Syria in 2017 (January-April) [Archive] - Page 4

CrowBat

03-03-2017, 04:19 PM

CrowBat...this is major.....he was being accompanied though by Spetsnaz from which we have not heard about any of their loses in the IED strike..there were loses but announced occurring in the Aleppo area....

Russian General blown up in IED blast in Palmyra last week - report
Russian general-mayor Petr Milyukhin seriously wounded in Palmyra a week ago ...lost two legs and one eye so it appears the vehcle are physically targeted...
General was chief of training/study of Russian Western Military District(located from Voronezh to Murmansk)

http://m.fontanka.ru/2017/03/03/101/
Yup. They've lost a few troops of the (AFAIK) 24th SPETSNAZ Brigade that guarded Milyukhin, too. Only one was named in the public so far, thought.

Seems, the organization of the battlefield is meanwhile such, that the Russians are commanding nearly all of the ops - except those undertaken by the IRGC alone (like in Western Aleppo).

The Russians in turn issue their commands to elements of the Quwwat Nimr, and this is then forwarding the same to 'everybody else'.

Example: the latest offensive on Palmyra (which, apparently, is about to recover that poor city). There's a Russian commander on the top, with his own staff - all protected by SPETSNAZ, and escorted by a FAC-team too.

Then there's the Hamza Group of the Quwwat Nimr (a company-strong element from the ''Tiger Force', a 'command & control' militia). They are there to play the 'SAA', i.e. show the flag and drive those recently-delivered T-62Ms in front of various cameras.

However, most of the force consists of Liwa Fatimiyoun (about 20,000 troops in total) and Hezbollah (one battalion). Considering these numbers along, little surprise the Daesh is losing as quickly.

And the CENTCOM is providing CAS...:rolleyes:

So, when the Washington Post proudly announces Hezbollah, Russia and the U.S. help Syria retake Palmyra (https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/syrian-army-retakes-the-ancient-city-of-palmyra-from-the-islamic-state/2017/03/02/fe770c78-ff63-11e6-9b78-824ccab94435_story.html) it's got the story entirely wrong (no surprise, since I doubt they've got even 1/10th of any of their journos really knowing what's up in Syria).

Correct title should be: Afghans, Lebanese, Iranians and Russians take Palmyra - backed by US air support.

OUTLAW 09

03-03-2017, 05:20 PM

Aleppo: #HTS destroyed an #Assad regime T-72 with a #TOW strike in Western #Aleppo today.

2 tanks taken out & 20+ pro-Assad reportedly killed including an #IRGC Colonel in failed Regime offensive on NW #Aleppo front.

W. #Aleppo: Rebels repelled an attempt by pro-Regime forces to advance towards Al-Rashidin-Suq Al-Gibs (red circle).

OUTLAW 09

03-03-2017, 06:01 PM

Aleppo: 600 #YPG fighters have left the #Raqqa offensive and arrived the #Manbij area.

OUTLAW 09

03-03-2017, 06:18 PM

OUTLAW 09

03-03-2017, 06:21 PM

Please tell me, this isn't real!!!

"Not aware" of a deal every school kid between Damascus & Istanbul knows of and Russia openly announced.

BREAKING Russia informed Pentagon through deconfliction lines that it was moving to Manbij, and this is why US wasn't surprised by it

It seems, Trump, also like Obama, is likely to cooperate with the Syrian Kurdish group YPG in the region. Hence, making it impossible to start a new era in Turkey-U.S. relations

https://www.dailysabah.com/columns/ragip-soylu/2017/03/02/trump-administration-likely-to-disappoint-turkey-on-raqqa-operation

OUTLAW 09

03-03-2017, 06:34 PM

The "Syrian Democratic Forces" (#YPG and friends) - our "biggest hope against ISIS" - are more&more showing their true pro-dictatorial face.

Iranian-backed Iraqi Shiite militia on attacks by Turkish-supported Iraqi Kurds on Yazidis, who themselves demand PKK to withdraw to Syria.

Why is the #PKK/#YPG handing areas over to the Assad regime, but not to the #Peshmarga despite demands of the Yazidi https://twitter.com/rudawenglish/status/837611105518247936#…

There were some clashes between syrian kurds of the legimated Roj Peshmarga & the terrorists #kurds of the #PKK/#YPG

Or in other words: Welcome to the giant post-#ISIS clusterf*ck that will entertain us for the next decade & lay foundation to the next ISIS.

OUTLAW 09

03-03-2017, 06:35 PM

Remember this day!
@CJTFOIR prefers to hand over land,liberated from #ISIS,to #Assad.
Rather than finding a solution between #SDF & #Turkey.

It also confirmed, the transfer of large tracts of land, @CJTFOIR liberated from #ISIS, to #Assad and Iranian-led militias, started this AM.

OUTLAW 09

03-03-2017, 06:45 PM

Faylaq al-Sham has called upon #HTS to stop infighting with Ahrar al-Sham in #Idlib - offers to mediate if necessary.

Salafist cleric Abu Basir al-Tartusi has demanded a trial of Nusra/JFS leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani for crimes against #Syria's revolution.

