutralized several of its top enemies while causing them, and several Western spy services, to waste time, money, and energy on a mirage that was actually Soviet-run.

Russians have employed this crafty model countless times since, as have the many intelligence services that have received training in the dark arts from Moscow. Cuban intelligence is notorious for this – it can be reliably assumed that many of the most hard-line anti-Castro exiles are actually on their payroll – while in the 1990s the Algerian military intelligence service, the feared DRS, executed an enormous version of the TRUST operation against its Islamist foes, defeating them in detail, but at the cost of thousands of innocent lives.

This model must be kept in mind during current discussions of Ukraine, where the Kremlin assures us that the government in Kyiv are “fascists” planning a “Nazi” takeover. While there are right-wingers in Ukraine who have troubling views, their numbers are inflated for effect by Moscow, something which too many Westerners accept uncritically. Moreover, some of the most hardline Ukrainian nationalists are secretly under Moscow’s control, and there’s nothing new about this.

The Soviet secret police infiltrated far-right Ukrainian emigre groups in the 1920s and 1930s, provoking them into self-defeating acts and killing off their leaders. Similar provocation was employed after the Second World War by Stalin’s secret police to crush resistance in Western Ukraine, which lasted into the early 1950s, while throughout the Cold War, Ukrainian rightists abroad were targets for surveillance, harassment, and sometimes assassination by the KGB.

Since the Soviet collapse, similar Russian provocations in Ukraine are broadly understood by security circles in Kyiv, which is part of why the SBU, Ukraine’s Security Service, is now attempting to reign in far-right groups like the Right Sector (Pravyy Sektor): not only are they potentially dangerous to democracy, they may be on Moscow’s payroll too. This has come to a head due to the death this week of the notorious far-right activist Oleksandr Muzychko, AKA Sashko Billy, a vocal hater of Russians and Jews, who fell in a murky shootout with police in the Western Ukrainian city of Rivne. Muzychko was so extreme that he actually fought in Chechnya in the 1990s with the local resistance – Moscow accused him of war crimes there – and his funeral turned into a far-right rally against the government in Kyiv. Predictably, all this got huge coverage in Russian media, which is eager to demonstrate the “fascist” nature of all Ukrainians who do not wish to be ruled by the Kremlin.

Unfortunately, we can expect more provocations as this crisis continues. A directly relevant example of what may happen is a series of events in Croatia in 1991, another country where the position of Jews is politically sensitive due to the Second World War and the Holocaust. As Yugoslavia was collapsing, Slobodan Milosevic and his Serbian allies constantly parroted the line that the government in newly independent Croatia was really “fascist” and they planned to resurrect Nazi-era war crimes against minorities, including Jews, and intervention was required from outside the country to prevent “genocide” (if this all sounds to you remarkably like Kremlin propaganda now against Ukraine, it should). As in Ukraine today, there were neo-fascists in Croatia in 1991, but they were politically marginal and considered a threat by the government.

Just like the Soviet Union, Communist Yugoslavia had manipulated, harassed, and killed off Croatian nationalists for decades. In a Balkan version of the TRUST, in the late 1940s, Tito’s secret police lured would-be guerrilla fighters into the country – you knew this was coming – to support a shadowy resistance army: of course it didn’t exist, and it served to get the infiltrators killed. For decades, Yugoslav secret police kept close tabs on Croatian emigres involved in anti-regime activities, employing provocation to discredit them very effectively. Several dozen Croatian exiles in the West were also murdered by Yugoslav assassins. Croatians understood that many of their most radical nationalists were actually under Yugoslav control.

Fears that newly independent Croatia was under threat by “fascists” – just as Belgrade was telling everyone loudly – reached a fever pitch in the summer of 1991 with a series of attacks on Jewish targets in Zagreb. That August, bombs went off at a Jewish community center and the main Jewish cemetery; although there were no casualties, the explosions caused a panic in Croatia’s tiny Jewish community, particularly because there were other bombings at the same time on rail lines in several locations, leading to a sense of anarchy. Soon unverified reports emerged placing blame for the attacks on the government, explicitly fingering President Franjo Tudjman as the figure behind the bombings.

This was all strenuously denied by Tudjman and his government, which moved quickly to reassure Jews they were in no danger. This was all a significant distraction while Croatia was fighting for its life as Yugoslav troops and Serbian irregulars took over one-third of the country that summer and fall. The bombings and accompanying propaganda earned Croatia a black eye internationally when it least needed it, and before long Jewish groups were pondering a mass evacuation from the country, just in case.

It turned out it was all one big provocation engineered by the Yugoslav military’s Counterintelligence Service (KOS), which boasted a substantial agent network in Croatia, including several prominent right-wingers. The Zagreb bombings and accompanying anti-Croatia propaganda were termed Operation LABRADOR by KOS, which considered it to be highly successful. On the heels of the attacks, Zagreb security services worked hard to roll up the KOS networks in the country, but by that point the damage had been done. The false-flag bombings were a reminder to the world that Zagreb was “really” under the control of “fascists,” a lie that the Tudjman government never fully overcame in certain quarters.

Provocation combined with propaganda can be powerfully effective in transmitting Big Lies about people, places, and even whole countries, especially in times of crisis. The Kremlin has been honing this unpleasant skill for more than a century. The next time you hear about violence in Ukraine – and, sadly, you certainly will – it’s good to remember that provokatsiya is real.

OUTLAW 09

03-20-2016, 06:10 PM

Hassan Hassan ‏@hxhassan
My new article about why the Kurdish plan in northern Syria isn't as foolhardy as many think
http://www.thenational.ae/opinion/is-the-kurdish-plan-foolhardy-or-first-rate … via @TheNationalUAE

Michael Weiss
✔ ‎@michaeldweiss Syrian Arab tribes unite in response to Kurdish federalism announcement:
http://en.eldorar.com/node/1783

OUTLAW 09

03-20-2016, 06:23 PM

Apparently ISIS killed around 30+ Hezbollah fighters in Palmyra all bodies returned to Lebanon today

Syria: very interesting interview with Abu Issa, the leader of Liwa Thuwar #Raqqa (#FSA)
http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2016/03/syria-raqqa-revolutionaries-brigade-liberation-isis.html# …

Hezbollah member fled to Germany...had fought in Syria
Before Mr Barkouky denies membership of #Hezbollah, the evidence shows the opposite. #Lüneburg #Germany

@THE_47th Report on what was missing from aid shipment to Madaya:
https://www.facebook.com/LCCSy/posts/1342271062466693 …
https://www.facebook.com/UROMZ/photos/a.1726176877600413.1073741828.1726079774276790/1752981664919934/?type=3&theater …
BM-27 near Al Muqassam ~15km west of Palmyra
http://wikimapia.org/#lat=34.527251&lon=38.104438&z=18&m=b … [0:19-0:23] [0:50-0:53] https://youtu.be/q8oUHF9K_js?t=18s …

While the Russian MoD states this evidence on the ground indicates no one can find the so called 60 tons of Russian aid.....
Минобороны России 
‏@mod_russia
#SYRIA For 24 hrs gov.convoys delivered over 60 tons of cargo to al-Tell,Mnin(#Damascus),#Etbaa(#Daraa),Tleisia,Zabadi ,Marzaf,Zogba(#Hama)

OUTLAW 09

03-20-2016, 06:55 PM

Possible photo of the T90 hit by a TOW found on a Russian VK (Russian Facebook) page......

Possible photo of the T90 hit by TOW
Shtora is broken
https://vk.com/wall-66283435?q=%23%D0%A1%D0%B8%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%8F&z=photo-66283435_408279628%2Fwall-66283435_574531 …

Ka-52 flying unarmed so far ,today #Lattakia

OUTLAW 09

03-20-2016, 06:56 PM

FSA "Elite Forces" going after #ISIS in the Abu Khashab area in rural #DeirEzzor, #Syria
http://youtu.be/MNplthRUGjE

These FSA “Elite Forces” are meant to be the anti-ISIS forces in eastern & northern #Syria, some will reportedly head to Tal Abyad soon

What Russia is keeping in Syria: ~20 aircraft, S-400 air defense system, attack helicopters, 2000 soldiers. http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160320/1036618424/russian-forces-syria.html …

Zip archive of +750 breathtaking photos taken by @lensdimashqi in #Damascus during 2011-2016:
https://mega.nz/#!GA8gHI4Z!FW5azlqA5vt1anF_ONwmZdHWKvktF9r0Ue8DdQ1 5xEk …

OUTLAW 09

03-21-2016, 07:00 AM

Kurds, Assad/YPG and the IS better start digger deeper trenches.......

Turkey to Begin Massive Operations on #Syria's Border -
http://beyondthelevant.com/2016/03/20/turkey-to-begin-massive-operations-on-syrian-border/ …

Guessing this is the long planned beginning of the joint KSA and Turkish moves against IS that Russia has actually been warning against EVEN when he does not attack IS which is the single reason Putin has given publicly for moving into Syria.....

Report Claims #Iran Mobilizing #Iraq Militias To Enter #Syria To Fill #Russia's Vaccuum -
http://beyondthelevant.com/2016/03/21/report-claims-iran-mobilizing-iraqi-militias-to-enter-syria-to-fill-russian-vaccuum/ …
Looks like the Russian Orthodox Church will get it's "Holy War" that it declared six months ago......

BUT WAIT Tehran has been already sending in Shia mercenaries that they have been recruiting....

OUTLAW 09

03-21-2016, 07:05 AM

Now we are seeing the extent of the failure of the Obama Syrian FP......actually there was never one to begin with...was simply all media focused comments and no actions.....AND we see now the effects of the Iran Deal hard at work...WHEN Obama placed his entire legacy in the hands of Iranian "moderates".....

Iranian General close to Khameini calls for annexation of #Bahrain ... again -
http://beyondthelevant.com/2016/03/21/iranian-general-close-to-khameini-calls-for-annexation-of-bahrain-again/ …

OUTLAW 09

03-21-2016, 07:12 AM

Kataib Hezbollah vows to fight US soldiers in Iraq Claims US only in country to stop IS from being defeated http://www.alsumaria.tv/news/163301/%D9%83%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%A8-%D8%AD%D8%B2%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%84%D9%87-%D8%AA%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%B9%D8%AF-%D8%A8%D9%80%D9%85%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%88%D9%85%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D9%86%D9%88%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3/ar …

KH itself raises an interesting question we never seem to hear from US MSM nor from the Obama WH...what the heck are they doing fighting FSA inside Syria and not IS in Syria??......or for that matter why are not fighting fully in Iraq...because...they answer to IRGC anyway...something never talked about even when the US was in Iraq fighting them as a terrorist group.

OUTLAW 09

03-21-2016, 07:14 AM

Iranian "false flag attacks" in order to blame the Sunni's and heighten the sectarian violence ARE never talked about in US MSM nor by virtually anyone.....

Video claims Iranian caught in Iraq with 10kg/explosives for Shiite shrine in Sulaymaniyah -
http://www.slaati.com/2016/03/17/p510454.html …

NOR has the very close historical ties between AQ/IS and the Iranian IRGC have ever been thoroughly analyzed by western MSM....NOR Khomeini's deep desire to lead the entire Muslim world.....Sunni and Shia....under one banner....in what he called the "Islamic Revolution"....and still today strongly supported and carried out by IRGC.....

OUTLAW 09

03-21-2016, 07:23 AM

TURKMEN RECEIVE RUSSIAN ANTI-TANK WEAPONS
http://youtu.be/W_mT1Isq14s?a
http://fb.me/PKuQ30vB

Former envoy Khalilzad says US knew Soleimani entering Baghdad Green Zone in '06 to push #Iraqi PM to stand down.
http://on.wsj.com/1LvFDG9
I knew in 2006 of these "rumors" and was surprised that they were never followed up on by the US IC....nor was the closeness of the KH to IRGC ever really thoroughly analyzed especially in light of the IRGC smuggling of EFP IED parts into Iraq.....

We were so focused on the Sunni insurgency but never realized and or wanted to realize the Shia could be just as jihadist as the Sunni's....AND even until 2010 we never fully wanted to analyze the Iranian "takeover" of Iraq....

OUTLAW 09

03-21-2016, 07:31 AM

Assad loyalists turned desperate after Russia's drawdown SYRIA NEWS | ZAMAN ALWSL -
http://goo.gl/R9uQet

Reports of a bomb attack on the airforce intelligence branch in Harasta, #Damascus, #Syria

Reports that foreign Shia militias have withdrawn from southern Aleppo and handed their positions to regime forces

Aleppo #IS field executed 7 #Assad-forces in former infantry school base -captured yday in Kafr Saghir

The population of Darayya used to be 250,000+, now it's less than 2,000. This city is a 10 minute drive from central Damascus.

One cannot imagine that it is now totally destroyed...a city of 250K plus and it is now only rubble....that is the Assad and Putin war aim...destroy anything that is Sunni and drive them out in a ethnic cleansing process replacing them with Shia fighters and their families....NOT talked about by western MSM.....

All of what has been totally destroyed by Assad's AF/artillery and now Putin's AF/artillery will never be rebuilt as there is not enough available money in the entire world to cover the rebuilding costs......

OUTLAW 09

03-21-2016, 07:36 AM

33 Martyrs
[16 FIghters 5 Children and 2 women]
15 #Daraa
5 #DeirEzzor
4 #Aleppo
4 #Hasaka
2 #Hama
2 #Homs
1 #Damascus
#Syria MAR 20

RUSSIA airstrikes on #Deir_Hafir earlier this morning
#Aleppo cs #Syria MAR 21

URGENT
Reports of #Shohdaa_alYarmouk #Isis, took control over #Tasel village
#Daraa cs #Syria MAR 21

URGENT
#Shohdaa_alYarmouk using Masjids loudspeakers in #Tasel, "demanding" #FSA & armed men to show up & give up their weapons
#Syria MAR 21
Do not think that will ever happen...but heck at least IS tries.......

OUTLAW 09

03-21-2016, 07:41 AM

Middle East Eye
‏@MiddleEastEye
"Let’s not forget Iran is an extremist state", writes @thewarjournal
http://ow.ly/ZFif7

Would actually recommend reading this article for another perspective we never seem to get in western MSM nor out of the Obama WH especially during the Iran Deal debate and now Iranian fighting against Sunni's in a Sunni majority nation sate...Syria....

OUTLAW 09

03-21-2016, 08:24 AM

Confirms what many have been stating over and over AND YET western MSM and the Obama WH seems to totally want to overlook....

You really have to read this. #Iran’s satellite militias have #Iraq in a choke hold.
http://bigstory.ap.org/urn:publicid:ap.org:9696d8589a774c33a2e29aaf969933 0c …

Iran has effectively militarily annexed Iraq....if one looks at the Iranian expansion...they now control/influence and or have annexed FOUR Arab capitals....AND Obama wonders why the Saudi's are getting more and more aggressive with Iran and why there will never be as Obama stated..." a cold peace" between the two.......

OUTLAW 09

03-21-2016, 12:52 PM

A convoy of Shia militias leaving southern Alepp they have been located in eastern Homs near Palmyra and near Alqaryateen to launch another offensive against the Islamic stateo

Children wounded victims of #SAA terrorists shelling on #Hurairah town
#Damascus cs #Syria MAR 21

The Assad regime's reliance on SAA armor to act as a counter-weight against Iran's militias broke down in late 2015.

Russia'n airstrikes on #Palmyra city in desert of #Syria

Regime helicopters R dropping TNT barrels on Idlib rif; West Jisr Al Shughur rif; Still an attempt to make a breakthrough from Latkia.

Syria SOHR claim 26 marines from #Assad-forces killed in desert town of #Palmyra by #IS

Multiple Assad airstrikes struck the Marj area in eastern Ghouta today so will #Russia start shooting Assad jets down?

OUTLAW 09

03-21-2016, 12:57 PM

‏@AP
BREAKING: Russia warns the U.S. it might use force against those in Syria violating cease-fire.

Well in this case it'll be using force against itself, Hezbollah, Iranian/Iraqi militias & Assad forces

BUT WAIT this Russian threat is actually directed at Turkey and KSA....BUT WAIT...not so sure Russia wants to physically and actually attack Turkey as it has virtually no real combat strength to counter a land incursion much less a strong Turkish/KSA air force incursion.....BESIDES both the Turks and the Saudi's will argue they are going after IS WHICH Russia has basically failed to do in over six months.....

OUTLAW 09

03-21-2016, 01:27 PM

First Madaya & now Rastan. The new starvation crisis thanks to the Assad regime
http://en.eldorar.com/node/1803

Russia has totally failed under their own so called CoH to provide the agreed to amount of humanitarian aid under UN auspices....a KET cornerstone in the CoH pushed by Russia..

OUTLAW 09

03-21-2016, 01:31 PM

OUTLAW 09

03-21-2016, 01:37 PM

Dozens of Jaish al-Tahrir fighters reached Jebal Turkman (#Latakia) 2 reinforce Rebel lines.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RzY-G2OqNY …

Good example by #Ahrar_al_Sham of own logistics: food supply on frontlines in #Hama. #Syria
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQgxyLfG6NY …

GoPro footage (Suqur al-Jebal) of liberation of al-Sakhr (N. #Hama)
Note the BMP slat armor
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GYWWr9KZaA …

Last defense is hill with Medieval Castle at #Palmyra gates. Its seizure will inevitably lead to fall of the city.

Most difficult move in #Palmyra Battle is 2 reach city itself bcz main road overlooked by mountains ideal 4 ambushes

Pro-Regime forces taking heavy toll in #Palmyra battle: reports of several Russian soldiers & over 70 #Hezbollah fighters killed last days.

OUTLAW 09

03-21-2016, 01:55 PM

Kuwait has started deporting ppl who have links to Hezbollah. This should have happened a lot sooner...

Wow Russian propaganda caught out again......
Syrian rebel group deny bs claim that Russian delegation visited Ghouta for reconciliation talks lol
http://en.eldorar.com/node/1797

U.S. is being seen as taking sides in sectarian disputes and leading #Syria to partition, says @TheActualAmmar
http://bit.ly/1LzrNlW

An anti-Assad, #FSA-style protest in East Ghouta as seen from a drone.
http://goo.gl/KYGUlU

OUTLAW 09

03-21-2016, 01:57 PM

OUTLAW 09

03-21-2016, 02:24 PM

Muhanad Seloom ‎@M_Seloom
Another MP confirms: Hizbollah militia in #Iraq illegally holds 1400 Sunnis in its prisons
http://www.alsumaria.tv/news/163388/alsumaria-news/ar …

Just as Assad holds over 200K Sunni's in his prisons...and yet the western MSM does not talk about it.....interesting is it not????

Daraa: #ISIS captured town of #Tasil and village of #Adaman from #Syria|n rebel groups

OUTLAW 09

03-21-2016, 02:28 PM

Russian Syrian Express headed the wrong way for a so called Putin "declared withdrawal"......????

FLOT's Landing ship 158 Tsezar Kunikov southbound on Bosphorus, contributing to the "reverse withdrawal" from Syria

Withdrawal Syria continues but the wrong direction. Heavily-laden #ВМФ #ЧФ BSF 158 Tsezar Kunikov transits Bosphorus

Appears Putin was lying again.........

OUTLAW 09

03-21-2016, 07:18 PM

Russia can tell you who attacks #Assad forces S-W of #Aleppo.
But not who is N-E of it.
Protip: Starts with I ...

Not) funny:
#Russia acknowledges that #Assad is not fighting "Nusra" but the #FSA in Latakia.

AFP news agency Verified account 
‏@AFP
#BREAKING Russia slams US for 'unacceptable' delay on Syria ceasefire enforcement

Assad and #Russia has violated the ceasefire multiple times. Now they start complaining when rebels start shooting back.