- "As U.S pressures #Iran, parallel tensions grow between #Israel & #Hezbollah”
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2017/0301/As-US-pressures-Iran-parallel-tensions-grow-between-Israel-and-Hezbollah?cmpid=gigya-tw#…

Charles Lister‏
Verified account
@Charles_Lister

This is not a joke.
- This terrorism "expert" sat in the White House, thinks using "Radical Islamic…" is the "key" to defeating #terrorism.
Charles Lister

Sebastian Gorka DrG‏
Verified account
@SebGorka
INCORRECT

After 8 years of obfuscation and disastrous Counterterrorism policies those 3 words are key to Victory against Global Jihadism.
Sebastian

FOX & friends‏
Verified account
#"There's nothing magic about those three words. They're not a strategy, they're a talking point." -Marie Harf on 'radical Islamic terrorism'

OUTLAW 09

03-03-2017, 06:56 PM

URGENT WARNING...only rumor not fully confirmed as of yet.....

Rumor has it Telegram is compromised & Russian IC has access to messages for past 3 years.

OUTLAW 09

03-03-2017, 07:00 PM

All #HTS videos on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0_nxIZuvwjDqwZr9x_cU5g#

OUTLAW 09

03-03-2017, 08:27 PM

Aleppo: #HTS fighters repelling pro-#Assad forces in Western #Aleppo today.

CrowBat

03-03-2017, 09:34 PM

Manbij is the place to watch in the escalating drama of powers in northern Syria. Doesn't look good.
http://www.middleeasteye.net/columns/battle-manbij-will-decide-trump-s-syria-policy-and-relations-turkey-1244202159#
Reporting on the PKK handing over Manbij to the Assadists got me really fascinated. To make one ting clear: there is still no definite, 100% fool-proof evidence this is truth. But, ever more reports of that kind are circling around. Thus I started asking around, too.

The story that emerges is patchy but... well: kind of surprising.

The place should be predominantly populated by the Sufis and was a Ba'ath Party centre in this part of Syria, and that all the time - well before and all the timeduring the revolution. There were protests too, but the activists signed an agreement with the Ba'ath that granted them permission to protest every Friday - at the place of Ba'ath's choice. In turn, police didn't shoot at them...

In July 2012 it was surrendered by insurgents from Azaz and al-Bab and Ba'athists forced to withdraw to Aleppo. Instead of them a new committee was established to govern the town - but this primarily consisted of retired Assadists (the ar-Rabi and al-Mashi clans, members of which used to serve in the Assadist quasi-parliament in Damascus; meanwhile they've got some of most influential positions in the PYD's administration).

Then came the Daesh - and its thugs and Assadists maintained the 'business as usual' posture: they just came along in best possible fashion... (contrary to what was going on in places like al-Bab, where population resisted). Indeed, some say the US-supported PKK/PYD/YPG/SDF attack - and following 'occupation' - actually disturbed things quite a lot and no surprise that local Manbij Military Council wants to get back to Assadists.

No clue if all of this is correct, but it does sound familiar (especially about Assadists getting well along with de-facto everybody - except revolutionaries), and is starting to make sense: at least it would explain why everybody - except the PKK - is in a rush to get there.

OUTLAW 09

03-04-2017, 09:13 AM

IS still hold Silos main barrier at eastern entrance of #Palmyra

US SOF and SDF convoy of vehicles driving around #Manbij countryside.

OUTLAW 09

03-04-2017, 11:48 AM

USA now in an open alliance with Russia, Assad regime and PKK against Syrian opposition and Turkey?

Russian & American army now patrolling Manbij area,handing it to Assad & allied Kurdish militants.

So I was 100% right w/"tacit US approval"

Humvee column near #Manbij.
Not clear who rides them - #SDF / #YPG or #US troops.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r090Z2kvOIk#…

So in the end which was better for Syria the Obama or Trump WH?????

Never thought I would see the USAF flying CAS for Iran...Russia and Hezbollah nor US SOF working together with US named terrorists...Hezbollah who has the blood of the US Embassy bombing in Beirut on their hands...

USA now in an open alliance with Russia, Assad regime and PKK against Syrian opposition and Turkey?

Russia &regime forces have entered #Syria's #Manbij as #US Army deploys armoured vehicles

Wow are they so afraid of #Turkey. Damn

OUTLAW 09

03-04-2017, 11:54 AM

Russian flag hoisted in #Syria's #Manbij

OUTLAW 09

03-04-2017, 11:58 AM

Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (ex-Nusra) forces stop pro-#Assad militia offensive w/o air cover W of #Aleppo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6wD42KccrQ#…

The Russian regime once again uses incendiary bombs vs. villages in #Idlib province tonight.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7j7giXy92k#…

After fending off the #EuphratesShield push, #SDF started a counter offensive and took Jubb al Ḩamīr from Turkish-led forces.

CrowBat

03-04-2017, 01:00 PM

...next in this soap opera: US troops removing US flags and replacing them with those of the PKK, Russia, Assadists, IRGC, and Hezbollah...

And all of this for what?

Shame on the USA, just shame.

OUTLAW 09

03-04-2017, 05:41 PM

Much more of the same from all across opposition-held #Syria, sadly ...
The @SyriaCivilDef cope with Assad's terror:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Q7rfqf5ucA#

Syrian government says agenda agreed, seeks united opposition at next Geneva talks
http://reut.rs/2lqmVbo

US soldiers near manbij, source:
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1283897631695251&id=1279375105480837#

So the video that I posted yesterday of a convoy in Manbij was in fact manned by US SF.....

OUTLAW 09

03-04-2017, 05:48 PM

Geolocation confirms #US Army Stryker in #Syria - passing fmr #Turkey Tomb of Suleyman Shah 36°38'10"N 38°12'35"E

OUTLAW 09

03-04-2017, 05:59 PM

Damascus: No gains for the #Assad regime in #Qaboun and Eastern #Ghouta since many weeks. Rebels destroyed 2 #Assad T-72 today.

Rebels claim to have shot down a regime fighter jet while bombing villages in #Idlib province.
Unconfirmed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cbk8LEtvj9E&t=0s#…

The crash is confirmed.
The regime claims - as always - it was an engine failure.
Yep ... while under fire.

OUTLAW 09

03-04-2017, 06:02 PM

While the #US teams up with #Russia and the regime near #Manbij, #AssadPutin keep targeting Syrian civilians.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5Bvw56xGNg#…

Mazut production at improvised crude oil distilleries in northern Syria east of Qamishli (
http://wikimapia.org/#lat=36.980889&lon=41.581192&z=13&m=b#
… +
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=36.889369&lon=41.900311&z=13&m=b#
…)

OUTLAW 09

03-04-2017, 06:34 PM

Idlib: Reports from the Turkish military that the pilot possibly parachuted in #Syria|n territory.

OUTLAW 09

03-04-2017, 09:20 PM

The #US haven't saved a single square meter of #Syria from being (re-)captured by #Assad& #Iran since 2011.
But they stop #Turkey &the #FSA.

While you Trump ally w/ Putin in eastern #Aleppo province, he drops incendiary bombs on civilians further west.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7u86C0XJRI#…

OUTLAW 09

03-04-2017, 09:33 PM

Turkish search and rescue team finds the parachute belonging to Syrian regime pilot in Hatay's Altınz, means he landed in Turkey

CrowBat

03-04-2017, 09:52 PM

The #US haven't saved a single square meter of #Syria from being (re-)captured by #Assad& #Iran since 2011.
But they stop #Turkey &the #FSA.
Well, as can be read in (deleted) Tweet by the CENTCOM, the IRGC, Hezbollah, Assad and Russia are now 'partner forces (https://twitter.com/QalaatAlMudiq/status/838074712672636928)'.

Really: if I would be a member of US armed forces, I would quit on the spot.

Just no end of shame... :rolleyes:

OUTLAW 09

03-05-2017, 08:18 AM

Russian Syrian Express....

Russian Navy Black Sea Fleet's Tapir Class LLC "NIKOLAY FILCHENKOV" 152 northbound on the İstanbul Strait, returning from Syria (9:30 am

OUTLAW 09

03-05-2017, 08:27 AM

Turkish search and rescue team finds the parachute belonging to Syrian regime pilot in Hatay's Altınz, means he landed in Turkey

BREAKING Pilot of crashed Syrian jet found, taken to hospital in Turkey's south
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/pilot-of-crashed-syrian-jet-found-taken-to-hospital-in-turkeys-south.aspx?pageID=238&nID=110445&NewsCatID=341#

OUTLAW 09

03-05-2017, 08:46 AM

Russian Naval Syrian Express

ВМФ #ЧФ BSF Kashin class guided missile destroyer Smetlivy returns from 127 Med-deployment, departs Aegean & transits Dardanelles

OUTLAW 09

03-05-2017, 06:54 PM

The Turkish PM made clear that the country was not happy with the US handing Manbij to Assad under the Russian-initiated deal.

Aleppo: #EuphratesShield forces have killed 9 #YPG fighters at #Abu_Hayj village today.
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=36.445935&lon=37.670574&z=14&m=b#

Aleppo: #EuphratesShield forces have captured 1 pro-#Assad fighter and killed another one at #Tadef today.

Another IS resupply run today....compliments of Assad again...
Homs: Weapons and ammunition captured by #ISIS from the #Assad regime west of #Tiyas Airbase.

Ukrainian "separatists" must be p*ssed.
They get the old T-64 & T-72 while Putin presents the modern T-90 to Assad's militias...

Daraa: #Assad regime helicopters dropping barrel bombs on #Daraa today.

davidbfpo

03-06-2017, 08:25 AM

A commentary after the third annual meeting of the Syrian Civil Coalition, which was held in Beirut on January 2017:https://www.opendemocracy.net/arab-awakening/mary-kaldor/syrian-civil-society?

OUTLAW 09

03-06-2017, 10:14 AM

OUTLAW 09

03-06-2017, 11:37 AM

Rebel group Jaish al Islam threatens ballistic missile attack on #Damascus if #Assad doesn't stop bombing civilians in #EastGhouta.

OUTLAW 09

03-06-2017, 11:44 AM

Eastern Fronts of #Aleppo Province is becoming complicated day by day, with all the International Players involved
https://goo.gl/56tj6T

OUTLAW 09

03-06-2017, 11:46 AM

Syrian rebels are now capturing #Assad'a #NDF forces during battles west of #Manbij.
Final proof, the regime defends #SDF/#US in the area.

OUTLAW 09

03-06-2017, 11:48 AM

SYRIA TODAY!
Severe #TERROR attacks in #Hama, #Daraa, #Idlib, #Aleppo, #Homs & #RifDimashq, committed by our "partner forces"....