OUTLAW 09

03-21-2016, 07:38 PM

MFA Russia
✔ ‎@mfa_russia Common #ISSG response procrastination is dangerous. In this context, Russia doesn’t rule out unilateral steps against Syrian truce violators

BUT WAIT notice Russia does not once single out Assad and his Shia mercenaries as being responsible for their truce violations....

Russia is attempting to force the enforcement of the CoH onto the US....
MFA Russia
✔ ‎@mfa_russia Russia is interested in devising the procedure of common #ISSG response to ceasefire violations in #Syria

OUTLAW 09

03-21-2016, 07:53 PM

BreakingNews
#FSA launches large-scale offensive vs. #ISIS-offshoot in S-W #Daraa province.

Russia's Effort to Prevent Terrorism at Sochi Games Backfiring Now in Middle East & Caucasus
http://windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com.tr/2016/03/putins-effort-to-prevent-terrorism-at.html …

OUTLAW 09

03-21-2016, 08:12 PM

Yury Barmin
‏@yurybarmin
Another question is how Russia will respond to violations if it doesn't have ground forces in Syria? Airstrikes aren't too precise for this

Yury Barmin ‏@yurybarmin
Interestingly, Russia made the warning publicly despite the fact that John Kerry is coming to Moscow tonight.

Note neither Assad, nor Russia, nor Israel, nor the US coalition ever targeted #ISIS #LSY de facto safe Zone bordering Jor/ISR..
Still don't understand how LSY are still breathing in the south.
Oh, I forgot the Jordanian/US backed MoC were banned from fighting them

@khalidi_4_sham their number doesn't even reach a 1000. Southern Front has around 25k fighters but they haven't even attempted to fight them

27 regime fighters have been killed and 25 wounded accidently in a Russian airstrike near Palmyra

OUTLAW 09

03-21-2016, 08:15 PM

Ahrar Sappers are seen here planting Victim Operated Pressure plate (?) #IED's.
https://youtu.be/cpxGJLUXcH0

Most battles in Syria are slow motion affairs. Characterized by reliance on firepower and low troop densities.

"The costs of #Obama’s #Syria policy are apparent to everyone but him"
http://wpo.st/uRbN1

OUTLAW 09

03-21-2016, 08:28 PM

Exclusive. Rebels (#FSA Al Nukhbat brigade) captured 5 locations in Deir Ezor province #Syria, more below :

Exclusive: #Syria-n Opposition ready deploy Humvee vehicles, after they clear #ISIS from #Jordan border, attack soon

Daesh affiliated Shuhada Yarmouk has occupied the town of Tasil in southern #Daraa, #FSA forces are mobilising for a counter attack

OUTLAW 09

03-21-2016, 08:29 PM

Russia announces plan for unilateral military action vs. ceasefire violations from tomorrow. Rising tension w. US:

OUTLAW 09

03-21-2016, 08:32 PM

Foreign Affairs ‏@ForeignAffairs
Syria is now home to the largest, most capable concentration of Sunni jihadists in the world
http://ow.ly/ZJ1u0

Heavy fighting between 1) pro-#ISIS militants & 2) FSA, Ahrar & Nusra in #Deraa. Nusra's Tariq al-Musalama killed:

Odd to talk about #IS's genocide and stay silent on five years of systematic killing by #Assad
http://bit.ly/1S1kd09

Meanwhile …
#Nasrallah has just said that when #Hizballah starts the next war with #Israel they reserve the right to hit nuke facilities.

Pro-Assad media: #Iran has sent the Guard Corps and Afghan Shi'i jihadists to reconquer Palmyra from IS.
http://bit.ly/1RwfqDx

Russia Steps up Airstrikes as #Syrian Army Prepares for Final Assault on Palmyra...
http://russia.trendolizer.com/2016/03/russia-steps-up-airstrikes-as-syrian-army-prepares-for-final-assault-on-palmyra.html …

Friendly-fire in Palmyra kills 17 Syrian Marines
http://bit.ly/1pvFUi0

IS claim the kill by huge #SVBIED detonation while other reports suggest a defectuous #Russian airstrike.

This Russian ugly war
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o--7XlQAp8M …
In Ukraine, in Syria. With destroyed schools, hospitals, killed children

CrowBat

03-22-2016, 05:23 AM

CrowBat...confirms what you have been saying for the last weeks......

Few days after Russia « withdrawal », it is becoming clearer that Russian intervention in #Syria greatly worsened Regime lack of manpower

Frustration grows due to the huge losses of pro-Regime forces past months & military stalemate witnessed since 1 month on #Latakia front

On #Palmyra front, Regime units as Suqur al-Sahara & Tiger forces, central in Regime media propaganda, appear to be largely insignificantThe 'regime' - read: IRGC & Russians - have re-deployed the entire '3rd Division' from NE Lattakia to Palmyra front.

That means, they're now concentrating following forces there:
- 1 brigade Hezbollah/Lebanon (at least 1, possibly more)
- Liwa Dir as-Sahel (Coastal Shield Brigade, these 'Syrian Marines' one can read about on Twitter; this is actually an all-Alawite militia)
- Liwa Suqour as-Sahra (Desert Hawks Brigade, BPM's Sunni loyalist militia)
- Liwa Fatimioun (IRGC's Afghan Hazara mercenaries)
- Liwa Haydareyen (IRGC regulars and Basiji)
- Tiger Force (BPM's Sunni loyalist PMC)
- Liwa al-Qods al-Filistini (PFLP-GQ, Palestinians)
+ a bunch of different gangs of Iraqi Shi'a Jihadists.

...not to forget at least one battalion and several artillery batteries of Russian Army...

As usually, absolutely no trace of 'SAA' wide and far - and after two years of ever more of such situations, I doubt we'll ever see it again.

Coupled with comments I posted yesterday about the losses of over 200 being brought back to the Assad supporting communities.....Keep in mind: that was just 200 for one minor town: over 500 were delivered to Tartous, more than 1000 to Lattakia... it seems the regime was keeping all of its casualties back in order to keep spirits high for the last six months: now it's 'pay time' for its own loyalists...

CrowBat

03-22-2016, 05:26 AM

Yury Barmin
‏@yurybarmin
Another question is how Russia will respond to violations if it doesn't have ground forces in Syria? Airstrikes aren't too precise for thisAh, the air strikes aren't precise... now how comes...?

Anyway: Russia has at least 10 battalions of its troops deployed in Syria, meanwhile.

OUTLAW 09

03-22-2016, 05:39 AM

OUTLAW 09

03-22-2016, 05:49 AM

Russian Syria Express shows no slacking due to a so called Putin withdrawal....

FLOT's Ropucha's 127 Minsk & 031 A.Otrakovsky transiting northbound towards Russia, returning from Syria.

Water line suggests Otrakovsky is heavier than Minsk. Pretty close to it's 4080tons displacement. Minsk, not at all.

Since rumored attacks on Ru ships, they were transiting 1by1. Today is the first tandem transit since then.

ВМФ #ЧФ BSF 158 Tsezar Kunikov gets special attention from Turkish Navy: @Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk observes the LST

Ropucha Class Large Landing Craft S.Kunikov didn't look empty at all. In fact pretty close to full waterline.

FLOT's Landing ship 158 Tsezar Kunikov southbound on Bosphorus, contributing to the "reverse withdrawal" from Syria

CrowBat

03-22-2016, 06:39 AM

CrowBat...I understand the military important of Palmyra for IS as the connecting point between Iraqi and Syrian positions but why is Assad and Putin so determined to take it at the cost of destroying the fighting morale of what ground forces they have left??
This is a combination of 'prestige' and 'useful position'.

For the IRGC, Palmyra is important in order to re-establish road-links to the RGD/NDF garrision in Dayr az-Zawr. The latter is presently supplied with helicopters, which is obviously a big logistical burden.

Also, the airport in Palmyra used to be a major delivery point for IRGC's reinforcements and arms delivered to Syria, back in 2013-2014. It's 'easier' to keep such ops low-profile there than in Hama because the place is so isolated.

Third point is the threat of that Saudi/Jordan/US-supported 'New Syrian Army': this has captured a huge swat of (empty) area stretching from Dmeyr in the West all the way to Taft border crossing to Iraq, and is presently advancing in direction of al-Bukamal (on Syrian-Iraqi border). If the IRGC & consorts fails to take Palmyra, this would enable the NSyA to attack the Daesh there from the south. So, 'better' to have that big concentration of troops there, and be the first to defeat the Daesh in Palmyra.

Finally, everybody - i.e. Assadists, IRGC, and the Daesh - is keen to destroy Palmyra. The place was staunchly anti-Assad: there was a big uprising there in 2012, but that was crushed by Assadists. When Daesh took over it slaughtered whatever was left of revolutionaries (there are still a few hiding inside the city, but there will be to nothing left of the city once this battle is over).

OUTLAW 09

03-22-2016, 06:52 AM

Might be a totally dumb question then why not simply flow by and encircle Palmyra isolating it completely or is in your opinion the air base so important for the over all control of Syria via IRGC and Hezbollah just as they are doing now inside Iraq via their Iranian IRGC supported Shia warlord militias like KH which now has the current Iraqi Shia government highly concerned.

Then on top of all this it does appear that when Assad gave his press conference where he stated he was going to reconquer Syria and the Russian UNSC Ambassador appeared to whistle him back Russia really was not whistling him back....then declared "the pull out" to just give the illusion to the West that they were not in "agreement" which if you read all Russian statements they actually agree with Assad's assessment.....

The reason I say this is that the Russian Syria Express sealift operation is just as strong now as it was before the Putin declared "withdrawal"......

OUTLAW 09

03-22-2016, 06:55 AM

One of the best individuals at understanding overall Russian intent......

Mark Galeotti ‎@MarkGaleotti has an article (behind a pay wall) 'Hybrid, ambiguous, and non-linear? How new is #Russia’s ‘new way of war’?
Spoiler: not very https://inmoscowsshadows.wordpress.c...ew-way-of-war/ (https://inmoscowsshadows.wordpress.com/2016/03/22/new-article-hybrid-ambiguous-and-non-linear-how-new-is-russias-new-way-of-war/) …

OUTLAW 09

03-22-2016, 07:12 AM

Another perfect example of just how driving on one's legacy as just about the only foreign policy this WH has that will be causing the next incoming President some serious heartburn whoever it is.....

If we go back to the Obama Cairo speech which in effect triggered the "Arab Springs" in the ME he basically stated two things...his support for conservative Islam, the retaining of the current ME governments but a not so subtle call to the young of the ME...there needs to be a democratic movement towards change.

So after declaring his support of conservative Islam he then batters the bastion of conservative Islam...KSA.

Now after beating them up again publicly in his Goldberg Obama Doctrine interview he is traveling to a far far different Saudi influenced GCC which is involved in numerous Tehran initiated proxy wars...not the other way around that Obama seems intent on spreading via disinformation.

NOW after he has agitated against the GCC and the Saudi's he is throwing it over the fence to the next President...SO he does have after all a strategy...all talk and no actions for eight long years of neo isolationism.....hoping that the world and the US public does not recognize it.....

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/21/opinion/a-presidential-rebuke-to-the-s...

A Presidential Rebuke to the Saudis

By THE EDITORIAL BOARDMARCH 21, 2016

It is rare for an American president to skewer a friendly government publicly. But that’s what President Obama did last week in presenting a well-considered analysis of troubles in the relationship with Saudi Arabia.

Mr. Obama has long regarded Saudi Arabia and other Sunni Arab countries as repressive societies whose strict interpretation of Islam contributes to extremism. In a blunt and lengthy discussion with Jeffrey Goldberg in The Atlantic, Mr. Obama included the Saudis among other “free rider” allies that ask the United States to fight their battles for them and “exploit American ‘muscle’ for their own narrow and sectarian ends.”

Mr. Obama, who has blamed Saudi Arabia and other Sunni Arab governments for encouraging anti-American militancy, also told Mr. Goldberg that the Saudis should try harder to “share the neighborhood” by achieving “some sort of cold peace” with their enemies in Iran.

The Saudis promptly fired back. Writing in the Arab News, Prince Turki al-Faisal, a former Saudi intelligence chief, argued that Mr. Obama does not appreciate all his government has done, including sharing intelligence in the fight against terrorism. But the fact is, this decades-long partnership, born of antipathy to the Soviet Union and an American reliance on Saudi oil, is growing increasingly brittle.
Photo

President Obama meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef of Saudi Arabia at the White House in 2015. Credit Doug Mills/The New York Times

The Saudis have become so afraid that Shiite Iran will dominate the region that they tried to kill the Iranian nuclear deal, even though it sharply curbed Tehran’s nuclear activities. The Saudi-Iranian competition has fanned proxy wars in Syria, Yemen and Iraq. The Saudis’ intervention in Yemen has further fueled a disastrous war there between a Saudi-supported government and the Iranian-backed Houthis. And they have supported some of the more radical rebel groups fighting President Bashar al-Assad of Syria, who is backed by Iran.

Given all this, it’s little wonder that Prince Turki scoffed at Mr. Obama’s “share the neighborhood” idea.

As far back as 2002, Mr. Obama, in a speech, referred to Saudi Arabia and Egypt as America’s “so called” allies and said they needed to stop suppressing dissent and tolerating corruption and inequality. More recently, according to Mr. Goldberg’s article, Mr. Obama has also asserted that there can be no comprehensive solution to Islamist terrorism until Islam comes to terms with the modern world. Unfortunately, the Saudi royal family, now in the hands of a shaky new leadership team, and with the Saudi economy stressed by falling oil prices, shows no serious interest in enlightened renewal.

Mr. Obama has now forced a behind-the-scenes conversation about the Saudi-American relationship into the open. Is there anything Washington can do to encourage transformative reforms? Apart from expressing critical views, even Mr. Obama, who will visit Saudi Arabia for a meeting with Gulf leaders next month, has felt a need to maintain the alliance largely along traditional lines.

There is little time left in the president’s term to rethink how the United States and Saudi Arabia can move forward together. That task will largely belong to his successor.

OUTLAW 09

03-22-2016, 07:22 AM

One has to seriously wonder just why Obama and Kerry have bought into Putin's non linear war directed against the US...meaning doing everything in their power to actually support it......WHEN Obama publicly stated in 2014...."we will judge Putin on his actions not his words"...THEN Putin throws both a little "action" and the US caves......

After Putin's fake withdrawal from Syria, two days later, he's threatening to bomb Syrian cease-fire violators
http://wapo.st/1ZlsnpN?tid=ss_tw …

WHICH BTW includes, Iran, Hezbollah and the Assad regime forces........

ALL thw while we have a serious ongoing slow stepped Russian ground offensive in full gear against UAF frontline positions....AND not a single public Obama nor Kerry comment on the attacks by the Russians.

ALSO notice that while the US DoS supposedly has this high tech 1-800 call center for Syrians to call in the variously CoH violations which in itself is a farce WE have never heard from DoS just who is violating the CoH.

JUST as in the Ukraine...with all of the billions spent on the ISR capabilities of the US intel community....Obama and Kerry have never called out Russia for it's constant flow of weapons and troops into Ukraine...I take that back...only once did they do it in 2014 After social media open source analysts had already released their data on the Russian military shelling's from Russia and their actual invasion of eastern Ukraine....

OUTLAW 09

03-22-2016, 08:05 AM

Alexander Yakovenko
✔ ‎@Amb_Yakovenko Over the last 24 hours, @MoD_Russia delivered 5.5 tons of humanitarian aid to Homs in Syria

BUT WAIT it was all military supplies being loaded onto Russian military trucks...just as the Russian have now sent in their 50th "humanitarian aid" convoy to eastern Ukraine which is usually all military supplies and fuel and one truck with civilian aid supplies...one truck......out of usually 50......

OUTLAW 09

03-22-2016, 08:11 AM

For those SWJ readers who think that IS does not drive on an intelligence driven operations concept...their attack cells use a form of OPSEC tradecraft that resembles that of spy cell tradecraft......think again.....reference today's Brussels airport bombing....we saw this as far back as 2003 in Iraq and it has not changed since 2003.

Cells operating by the book if one gets neutralized the other one gets into action to divert attention from the first cell.....and what has come out of the Brussels major arrest....not a single use of any form of communications outside of face to face....defeats every time any form of major communications surveillance operations.

Defeating IS cells has always been about the heavy use of police and security services to defeat them using their own tactics...not through the use of high tech which we seem to think is the be all end all.

BREAKINGNEWS
At least 11 dead, 25 injured in #BrusselsAttack.
- Brussels fire department

Report
Shots fired & shouting in Arabic prior two major explosions in #Brussels.
- witnesses to @BelgaNewsAgency

Video from inside the #Brussels airport terminal from shortly after the explosions.
Widespread destruction.
https://www.facebook.com/jef.versele/videos/10208020379759864/ …

Reports of explosion at #Malbeek metro in Brussels. -

Three blasts at three different metro stations in #Brussels

OUTLAW 09

03-22-2016, 08:19 AM

Assad airstrikes targeted #Irbin in rural #Damascus a little while ago. #Syria

Reports several civilians wounded in the Assad airstrikes on Khan Sheikhoun earlier #Syria

From yesterday.....
Reports of coalition airstrikes assisting rebels with push against #ISIS in Touqli, north rural #Aleppo

After targeting the town w/ heavy artillery & rocket fire, reports now Assad helicopters are dropping barrel bombs on Kafrzita in #Hama

OUTLAW 09

03-22-2016, 08:22 AM

Cessation of hostilities is openly falling apart now under the weight of Assad and Russian ground and air attacks with FSA defending or fighting against only IS WHICH is who Putin claimed he was also fighting against.....

Syria Regime continues airstrikes & artillery shelling on rebels in #Latakia mountains, #Idlib, #Hama, #Aleppo & #Damascus
"Truce" crumbles

BUT WAIT Russian MoD stated they would attack all truce violators..SO are they going to attack their own forces?????

BECAUSE they certainly are not attacking IS....

Footage
#Assad war plane, bombing civilians in #EastGhouta yesterday.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBNgGbo44rg …

OUTLAW 09

03-22-2016, 08:28 AM

Footage
#FSA troops on their way to fight #ISIS offshoot in S-W #Daraa province.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzRSqdZETNc …

BREAKING
4 #SAA airstrikes so far on #Erbeen
#Damascus cs #Syria Mar 22

ADF - New Syria Army: 2 #ISIS fighters killed & 10s wounded during infiltration attempt at Tanf crossing #Syria

OUTLAW 09

03-22-2016, 08:36 AM

Again proves just how important the attack cell bomb maker is to the success of this style of attack.....from the Paris attacks to now the Brussels airport and reports from a possible bomb attack on the Brussels Metro.....a bomb maker made it happen.

This was a serious lessons learned from Iraq...and the Brussel federal security service evidently just missed him in their raid the other days...might be the reason they shifted straight to attacks now as they feel the Belgium federal security service is just a quarter step behind them....which is probably true...

CrowBat

03-22-2016, 08:39 AM

Might be a totally dumb question then why not simply flow by and encircle Palmyra isolating it completely....I'm wondering about this too and the only conclusion left is that I do not recognize the IRGC in this war any more.

I discussed this with few of people who either have links to the gang or... well, at least 'know a little bit about it', and we all don't understand what's going on - and it's quite similar. Back in the 1980s, the IRGC would drive around flanks, infiltrate big style, at least concentrate on the schwerpunkt and do its best not to assault frontally etc. Back in late summer 2013, they were launching sophisticated noctrunal infantry attacks in urban areas; they were running heliborne ops behind enemy lines (the last I know about was in the western Qalamoun, in early 2014), and proved very successful with that.