BTW...CENTCOM did in fact call Hezbollah...Iran...Assad...Russia and Iraqi/AFG Shia militias "partner forces" before they deleted the tweet...

The murderous #Assad air force with brutal air strikes on civilians in #Daraa city today.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsJ_RmHDIPI#…

OUTLAW 09

03-06-2017, 11:56 AM

Must be 100+ AIRSTRIKES on civilians since the morning.

Videos are being posted so fast you cannot keep up with them.

OUTLAW 09

03-06-2017, 12:21 PM

East Damascus: IRAM rocket (Volcano type) fired by Syrian army "backfire"
http://syria.liveuamap.com/en/2017/6-march-east-damascus-iram-rocket-volcano-type-fired-by-government#
pic.twitter.com/6H514LUqIB

OUTLAW 09

03-06-2017, 12:32 PM

Was the killing of the Russian Turkish Ambassador a Russian Intel Service false flag???

Hurriet: 33 y.o. Russian Ekaterina B was in contact with the RU amb killer via WhatsApp & calls but never met in person.

Detained Russian woman called the amb killer in Nov 2016. Made call(s?) to #Russian Cultural Centre where assassination took place

She called killer evidently just before the killing...

She ran a totally controlled Russian escort service out of a five star hotel in Ankara..

A 33-year-old Russian woman Arrested in #Turkey Linked to Russian Ambassador Assassination:

https://themoscowtimes.com/news/russian-woman-arrested-in-turkey-linked-to-russian-ambassador-assassination-57339?utm_source=push#

OUTLAW 09

03-06-2017, 01:11 PM

CIT (en) @CITeam_en
Rus media reports that Russian Ivan Slyshkin killed in Syria served in "Wagner PMC". Here is why we think he did:

https://www.facebook.com/CITeam.org/photos/a.522854614534187.1073741828.518413491644966/749381621881484/?type=3#

OUTLAW 09

03-06-2017, 06:02 PM

Manbij: Syrian Democratic Forces not only handed over some parts of the area to #Assad, #SDF also gave him gifts; some of its fighters.
photo1

Hilarious!
The guy in the middle is also a #SDF/#YPG fighter,posing as a regime militia man!
Or the other way around for 2 years,@OIRSpox?!
photo

Please help, @CJTFOIR & @OIRSpox: WHO ARE YOUR "Syrian Democratic Forces"???
#Assad men or #Assad supporters, #YPG men or #YPG supporters!?!

Some #SDF militants just took their insignia off and became "government forces", SEPARATING ES FROM SDF!
http://baladi-news.com/ar/news/details/16692/ …

So it's settled #Al_Hajana (Regime Borderline Guards) will be based in the line between #SDF and #Euphrates_shield

Many #Obama admin officials used to defiantly proclaim the #SDF’s anti-#Assad credentials.
That position is slowly becoming untenable.

OUTLAW 09

03-06-2017, 06:14 PM

Turkish-backed #EuphratesShield rebels claim, they captured Olashah from #MMC (#YPG/#SDF) forces and killed 4 of its fighters.

Aleppo: #EuphratesShield forces picking up bodies of killed #YPG fighters in #Ulashli village this evening. #Manbij

The #YPG plan to stop #EuphratesShield (with help of the #Assad regime) is not working so far.

OUTLAW 09

03-06-2017, 06:27 PM

Jaish al Islam launched the ballistic missile "vs. an Assad stronghold". Unclear where it hit.Meanwhile regime hits "Nusra" in #EastGhouta.

Nonstop #Assad airstrikes on al-Waer where 75,000 people are trapped in a de facto 3 km2 concentration camp.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1wILwOjN7Q …

OUTLAW 09

03-06-2017, 06:28 PM

Ahrar al-Sham is being accused of arresting #HTS shura council member Mosleh al-Alyani today in #Hama.
Ahrar has denied involvement.

OUTLAW 09

03-06-2017, 07:16 PM

OUTLAW 09

03-06-2017, 07:52 PM

OUTLAW 09

03-06-2017, 08:12 PM

Damascus: Rebels repelling pro-#Assad forces at #Hazrama in Eastern #Ghouta today.

CrowBat

03-07-2017, 09:30 AM

Rebel group Jaish al Islam threatens ballistic missile attack on #Damascus if #Assad doesn't stop bombing civilians in #EastGhouta.
That's an Iranian-made Zelzal (named something like Misseloon by Assadists).

**********

Anyway...

- a summary of the Operation Euphrates Shield and its 'outcome', is now available at the WIB as, Turkey Won - and lost - the Race to al-Bab (https://warisboring.com/turkey-won-and-lost-the-race-to-al-bab-f6d3172c095a);

- and, Russia confirms 28th Casualty in Syria (http://kommersant.ru/doc/3236016): Private Artyom Gorbunov, 96th Spetsnaz Brigade, killed March 2 in ISIS ambush near Palmyra.

CrowBat

03-07-2017, 09:37 AM

Manbij: Syrian Democratic Forces not only handed over some parts of the area to #Assad, #SDF also gave him gifts; some of its fighters.
photo1

Hilarious!
The guy in the middle is also a #SDF/#YPG fighter,posing as a regime militia man!
Or the other way around for 2 years,@OIRSpox?!
photo

Please help, @CJTFOIR & @OIRSpox: WHO ARE YOUR "Syrian Democratic Forces"???
#Assad men or #Assad supporters, #YPG men or #YPG supporters!?!

Some #SDF militants just took their insignia off and became "government forces", SEPARATING ES FROM SDF!
http://baladi-news.com/ar/news/details/16692/ …[/quote]
Some grandiose 'vetting' there, no doubt. But, hey: he didn't serve with the Daesh (yet)...?

Many #Obama admin officials used to defiantly proclaim the #SDF’s anti-#Assad credentials.
That position is slowly becoming untenable.
This is precisely in best traditions of the US foreign policy. See Vietnam War, see Iraq War, etc.: now we must just all patiently wait for some new Walter Cronkite or some WP or NYT journo to 'discover the truth about USA supporting multiple terrorist organizations in Syria'...

Guess, this is 'held back for a more opportune moment', though...

OUTLAW 09

03-07-2017, 12:10 PM

Aleppo: Killed pro-#Assad forces lying around after a failed regime attack in Western #Aleppo this morning.

OUTLAW 09

03-07-2017, 12:16 PM

Turkish PM offered a mechanism between Russia, Turkey and US to remove YPG from the Manbij area.
Then this meeting happened today in Antalya..

Gen. Joe Dunford, @thejointstaff, speaks with Turkish Gen. Hulusi Akar, Russian Gen. Valery Gerasimov during a meeting in Antalya, Turkey.

Ah...the famous non linear warfare Russian military theorist....Gerasimov...

SDF says, the #Bughaz is still under its control but #ES forces attack it with heavy weapons.

OUTLAW 09

03-07-2017, 04:47 PM

Infographic #FSA Haraket Tahrir al-Watan [Motherland Liberation Movement] #Hama #Homs #Rastan

OUTLAW 09

03-07-2017, 05:05 PM

The #US Army now sees itself as peacekeeping forces in #Syria, "deterring violence between Turkish, Russian and other forces".

Still not everything solved ...

"Erdogan to visit Russia Friday for high-level talks"
Topic: "particularly #Syria"

OUTLAW 09

03-07-2017, 05:11 PM

2017
Not the @UN, not #Geneva & not #Syrians decide about the future of their country.
But #Trump's, #Putin's & #Erdogan's chiefs of staff.

OUTLAW 09

03-07-2017, 05:13 PM

EuphratesShield forces also captured #Bughaz after heavy fighting w/#SDF/#YPG/#MMC.
Many Kurdish fighters killed or captured.

OUTLAW 09

03-07-2017, 05:16 PM

Even Russian state news says, #Assad fights "the opposition" in #EastGhouta...thus breaking the #Astana "ceasefire".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9iZZN3cnx0#…

Just another day of intense #AssadPutin terror attacks across the free parts of #Daraa city.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2wygCCABTQ#…

Same as in #Aleppo.
99% of the rebels signed the #Astana ceasefire agreement.
#Assad (& #Putin) simply focus on the last 1% to fight all

OUTLAW 09

03-07-2017, 05:17 PM

US-led #YPG forces reached the #Euphrates, cutting the main #Raqqa - #DeirEzzor road.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_ASN99g_XY&feature=youtu.be#

And some (justified) trolling.
Sorry, @OIRSpox John!
Ah...appears the US is lying again..they are getting as bad as Trump...:D.

EVER NOTICE the YPG flag is that of the PKK 1978 flag complete with Communist red star...

OUTLAW 09

03-07-2017, 05:28 PM

Not just in #Daraa but also across all other #Assad-liberated provinces.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHw0R3AhzCQ#

OUTLAW 09

03-08-2017, 09:21 AM

Internal Syrian police and state security wanted list include well over 500 German names...ACTUALLY many currently living in Germany and having no contact to Syria nor have travelled to Syria....appears they are also placing proFSA German supporters on that list.....

Syria'n regime have search list of 500+ German (speaking) people- among them @KurtPelda
http://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/syrische-fahndungslisten-101.html#

OUTLAW 09

03-08-2017, 09:23 AM

Turkey has shut down the US supported Mercy Corps, one of the largest providers of humanitarian aid in northern Syria.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/turkey-shuts-down-a-us-aid-group-that-helped-syrians/2017/03/07/e510d272-0374-11e7-9d14-9724d48f5666_story.html?utm_term=.c790258a7e56#

A not so subtle angry warning on the US over Manbij...

OUTLAW 09

03-08-2017, 09:26 AM

CrowBat....following info is actually interesting for a number of reasons....

Today a Pakistani with German residence permit goes on trial for spying for the Iranian IRGC....

He spent the last year collecting attack data on Israeli and Jewish points of interest for IRGC attacks in Germany.....

German government source is not telling me anything on the IRGC other than it was a "special unit" inside IRGC that Germany has been tracking their activities for years....that is how they stumbled onto him during their surveillance ops....

Any idea what the "IRGC special unit" could be????

OUTLAW 09

03-08-2017, 09:49 AM

Kremlin might be not interested in fighting ISIS because it could lead to new terrorism outbreak in #Chechnya
http://intersectionproject.eu/article/security/chechnyas-dilemma#

OUTLAW 09

03-08-2017, 10:02 AM

BREAKING
@CJTFOIR-backed #MMC claims destruction of #EuphratesShield tank near Bughaz, west of #Manbij.
So much for the "de-escalation".