With all the supplies, air- and fire-support advantage they have nowadays, they should have no problem to repeat that performance. But meanwhile they are hard to recognize as the IRGC agan. All they're doing is frontal attack, frontal attack, frontal attack...

So, I'm on the verge of joining those who are seriously connecting this 'tactics' with years of 'Arabisation' of entire Iranian society by the IRGC - especially so during Ahmadinejad's times.

(Ironically, and as shown by Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, it's the Arab militaries [or at least their air forces and special forces] that made giant leaps ahead meanwhile...)

Russians are their own story: all the time insistent to show they were doing nothing the last 20 years (or at least had no serious/realistic tactical training), botching up with unrealistic planning, bravado (which is easy: it's not their troops they're 'spending') etc.

And overall, all of these 'brigades', 'special forces', 'elite forces' etc.: seems all of that is simply BS. At best, a 'brigade' there appears to be what would be called a 'reinforced company' in the NATO, mounted on about 10-15 4WDs, and supported by 1-2 T-72s, few BMP-1s and perhaps a Shilka too. Even the IRGC appears to be suffering from lack of manpower in Syria meanwhile, not to talk about regime.

Add to this the completely insane lenght of frontlines the regime insists on controlling - and combine that with the Daesh: one can't leave a bigger stretch of the 'frontline' to them unoccuppied/unguarded for longer, then they are quick to recognize such places and exploit them for their infiltrations and/or outflanking attacks. Daesh lacks the fire-power - especially so in defence, no doubt, but are 'equalizing' this by creating incredible minefields that take ages to clear.

Then on top of all this it does appear that when Assad gave his press conference where he stated he was going to reconquer Syria and the Russian UNSC Ambassador appeared to whistle him back Russia really was not whistling him back....then declared "the pull out" to just give the illusion to the West that they were not in "agreement" which if you read all Russian statements they actually agree with Assad's assessment.....
I stopped reading any kind of reports about what Assad or Putler say. It's pointless because the more one studies them, the less are they making sense (at least to me).

For me, only one thing is certain: neither can be trusted. Unsurprisingly, there is no trace of something like 'Russian withdrawal from Syria', just 'replacement of spent forces by fresh ones'.

The reason I say this is that the Russian Syria Express sealift operation is just as strong now as it was before the Putin declared "withdrawal"......I would say that the direct involvement of the Russian Army in this war is going to become ever more important. Their allies in Syria do not have the necessary troops any more.

OUTLAW 09

03-22-2016, 08:43 AM

After hiding behind #Hezbollah beards while demanding oppo cuts theirs off #Assad clams up:
https://en.zamanalwsl.net/mobile/readNews.php?id=14759#.VvDrB9W60wg.twitter …

War criminal regime delegate Bashar Ja'afari said #Assad's future had "nothing to do" with peace negotiations:

CrowBat

03-22-2016, 11:21 AM

Further to the issue of 'why don't they just flow by'...

Here an article in Russian (http://bmpd.livejournal.com/1800765.html), 'revealing' (that is: de-facto confirming what I'm 'preaching' about since months) some details...

Rough translations of key-points:
- When Russians arrived, they found that the Syrian General Staff had about 130,000 troops under command, but only about 25,000 of these were capable of fighting;

- Russians then 'manually' established that '4th Assault Corps', which is primarily consisting of mercenary outfits.

- Even so, conclusion is that this is far from enough for any kind of 'radical change';

- combat capability of 'Bashar Assad's army' remains questionable;

- the Syrian-Turkish border was not brought under control;

- advance in Palmyra is extremely slow;

- the 'IG' (see Daesh) is neither destroyed nor asking for 'mercy' (guess, they mean either negotiations or conditions).

The article also implies that most of Su-24Ms and Su-25SMs ended their part of the campaign in need of factory-level overhauls, i.e. out of flying ressources. I guess now, this was the crucial reason for
a) Russians actually being in a rush to 'enforce' a cease-fire by March 2016
b) Putler then announcing withdrawal at the earliest possible opportunity (although, of course, there is none: worn-out aircraft were simply replaced with platforms more suitable to local conditions).

(Mind: even then, at least two of Su-24s had to abort their flights back to Russia and then return to Hmemmem AB for repairs...).

OUTLAW 09

03-22-2016, 01:22 PM

As if #brusselsattack wasn't bad enough, ISIS had just shown it has detailed intel on US troop movements in Iraq.
http://thebea.st/1LCOiGF

Russia's fake ISIS bombing effort (bombing civilians & rebels instead) speaks volumes about their anti west interests & allies

OUTLAW 09

03-22-2016, 02:59 PM

Ever notice after close review the similarities between the Putin attack on US neo liberalism using his non linear warfare and comments being made by Trump???

“Trump is proposing nothing less than the liquidation of the liberal world order”
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/2695854c-efaf-11e5-a609-e9f2438ee05b.html... …

The similarity is actually quite close.....

Interesting. One of Trump's foreign policy advisors was a Gazprom relationship manager at Merill Lynch.
http://qz.com/644277/donald-trump-finally-names-his-foreign-policy-advisers-including-one-who-thinks-the-us-can-do-business-with-putin/ …

OUTLAW 09

03-22-2016, 03:13 PM

FSA launch battle against al-Muthanna in Jallin
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=32.763171&lon=35.989666&z=13&m=b …

Harakat al-Muthanna & Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade now fighting together against #FSA in western #Daraa province

Turkey army shelling #IslamicState with heavy artillery around Al-Ra'i in northern #Aleppo #Syria

More Assad terrorists fled to Germany as valid Syrian Sunni refugees......
Opposition investigation group claim these bunch of #Assad-forces fled to #Germany- now "#refugees" in Langdorf

Damascus 14 regime airstrikes on eastern Ghouta this morning

4 regime-airstrikes on Erbin suburb of #Damascus this morning
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rPfpR3cI1k …

Assad SAA terrorists shelling mortars on #Douma now
#Damascus cs #Syria MAR 22

2 airstrikes so far on #Habit now
#IDlib cs #Syria MAR 22

Russian TV report about the navy seals massing near Palmyra before the car bomb attack
https://youtu.be/f6sSEOubOBU

OUTLAW 09

03-22-2016, 03:18 PM

OUTLAW 09

03-22-2016, 05:41 PM

Russia media now suggesting Erdogan has something to do with #brusselsattack
Yet, FSB 'warned' Brussels.
https://twitter.com/SputnikInt/status/712250005856190464 …

OUTLAW 09

03-22-2016, 05:42 PM

Eliot Higgins ‎@EliotHiggins
The Economics of War: A Case Study on Jaish al-Islam via @bellingcat
https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2016/03/22/the-economics-of-war-a-case-study-on-jaish-al-islam/ …

Eliot Higgins ‎@EliotHiggins
North Korean HT-16PGJ MANPADS in Syria via @bellingcat
https://www.bellingcat.com/news/mena/2016/03/22/north-korean-ht-16pgj-manpads-in-syria/ …

OUTLAW 09

03-22-2016, 05:50 PM

Assad mufti threat against EU issued in 2011...and he is teaching now in the EU.....

Assad regime mufti Ahmed Hassoun in 2011 threatening suicide bomb attacks on Europe
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CL2dTzEgr98 …

Need to remember just how close Assad and IS work together......

KGB ran terrorist organizations all over the world during Cold War. Why would they abandon this now?

Russian MFA implies that Brussels is paying for its "support of terrorism in the Middle East & North Caucasus"
http://www.kp.ru/daily/26506/3376117/ …

IS just claimed responsibility for #Brussels bombings

#Russia|s MFA about #brusselsattack
Zakharova: "EU will get its comeuppance. #Brussels is only beginning"
https://twitter.com/RutheniaRus/status/712326986249723904 …

BUT WAIT just how does the spokesperson for the Russian FM know about potential coming attacks unless IS is working with the FSB which they have in the past....?????

Russia's MFA: "#Brusselsattack should be a sobering cure." https://twitter.com/sranysovok/status/712270183180738561 …

Russia's Vice Speaker of Parliament on Russian TV now: Great for us when Europe explodes! Let them die!
https://twitter.com/ObelkObelk/status/712306326374748160 …

'Everyone understands that Europe, not Russia is the main enemy of IS.' Discussion explaining terrorist aims.
http://rus2web.ru/speczmaterialyi/sudya-po-vsemu,-teraktyi-v-belgii-gotovilis-davn.html …

OUTLAW 09

03-22-2016, 06:07 PM

CrowBat..something for you........

Syria #SAA colonel in southern #Damascus talk with OppositionTV about #Russia'n withdrawal
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0B_OKWWRdF0 …

OUTLAW 09

03-22-2016, 06:13 PM

Russia's political expert Zubov: "Putin is a beneficiary of the #brusselsattack"
https://twitter.com/dmitry_gordon/status/712321219639562241 …

So with the deep Russian FSB IS and Iranian Connections...was Russia aware of the coming attacks.....BUT did not warn?????

BREAKING 10 ISIS militants, including a suicide bomber, caught by Turkish army while attempting to sneak into the country

OUTLAW 09

03-22-2016, 06:28 PM

Rebels now captured Al Bukman village, NW Deir Ezzor province.

FSA cleaned ash-Sheikh Sa‘d from #IS supporters
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=32.835029&lon=36.033697&z=14&m=b …

OUTLAW 09

03-22-2016, 06:30 PM

Further proof that Twitter is selectively closing social media open source analysis sites......suddenly and with no apparent reason for violation of Service Agreements......

Eliot Higgins ‏@EliotHiggins
Twitter has suspended the account of Belgian terror expert @p_vanostaeyen right in the middle of the #Brussels terror attacks

OUTLAW 09

03-22-2016, 06:34 PM

Four blade copter style drone found in #Zabadani
#Damascus cs #Syria MAR 22

SyriaCeasefire breach: Air raid on #Arbin in the eastern #Damascus suburbs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAJ2ah_VxXM …

Tomorrow @CITeam_en will tell you about another soldier killed in Syria Putin did not mention during his Kremlin speech.

Footage
#Assad regime air strikes on #Arbin today.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yvar5jVYdwk …

Also #Damascus' #Jobar quarter is under #Assad regime air force attack today.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rsvYQvdZWo …

Meanwhile in #Syria, the #Assad regime keeps bombing people into islamist extremists hands.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6fb1uCvqBY …

OUTLAW 09

03-22-2016, 06:43 PM

Serious Russian non linear warfare threat........?????
Russian tweet says if sanctions will not be lifted and "relationships" restored, next terrorists acts will be in Berlin; tweet is in Russian and no translation is providedhttps://pbs.twimg.com/media/CeKrCboUAAAa0RJ.jpg:large

OUTLAW 09

03-22-2016, 07:21 PM

http://www.interpretermag.com/putin-now-offers-a-hybrid-peace-in-syria-moscow-commentator-says/#13011

Putin Now Offers a ‘Hybrid’ Peace in Syria, Moscow Commentator Says

13:42 (GMT)

Staunton, VA, March 22, 2016 -- Vladimir Putin, having popularized the concept of “a hybrid war” in Ukraine, is now pursuing “a hybrid peace” in Syria, one in which he is given credit for ending a conflict despite continuing it in an exact analogy to the way he has avoided in the minds of some responsibility for naked aggression by calling it something else.

In an Ekho Moskvy commentary March 21, Anton Orekh notes that in this Orwellian world, “if one can conduct a hybrid war, then why can’t one conduct a hybrid peace?” by declaring that Russia has withdrawn its forces but then is “continuing to fight” as if that declaration had never happened.

As with the Kremlin’s pursuit of a “hybrid” war in Ukraine, Putin’s announcement that he is pulling Russian forces out of Syria has produced a variety of commentaries as to what that means, Orekh says. Indeed, “there are just as many versions as there are specialists. And it is possible that not one of them is correct” given the ways in which rhetoric and reality change.

“In Crimea, by a similar hybrid means, first appeared very police people all covered in green. They were either self-defense forces or constant buyers at the Russian military stores;” and then after their actions, they became “heroes of Russia.” In the Donbass, Russian forces have been fighting for two years but “formally” Moscow doesn’t acknowledge that.

"This experience has turned out to be very valuable for the war in Syria as well,” the Moscow commentator continues. Moscow bombs the opponents of Assad rather than terrorists but insists that “we are bombing terrorists: you can say whatever you like and we will spit on it” and redouble our claims about what is going on.

“The meaning of hybrid war,” Orekh says, is to say one thing while doing another, “to deny absolutely everything and to assert exactly the opposite.” Russians “willingly believe what they need to,” he suggests. As to foreigners, their attitudes “do not have any meaning. And practice has showed that such a tactic is completely effective.”

As the events of two years ago showed, “no one interfered with [Russia] turning Crimea upside down and simply taking it for itself. No one can interfere with [Russia’s] fighting in the Donbass and pour kerosene on the flames. No one and nothing can oppose us in Syria,” the commentator continues.

“And now we fully can say that we have pulled our bombers from there and then go in with our helicopters via another door, to withdraw one unit and meet it with flours and to introduce another unit without excessive noise,” Orekh says.

For all this to work, he concludes, all that is necessary is “to call black white and look into the eyes of one’s interlocutor with a smile.” In fact, although Orekh does not say so, one more thing is necessary: those who are being lied to have to be willing to accept what Putin says without challenging him. And as Orekh could say but doesn’t, there are all too many like that.

OUTLAW 09

03-22-2016, 08:06 PM

Syria Jaish al Islam captured #IS-allied fighters in Mazirab /western #Daraa province

Assad-forces & kurdish #YPG shelling rebel controlled neighborhoods in #Aleppo city

FSA convoy in Muzayrib to clean western #Daraa province from #IS-offshots

IS allies from Harakat al-Muthanna destroyed 2 bridges to stop #FSA advance on Tasil area in western #Daraa

Syria People in #Quneitra destroying archaeological sites to rebuild tehir destroyed homes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJAbDpnxcL4 …

A good report on the +100K civilians besieged by Assad in Rastan, #Homs, #Syria that are in need of food & medicine
http://www.homs-media-center.com/archives/2729
NOTE....NEITHER Russia nor the UN has delivered a single pound of humanitarian aid to Rastan......

Assad forces/militias in the Tamoura area continue to target Bayanoun in #Aleppo, #Syria with heavy artillery & mortar Shells

Mujahideen (JN and FSA) Liberate the town of Sheikh Saad from the Khawarij #Daraa

Mujahidin also cleanse the Khawarij from the area of Mushairafa & the town of Muzeireb killing 35 khawarij #Quneitra

A-10 vs "Daesh tactical vehicle" ~18km SE of Manbij
https://youtu.be/jA4dxpZPMrU
http://wikimapia.org/#lat=36.414315&lon=38.118696&z=17 …

video from the same spot..
https://youtu.be/tkSmgvdvcWU?t=36s …

We are on our way to besieged al Houleh with first aid deliveries since months #Syria #SyriaCrisis @ICRC

RuAF airstrike next to a mosque in Az Ziyarah
http://wikimapia.org/#lat=35.678607&lon=36.339431&z=18&m=b …
https://youtu.be/BJEhffWkKNc?t=1m56s …

RuAF cluster bomb on Mansoura
http://wikimapia.org/#lat=35.652833&lon=36.345906&z=17&m=b …
https://youtu.be/BJEhffWkKNc?t=1m30s …

RuAF airstrike on Dukmak claimed here
https://twitter.com/obretix/status/653330844455673856 …
http://wikimapia.org/#lat=35.648251&lon=36.386386&z=18&m=b …
https://youtu.be/BJEhffWkKNc?t=1m6s …

RuAF airstrike on Al-Qahira
http://wikimapia.org/#lat=35.617178&lon=36.359864&z=17&m=b …
https://youtu.be/BJEhffWkKNc?t=53s …

"Tochka-U" missile (cluster warhead) on Ateera (prob Nov/Dec 2015)
http://wikimapia.org/#lat=35.848100&lon=36.041121&z=16&m=b …
https://youtu.be/W0xbBWFAOYk

more MRLS ~20km west of Palmyra: BM-21 Grad
https://youtu.be/f6sSEOubOBU?t=2m8s …
http://wikimapia.org/#lat=34.517232&lon=38.032748&z=18&m=b …

the same BM-30
https://twitter.com/obretix/status/711558229482987520 …
next to BM-27 in desert camo
https://youtu.be/f6sSEOubOBU?t=2m27s …

OUTLAW 09

03-22-2016, 08:19 PM

Syrians rescue German far-right candidate from car crash wreckage
http://trib.al/oUR2YS3

German neo-Nazi politician rescued from car crash by Syrian refugees
http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/german-neo-nazi-politician-rescued-car-crash-syrian-refugees-1337161772 …

SOMETHING many tend to forget and or not remember...even in Europe....
Perspective on terrorism in Western Europe. The 1970s and 1980s were appalling.

OUTLAW 09

03-23-2016, 05:20 AM

Interesting Russian comment from yesterday that needs to be really thought about....core of the Russian geo political warfare being carried out right now in eastern Europe and Syria.

Zhirinovsky on Russian TV just now - "Terrorist attacks in Europe are useful for Russia. We'll force Europe to cooperate with us".

Canadian politician quotes Novaya Gazeta investigation: Russia directs flow of IS fighters from Dagestan. https://twitter.com/protestspb/status/712380578599981056 …

OUTLAW 09

03-23-2016, 05:53 AM

RU propaganda outlets now say tht on Saturday a Turkish tanker damaged pillons for a nonexistent bridge Crimea—>RU
http://echo.msk.ru/news/1734492-echo.html …

The US has indicted three alleged Syrian Electronic Army hackers for cyber crimes:
http://bit.ly/1VBTjlb

OUTLAW 09

03-23-2016, 05:56 AM

It is interesting that the world has totally forgotten that there were far more terror/bomb/aircraft hijacking attacks in the period 1968 though the mid 1980's.....why is that..??

AtlanticCouncil
✔ ‎@AtlanticCouncil ISIS Strikes #Brussels: Is This The ‘New Normal’?
http://buff.ly/25kWrWP

Michael Weiss
✔ ‎@michaeldweiss U.S. Officials Bash ‘####ty’ Belgian Security Forces - The Daily Beast
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/03/22/u-s-officials-bash-####ty-belgian-security-forces.html …

Before calling the Belgian police and intel "incompetent" note that they have 10x suspects and 1/10th resources than others

WHAT is really interesting is the total believe that all terror attacks can be stopped..they cannot that is the true truth........

Many seem to forget that the Belgium security services have been incessant in their chasing down the Paris attack group and rolling up an impressive number of safe houses, IS members, explosives and weapons........in some ways they are following the JSOC model of hitting one site, consequent intel analysis and evidence gathering and then on to the next target....

WHAT does need to happen and it is not due to national mindsets...the total exchange of any information gathered by any security service that effects any security service when it comes to jihadi terror AND for that matter yes terror from the neo right as well.

OUTLAW 09

03-23-2016, 05:58 AM

Russian info warfare takes a number of different paths......

Yahoo Reports First Content Removal Requests from the Russian Government
https://globalvoices.org/2016/03/23/yahoo-reports-first-content-removal-requests-from-the-russian-government/ …

OUTLAW 09

03-23-2016, 06:36 AM

I had a interesting conversation with a number of Israeli's last night and
it might cause some heartburn with SWJ commenters......

When talk got around to Brussels....they shrugged their shoulders and stated....why do people forget the 60s thru 80s when bombs and terror attacks were far higher than today....it is a war and yes people get killed but it is a simple fact of life....

Actually they are right ........and they tend to constantly remind themselves of this fact and from their POV...they are right if we take the time to think it through.

All loss of life is bad but say when 500,000 Syrians are killed by a genocidal dictator does the world get so wrapped up as with say Paris and or Brussels....not really....