Better video of the attack.
Vehicle clearly hit.
Strike by #SDF/#MMC according to the logo presented in the video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmYbOWaSJOQ#

Reread again.
It stated "claims tank" and "vehicle hit".

OUTLAW 09

03-08-2017, 10:06 AM

Meanwhile in free #Syria, nothing new...
#AssadPutin bomb the civilian population.
NO politicians complains anymore.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40vVTKPBTz0#…

OUTLAW 09

03-08-2017, 10:16 AM

Stop Fake @StopFakingNews

Tracking a Mysterious Missile Launcher Inside an Information War

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OUTLAW 09

03-08-2017, 03:53 PM

Aleppo: #EuphratesShield forces shelling #YPG west of #Manbij with artillery today.

Turkish artillery heavily shells #Bughaz after #MMC destroyed an #EuphratesShield vehicle from from there.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWaBJxgaHxs#

OUTLAW 09

03-08-2017, 04:14 PM

Notice the comments concerning Manbij by the spokesperson for DoS yesterday.........

QUESTION: Mark, what’s the U.S. position towards the situation in Manbij in Syria? The American flag is flying there, there are more American troops in the area, and Turkey is threatening to enter the city, and the regime is preparing to enter – to go through the city too.
MR TONER: Sure. Well, I believe the Pentagon has already spoken to this in some tactical detail, and I would also – I would encourage you to speak to them directly about these kinds of movements on the ground. I think, broadly speaking, of course it’s a very complex environment around the area east of al-Bab. It’s a place where multiple forces, frankly, have converged – all with the intent to drive out ISIS. But I think when you’ve got multiple forces in such a small, confined space, we want to avoid any unnecessary or unintended escalation in what is already a very tense and dynamic situation.
So we are sending a message to all forces that are there on the ground to remain focused on the counter-ISIS fight and concentrate their efforts on defeating ISIS and not towards other objectives that may detract from the coalition’s ongoing campaign. So we want to keep the focus on the stated intent to destroy ISIS. The coalition is going to continue work in close coordination with allies and partner forces, again, with the focus on defeating what is a common enemy, which is ISIS.
QUESTION: A follow-up on --
QUESTION: One more on this, Mark.
MR TONER: One more, okay. Yeah.
QUESTION: U.S., Russia, and Turkish chief of staffs have met in Antalya today, and they will continue meeting. Is there a new coordination between the U.S. and Russia on the fight against ISIS and on the situation in Syria?
MR TONER: You’re talking about a meeting today – not sure what the date was – but between Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dunford, and he met with the chief of Russian general staff – the Russian general staff, as well as chief of the Turkish general staff. The purpose of the meeting, as I understand it, is to enhance senior-level military communications and improve operational de-confliction of our respective military operations in Syria. I’d refer you to DOD for any details, but my understanding of this is that it’s – it remains focused on de-conflicting.

OUTLAW 09

03-09-2017, 06:27 AM

Close photo of the blast in high density residential area in Kafranble #Idleb

Will track this blast as to the type of weapon used....

Kafranbel English @kafrev
5 air raids by #Assad this early morning on #Kafranbel, a school was destroyed and no information yet about casualties or injuries

OUTLAW 09

03-09-2017, 07:50 AM

U.S Marines have arrived in NE #Syria to lend artillery support (w. M777 howitzers) to #YPG/#SDF battle for #Raqqa:

http://wapo.st/2mCerNC?tid=ss_tw#

OUTLAW 09

03-09-2017, 07:53 AM

US/Russian/SDF/Assad alliance against the #FSA at #Manbij now clear—major domestic & international actors standing against the revolution

AND against Turkish aims inside Syria....Turkey a NATO member fighting a 40 year war with Kurdish PKK....

AND Trump talks about fighting terrorism....

Regime forces arrive in W. Manbij, clashes ongoing b/w SDF & Turkish backed rebels -

OUTLAW 09

03-09-2017, 08:02 AM

Aleppo Agreement Btw #Russia & #Manbij Military Council Today = Border Guards

OUTLAW 09

03-09-2017, 08:06 AM

W. #Manbij: #Russia|n SOF wearing #SDF Manbij Military Council (#MMC) patch.

Confirmed: Regime forces entered #SDF/#YPG controlled territory heading to W. #Manbij & current frontline with #FSA (clashes ongoing).

W. #Manbij: intense clashes are raging between #FSA and #SDF/#YPG on Boughaz-Quahiuk frontline W. of Arimah.

Convoy of at least 20 Regime vehicles (no armours) spotted in W. #Manbij carrying 100+ fighters (so called "border guards").

SO now we have US SOF with BIG US flags flying driving around the Manbij area AND Russia SOF driving around with BIG Russian flags flying in the same EXACT same battlespace.....AND Turkey and FSA fighting directly Russian and US SOF supported proxies....WITH US Marine artillery firing support against the Turks/FSA.....

JUST HOW MUCH more convoluted can this get????

AND IS..laughing all the way to the bank.....

DoS Tillerson has not said a single word....SecDef Mattis is not saying a single word...AND certainly nothing out of Trump....

What a mass confused piece of chaos we are seeing and I was critical of Obamaa's lack of actions in Syria????

JUST HOW MUCH more convoluted can this get????

AND IS..laughing all the way to the bank.....

OUTLAW 09

03-09-2017, 08:23 AM

REPORT FROM MAR 5 2017

W. #Manbij: #SDF/#YPG reversed all #EuphratesShield gains and even seized Jubb Al-Amir. Graphic video. http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=36.433506&lon=37.700701&z=14&m#…

Will not post video BUT it depicts execution style head shots on all killed FSA fighters.....

Head shots....was SDF trained on using this tactic and or where US SOF involved in the actual fighting...as US SOF have been reported recently as accompanying SDF in the close up fighting ...

OUTLAW 09

03-09-2017, 08:29 AM

E. #Damascus: video from Regime side showing battle to control orchards N. of #Qabun & involvement of up-armoured tank (T-72s).

All Regime attempts to advance on W. #Aleppo fronts failed. Area is heavily bombed this evening (artillery and airstrikes).

OUTLAW 09

03-09-2017, 08:45 AM

More confirmation of Russian SOF wearing SDF/MMC patches in Manbij....in Russian....with an additional photo...

Ничего необычного, просто солдаты РФ с курдскими нашивками в районе Манбиджа (Сирия)
Туда же движется турецкая армия
http://zloy-odessit.livejournal.com/2047970.html?utm_source=twsharing&utm_medium=social#…

OUTLAW 09

03-09-2017, 08:54 AM

Idlib - Whitehelmets @whitehelmets_sy
Idlib | kefranbl
Four martyrs, including two children and a woman and several Injuries .
Civil defense Rescued them from under the rubble.

OUTLAW 09

03-09-2017, 09:13 AM

Russian ANNA footage of Russian convoy to Manbij, link up with SDF, and Russo-Syrian danceoff, including Chechen lezginka:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-NuiKhBoWE

OUTLAW 09

03-09-2017, 09:26 AM

Bluntly put.....to say the least...

Trump and @CJTFOIR needed exactly TWO MONTHS to forget / ignore what US Secretary of Defence Ash Carter warned of before he left office....it was valid then and is really valid now...

As Trump and the SecDef now have us sucked into a massive goat rope that will not end well for anyone....

FROM 6.1.2017....."Russia has done absolutely nothing to fight IS".....Everything they have done is dumb headed and or the opposite of what they said they were doing"...

Obama never trusted Russian statements on Syria BUT it appears Trump AND Mattis completely do?????

Lastly Obama was correct...

OUTLAW 09

03-09-2017, 09:35 AM

Senior #Ahrar al-Sham commander Abu Musab survived an assassination attempt in Jebel al-Zawiyeh.
Activists blame it on #HTS/Jund al-Aqsa.

2 Ahrar al-Sham commanders (Abu Abdulatif & Abu Abdulrahman al-Ghab) survived separate assassination attempt in Al-Ghab, #Hama tonight.

Heavy clashes have broken out between #HTS & Ahrar al-Sham after HTS attempted to arrest senior Ahrar leaders in Jebel al-Zawiyeh, #Idlib.

Heavy clashes have broken out between #HTS & Ahrar al-Sham after HTS attempted to arrest senior Ahrar leaders in Jebel al-Zawiyeh, #Idlib.

One senior Ahrar leader 2 days ago whether a merger with #JFS/HTS is still possible. His reply?

- “Never. It’s impossible."

While it remains highly unlikely that Ahrar al-Sham would ever consider all-out confrontation with #HTS, suspicions/tensions = skyhigh.

Prominent jihadi cleric Abdulrazzaq al-Mehdi defected from #HTS in protest + Abu Mariya al-Qahtani & Abdullah al-Moheiseni distanced.

Contrary to the established narrative, #HTS retains substantial internal differences & recent attacks on #Ahrar revealed those starkly.

Jolani & hardline JFS leaders fear #Turkey-backed move to isolate HTS & concessions to #Assad.
HTS seeks border & electricity control.

Ahrar al-Sham’s core leadership has consistently refused a merger w. Nusra, JFS & now #HTS.

Abu Jaber & co. want to force subjugation.

OUTLAW 09

03-09-2017, 09:37 AM

Areas now under Assad control are breaking up into areas strictly controlled by warlords he cannot control......

Superb reporting on #Syria’s lawless militias -
- #Assad's Control Erodes as Warlords Gain Upper Hand
http://spon.de/aeV4x

OUTLAW 09

03-09-2017, 09:41 AM

This is what #Israel worries about in #Syria:

- New #Iran-backed “Brigade for Liberation of the Golan” established by Harakat al-Nujaba.

OUTLAW 09

03-09-2017, 09:44 AM

OUTLAW 09

03-09-2017, 09:59 AM

"The West Helped the Assad Regime and Its Allies Take Palmyra"
https://goo.gl/zOfdzd#

Al-Qaeda attempted a politico-military takeover of N. #Syria's insurgency, and probably sealed its fate.
http://bit.ly/2lyU7cU#

OUTLAW 09

03-09-2017, 10:00 AM

Turkey suspects U.S. has chosen #YPG to do the #Raqqa Operation; not entirely pleased about it.