When there is a capable Syrian force able to deal with IS on the ground and fighting them daily what do we do .....? Are they "moderate enough" is our response.

WHEN we know and can prove a deep relationship between the Russian FSB, Iranian IRGC and Assad to IS WHAT is our response...silence.....

So are we in the West actually just as responsible for the IS attacks as is IS....??

OUTLAW 09

03-23-2016, 08:50 AM

Syrian press say final assault soon on Palmyra, where @mod_russia is providing airstrikes & prob much else besides
http://www.rbc.ru/politics/23/03/2016/56f23a909a7947bc78eedaac?from=main …

In Russian........

OUTLAW 09

03-23-2016, 09:53 AM

Probably one of the best articles on understanding Putin.......

Mark Galeotti ‏@MarkGaleotti

The 18th Brumaire of Vladimir #Putin
How #Marx might explain VVP. My little whimsy in @russiamagazine
http://readrussia.com/2016/03/22/the-eighteenth-brumaire-of-vladimir-putin/ …

OUTLAW 09

03-23-2016, 10:11 AM

News
Dozens of #Assad air strikes & arty attacks in #Aleppo, #Hama, #Idlib & #RifDimaschq killed many civilians.

The #FSA took Tel Battal from #ISIS shortly ago.
Beside #TelBattal, also #AlAḩmadīyah taken (S-W of it) from #ISIS.

Syria 18 airstrikes with cluster bombs on road #Palmyra - Al-Sukhnah
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=34.711703&lon=38.692474&z=11&m=b …
Palmyra LCC: Russian air raids destroyed the cities' infrastructure & more than 50% of its neighborhoods.

Syria Regime airstrikes on #Idlib, #Damascus' eastern Ghouta & in #Latakia mountains this morning

Daraa Clashes between #Nusra & the #IslamicState-offshot Shuhadaa Yarmouk Brigade at Saham al-Jawlan
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=32.777028&lon=35.929241&z=13&m=b …
Syria 27 aid trucks arrived in rebel area of #Houla NW of #Homs

Army of Islam ‏@Islamarmy_eng2
attempts from Assad's militias to advance on al-Marj front to besiege several villages and separate southern Ghouta from its northern part.

FSA rebels liberated al-Ahmadiya & Tala Battal in north rural #Aleppo from #ISIS. Reports of coalition airstrikes & clashes in/around Touqli

Rebels appear to have gained control of Muzaryib, Yadoudeh & Kharab al-Shahm in #Daraa following clashes w/ #ISIS affiliated groups

OUTLAW 09

03-23-2016, 10:14 AM

SAA terrorists attacked #Bayanoun, #Anadan and #Hayan towns, earlier this morning
#Aleppo cs #Syria MAR 23

22 Martyrs
[2 women & 2 children]
7 #Daraa
6 #Aleppo
3 #Raqqa
2 #Damascus
2 #Hama
1 #Hasaka
1 #DeirEzzor
#Syria MAR 22

Syria #FSA monitoring #YPG & Jaysh al-Thuwar in occupied
Tel Rifat town in N-#Aleppo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrcjD7dA4Yk …

Syria From desert city of #Palmyra this morning
sound of gunfire in outskirts
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjkZa8hIydw …

OUTLAW 09

03-23-2016, 11:12 AM

http://www.politico.eu/article/the-dangerous-link-between-syria-and-ukraine/

The dangerous link between Syria and Ukraine
.

By Eerik-Niiles Kross and Molly K. McKew

9/25/15, 11:35 AM CET

Despite what Vladimir Putin is saying, the United States still staunchly refuses to believe Russia is engaged in a new Cold War — and that the U.S. is losing. But Russia aggressively pushes its own narrative where U.S. leadership is absent. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov seems to be everywhere in recent weeks, speaking several times with his US counterpart and others in the region, selling Russia as a partner for peace and stability when the West is faced with crisis.

Experts from the left and right alike warn that cooperation with Russia on Syria can have potentially disastrous consequences for the U.S., but too many Americans still don’t understand how closely linked these two headline conflicts are, and American policy has yet to confront the reality that Syria and Ukraine are part of the same mission for Russia — the destruction of the post-WWII architecture of the West. To achieve this goal, Russia has pursued a clear policy of disruption, chaos and destabilization — in Ukraine and in the Middle East — in order to force the West to have to partner with Russia to “resolve” the crises it has created.

Now, poised to launch a direct military campaign in Syria, Russia wants the U.S. to join a Russian-led coalition against the Islamic State and complete the rehabilitation of Bashar al Assad, or else end up in direct conflict with Russia in the Middle East. Indeed, many of the anti-aircraft and other Russian weapons systems being moved to Syria are more suited to shooting at American drones and assets than anything the Islamic State has access to.

This suggested coalition is little more than a well-constructed trap for the White House and for Europe. Russia created the conflict in Ukraine. Their military support for Assad fuels a bloody civil war and a refugee crisis from Syria. Russian efforts have also materially aided in the creation of the Islamic State — the wealthiest, best-armed terrorist network in history.

Understanding how Russia has engineered the false choice between accepting Russia as a dominant force in its “sphere of influence” or the proliferation of conflict is essential to accepting that neither choice is the answer.

* * *

Too often policy analysts debate whether the Kremlin is strategic or merely tactical in its approach to foreign policy. But the answer doesn’t matter. They don’t need a master plan when one clear strategic objective drives decision-making: make the U.S. the enemy — and make them look weak. The Kremlin has been opportunistic and decisive in grabbing a position of strength — in the Middle East and in Europe — while U.S. attention has waned and retracted.

When the civil uprising against Assad first began in Syria, the rebellion’s leaders hoped for western support. Support for the rebels was slow to materialize, despite early calls for Assad to leave power, but Russia — eager to protect its military foothold on the Mediterranean and on the southern flank of NATO — was quick to line up against U.S. policy and supply Assad with arms, military advisers, intelligence and political support. After Syria deployed chemical weapons against rebels and civilians in August 2013, Russia brokered a deal with the U.S. to save Assad from outside military intervention.

Russian support for Assad has allowed the civil war to continue for years at such an intense level of bloodshed and destruction. But shipments of armaments were not their only tool for saving their primary regional ally. They are also involved in building an engine of terrorism to open a second front in the Syrian war.

By the time the chemical weapons deal was signed, the nature of the war in Syria had changed. Before the 2014 Sochi Olympics — as Russia issued warnings about potential attacks by North Caucasus extremists and moved military assets into the region for the seizure of Crimea—there were rumors, now confirmed by Russian investigative journalists, that Russia was actively exporting fighters from the North Caucasus to Syria. Elena Milashina, writing in Novaya Gazeta, documented how, beginning in 2011, the FSB established safe routes for militants in the North Caucasus to reach Syria via Turkey. Local FSB officers, sometimes with the help of local intermediaries and community leaders, encouraged and aided jihadis to leave Russia for the fighting in the Middle East, in many cases providing documents that allowed them to travel.

It probably wasn’t a hard sell for the FSB to make to nascent jihadis: Go fight in the desert, for infinite riches and glory, or stay in Russia, where the security services had pretty good cover to kill a lot of them.

A lot of them left. In late 2012, Russian-speaking jihadis began to arrive in Syria. According to regional intelligence sources who have closely tracked their movements and activities, the Russian-speakers negotiated the unification of the Islamic States in Syria and in Iraq, creating the current Islamic State formation.

Suddenly, the war in Syria was “confusing” to American policymakers seeking a way out of the war and an end to Assad’s regime. There were “good rebels” and “bad rebels,” and the U.S. couldn’t decide which side to support. These tactics were similar to the irregular warfare Russia would deploy in Ukraine.

The war at that point also turned away from Assad and Syria, and toward Iraq instead. The western front of ISIL was led by Russian-speakers; the eastern commanders included disenfranchised Soviet/Russian-trained Saddam-era Sunni military officers. From the beginning, their efforts were closely coordinated. There were reports from Kurdish forces of Russian operatives at secret outposts in the desert.

Meanwhile, back in Russia, the jihad in the North Caucasus was steadily depleted. Crimea was seized and annexed in 2014. Russia’s information war portrays Assad as a champion against terrorism, with the help of Russian and Iranian support. This Middle Eastern narrative is a key instrument for distracting attention from the war in Ukraine.

The war in the Donbas has grown quiet, and will likely stay that way until Putin makes his first speech before the UN General Assembly in 10 years on September 28. This is a part of his strategy to strong-arm the Obama White House into supporting Russia’s actions in Syria. Putin will speak about Ukraine and the war on terror — while Russian deployments to Syria escalate, with many of the same shadow special forces units launch from Sevastopol to Damascus. Syrian refugees flood Europe and create political crisis. Many European leaders have stated that Russia must be part of the solution in Syria — despite the chaos it’s purposefully creating in Ukraine.

This is, of course, exactly what Russia wants. A global expansion of the “reset:” partner with Russia to solve the crises it has created while ignoring its bad deeds.

Russia’s strategy has included the empowerment of other bad-news actors. Russia has pushed for the U.S. nuclear deal with Shiite Iran; Russia will also benefit from the deal commercially and financial and in terms of the strengthened positioned for its ally in the region. Russia has simultaneously used the dissatisfaction of regional Sunni powers to cultivate relationships with traditional American allies: increasing economic, nuclear and military cooperation with Egypt; negotiating a nuclear deal with Jordan; coordinating energy policy with the Saudis.

Russia now pushes for an anti-terrorism coalition to complete the rehabilitation of Assad, undermine the U.S. position on Syria, likely force an end to the sanctions imposed because of its actions in Ukraine and position Russia as a regional leader. As a bonus, Vladimir Putin could erase another despised democratic revolt by ending the Syrian people’s desire for freedom. In Moscow’s eyes, this is victory over the U.S.

Both in Ukraine and in Syria, Russia created chaos to become the center of all U.S. policy options in the Middle East and Europe — or so it would have the U.S. believe. Absent real leadership on U.S. foreign policy, the Kremlin has been successful at manipulating what they view as an indecisive and disinterested U.S. president into caving to their demands.

In the Kremlin’s best case scenario, the U.S. and Russia become allies, killing Chechen jihadis and re-entrenching Assad, and they receive new concessions to bolster their efforts to destabilize the government in Kyiv. With their bluster and threats, they encourage the White House to see the alternative as pursuing separate policies over Syria and ISIL and possibly end up in direct conflict — a Vietnam for the post-Cold War era.

It is the outcome Putin has craved since the war in Georgia in 2008 — forcing the U.S. to back down from direct confrontation, empowering the Russian exceptionalist narrative that he so hauntingly outlined when he called for the annexation of Crimea. After slow half-measures in response to two conflicts fueled by Russian money and military support, Putin feels certain that Obama will not risk even a proxy military confrontation with Moscow. And with one year left in the U.S. presidency, he sees now as the time to act.

* * *
Continued......

Russia doesn’t need to challenge NATO’s Article 5 collective defense principal if it can neutralize the United States. This will impact the outcome in Ukraine and across the frontier of Europe, put frontline nations in the Baltics at further risk and determine the future of NATO.

Continued........

OUTLAW 09

03-23-2016, 03:01 PM

U.S. says Syria is buying oil from Islamic State with help of Russian businessman Kirsan Ilyumzhinov
http://on.wsj.com/1TeYwwi

Russia still trying to get this into the Geneva discussions....non starter for both Saudi's and Turks....

MFA Russia
✔ ‎@mfa_russia #Lavrov: We agree that the intra-Syria dialogue must be inclusive, with the involvement of Syrian Kurds @UNGeneva @mission_russian

Not sure of the Russian FM even realizes he lies as much as he does with this statement....

MFA Russia
✔ ‎@mfa_russia #Lavrov: We have noted that the ceasefire regime in #Syria is getting stronger and discussed ways to tackle humanitarian problems

Large amounts of UN humanitarian aid is still not getting to the 500K in besieged and or hard to get to locations.....we are talking about 100s of tons needed not the occasional Russian 5.5 or 10 tons they deliver to proAssad villages and towns....with a lot of PR fanfare

OUTLAW 09

03-23-2016, 03:09 PM

Rebels area only have a 2 km corridor in Bala before split in 2 halves

Damascus Rebels killed 25 #Assad-forces in Bala area
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=33.490086&lon=36.420536&z=15&m=b …

Now scuds are being fired...everything but the kitchen sink is being throw at IS at Palmyra but still no Russia/Assad/Hezbollah victory insight.....

The fall of the Scud missile, on the city of #Palmyra have just now.

Daraa Nusra advance on #IS allies from Shuhadaa Yarmouk
in 'Ayn Dhakar http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=32.859114&lon=35.906410&z=14&m=b …
Assad #SAA terrorists warplanes carried out airstrikes on neighborhoods of #DAmascus cs #SYria MAR 23

SCD collecting remnants of #RUSSIA missiles aftermath it's airstrikes on #Khan_Sheikhoun
#Idlib cs #Syria MAR 23

OUTLAW 09

03-23-2016, 03:11 PM

Middle East Eye ‏@MiddleEastEye
Michel Samaha and Syria's continued efforts to undermine Lebanese security
http://ow.ly/ZQBob

War crimes/genocide and yet the West says nothing.....
Syria the forgotten War Crimes the Al Bayda Massacre #Syria
http://dld.bz/dUBBH

FSA fighters kill 10 regime soldiers in Hama province: activists SYRIA NEWS | ZAMAN ALWSL -
http://goo.gl/H6YpjX

Assyrian leader accuses PYD of monopolizing power in Syria's north - #ARAnews
http://is.gd/EkjPcn

Homs E. Rif, 6 names of Sea special forces killed by Daesh
https://yallasouriya.wordpress.com/2016/03/23/syria-homs-e-rif-6-names-of-sea-special-forces-killed-by-daesh …

Assad's new strategy: keep #Syria'ns who fled out, keep submissive population, play Allies off each other - scare West in accepting him.

OUTLAW 09

03-23-2016, 06:46 PM

Syria Airstrike on #Damascus' suburb #Douma
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQUYQJ2DaYk …

Syrian army expects to retake Palmyra 'within hours': TV
http://reut.rs/21HoriC

RuMOD general-colonel A.Dvornikov: Rus SOF participates in Syrian campaign

Russia Says Has Special Forces Unit in #Syria -
http://beyondthelevant.com/2016/03/23/russia-says-has-special-forces-unit-in-syria/ …

MOSCOW –

Russia has a special forces unit in Syria that carries out reconnaissance and “other special tasks,” Interfax news agency cited a senior Russian officer as saying on Wednesday.

“I will not hide the fact that on the territory of Syria there is a division of our special operations forces,” Interfax cited Alexander Dvornikov, a commander of the Russian contingent in Syria, as stating..

“They perform reconnaissance on targets for Russian air strikes, they are engaged in guiding aircraft to targets in remote areas and perform other special tasks.”
CIT Reports 6th Russian Soldier's Death in Syria But Widow, Army and Kremlin Deny
http://www.interpretermag.com/russia-update-march-23-2016/#13027 …

Having Crimea deja vu here: Russian general talks of special forces on the ground in Syria, after months of denial.

Russian Army PR is using continuous present in confirmation of SOF operatives in #Syria.
https://twitter.com/patriot_petya/status/712679897920061442 …

Russian Army has now officially cnfrmd use of SOF operators in #Syria 3 mnths back they didn't dare to speak openly https://twitter.com/vasilymaximov/status/712679978291347456 …

Since #SAA isn't an army but a bunch of ragtag militias it's too much to expect them not to torture detainees. https://www.youtube.com/embed/T55lsCyDXmA …

SNHR: regime artillery targeted CD ambulance in Al Yameidiyeh village in Lattakia, damaging it severely, Mar 23.

SyAAF SA-342 Gazelle active on #Palmyra front.

OUTLAW 09

03-23-2016, 07:23 PM

Suqur al-Sahara soldier / Russian Kamaz-5350 EWS near Palmyra.

Alexander Dvornikov, head of Russian operations in Syria, and Ayman Jaber, high ranking commander in Suqur al Sahara

#Russian general says Moscow's special forces still active in #Syria
http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/2016/03/23/russia-special-forces-syria/82168426/ …

Military leader from the #IS-offshot "Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade" killed in battles of western #Daraa province

Airstrike on #Damascus' suburb #Douma
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQUYQJ2DaYk …

Russia jets destroying ancient #Palmyra in #Syria'n desert
https://now.mmedia.me/lb/en/NewsReports/566778-russia-jets-destroying-palmyra-activists …

Daraa: Clashes btw #FSA & #IS-offshots in Tal Shihab & Zaizoun
after FSA retaken #Muzayrib http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=32.703750&lon=35.977650&z=14&m=b …

Assad-forces brutal lynch alleged Rebel TOW operators which destroyed #Russia'n helicopter in #Latakia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T55lsCyDXmA&feature=youtu.be …

CrowBat

03-23-2016, 07:30 PM

...Syrian army expects to retake Palmyra 'within hours': TV
http://reut.rs/21HoriC...
...except they're talking about ruins (or whatever is left of these) of ancient Palmyra, this is nothing else but publishing their wet dreams.

Tadmor (the modern-day city, east of ancient ruins): is still a long stretch from being conquered by Hezbollahis and their Assadists tails.

OUTLAW 09

03-23-2016, 07:33 PM

Assad regime forces control bases 7km away from Palmyra's western and southwestern gates

Assadist comment justifying torturing rebels: "A foreign terrorist on Syrian soil los[es] all of his rights as human"
What about Hizballah?

Goes without saying the rebels being tortured are not Jabhat an-Nusra (al-Qaeda in #Syria) but the #FSA-branded First Regiment

Footage
The #FSA, bombing #TelRifat under #SDF control.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrcjD7dA4Yk …

OUTLAW 09

03-23-2016, 07:49 PM

CrowBat....have you heard anything on this or just info war?

Head of Syrian opposition: North Korea troops fighting in Syria
http://upi.com/6276004t

OUTLAW 09

03-23-2016, 07:58 PM

BREAKING: The Islamic State group has trained at least 400 fighters to target Europe in deadly waves, the AP has learned.
"We promise the Crusader alliance against IS that they expect black days in return for their aggression against IS".

VIDEO created by Russian Troll factory, showing US soldier shooting at Koran.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhKcqJPsLd0 …

BBC investigation: 'US soldier shooting at Koran'-video was made at Russian Troll factory, St.Pbrg.
https://globalvoices.org/2016/03/23/bbc-says-russias-troll-factory-faked-a-video-showing-a-us-soldier-shooting-at-a-koran/ …

Here are 20,000 of the 70,000 Syrian rebels that Western liberals don't think exist, effectively fighting ISIS: https://twitter.com/SyriaUK/status/712725460501798914 …

Moscow Losing Ideological War against Islamists, Russian Experts Say
http://www.interpretermag.com/moscow-losing-ideological-war-against-islamists-russian-experts-say/#13032 …

OUTLAW 09

03-23-2016, 08:07 PM

U.S. to charge Iranians in cyber attacks including New York dam: sources
http://reut.rs/22wutIA

OUTLAW 09

03-23-2016, 08:22 PM

SBU chief: ISIL, Russian World ideologies alike
http://www.unian.info/politics/1298508-sbu-chief-isil-russian-world-ideologies-alike.html …

ISIL and Russian World ideologies are the same in their essence, says SBU chief / Photo from UNIAN

"What's interesting: [is that] the roots of ISIL and of the Russian World are the same in their essence, in what unites them, that leads to certain thoughts. This is exclusivity and intolerance. The smart ones will figure out what I refer to, I believe," said Hrytsak.

The SBU chief added that his subordinates recently arrested 25 ISIL affiliates – foreign citizens, 19 of them being Russians. Hrytsak noted that he had not heard of any major arrests of ISIL affiliates in Russia.

"We conducted a number of special operations across Ukraine recently, busting four transits center through which, say, ISIL supporters were transferred, including to Syria. Of the 25 detained foreigners 19 were citizens of the Russian Federation," said Hrytsak

OUTLAW 09

03-23-2016, 08:42 PM

Dozens of Assad soldiers killed in Jabal Turkmen
http://en.eldorar.com/node/1829

Hama: heavy clashes between Syrian Rebels & Assad fighters in Daluk

More than 20 Assad fighters killed in ISIS carbomb in Deir Ezzor
http://www.syriahr.com/?

Deir Ezzor: dozens of Assad fighters killed in ISIS suicide attack

Around 25 Assad forces killed in east Ghouta by rebels
http://en.eldorar.com/node/1828

ISIS retake Ahmadiya & Tel Battal from Syrian Rebels in north Aleppo. Rebels know all about ISIS's "withdraw & attack" tactic now

Rebels know ISIS plan. They withdraw & then send a suicide bomber as Rebels feel secure. Rebels will be back though

Syrian Rebels capture ISIS's Friday prayers Imam, Mohammed al Assi in Aleppo

Afghan Fatimiyoun militia fighter near Palmyra

OUTLAW 09

03-23-2016, 08:45 PM

Faked video of US soldier shooting at Koran, is just (another) example of how Russia wants to use (extreme) Islam against West.

OUTLAW 09

03-23-2016, 08:56 PM

CrowBat....hear anything on this.....just when they were field testing it under combat conditions?????

RuAF Mi-35 withdrawn from #Syria

OUTLAW 09

03-23-2016, 08:57 PM

Russia Accuses Turkey Of Suppressing Kurds
http://www.rferl.org/content/russia-turkey-kurds-/27630944.html …

OUTLAW 09

03-24-2016, 06:50 AM

...except they're talking about ruins (or whatever is left of these) of ancient Palmyra, this is nothing else but publishing their wet dreams.

Tadmor (the modern-day city, east of ancient ruins): is still a long stretch from being conquered by Hezbollahis and their Assadists tails.

CrowBat.........again the wondering why question...if "ruins" which they have thrown literally everything against to take BM21/27/30s....massive air strikes, cluster munitions and even their vaulted Spetsnaz which took a beating......

Why have they not been able to even take "ruins"....in the middle of the desert?

Is Islamic State that good at static defense just using light infantry? Am assuming that the former Iraqi officers in IS know their tradecraft?

What is interesting is their defensive tactic of withdrawing, then regrouping launching then a SVIED attack and moving back in....FSA has fell for this a number of times lately.

CrowBat

03-24-2016, 07:13 AM

CrowBat....have you heard anything on this or just info war?

Head of Syrian opposition: North Korea troops fighting in Syria
http://upi.com/6276004t
This is the first time I hear of that, but I'm not the least surprised. Assadists - and not only Assadists: the IRGC too - are meanwhile so short on manpower, I'm just waiting until they start recruiting Mars People too.

One of best indicators for this: even the IRGC's Liwa Fatimiyoun (Afghan Hazaras) is driving T-72s (see attachment)... :rolleyes:

(Read: I was able to understand when T-72s of the RGD were taken away and given to Hezbollah/Lebanon, after all the RGD proved hopelessly inept in their use; I was able to understand when T-72s of the 3rd and 11th Armoured Divisions were taken away and re-distributed to three of IRGC's gangs of Iraqi Shi'a too, reasons were similar like in the case of the RGD... but when T-72M1s are are given to Afghan Hazaras... then it's really so far that the situation is 'dire'...)

CrowBat

03-24-2016, 07:21 AM

CrowBat.........again the wondering why question...if "ruins" which they have thrown literally everything against to take BM21/27/30s....massive air strikes, cluster munitions and even their vaulted Spetsnaz which took a beating......

Why have they not been able to even take "ruins"....in the middle of the desert?

Is Islamic State that good at static defense just using light infantry? Am assuming that the former Iraqi officers in IS know their tradecraft?

What is interesting is their defensive tactic of withdrawing, then regrouping launching then a SVIED attack and moving back in....FSA has fell for this a number of times lately.I attempted to address this in my post No 28xx-something (http://council.smallwarsjournal.com/showpost.php?p=183899&postcount=2852): it's not only the Daesh that's 'good in defense'.

It's not only that even the 'best' various of Assadist militias and private armies can offer is 'not good enough': they are meanwhile too few and too decimated but to make difference.

My understanding of primary reason is a dramatic decline in quality of IRGC's command staff deployed in Syria nowadays. The loss of so many of their top commanders the last few months is felt: what is left is simply not the same people that used to run (highly effective) nocturnal infantry attacks in urban areas, back in 2013 (that's, namely, how they recovered so much of Eastern Ghouta, back then).

Add to this the dubious quality of Russian command staff: if these have proven anything in the last six months, then that they have no clue about troops they are leading nor the opposition they're facing. They're just rushing all the various Assadist and IRGC cohorts into one costly attack after the other. It's like 'Soviet Union in summer 1941'...

OUTLAW 09

03-24-2016, 08:12 AM

CrowBat........

تدمر ‎@PalmyraRev1
There is no truth to the news about the control of #SAA on #Palmyra Castle and revival of the city. The Clashes is far from the city. Mar 24

OUTLAW 09

03-24-2016, 08:13 AM

CrowBat...maybe also due to the low quality of trained troops...easier to do simple frontal attacks...easier to command and control...??

OUTLAW 09

03-24-2016, 11:36 AM

SOHR Leader in Shuhada’a al-Yarmouk Brigade killed, 10s of vehicles 4 #Nusra &factions’…
http://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=45366

AhrarAlSham leading figure on the group's relations to Jabhat al-#Nusra:
http://en.eldorar.com/node/1835

Activists in #Palmyra, says the footage #SAA claims from inside is fake, they still 6 km away from the heart of the town
#Homs #Syria MAR 24

Still no humanitarian aid from ether Russia or the UN.....
Moadamiyah_alSham..
The forgotten besieged town..
#DAmascus #Syria MAR 24

SAA terrorists airstrikes o n #Marj area
#Damascus cs #Syria MAR 24

SAA terrorists airstrikes on #Zabdin and #Bala towns
#Damascus cs #Syria MAR 24

Russia will call out the shelling of the Assad area as a CoH violation BUT conveniently forget SAA shelled first....
Aleppo| #Ahrar_alSham respond to regime bombardment in Bustan al-Qasr neighborhood by targeting regime locations in Ramusa front

200 000 buildings were completely or partially destroyed since the beginning of Assad´s genocide
#AssadWarCrimes

OUTLAW 09

03-24-2016, 11:38 AM

A long convoy of the militant group 'Jabhat Ansar al-Din' enters #Aleppo, #Syria.

SAA helicopters dropping pamphlets over #anadan
#Aleppo cs #Syria MAR 24

Daraa, #FSA kill Harakat Al Muthanna (pro Daesh) military emir
https://yallasouriya.wordpress.com/2016/03/24/syria-daraa-fsa-kill-harakat-al-muthanna-pro-daesh-military-emir …

SAA terrorists airstrikes on #Eastern_Ghouta
#Damascus cs #Syria MAR 24

So called "SDF" launched arrest campaigns all over Hasakeh
http://en.eldorar.com/node/1832

OUTLAW 09

03-24-2016, 11:42 AM

Reference a SAA video from yesterday depicting FSA POWs being tortured and their hangings...

By the way, captured FSA rebel "TOW group" did not down any helicopter. That accusation was dreamt up by Assad supporters to increase morale.

Reality is those young fighters driving a pickup took wrong turn & intercepted by pro Assad foreign fighters & handed to Assad regime.

Assad regime used them as a scapegoat for everything possible for their own satisfaction & after beating them coerced them to "confess.

I know Assadists are justifying & celebrating torture of these fighters. Rebels should remember that 4 next time they capture Assadists

OUTLAW 09

03-24-2016, 11:50 AM

Victim of #SAA terrorists snipers, targeting civilians in #Tel_Dahab from their checkpoints
#Homs #Syria MAR 24

SAA terrorists shelling with heavy artillery targeting #Sukayk & #alTamanah villages
#Idlib cs #Syria MAR 24

9 days of #Assad #SAA terrorists siege on #Barzeh
#Damascus #Syria MAR 24

39 Martyrs
[15 Fighters 8Children 3Women 3Tortured]
16 Daraa
6 Damascus
5Aleppo
3Hama
3DeirEzzor
2Hama
2Latakia
1Hasakah
1Homs
#Syria MAR 23

More than 10 #RUSSIA airstrikes since early this morning so far on #Palmyra
#Homs cs #Syria MAR 24

Is Russia in fact using starvation and the promise of some Russian aid to force Syrians to capitulate to Assad???? WHEN in fact the CoH and the UN foresees massive aid deliveries independent of Assad's approval?????

Putin now leads #Assad's siege implementation, surrounding gathered locals with gunman to exchange fealty for food.

OUTLAW 09

03-24-2016, 11:55 AM

SAA terrorists shelling with heavy artilery on #Teir_MAela now
#Homs cs #Syria MAR 24

One of the Assad airstrikes on Bala in eastern Ghouta, #Damascus today
http://youtu.be/o9YF4Es-_js

Fun fact: Neither Jordan, nor USA, nor Russia ever bombed Shuhada Yarmouk, an IS proxy operating vs. rebels right on Jordan's border.

FSA SF calls on civilians in remaining towns to steer clear from #ISIS fighters or temporarily leave to safe zones until towns are cleared

Kharab al-Shahm, Tal Shihab, Muzayrib, Tafas & Zayzoun now cleared. Jillen, Sheikh Sa’ad, al-Tira & Sahm al-Golan declared military areas

18 rebel groups create a unified ops room in Horan to clear southern #Syria from #ISIS affiliated fighters

According to JaI, Assad militias trying to advance in Marj area suffered big losses yesterday with over 30 killed

Assad continues targeting Zibdin, Bala, Harasta, Jisrin, etc, w/ airstrikes/mortars/rockets, scorched earth policy to split eastern Ghouta

OUTLAW 09

03-24-2016, 11:58 AM

OUTLAW 09

03-24-2016, 12:00 PM

So now has Russia being actually training the US so called Kurdish proxy group YPG?????

Russia'n General Alexander Dwornikow claim to train Kurdish #YPG & other patriotic units

NOW English ‏@NOW_eng
#Russia admits to training #Syria Kurdish forces
http://mme.cm/N3AW00

BEIRUT – The commander of Russia’s ground forces in Syria revealed that his country’s military advisors have trained Kurdish fighters in the north of the war-torn country.

“In the shortest possible time [after our intervention] Russia’s armed forces established a system of military advisors… who successfully solves the tasks of training government, Kurdish and other patriotic troops,” Colonel-General Alexander Dvornikov said in an interview with Rossiyskaya Gazeta published Wednesday.

The top Russian official praised the People’s Protection Units (YPG), saying that “despite their differences with authorities in Damascus, the Syrian Kurds took an active part in the fight against terrorists in the north of the country.”

“They continue to fight against ISIS and Al-Nusra Front,” he added.

Dvornikov’s comments were the first public admission that Moscow has taken an active military role supporting the YPG, which is also backed by the US in its fight against ISIS.

Top Kurdish officials have in past months stated they welcome coordination and assistance with Russia or any other power fighting the jihadist organization.

Shortly after the start of Russia’s military intervention in Syria in late September 2015, the commander of the YPG, Sipan Hemo, told Sputnik Türkiye—which is owned by Moscow—that his fighting force requested arms from Russia as well as general military coordination.

The YPG chief’s comments come after Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar—which has an editorial line supportive of the Syrian regime—reported that Russia had set up a coordination process with Kurdish forces and parties in northern Syria.

On February 10, Syrian Kurds opened a representative office in Moscow in the latest sign of their warming ties with Russia.

Syrian rebel groups in northern Aleppo have alleged that the YPG and their allies Jaysh al-Thuwar—an ethnic Arab fighting force—has coordinated with the Syrian regime and benefitted from Russian airstrikes.

After a regime offensive on February 3 cut off rebel groups north of Aleppo from their cohorts in Syria’s second city, Kurdish-led forces took advantage of heavy Russian bombardment to seize a number of rebel-held positions.

The mid-February Kurdish advances pushed opposition forces back to a small stretch of territory near the Turkish border, including the strategic town of Aazaz that serves as a logistical hub for the opposition in the region.

BUT WAIT...I had thought that YPG was a CIA/CENTCOM funded, trained and equipped anti IS fighting proxy...not a Russian mercenary unit????

OUTLAW 09

03-24-2016, 12:19 PM

Hopefully this is consistent -- Syrian rebel groups in Aleppo, moderates & others, go after ISIS sleeper cells

Despite what Kremlin says about Turkey, #Russia is the key facilitator of Assad's energy trade with IS.
http://bit.ly/1SNsI4G

OUTLAW 09

03-24-2016, 12:22 PM

Here is the philosophical justification to use Islam to fight the West by Alexander Dugin.
http://openrevolt.info/2011/11/15/alexander-dugin-tradition-and-islam/ …

OUTLAW 09

03-24-2016, 01:56 PM

1. The value of Islam. In today’s world, Islam is the world religion most actively resisting globalism’s force. It makes the Islamic factor extremely important for the front of traditionalism. In this war with Islam the United States and ideologue of the End of history Francis Fukuyama even tried to suggest the term “Islamofascism” to greater discredit the faith. United States as an empire tends to designate Islam the new enemy number one. This is a almost official U.S. position now while with Bush it was merely formal. And therefore Islam should be treated as a priority field of struggle against U.S. imperialism, the modern and post-modern world and globalization. This determines the value and importance of Islam.

2. Islam is diverse. Attitude toward Islam as something unified and coherent, as something homogeneous, is a delusion or an “empty concept”. This concept is found in three cases: in ignorant masses (which are generally always wrong, as the platitude is incompatible with the truth), in propaganda of the world’s centers of power (using it for specific political purposes); from the of mouth so-called theorists of “Pure Islam” (Salafi, Wahhabi, etc.) sometimes called conventional “Islamic fundamentalism”, “integrism.” The first two cases are clear. The third case is a perfected innovation trying to take the place of existing Islam (traditional Islam)as a confession of faith in the guise of a “return to roots.” Something similar is done by the Protestants, proposing to return to the “true”, early Christianity, but creating something entirely new which hardly has any relation to Christianity. “Pure Islam” – is close to that.

3. We must analyze Islam out of the “myths”, as it is, in its diversity. This should highlight the theological, historical, geopolitical, ethnic aspects in each of its schools. This is a gigantic task, without which we can not seriously talk about Islam. The division must go through its main lines: Sunni – Shia.

4. Shiites. It is clear that the Shiite minority is a completely separate issue – metaphysically, and geo-politically and ethnically. In general, Shiites (and any trunk duodenary and heterodox septenary, and especially rare Ishraq and Iranian Sufism) is very similar to traditionalism. It has no universalist dimension and allows for wide differences. Especially important is its messianic (Mahdi) direction, because in this way it is easier to find common ground with the traditionalist understanding of the nature of the modern and postmodern world as the “discovery of the Cosmic Egg” from the bottom and a “great parody.”

5. Sunni: Traditional Islam and Salafism. The Sunni majority to be divided by several factors: allowing Sufism and not allowing Wahhabism (in the style of the Hanbalite and proper Wahhabism).

6. At-tassavuf. Those Sunni schools that are tolerant to esoterism and thus have a dimension in which to build a rapport with the traditionalist approach. The world of sufism itself is very wide. Many Tariqa are feuding with each other. Some are going to end up proselytizing and the New Age. Others are closed and become almost folkloric ethno-sectarian. The most interesting are followers of at-tassavuf, which are rooted in its traditions, orthodox, but have a broad outlook on the reality of the modern world, in its sociological, geopolitical, axiological and economic aspects. These are few, but they are extremely important. The environment of at-tassavufa is great in whole. Obviously needed is a policy text, emphasizing the radical values and the incompatibility of “Tariqa” with modern and post-modernity also describing the general (without detail) behavioral strategy of a Sufi in the “end of the world.” Preconditions for that are numerous. But the summation work or it’s author are absent. But they should come to be.

7. Traditional Islam as a whole. There is no intellectual guide for the “last days” in the context of the usual traditional Islam. This is understandable, since it does not present any conceptual unity. Traditional Islam is present, it represents the vast majority of modern Muslims, but there is no generalizing eschatological guidance for the global ummah. All that’s found after the initial test is a sect or Salafism. This is not surprising: eschatology is concentrated in the sects, and the Salafis, in general, try to be the Ummah. And yet eschatological, anti-globalist, anti-American, anti-modern and anti-postmodern sentiment among Muslims is extremely developed. It would be desirable to have the appearance of a serial publication such as “Traditional Islam” which would serve as a platform to present the positions of particular varieties of Islamic communities.

8. Salafism and the global Salafi project. Salafism, pure Islam are on the front wing of the political struggle in the Muslim sector of the modern world. It is a fact and that can not be denied. It is here that we meet the most clear and simple strategy, global thinking, well-defined goals: the establishment of the global Islamic State, the imposition of Sharia law, the organization of society on Islamic principles on a global scale, the doctrine of the “house of war” (dar al-harb) wherever there is no “house of Islam (” Dar ul-Islam “), etc. Obviously, in this program there is acceptable and unacceptable for parts for Traditionalism. Acceptable is the struggle against the common enemy; unacceptable in regard to the proposed alternative, in fact, this “Islamic Project”, is more accurately called the “Salafi project.” It is important to understand the metaphysics of the “Salafi project.” Their metaphysics are not neutral, they are built on denial of esotericism and traditionalism, which are defined here as “shirk”, a deviation from “pure Islam”. The roots of the dispute go back to the Mu’tazilites and opponents of the philosophers and Sufis. The “Salafi project,” radical anti-shia,anti-sufi, and anti-traditional. And this is not a distinctive feature of individual Salafis, but the obligatory metaphysics of all this movement. This ambiguity is reflected geopolitically in the close relations of Salafism (in particular, bin Laden and Al Qaeda), Brzezinski and the CIA during the Afghan war, that Americans have always Salafis services, giving rise to interfere in the sovereign affairs of those countries which try to resist the United States (Iraq, Libya, Syria, anti-Russian Salafism in the North Caucasus), but on the other hand it’s Salafis we also see active in anti-globalization attacking U.S. forces. This ambiguity should conceptualize time and time again to bring round this dialogue, to explain all sides in the conflict. In the global battle against the Dajjal – the role played by Salafism? We have left this question open.

9. Islam in Russia. Position, role and place of Islam in Russia, we must consider with the eschatological and traditionalist positions. For this we must seriously apply all of the previous theses to the Russian situation. Islam is a part of Russia’s space and it has developed over the centuries. But Russia has not become entrenched in their positions in the West, globalization, the U.S., liberalism, post-modernism. The position of authorities is evasive and can be interpreted in different ways. Forces of “Dajjal” are easy to speculate here. Pointing to the globalist and liberal Russian side they play against the Muslims on it, but at the same time, Russian Muslims – as “migrants”, “immigrants”, etc. This is a strategy to reduce the potential enemy of the West. We must work hard to oppose to it an eschatological alliance of Muslims and Orthodox Christians ( all Russia wide) against the U.S., Western liberalism and modernization. The closest point of contact with a Russian traditional Islam, this is not always fact, but theoretically there is clear direction for this dialogue. In the intellectual sphere, and especially even more in the Neoplatonic similarities. And at the outer level brings us together opposition to the West, liberalism and post-modernity. But here traditional Islam is often passive and limited with diplomatic formulas, rather than proposing a common strategy. The liberal pro-Western “modernization” aspects of Russian power, corruption and decay of society, traditions, manners are abhorrent to us and Muslims, we must fight it with them, fight together and not against each other. The main problems arise with Salafism. It plays the role of “scarecrow” to discredit the whole of Islam and its radical projects exacerbate the conflict between Muslims and oriented eschatology and similar orientated forces of other faiths, or merely instinctive opponents of globalization. Here, room for significant and challenging dialogue.

10. Summary: Islam and tradition. Islam is directly related to the Tradition. It is an indisputable fact. And as such it should be recognized by traditionalists. Islam is active and in favor of a traditional society. This should be supported. But Islam is not identical with the Tradition. Tradition can be un-Islamic. If Muslims accept it, agree to the terms of multipolarity, an active dialogue and close cooperation, including military, against post-modern world and the Antichrist / Dajall, should be encouraged.

Continued.......

It is really important to understand what this Russian right wing ideologue says and writes....while many in the West believe he is a tad crazy..he carries a lot of weight inside the Putin inner circle with his thinking.

But in certain phases of Putin's foreign policy he comes out of his shell makes key statements or comments that need to be understood as it points to the thinking around Putin...Putin has been quoted as placing a lot of value in Dugin's writings...

The last sentence of the point one sums up the entire article......and it is the cornerstone to the Russian political warfare fully directed at the US right now by Putin.....

OUTLAW 09

03-24-2016, 02:51 PM

Russian Syrian Express definitely not in withdrawal mode these days...

ВМФ BSF #ЧФ Tapir/Alligator class LST Saratov 150 transits southbound Bosphorus en route to #Tartus #Syria

Turkish Coast Guard TCSG88 & TCSG19 and Istanbul Maritime Police boat & helicopter box-escorted #ВМФ #ЧФ LST Saratov

This is the 2nd #Syria deployment in 2016 for #ВМФ Tapir class LSTM Saratov 150 (x-Voronezhsky Konsomolet, x-БДК 65)

OUTLAW 09

03-24-2016, 03:27 PM

IS attack Thayyem - Central Processing Facility /oil field in #DeirEzzor
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=35.203410&lon=40.083961&z=13&m=b …

IS detonate several vehicle bombs at Jabal al-Tar- #Palmyra outskirts

Tiger Forces soldiers with a Russian officer near Palmyra

Picture of Russian soldier and SyAA soldiers near Palmyra, a few days ago

Syrian Air Il-76 that flew Damascus-Qamilishi last week carrying Russian reporters and supplies

Syrian soldier (presumably) in Russia, October 2015. Training?

OUTLAW 09

03-24-2016, 03:55 PM

CrowBat........sorry in Russian.....

Russian soldiers and PMCs in 'Ain el Bet', Hama. Facilitating reconciliation.
https://defendingrussia.ru/a/lica_byvshej_sirijskoj_oppozicii-5442/ …

CrowBat

03-24-2016, 04:58 PM

CrowBat........sorry in Russian.....

Russian soldiers and PMCs in 'Ain el Bet', Hama. Facilitating reconciliation.
https://defendingrussia.ru/a/lica_byvshej_sirijskoj_oppozicii-5442/ …
'Sure'. And: where's the flag of the group with which they supposedly made peace...?

CrowBat

03-24-2016, 05:03 PM

CrowBat......more from Palmyra.....

PalmyraRev1
The regime is out #Palmyra up to now
3 km far from the west
5 km far from the south western
Bombardment and clashes continue

Syira Huge battle in #Palmyra- but stil at W & SW outskirts
Several thousand fighters from #Assad-forces & #IS involved
#Russian airstrikes

NOW English ‏@NOW_eng
#ISIS calls on #Palmyra residents to flee town
http://mme.cm/L3AW00

Syria-n army #hezballah fighters already inside palmyra And fighting with #ISIS close to the castle according to hezballah TV

Syrian regime media enter the palace built by the Qatari royal family at the outskirts of Palmyra
https://youtu.be/R5wZGuL1dJo
It seems somebody there finally switched on more than 2 of his brain cells, then today they are advancing after all. They took a sort of turn around the southern flank and then, skirting the western side of Oasis (or 'orchards' as everybody is calling the area, no clue why) turned north.

That way they seem to have reach the ruins of the Bell Temple (well, the former ruins of the Bell Temple: the place was blown to smitherness by the Daesh, in September last year).

That's placing them about 2km from the 'main (western) entry' to Tadmor.

Through all this manoeuvring, they have kind of found a way to approach the city without exposing themselves to the fire of the Daesh entrenched at Mt Qasiyoun, which is the dominating feature for about 30km in that part of Syria. In essence, one can see all around Palmyra/Tadmor from there. That hill is surrounded by something like 2km of open space on all sides, and actually a perfect defensive position.

Guess, with plenty of de-mining, they might be able to reach the western side of Tadmor this evening - but that's only going to be the start of the actual battle for Palmyra.

OUTLAW 09

03-24-2016, 05:13 PM

It begins >> Assad and rebels should join forces against IS: UK parliamentary committee
https://shar.es/1YvUtY

Russian Defence Ministry says planes hit 146 'military targets of terrorists' nr #Palmyra, so confirming it's backing Syrian govt offensive

How #Russia Is 'Weaponizing' Migration to Destabilize Europe
http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2016-03-24/how-russia-is-weaponizing-migration-to-destabilize-europe …

Heavy Clashes in #DeirEzzor's Military Airbase between IS and #Syrian Soldiers...

Syria Huge explosion inside the #SAA divison 26 base near the village of Teir Maalah in #Homs
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=34.792854&lon=36.713498&z=16&m=b …

OUTLAW 09

03-24-2016, 05:16 PM

It seems somebody there finally switched on more than 2 of his brain cells, then today they are advancing after all. They took a sort of turn around the southern flank and then, skirting the western side of Oasis (or 'orchards' as everybody is calling the area, no clue why) turned north.

That way they seem to have reach the ruins of the Bell Temple (well, the former ruins of the Bell Temple: the place was blown to smitherness by the Daesh, in September last year).

That's placing them about 2km from the 'main (western) entry' to Tadmor.

Through all this manoeuvring, they have kind of found a way to approach the city without exposing themselves to the fire of the Daesh entrenched at Mt Qasiyoun, which is the dominating feature for about 30km in that part of Syria. In essence, one can see all around Palmyra/Tadmor from there. That hill is surrounded by something like 2km of open space on all sides, and actually a perfect defensive position.

Guess, with plenty of de-mining, they might be able to reach the western side of Tadmor this evening - but that's only going to be the start of the actual battle for Palmyra.

CrowBat...so the Russian GRU Spetsnaz is being used to recon...the one Russian SOF IS indicated they had killed was a de-mining specialist based on his equipment he was carrying .. which has been seen before in eastern Ukraine. The Russian SF types though in the Ukraine are more into actual mining/IED ops.....using there a smart phone app for recording their emplaced mines that takes a photo and geo tags the exact mine location.

Palmyra battle map: #ISIS is still in control of the City, the Castle, the Orchards and the Semiramis Hotel.

Reports of Dozens #SAA soldiers Bodies lay on the field when they tried to Strom #IS Positions near the hotel.

Heavy Clashes between #IS and #SAA SW of #Palmyra near Semiramis Hotel and 550 Brigade. Heavy Causalities on both sides Reported.

This video also, in Qatar's Palace, and there was no new progress of the regime in #Palmyra .
https://youtu.be/XsfljaRkiqM

OUTLAW 09

03-24-2016, 05:40 PM

'Sure'. And: where's the flag of the group with which they supposedly made peace...?

CrowBat...just how strange is this charade they are playing??...somehow I think it is mainly for the home consumption because no one in the ME/Europe believes a word they are saying.

But in some aspects I think they are actually attempting to go through the motions...why is the question....we had trained their 15th Peacekeeping Bde concerning peacekeeping operations which they felt we were good at and one of the aspects of peacekeeping is getting both sides to sit down...this I think is what they are attempting to practice.....I am betting that officers of the 15hr Staff are conducting these types of meetings.....and manning the Reconciliation Center as well as this is the main function of the 15th Peacekeeping Bde........

Just my thoughts....

But you make an interesting point...the Russian MoD appears to not fully understand the value and or the meaning of the various group flags....

OUTLAW 09

03-24-2016, 06:03 PM

Pro-Regime forces backed by intense #RuAF aircover reached last IS defenses W. of #Palmyra. Each side bringing huge reinforcements 4 battle

Pro-Regime forces are exactly 2.9 km NW from Medieval Castel overlooking main road leading to #Palmyra.

Assad airstrikes in Kafrnaboudeh, rural #Hama, #Syria today
http://youtu.be/HFSPyYSsgTg

As the Syrian Pound turns into expensive toilet paper, #ISIS in #Raqqa now collects taxes & fines in US dollars

Breaking
#FSA #Southern_Front killed 2 leaders of Shuhada alYarmouk (#Daesh) & one of Harakat Mothana in #Daraa. Operation continuing well

Unconfirmed: 2 Jabhat al-Nusra militants detonated personal explosive belts to avoid arrest by Faylaq al-Rahman in E. #Ghouta earlier today.

Confirmed. Faylaq al-Rahman believed they were ISIS initially only to find out they were Nusra after the incident

Harakat al-Muthanna's military commander also killed in battle with FSA in western #Daraa prov.

OUTLAW 09

03-24-2016, 06:05 PM

http://carnegieendowment.org/syriaincrisis/?fa=60312

After Palmyra: Military and Economic Targets of the Islamic State

Posted by: Yezid Sayigh, Aron Lund

Thursday, June 4, 2015

When the extremist group known as the Islamic State took control over Palmyra, an ancient city nestled deep in the Syrian desert, in late May, it was a clear strategic defeat for the government of President Bashar al-Assad. As the battles neared the astounding historical ruins of Palmyra, the Islamic State got all the media attention it could hope for and Assad’s weakness was exposed to the world. By breaking open and destroying the infamous Palmyra Military Prison, which was for decades the dark heart of the Syrian regime’s system of coercion, the Islamic State has reasserted its anti-Assad credentials in the eyes of many Syrians.

This winter, the Islamic State suffered severe losses during the long battle for the Kurdish town of Kobane on the Syrian-Turkish border and it continues to lose territory to the Kurds in northern Syria. Even so, the jihadi group has been able to advance elsewhere in Syria. And despite structural obstacles to its expansion and a string of defeats in Iraq, it recently captured the provincial capital of Ramadi, while Islamic State forces retreating from the northern city of Tikrit have turned to wreak havoc on the Baiji oil refinery. However, it is Syria that presents the most promising arena for the Islamic State, which seems to be aiming for high-profile victories in the lead-up to the holy month of Ramadan and the one-year anniversary of its unilateral declaration of a “caliphate” in late June 2014.

Exploiting the recent weakening and territorial losses of the Syrian government, the Islamic State has begun to pressure Hasakah City, north of Deir Ezzor. In parallel it has launched a new offensive in Aleppo, striking government forces in the Sheikh Najjar industrial area and pushing toward the key Bab al-Salam crossing on the Syrian-Turkish border near Azaz, to cut rival Sunni insurgents off from foreign support. If this succeeds, it could be of immense significance for the future of the war. But the taking of Palmyra, the central hub of Syria’s desert road network connecting southwest to northeast, has also opened new possibilities

Deir Ezzor: Battle for the East

By taking Palmyra and the smaller town of Sokhna, further northeast, the Islamic State has secured its stranglehold on the city of Deir Ezzor, Assad’s last remaining stronghold in the eponymous province.

The government and the Islamic State have been wrestling for control over Deir Ezzor virtually nonstop since summer 2014, and, before that, Assad fought other rebel factions in the area. Rather than accept defeat after losing the entire Euphrates region, the Syrian regime has invested enormous resources in trying to maintain its foothold in Deir Ezzor, perhaps sensing that its loss would spell the symbolic end of Assad as a national actor with potential to reclaim all of Syria.

Deir Ezzor’s southern neighborhoods have been transformed into a heavily fortified garrison by a combined Syrian army, security, and tribal militia contingent ensconced in the Joura district, around the military airport, and in other key areas. The president has even dispatched two of his best-known commanders to the besieged city, Brigadier Generals Issam Zahreddine and Mohammed Khaddour, thereby raising the stakes to a point where its fall would mean a devastating loss of face.

For the Islamic State, exploiting its victory in Palmyra to tighten the seige on Deir Ezzor and ultimately capture it is likely to be a high-priority goal.The group recently pushed deeper into Deir Ezzor, seizing much of Sakr Island in the Euphrates. And a detailed opposition report published in mid-May 2015 on the Islamic State’s military organization in Wilayet al-Kheir—the group’s label for the Deir Ezzor Governorate—notes that it continues to train new recruits in the area.

Many Targets to the West and South

Other options are on the table, too. From Palmyra, the jihadis can threaten a range of important targets and keep regime forces under pressure along a broad front. To the northwest, Islamic State forces are already pressing into the Salamiya area, threatening the Ismaili community there, but also—and most crucially—adding pressure to Assad’s last remaining supply route to Aleppo.

Moving down the front, the Islamic State could try to connect with its fighters in the Homs region, which is under Assad’s control but where the remaining rebel enclaves seem susceptible to Islamic State infiltration and influence.

Southwest of Palmyra, the retreat of regime forces has pushed back their defense line and made it easier for the Islamic State to use the eastern Qalamoun region as a launch pad for raids on the Homs–Damascus highway. Defending it is now crucial for the regime’s ability to maintain movement between the capital and the coastal region. Further west, the western Qalamoun region allows for access to the Lebanese borderlands. Opposition media now claims that the Islamic State has brought in reinforcements from the north to fight against rebels in the eastern Qalamoun, south of the Palmyra-Homs line, where it has taken al-Mahsa village and is approaching the town of Ruheibeh.

Looking southward, the eastern Ghouta suburbs of Damascus are a hard target for the Islamic State, due both to the government siege and to the strong position of the militant Army of Islam, which is led by Zahran Alloush, a Sunni Islamist who is fiercely opposed to the Islamic State. But the Syrian capital is too big a prize for the Islamic State to ignore: even if it can’t take the city, its ability to pose a threat reinforces its credibility and enhances its political stature.

Lastly, south of Damascus, the Druze towns of the Sweida Governorate may also prove a hard nut to crack, but the prospect of battling “apostates” may still attract the Islamic State. More immediately, however, the Islamic State may bypass Damascus and Sweida in order to infiltrate forces into the contested Houran region. The Jordanian border and the Golan Heights close to Israeli-occupied territory are highly attractive for the Islamic State. Other rebel factions know this, and have been hunting and killing Islamic State supporters for fear of fifth-columnist action. Battles are currently ongoing in the southwestern corner of Syria, where the pro-Islamic State militants of the Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade are under heavy pressure from other rebels.

Seizing or Destroying Energy Infrastructure

The Palmyra area is also important for its energy infrastructure. The Islamic State has reportedly captured the gas fields to the east of Palmyra, and pressures those to the west that remain in government hands. However, while the Islamic State has profited greatly from its oil fields in eastern Syria, gas production involves very different technical challenges and the Islamic State will not be able to exploit the fields economically without highly specialized equipment and suitable means of transportation. But capturing gas fields as well as related processing plants and stations is still an effective form of economic warfare: losing access to these facilities means a net loss for the regime, which relies heavily on gas for electricity generation.

Similarly, the Islamic State has reportedly seized two phosphate mines near Palmyra, but extraction and export may prove very difficult. As of early June, the main effect has been to deny the Syrian government any income from these facilities, in the same way the assault on Baiji in Iraq denied Baghdad the use of refining capacity that provides half of its national needs.

The governments in both Syria and Iraq are under tremendous economic strain, with oil prices slipping, electricity infrastructure failing, and Iran appearing to waver over how much support it can afford to extend to its allies. By systematically targeting or seizing control over the Syrian power infrastructure, the Islamic State aggravates the crisis in government-controlled areas and gains important leverage over electricity-dependent communities, thereby positioning itself to further exploit the weakening of Assad’s government.

OUTLAW 09

03-24-2016, 06:08 PM

'Sure'. And: where's the flag of the group with which they supposedly made peace...?

CrowBat...stumbled on this today......

Village notables in E. Idleb, Hama region seek deals with govt, abducted by JN
http://syriadirect.org/news/east-hama-activist-nusra-arrests-local-leaders-for-negotiating-with-regime …
by Nisreen Nasser

CrowBat

03-24-2016, 06:13 PM

OUTLAW 09

03-24-2016, 06:14 PM

FSA Thwarts Regime Attacks on 3 Axis in Lattakia Countryside
http://bit.ly/1XMr0iC

FSA #Southern_Front brigades announce shared operations room & targeted areas for operations against #Daesh
#Daraa

Statement from #FSA #Southern_Front's @osodsunna pledging to fight #daesh in #Daraa

Assad airstrikes in Kafrnaboudeh, rural #Hama, #Syria today
http://youtu.be/HFSPyYSsgTg

OUTLAW 09

03-24-2016, 06:16 PM

The Syrian Observatory denies #Syria state TV report about Syrian troops entering #Palmyra saying clashes still ongoing on the western front

Even al mayadeen (pro Assad & pro Hizb) denied the news Assad State TV claimed

OUTLAW 09

03-24-2016, 06:22 PM

OUTLAW 09

03-24-2016, 06:32 PM

The #SyriaCeasefire
LEFT: Russian lies today.
RIGHT: The reality today.
#Assad ignores it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrNFpaIMtNo …

Also in #EastGhouta, the #Assad air force breached the #SyriaCeasefire as every day.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kibsvgWAgE …

Assad forces also bombed #Hayyan near #Aleppo w/ artillery, ignoring the #SyriaCeasefire.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5e229-2nLHQ …

Footage
Syrian rebels in #Jassem (#Daraa prov) in operation vs. #ISIS sleeper cells
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-N2wEDExec …

More footage from the operation is available (just one example).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YW6xQ0Bqvg …
#Jassem #Daraa #Syria

OUTLAW 09

03-24-2016, 07:30 PM

"#Turkey is now mired in a tripartite asymmetrical conflict" says @aaronstein1 to @business on 3/19 bombings
http://buff.ly/1T7NKKB

OUTLAW 09

03-24-2016, 07:39 PM

CrowBat....have you heard anything on this or just info war?

Head of Syrian opposition: North Korea troops fighting in Syria
http://upi.com/6276004t

Russian media reports N. Korean troops fight on Syrian government’s side
http://english.donga.com/List/3/03/26/528361/1 …?

Two North Korean military units are fighting in Syria's civil war on the side of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Russian news agency TASS reported on Tuesday. There have been claims that North Korea is helping the Syrian government since the Syrian conflict began in April 2011. It was the first time that the North’s troop commitment to the civil war was reported.

According to TASS, Asaad az-Zoubi, the head of the Syrian opposition's High Negotiations Committee delegation, said the two North Korean units are named Chalma-1 and Chalma-2. He made the claim as he attended Syria peace talks brokered by the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. Sputnik, another Russian news agency, also quoted Zoubi as saying that the North Korean units were “lethally dangerous.”

If the claim is true, Pyongyang will likely come under international criticism for providing military assistance for the Syrian government, which has been trampling on human rights by using chemical weapons even on civilians, let alone the opposition forces, in order to maintain the dictatorship. Some speculate that considering the North had never sent ground troops to overseas conflicts, Pyongyang could have “exported mercenaries” to earn much needed dollars. During the Vietnam War, North Korea sent only pilots and logistics troops to North Vietnam. The North also dispatched special forces instructors to various countries in Africa but avoided direct involvement in armed conflicts.

The exact size of the North Korean troops in the Syrian conflict has yet to be confirmed. “If North Korean special forces troops have really been sent, the size would not be big, with about 10 troops in one unit,” a South Korean government official said. “We are currently trying to gather detailed information.”

When Amud Horan, a rebel unit active in Daraa in southern Syria, unveiled four captured government militia troops on YouTube in April 2015, it claimed that one of them was “Korean.” The man looked like a typical Korean in his mid or late 20s. The young man was believed to be a North Korean soldier but soon forgot after the rebel unit executed him after the video was shot.

OUTLAW 09

03-24-2016, 07:44 PM

CIT (en) ‎@CITeam_en
Russian military says another Spetsnaz officer killed near Palmyra while working as airstrike spotter
http://slon.ru/posts/65735

Al Arabiya English
✔ ‎@AlArabiya_Eng #Breaking: Russian special forces officer killed in Syria was directing air strikes onto ISIS targets: Interfax

Russia media reports Russian officer killed himself in Syria when he found himself surrounded by ISIS in Palmyra. https://twitter.com/tvrain/status/713084903076864000 …

Reports that #Russian spetsnaz soldier killed nr #Palmyra called in fire on himself after surrounded by ISIS #Syria https://twitter.com/mkomsomolets/status/713090486081290240 …

OUTLAW 09

03-24-2016, 07:51 PM

Hezbollah, Russia, Assad All Blame West for Brussels Attack
http://bit.ly/1SjPYnK

Kremtrolls spread fake story of Brussels police chief being a transvestite, with obvious old-Testament implications http://alexandr3.livejournal.com/2042536.html

Nail-covered explosive teapots, 2 tons of ammonium nitrate:Turkish soldiers raid PKK hideout
http://www.dailysabah.com/gallery/nation/nail-covered-explosive-teapots-2-tons-of-amonium-nitrate-security-forces-raid-pkk-hideout …

News
Pro-#Assad forces attacked #Handarat north of #Aleppo shortly ago.

OUTLAW 09

03-24-2016, 07:53 PM

Putin : "Only thanks to Obama's position could we achieve such great results in Syria"
http://www.gazeta.ru/politics/news/2016/03/24/n_8414345.shtml …

Putin expanding his ME reach.....
Russia promises helicopters, gear for Tunisia's anti-terrorism fight
http://defnews.ly/1MnWXgo

CrowBat

03-24-2016, 07:56 PM

CrowBat.....hear anything on this yet???/

Seems #Russia covertly agreed to include #Ahrar into the ceasefire deal. Very important step moving forward. https://twitter.com/gebeilym/status/713054959575506944 …

But as far as I know Ahrar was never included in the UNSC listing of terrorist groups?????
Ahrar was never declared a terrorist organization by anybody (bar Assadists, of course, but then they consider everybody fighting them a terrorist).

That said, Russia seems to be particularly keen to include the JAN in the ceasefire too: they just couldn't ignore them any more than they did the last six months.

OUTLAW 09

03-24-2016, 08:18 PM

Ahrar was never declared a terrorist organization by anybody (bar Assadists, of course, but then they consider everybody fighting them a terrorist).

That said, Russia seems to be particularly keen to include the JAN in the ceasefire too: they just couldn't ignore them any more than they did the last six months.

CrowBat...interesting comment...why the sudden Russian interest in JaN which they fought to have declared by the UNSC as terrorist and their alleged closeness to AQ?

That puzzles me....could you explain more?

I know the long and deep FSB ties into IRGC, IS AND AQ......why the interest in JaN..is it because of AQ?

CrowBat

03-24-2016, 09:21 PM

CrowBat...interesting comment...why the sudden Russian interest in JaN which they fought to have declared by the UNSC as terrorist and their alleged closeness to AQ?

That puzzles me....could you explain more?

I know the long and deep FSB ties into IRGC, IS AND AQ......why the interest in JaN..is it because of AQ?
I don't know. All I can say is that they are NOT attacking them since months.

**************

BTW, countering all the reports by Assad-fans about 'advance to the outskirts of Palmyra', 'soon to be liberated' etc, there's a Twitter emitting from Daesh-held Palmyra (i.e. Tadmor): PalmyraRev1 (https://twitter.com/PalmyraRev1/with_replies).

He's virulently anti-Assad, staunchly anti-Russian (blaming Russians for destroying Palmyra and its history), perhaps slightly pro-Daesh too... Whatever, he's denying any kind of regime advances. 'They're still 3-5km from the south and west of the city', 'clashes are still far from the city'.

OUTLAW 09

03-25-2016, 07:57 AM

MFA Russia
✔ ‎@mfa_russia #Lavrov: Modern terrorism was largely triggered by erroneous actions of the West
http://tass.ru/en/politics/865040 …

Russian Officials Fault the West Over #BrusselsAttacks
http://www.eurasianet.org/node/77906

Kremlin Outraged at #Ukrainian Claim That Russia Linked to #BrusselsAttacks - Transitions Online
http://www.tol.org/client/article/25717-belgium-russia-ukraine-response-terrorist-attack-airport-metro.html …

OUTLAW 09

03-25-2016, 08:06 AM

Syria Some of the aftermath of Assad airstrikes in the Marj area. Man says only women, children & their cattle here
http://youtu.be/IOdJavlFiwY

Of 46 sieges in #Syria, 43 are imposed by Assad, inc all six of the worst:
- Jobar
- Douma
- Yarmouk
- Daraya
- Zabadani
- Madaya,

Yet another regime attempt to advance in Jabal Akrad thwarted by rebels today. #Latakia #Syria

Over 15 regime violations of the truce in Kafr Nabouda #Hama today with many strikes on #FSA positions. There is no #daesh or Nusra in area

Reports of more civilians wounded in #Hezbollah sniper fire in #Zabadani, rural #Damascus a little while ago

Reports of Assad airstrikes on al-Habit in south rural #Idlib, #Syria. Anyone still counting those CoH violations?

OUTLAW 09

03-25-2016, 08:11 AM

Night clashes in #DeirEzzor city after #IS launched attacks at several regime points.

IslamicState is expanding in southern #Syria after battle with Nusra & FSA

OUTLAW 09

03-25-2016, 10:09 AM

Really worth the read of a long article that is a valid thesis.......

https://kyleorton1991.wordpress.com/2015/09/08/how-russia-manipulates-islamic-terrorism/

How Russia Manipulates Islamic Terrorism

By Kyle Orton (@KyleWOrton) on September 8, 2015

Taken from the article.....

Last year I wrote about the murky role Russia was playing in the Syrian war, bolstering the Assad tyranny while facilitating the rise of the Islamic State (ISIS) and other Salafi-jihadists as a means of dividing and discrediting the Syrian opposition. Moscow’s action were in line with the strategy it had used to defeat the separatist movement in Chechnya, infiltrating the insurgency, driving it into extremism, and facilitating the arrival of al-Qaeda jihadists who displaced the Chechen nationalists. In Syria, Russia’s actions accord with the strategy adopted by the regime and its Iranian masters to present Assad as the last line of defence against a terrorist takeover of Syria and a genocide against the minorities. New evidence has emerged to underline these points.

NOTICE that even in this article there is linkage between the FSB and AQ.....

OUTLAW 09

03-25-2016, 10:41 AM

24 Martyrs including 1 Tortured by #ASSad genocidal Regime.
6 Aleppo
6 Damascus
4 Latakia
3 Hama
1 Idlib
1 Hasaka
1 Quneitra
#Syria MAR 24

Russian soldier in front of a RuAF Mi-24P near Palmyra, via @syrianmilitary
@syrianmilitary Full photo album is by MIKHAIL VOSKRESENSKIY for Sputnik,
http://sputniknews.com/photo/20160321/1036654801/syria-palmyra-desert-falcons-photo.html …

Now working directly with Iran's #Hezbollah & Fatimiyoun, @mod_russia troops

Reports #Isis affiliates occupy #Saham_alJawalm village now but battles continue in the area
#Daraa cs #Syria MAR 24

Ahmed al-Khalaf helped #Assad coordinate with Da'esh in #Palmyra (& looted artefacts too):
Assad regime intelligence agent Ahmed al-Khalaf turned up in #Germany after coordinating with Da'esh in #Palmyra.
https://unfetteredfreedom.wordpress.com/2015/10/03/list-of-shabiha-posing-as-refugees-in-europe/ …

OUTLAW 09

03-25-2016, 10:55 AM

ISIS affiliate Liwa Shuhada Yarmouk captured Sahm al-Golan in #Daraa & now advancing into Hayt where clashes are ongoing on outskirts

60 Russian airstrikes targeted #Palmyra today & reports 2 #ISIS VBIEDs targeted Hezb & pro-regime miltias at hotel complex SW of the city

Reports of 3 dead & several others wounded by #Hezbollah gunfire targeting #Zabadani today.

FSA Suqour al-Jabal promo vid of the daily clashes with Assad forces in the Jabal al-Akrad area in rural #Latakia
http://youtu.be/RTwr7CdF97M

Rebels have again taken Touqli in north rural #Aleppo from #ISIS following heavy clashes & holding against multiple #ISIS VBIEDs as usual

IslamicState is expanding in southern #Syria after battle with Nusra & FSA
This is concerning; expect Jordan and the MoC to intervene

OUTLAW 09

03-25-2016, 03:03 PM

US and #Russia n silent toward this breaches by the regime is an evidence that they reached agreement

Assad helicopters dropping barrel bombs on Kafrnaha in west rural #Aleppo, #Syria

Assad barrel bombs also targeted rebel held Bayanoun in north rural #Aleppo

News about releasing #TOW shooters by Iranian militias through an exchange of detainees mediated by the Red Crescent.

Syria #Assad-helicopter dropping barrel bombs on northern & western #Aleppo suburbs

Anti-Assad protest in Rastan, #Homs where even the #Russia|n flag was burned
http://youtu.be/IqhlHLrwCNk

It’s Friday with anti-Assad protests all across #Syria today from #Daraa to #Damascus, #Homs, #Idlib & #Aleppo

OUTLAW 09

03-25-2016, 03:08 PM

Footage shows #Palmyra castle is being targeted by regime and #Russia rockets and shells today #SavePalmyra
https://youtu.be/L6wRJH3riAQ

Syrian regime targets #Palmyra citadel today which they claim to have now captured from #ISIS

Palmyra is still under the control of #ISIS.
#SAA in its positions Without any progress.
The Shelling is still continuing on the city

A Video shows #ISIS will continue to control the city of #Palmyra and its surroundings.
#Syria , Mar 24
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3zvufm

Alaa Ebrahim ‎@Alaa_Ebrahim_tv
Ruins of #Palmyra as seen from the farther frontline between #ISIL & #SAA pictures taken by me live from battlefield

Alaa Ebrahim ‎@Alaa_Ebrahim_tv
The battle for control over #Palmyra citadel rages on #SAA source "we'll take before nightfall"

Palmyra's archaeological site has been freed from ISIS this am. First drone footage. #Syria
https://twitter.com/SyriaIraqNews/status/713330147806588928 …

Russia'n drone flight above ancient #Palmyra
& Semiramis Hotel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFHcIm9F41w&feature=youtu.be&t=11s …

Footage
#Russian/#Assad fire power vs. #Palmyra under #ISIS control.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrBS96kz3E0 …

OUTLAW 09

03-25-2016, 03:17 PM

US is appearing to try to make up to the KSA for the Obama KSA slight in his interview......or they are trying to sidetrack the KSA from entering Syria.....after the Kerry Moscow trip......

DoDNews
✔ ‎@DoDNews #SecDef: I spoke w/ my Saudi counterpart & we agreed to convene a US-Gulf Cooperation Council Defense Ministerial on April 20th in Riyadh

OUTLAW 09

03-25-2016, 03:47 PM

Israeli and Jordanian Jets Confronted Russian Warplanes on Syrian Border, King Says
http://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/1.710905 …

The Russians were shocked and understood they could not mess with us,' says Jordanian King Abdullah, adds that Jordan 'spoke on behalf of Israel' with Russia.

Israeli and Jordanian fighter planes jointly confronted Russian air force jets over the southern Syrian border, according to a briefing by Jordan's King Abdullah to senior members of the United States Congress.

The date of the confrontation was not disclosed during Abdullah's meeting in Washington on January 11. The incident was reported by Middle East Eye, who said it had seen an account of the meeting.

According to the report, the Russian planes were on a mission to survey Israeli defenses on the Syrian border. "We saw the Russians fly down, but they were met with Israeli and Jordanian F-16s, both together in Israeli and Jordanian airspace," Abdullah said.

OUTLAW 09

03-25-2016, 03:56 PM

Syria Rebels shelling now Shiite enclave of Kafarya & al-Fu'ah after lots of airstrikes across #Idlib province today

Several civilians killed & many wounded including children in Assad airstrikes on a local market in Ariha, rural #Idlib, #Syria

Syria #Idlib Airstrikes on Binnish, Ariha, Al-Bashiriyah, Abu al-Dhuhur & others more

Mi-24/35 from Syria being unloaded in Novosibirsk, Russia
http://ivan-stalich.livejournal.com/25991.html via @az1ok

Daraa #IS- offshoot "Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade" declare
Hayt town to "military zone"
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=32.760933&lon=35.917225&z=14&m=b …

OUTLAW 09

03-25-2016, 04:07 PM

OUTLAW 09

03-25-2016, 04:18 PM

The tan T-90A that was pictured once before also makes an appearance.
http://lifenews.ru/news/192442

Lifenews report from Palmyra shows SyAA using MCLC to detonate mines left by IS
http://lifenews.ru/news/192442

OUTLAW 09

03-25-2016, 04:20 PM

Russian officials say special forces officer died a "hero," called in strike on himself after being surrounded by ISIS on edge of #Palmyra.

BUT WAIT...based on the past experiences with the high precision Russian air strikes...this GRU Spetsnaz officer is probably now an IS POW.........

Now the truth comes out........
RUMIL killed own officer in Palmyra via airstrike when they realized he was surrounded by ISIS & would be captured:
http://www.alarabiya.net/ar/arab-and-world/syria/2016/03/25/%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%A7-%D8%AA%D9%82%D8%B5%D9%81-%D8%A3%D8%AD%D8%AF-%D8%B6%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B7%D9%87%D8%A7-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%AA%D8%AF%D9%85%D8%B1-%D8%A8%D8%B9%D8%AF-%D8%A3%D9%86-%D8%AD%D8%A7%D8%B5%D8%B1%D9%87-%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%B4.html …

OUTLAW 09

03-25-2016, 04:33 PM

CrowBat................SAA/Putin/Hezbollah appearing to have some problem with Palmyra.......

SAA
Maj. Gen. Sha'ban Al-'Oja
Commander of the 64th Artillery Battalion
Martyred at #Tadmor

Russia 24 video. What's left from ancient Palmyra and Tadmor city from UAV
http://syria.liveuamap.com/en/2016/25-march-full-russia-24-video-whats-left-from-ancient-palmyra …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFHcIm9F41w …

OUTLAW 09

03-25-2016, 04:37 PM

Syria #Russia conducted 60+ airstrikes on #Palmyra today
& 300+ the past days

OUTLAW 09

03-25-2016, 05:46 PM

A lot of Russian "discussions" on humanitarian aid but little to nothing is ever delivered.....

Минобороны России
✔ ‎@mod_russia #SYRIA Working session with #Damascus prov.administration is held.Humanit. aid & establishment of peaceful life in damaged towns discussed

OUTLAW 09

03-25-2016, 06:08 PM

Report #ISIS shelled w/ long-range missiles & badly damaged Furqlus Gas Plant in E. Homs in retaliation for #Palmyra
http://bit.ly/1UpGGur

West. Media praise nearing Regime vict. in #Palmyra vs #IS & turn blind eye to clear ceasefire violations in #Idlib

Rebels taking advantage of natural defense line to repel Loyalist offensives in Tuffahiyah, Jebal al Akrad #Latakia.

Drone view showing airstrikes on #Palmyra Semiramis Hotel (600 m from SW Palm grove).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFHcIm9F41w …

Breaking. Pro-Regime forces closing on #Palmyra by taking gas station 1.95 km SW from Palm grove (Orchads). #Tadmor

OUTLAW 09

03-25-2016, 06:10 PM

Between 21-24 March, #ISIS responsible for ~67% of all Syrian forces casualties (44% from #Palmyra front alone).

Last 4 days, bulk (67.5%) of Syrian forces fallen in #Palmyra are from #Tartus prov & ~92% from Alawite locations

TOW strike vs tank in Jebal al Akrad, #Latakia. Date unknown. Suqur al-Jebal video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTwr7CdF97M …

OUTLAW 09

03-25-2016, 06:17 PM

Yup, thought it's something of that kind.

Namely, unless there's a flag to be seen, everything is related to 'local notables', i.e. civilians: 'if Assadists and Russians can wave flags', say, 'Central Division or another of local units can do so too'.

'Men wearing uniforms' means not much. It's like at the times of the US Revolution or the Civil War: most of people are too poor to get anything else to wear.

Минобороны России
✔ ‎@mod_russia #SYRIA #Hama prov.citizens say:Jabhat al-Nusra kidnapped 12 civilians from east of province for participation in reconciliation process

OUTLAW 09

03-25-2016, 06:37 PM

Between Sept. 2015 & now,the #RuAF did not hit a single #ISIS target on that map.
Anti-IS or pro-Assad?
You decide.

Senior Ahrar al-Sham military commander Abu Taleb Abuleyn joined popular protests in Salqin, #Idlib today:

Abu Taleb was the target of an attempted assassination by IED near Salqin in January:

Senior Ahrar al-Sham commander Hossam Salameh (@hosm_sa) pictured at [pro-Division 13] protest in Marat al-Numan:

Worrying reports from #Idlib today - an expansion of airstrikes vs. opposition positions & retaliatory rebel attacks on Al-Fuah & Kafraya.

Assad-forces now storming #Palmyra now via northern
Al-Amiriyah http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=34.571037&lon=38.288727&z=14&m=b …
Russian warplanes carried out 41 sorties to support Syrian army offensive near Palmyra:
TASS
http://bit.ly/1Sltlj1

Syria #FSA retook Tayr village in western #Daraa from #IS offshoots
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=32.792398&lon=36.047344&z=14&m=b …

OUTLAW 09

03-25-2016, 07:08 PM

A-10 providing CAS to FSA vs IS in N Aleppo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClZxVYafvLA …

Majority of Russians Support Troop Withdrawal From Syria – Poll:
http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/majority-of-russians-support-troop-withdrawal-from-syria--poll/563701.html …

felixraider

03-25-2016, 07:23 PM

collection of video fighting in Syria on 25.03.2016
http://www.milkavkaz.net/2016/03/obstanovka-v-sirii-na-25.03.2016.html

Added by Moderator: the link can be translated from Russian into English and appears to have a mix of videos - some clearly the Syrian regime and its Russian allies. It includes the A10 CAS for the FSA.

OUTLAW 09

03-25-2016, 07:44 PM

تدمر ‎@PalmyraRev1
#Palmyra Today
regime & its militia have not achieved any more advance. We refute all their allegations of controlling castle & airport

OUTLAW 09

03-25-2016, 07:56 PM

Aleppo: Syrian Rebels recapture Tawaqali from ISIS & kill around 30 fighters
http://bit.ly/1ZzVp5h

Turkey military detains an ISIL suspect on Syria border who was transporting motor parts for a drone
http://isis.liveuamap.com/en/2016/25-march-turkey-military-detains-an-isil-suspect-on-syria …

OUTLAW 09

03-25-2016, 08:30 PM

تدمر ‎@PalmyraRev1
#Palmyra Today
regime & its militia have not achieved any more advance. We refute all their allegations of controlling castle & airport

Appears even the Russian MoD is hedging .........

Военный Советник ‎@miladvisor
Based on reliable data,#SAA still not control airport (500m away)& not control #Amiriyah.Many reporters in hurry

Palmyra Update: #ISIS recaptured the #Palmyra Castle from #Assad militias moments ago. Many killed on both sides.

OUTLAW 09

03-25-2016, 08:34 PM

After Afrin YPG works with Russians, US links up with local FSA militias. Americans are spreading their bets

VIDEO: FSA make ground against #ISIS in northern Aleppo, #Syria with help of USAF.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClZxVYafvLA …

OUTLAW 09

03-25-2016, 08:58 PM

Massacre in #Ariha, 3 martyrs & 12 wounded, victims of #RUSSIA airstrikes on popular market
#Idlib cs #Syria MAR 25

IRAMs used by SyAA in Latakia. 1250kg each.

CrowBat

03-25-2016, 10:31 PM

CrowBat................SAA/Putin/Hezbollah appearing to have some problem with Palmyra.......

SAA
Maj. Gen. Sha'ban Al-'Oja
Commander of the 64th Artillery Battalion
Martyred at #Tadmor A Major-General in command of an artillery battalion? What's that? Some punishment-battalion of sort?

Anyway, regime claimed today the following (I'm just summarizing all of their reporting):

- Mt Qasiyoun today;

- Base 555 (north of Tadmor);

- Palmyra air base;

- al-Amiriya district (northern Tadmor);

- Palmyra Prison (was blown away by the Daesh already 6-7 months ago);

- and 'orchards' (read: oasis);

- and 'ancient city' of Palmyra;

- and, finally: 'SAA' captured the Moon Base Alpha, too.

Bottom line: they might have captured the Base 555, 4km north of Palmyra. It seems they did attempt to attack Mt Qasiyoun too, but there's no proof they've captured the place (on the contrary there's only proof they didn't: otherwise there wouldn't be videos from this afternoon, showing Russian artillery shelling the place).

They have also assaulted in direction of Palmyra air base, coming from the south, but were stopped at least 500, probably more metres away from it.

...and they have suffered heavy losses for actually capturing nothing at all.

Meanwhile, accusations are flying about who is launching all of this nonsense. Latest variant is: 'no authoritative source claimed anything of that'... Who's then the 'authoritative source' - when everybody, from that Slim Shady...erm... Shady Hulve...to all possible 'embedded TV reporters' plus Damascus have announced repeatedly all of the stuff listed above...?

OUTLAW 09

03-26-2016, 02:56 PM

And the ever ongoing Russian/Assad/Hezbollah constant victory cries that they are in Palmyra.....

Syria Artillery rain on Amiriyah suburb of #Palmyra but no regime pics from inside town
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=34.588616&lon=38.289027&z=16&m=b … …
Palmyra: #Assad militias captured the Castle(again), heaviest fighting in Al-Amiriyah now.

Palmyra Battle Map: #ISIS is still in control of the City, the Airport & Ancient City

Palmyra under nonstop artillery shelling by #Assad militias. Heavy street fights with #ISIS since the morning.

2 hrs ago: Assad media filming from Palmyra citadel hill, showing shelling&fighting for western outskirts.

Pro-Regime forces are 800 m from Ancient city of #Palmyra. Last #ISIS defense (sand barrier) reached in W. Palmyra

PalmyraRev1
Regime's army and foreign militias. Control of the #Palmyra castle and neighborhoods beside them.
#Syria , Mar 26 , 12:00 AM

ISIS launches fierce assault on regime and its militia located north and north western #Palmyra to regain what it has lost during last days

A Violent clashes between #ISIS against the regime's army #SAA. Behind #Palmyra castle.
#Syria , Mar 25 , 23:00 PM

Syria Assad forces enter western #Palmyra at Hospital

Syr army confirms that Gen.Shaba'an Ouja commander of 64th regiment killed in battles to retake #Palmyra from #ISIL

Assad regime commander admonishing his men for running away from battles in Palmyra & admits 18 killed 32 injured

davidbfpo

03-26-2016, 04:31 PM

OUTLAW 09

03-26-2016, 05:09 PM

Crowbat & Outlaw09,

Slightly puzzled about the offensive to retake Palymra.

Approx. ten days ago you both IIRc posted that the desert highway between the regime's strongholds in the south and the offensive towards Homs was cut. I don't recall posts on that highway being secured. Presumably the regime secured the highway (from ISIS) and could attack Palmyra?

David...the highway was cut...am assuming it was also held as IS has decided to defend the area not a road....due to the flatness and open desert holding a road is really tough when you have the massive GRAD, artillery hitting you in the open and Russian AF over you.

IS has a great record at defending fixed positions as that comes down to a urban light infantry fight which takes away the advantage of the CAS and artillery.

Plus IS has really developed itself into a "mine emplacement group" which has really slowed down the Russian/IRGC/Hezbollah attack force forcing them into the avenues of approach IS wants them to take.

If there is a lessons learned for the FSA...it has been their tendency to not use mines and IEDs to slow down the attacker.

There was a comment I forgot to post and need to refind it...indicating that the IS bomb making abilities has progressed massively in the last few years.....

Even the Russian Spetsnaz is meeting more than their equal right now--IS was able to search out the Russian Spetsnaz JTACs and recon teams that were attempting to find routes into Palmyra.

Remember the IS combat leadership is well tested from the US Iraq period especially Ramadi and Mosul fighting which tied US forces up in knots for months.

The Assad attack force is though running into their traditional weakness....high loses and low manpower in order to hold what they capture as shown by the IS retaken positions today.

IS when it all said and done has a remarkable ability to pull back under fire after a heavy round of fighting which lulls the attacker into thinking they have won...then they get hit have a massive SBIED strike and IS re-attacks....

It is interesting to see just how IS uses the SVIEDs as their CAS.....

This fight is similar in nature to the Ukrainian Debaltseve fight where Russia attacked using first the Cossacks who literally took a beating and then Russia sent in a Russian Tank Bde and their Spetsnaz...and the loses was massive for Russian standards.....

The Russians attempted to encircle Debaltseve and with one blow finish off the UAF....which was able to conduct what is truly rare a fighting retrograde pulling all troops and their heavy equipment out of the pocket leaving the Russians with a destroyed town, heavy loses and no propaganda "victory"...

Right now the IS light infantry is taking a beating and yet beating the Russian Assad force into the ground as well all without heavy weapons and CAS.

This will be one pf those battles that needs to be truly analyzed in the coming years....

OUTLAW 09

03-26-2016, 05:18 PM

Angry protesters burn JN checkpoint at Marrat al-Numman entrance y'day & raise #FSA flag.
https://youtu.be/dvRCwwnb0ug

This Div13-Nusra conflict is getting out of control and must be settled ASAP before it turns into a deadly inter-rebels war

The way I see it, Jund al-Aqsa plays a destructive & suspicious role in JN-Div13 conflict in Marrat al-Numan.

Nusra checkpoint targeted by #ISIL VBIED near Beit Sahem #Dara -

Syria Hassakeh Daesh controls back several points in…
https://yallasouriya.wordpress.com/2016/03/26/syria-hassakeh-daesh-controls-back-several-points-in …

OUTLAW 09

03-26-2016, 05:30 PM

Regime's army and foreign militias. Control of the #Palmyra castle and neighborhoods beside them.
#Syria , Mar 26 , 12:00 AM

Intense air strikes by #Russian warplanes. Aimed at reviving the city and its environs And clashes still continue in some neighborhoods

To sum up current #Palmyra situation: pro-Regime forces seized Castle + Mount & part of N. suburb. Rest of city (incl. airport) under #ISIS

Report #ISIS evacuated heavy equipment to East. city of Sukhna & waging street battles in #Palmyra. City not completely surrounded so far.

David...recognize the full light infantry fighting, then slow withdrawal fighting each step backwards,,,then the protecting of their heavy equipment and then we will see the SVIEDs come in.....

IS tactics are predictable but somehow they are good at it.....IMHO they get away with it simply because they are a motivated fighting force fighting a Russian/Assad/Hezbollah mercenary force that does not have their heart into it, has poor officer leadership and even poor training.

Example...in Iraq AQI now IS were the first users of the "swarming" attack starting in late 2005 and even though the US Army knew the tactic they could never adjust to it and took several bad beatings from AQI with one attack killing and or wounding over 40 US military also led by two five ton SVIEDs.

The core problem with the Assad/Russian/IRGC/Hezbollah and the Iraqi militaries.....they do not fight for a flag....they fight for money......or in the case of IS..they fight for a black flag.....

OUTLAW 09

03-26-2016, 05:47 PM

At least 5 dead & more wounded in a Liwa Shuhada Yarmouk VBIED targeting Liwa Mutaz Billah HQ (FSA) in Tafas, #Daraa

Must watch #Drone combat vid by #JundAqsa
SAA run & death of mujahid via @LifeInSyria
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndBJyXzk-CI&sns=tw … …

More reports of Assad forces arresting women near Barzeh & detaining them & their children at the Khansa mosque #Damascus

Over 5000 people have fled west suburbs of Daraa because of fighting between rebels and ISIS, families walking as long as 10 hours on foot

Mohammed al-Khous, a poet & the last doctor in #Zabadani was one of the people killed by #Hezbollah snipers y’day

Assad’s artillery on top of Qasioun mountain in #Damascus continues to shell eastern Ghouta over everyone’s heads :/

Heavy clashes still ongoing, rebels were able to take back Bala fields after Assad forces/militias had briefly captured the area

Heavy Assad rocket fire & artillery shelling targeting the southern part of eastern Ghouta since last night. #Damascus

OUTLAW 09

03-26-2016, 05:48 PM

New York Court Lists Khamenei as the Second Defendant in the September 11 Attacks - ASHARQ AL-AWSAT http://english.aawsat.com/2016/03/article55348919/a-new-york-court-lists-khamenei-as-the-second-defendant-in-the-september-11-attacks …

Respect to this brave lady for speaking out about the suffering in Assad's torture cells.
https://youtu.be/FBMQQyM7C_w

OUTLAW 09

03-26-2016, 05:57 PM

Assad's army high ranking officers killed in #Palmyra so far:
2 Major General
3 General
2 Colonel
2 Major
Almost all from the Coast #Syria

SAA Major General Ahmed Hamadeh from 134 brigade killed in #Palmyra battle

Syria Pro #Hezbollah al-Manar channel reporter killed among 8 militia members in #Palmyra

Iran-backed Afghan Fatemiyoun fighters on the front lines near Palmyra, #Syria

Even if Assad/Russia kicks out IS in the end this is a really bad "victory".....

OUTLAW 09

03-26-2016, 06:29 PM

Worth reading.Europe's responsibilty."@wissamtarif:Turkish officials: Europe wanted to export extremists to Syria
http://gu.com/p/4hp6q/stw

Beyond media to interrogate the idea Europe exported jihadis who killed 1000s Syrians while blaming those fleeing

Shi'ite #Kuwait-i MP who was stripped of immunity pops up in #Syria w/ Assad & Hezbollah:

Great summary from @JoelWing2 >> Iran#s Ties With Al Qaeda In Iraq’s [#IS's] Abu Musab al-Zarqawi
http://goo.gl/wNigNG
http://alqabas.com/7368/

Palmyra: Russia defence ministry says it conducted more than 40 sorties targeting 158 "terrorist positions" near Palmyra in last 24 hours

felixraider

03-26-2016, 06:45 PM

Situation in Syria and collection of video fighting in Syria on 26.03.2016 (http://www.milkavkaz.net/2016/03/obstanovka-v-sirii-na-26.03.2016.html)

OUTLAW 09

03-26-2016, 07:17 PM

Situation in Syria and collection of video fighting in Syria on 26.03.2016 (http://www.milkavkaz.net/2016/03/obstanovka-v-sirii-na-26.03.2016.html)

Russian site.....

OUTLAW 09

03-26-2016, 07:24 PM

New Latakia emir of Jabhat an-Nusra (al-Qaeda in #Syria), Iyad at-Tubasi (Abu Julaybib), is a brother-in-law of #IS founder Zarqawi.

Nusra's new coastal emir, Iyad at-Tubasi, fought alongside Zarqawi in AFG, and moved with Zarqawi to Iraq in 2002, before the invasion.

Some of this is undeniable: #Iran's had an operational cnx with al-Qaeda since 1996, a partnership even longer.
http://i24ne.ws/ZWOzL

Iyad at-Tubasi was wrong reported killed in DEC 2012, was said to have been replaced as Nusra's Deraa emir by Mustafa Abd al-Latif Saleh.

Mustafa Abd al-Latif Saleh is also from Zarqa, and arrived early in Iraq with Zarqawi (2003 latest), working on the Assad-overseen ratlines.

Both Iyad at-Tubasi and Mustafa Abd al-Latif Saleh were among the ISI advanced party that entered Syria in AUG 2011 to create Nusra.

OUTLAW 09

03-26-2016, 07:26 PM

Palmyra is meant to erase the memory of 14 years of strategic collaboration between Assad and IS, which is ongoing in most other areas.

OUTLAW 09

03-26-2016, 07:41 PM

Evidence Tadmor has been hit by Russian-made cluster bombs (most likely RuAF, which continue sorties there) https://twitter.com/CITeam_en/status/713801118913060870 …

Tos-1a in #Palmyra

Pro-Asad militia in Amiriya in north Tadmor. RBK-500 cluster bomb remains in the foreground.

OUTLAW 09

03-26-2016, 07:42 PM

Syria ~70 #Assad-forces killed in #Palmyra battle in the past days

Syria Salute shooting reported in #Latakia when motorcade with coffins arrived at military hospital (probably from #Palmyra battle)
Syria List of dead #Assad-forces

مدينة تدمر ‎@PalmyraRev1
A map showing the areas dominated by #SAA. only 3 neighborhoods. And still 5 neighborhoods with #ISIS , #Palmyra

Syria Video from western neighborhoods of #Palmyra
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8-QLIQckj4 …
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=34.567583&lon=38.261379&z=17&m=b …

First video of RuAFs Mi-28N taking part in Palmyra operation. Video of it firing ATGM.

#Russia|n forces involved in the assault on the #Syria|n city of #Palmyra
v @newsburko |@AP
https://informnapalm.org/21469-palmira-rossijskie-vojska/

Russian COM or CCT team helping #Syria army soldiers on the ground against #ISIS at #Palmyra front.

OUTLAW 09

03-26-2016, 07:59 PM

FSA form brigade 93 in #Idlib
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yODPh_1sdnA …

Who remembers this Hezbollah dog Yasir Ali Da'oun crying at funerals? Well now he's dead

First Russia uses the Kurdish YPG to attack the FSA not IS, and then gives the Kurds the impression Russian supports their independence AND then let's them fall after using them as cannon fodder.......

http://tass.ru/en/politics/865164

MOSCOW, March 25. /TASS/. Moscow is explaining in its contacts with Kurds that Syria is an indivisible country that should not be broken into parts, Russia's presidential envoy on the Middle East and North Africa, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov told reporters on Friday.

"Our task is to help Kurds, to find common ground, common approaches. National Syrian interests should prevail over all others," Bogdanov said. "They should proceed from the fact that Syria should not be broken apart as it will be bad for Syrians themselves," he added.

The diplomat noted that Russia maintains good relations and contacts with Kurds. "We maintain good contacts with Kurds. We keep in touch not only with Democratic Union Party and several other parties and organizations," he said.

OUTLAW 09

03-26-2016, 08:28 PM

Syrian Rebels capture the leader of the biggest Assad sleeper cell in North Syria
https://youtu.be/PyrYwvWQFE8

Assad regime war criminals Mustafa Abd Al Rujob notorious for raping/torturing women killed in Deir Ezzor

felixraider

03-26-2016, 09:29 PM

russian military airbase Hmeymim in Syria (Latakia),imagery showing on 20 March

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CefOT9RWIAE2Tvk.jpg:large

CrowBat

03-27-2016, 06:28 AM

CrowBat

03-27-2016, 06:33 AM

Assad's army high ranking officers killed in #Palmyra so far:
2 Major General
3 General
2 Colonel
2 Major
Almost all from the Coast #Syria

[B]SAA Major General Ahmed Hamadeh from 134 brigade killed in #Palmyra battleRegime has meanwhile published a list of 110 KIA from SAA/NDF alone.

Even if Assad/Russia kicks out IS in the end this is a really bad "victory".....Victories are always 'bad' or 'good' depending on how well the victors use them for PR purposes.

Take Yemen as example: Saudi-led coalition is winning the last few months but they screwed up so much with their PR, nobody believes this any more.

In the case of Assadists, Iranians and Russians, we should have no doubt that they'll declare this a de-facto victory in war. Just wait for Col Botox.... erm... me again: Col Sohail Hassan to start posing in front of (what remains of) Palmyra's ruins.

OUTLAW 09

03-27-2016, 07:32 AM

Dept of state statement on Geneva talks support HNC position of political transition without Assad in Syria.

OUTLAW 09

03-27-2016, 07:39 AM

Clashes reported between rebels & YPG around Sheikh Maqsoud in #Aleppo

Assad MLRS attack targeting Morek in #Hama from Ma’ardis

Aftermath of the VBIED that targeted FSA Liwa Mutaz Billah HQ in Tafas, #Daraa earlier yesterday
http://youtu.be/5tWMq0fhdPI

Clashes between rebels & #ISIS on the outskirts of Jakka in north rural #Aleppo, #Syria

OUTLAW 09

03-27-2016, 07:45 AM

OUTLAW 09

03-27-2016, 07:50 AM

Continuing to cover the Palmyra battle which is almost now like the fighting on the front line in eastern Ukraine........which is largely not being covered by MSM .......

Syria Unconfirmed report: #Assad-forces lost control of northern Amiriyah suburb of #Palmyra to #IS tonight
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=34.588280&lon=38.286409&z=15&m=b …

@PalmyraRev1
@markito0171 They controlled it in the daytime. And withdrew for the night. Developments changing moments

Syria #Assad forces took full control of #Palmyra after #IS retreated in night

16 dead #ISIS fighters were brought to #Albab 7 of them are not #Syrian. They were killed in #Palmyra.

Syria #Palmyra Clashes at officers housing at road crossing to #DeirEzzor
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=34.576161&lon=38.301730&z=16&m=b …

Assad forces now control half of #Palmyra town

One has to be amazed that this particular social media activist is still active in the middle of this battle.........

Syria #Assad forces took full control of #Palmyra after #IS retreated in night

PalmyraRev1
The #SAA did not have control of the city as a whole. #ISIS control of 3 distrincts. And continuing clashes.
#Syria #Palmyra , Mar 27 ,9:30AM

Palmyra ::
27-3-2016 , 09:30 AM
النظام و روسيا و حزب الله لم يسيطروا حتى اللحظة بشكل كامل...
http://fb.me/866j1z6SJ

Syria Despite regime claim sound of fightings in #Palmyra this morning

Yallasouriya 4:24 am on March 27, 2016
#Syria, Homs E. rif – Tadmur – last update.

Today battle was the most fiercefull one despite the russian air attacks and regime militias pre-empted artillery shelling. Daesh should thwart attacks on 3 fronts ; south east, with the purporse to reach the airbase and from the west of the town at the security military branch 221 and from the north side the commission to the Badiya development.

Landmines planted by Daesh within the town districts hinder regime militias capacity to enter the town.

Area still controlled by Daesh : airport;
Area controlled by the regime : Al Amiriya, and some areas in the north.

Assad regime General Ali Rahmoun Asker killed in Tadmur