http://reut.rs/2mQPfnC

The United States appears to have decided to enlist the help of Kurdish YPG militia in a campaign to push Islamic State out of its stronghold in Raqqa, Syria, thwarting Turkey's ambitions, a senior Turkish official said on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said Turkey, the United States and Russia must coordinate to clear Syria of terrorist groups. The three countries' chiefs of staff were working to prevent clashes between the different parties.
Yildirim spoke as Turkey's military chief of staff met his U.S. and Russian counterparts in the southern Turkish province of Antalya to discuss coordination in Syria. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the results of the meeting "could change the whole picture".
"... It appears that the U.S. may carry out this operation with the YPG, not with Turkey. And at the same time the U.S. is giving weapons to the YPG," the official said.
"If this operation is carried out in this manner there will be a cost for Turkey-U.S. relations, because the YPG is a terrorist organization ..."
Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford attended the three-party meeting at the invitation of his Turkish counterpart, a spokesman for Dunford said.
The spokesman, Navy Captain Greg Hicks, said the military chiefs discussed security in Iraq and Syria and the importance of additional measures to avoid accidents.
They also discussed "the current situation of the fight against all terrorist organizations in Syria with an effort to wage a more effective fight against (them) ..."
A U.S. defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Dunford did not inform his Turkish counterpart of any decision about the Raqqa offensive, in remarks that appeared at odds with the Turkish account.
Ankara has been pressing the United States to change its strategy for fighting Islamic State in Syria by abandoning the YPG and instead drawing on Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA) rebels to retake Raqqa.
Turkey views the YPG and its political affiliate the PYD as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which is waging an insurgency against the Turkish government.
MULTI-SIDED CONFLICT
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said last week the next target of his country's Syrian operation was Manbij, which is controlled by the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
But Yildirim said then that military action by Turkey would not make sense unless coordinated with the United States and Russia.
After clashing with FSA rebels west of Manbij this month, the Manbij Military council declared a deal with Russia to hand front-line villages to Syrian government control to prevent their coming under Turkish control.
Rapid developments in the war for northern Syria - the most complicated theater in the multi-sided conflict - are setting new limits on Turkish power, while affirming the role of the U.S.-allied YPG militia that Ankara entered Syria to fight.
The Syrian government has emerged as a major player in the war for the north after punching through a swath of Islamic State-held territory, blocking any further Turkish advances from the buffer zone it has carved out in Syria near its frontier.
In August, Turkey-backed forces launched an operation to drive Islamic State away from its border with Syria and prevent the YPG from taking territory in their wake.
Since pushing the jihadists out of their al-Bab stronghold, fighting has focused on villages west of Manbij, setting Turkish-backed rebels against the Manbij Military Council, part of the U.S.-backed SDF that includes the YPG.

OUTLAW 09

03-09-2017, 10:01 AM

Source: #Turkey’s plans for joint TSK-#FSA cross-border assault on Tel Abyad remain in place. Trained fighters are in place for deployment.

A not so subtle warning to the US...Russia..Assad and Iran....

OUTLAW 09

03-09-2017, 04:20 PM

Turkey warns US relations are at risk if Kurds help retake Raqqa
http://read.bi/2n9Ngrg

"Assad or we burn the country" became "Assad and we burn it anyway"

"Raqqa will probably not be the final battle against Isis."
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.com/cnn/2017/03/08/politics/marines-raqqa-assault-syria/index.html#pt0-165985#

OUTLAW 09

03-09-2017, 04:37 PM

No talk of "winning" as 2 top US war generals give hours long testimony to Senate, today. But Trump...
http://www.defenseone.com/politics/2017/02/winning-or-not-trump-doesnt-seem-be-listening-his-generals/135781/#

Aleppo: #EuphratesShield forces destroyed a remote-controlled #YPG VBIED at #Boughaz village west of #Arima. #Manbij

US-backed Syrian force rules out Turkey role in Raqqa, Spokesman calls Turkey "an occupation force" that can't be allowed to take Syria land

APPEARS now the US will place far more boots on the ground....After defeat of IS...???

CENTCOM Gen Votel: US will likely need more conventional military forces in #Syria later during stability operations.

Different from "anti-ISIS operations", "stability operations" are aimed at #Turkey and Syrian rebels I guess.

OUTLAW 09

03-09-2017, 04:51 PM

Aleppo: Video shows #EuphratesShield forces fighting with #YPG and #Assad regime fighters west of #Arima today. #Manbij

OUTLAW 09

03-09-2017, 05:55 PM

Russian Syrian Express....Ship of Interest......

Ship of Interest: Coming from Novorossiysk, Russia flag Ro-Ro Sparta II transits Bosphorus en route to #Tartus #Syria

OUTLAW 09

03-09-2017, 06:06 PM

Turkish Stork Air Traffic Control..reports hundreds of storks on their flight path from Africa to Europe crossing today.....

First migrating #Storks, heading directly north along the Asian shore of the Bosphorus, from Kadıky to skdar

Light westerly headwinds, but largely no weather front to hinder their Europe bound flight plans....

Their feathered comrades from southern France have been already in Brandenburg/Berlin area....enjoying the wetlands and their recovery from a long flight...

Humans have the world going to hell in a hand bag but Mother Nature always get's it right....

OUTLAW 09

03-09-2017, 06:15 PM

Better quality images of #Russia SOF in #Palmyra #Syria h/t @sashakots

Russian SOF/SpN (SSO) in Palmyra. Launcher for Kornet-E (9K135) ATGM w/ 1PN79M-3 (3rd Gen) thermal imaging sight.

OUTLAW 09

03-09-2017, 06:23 PM

FSA Police discovered an IS weapon store hidden near Jarablus #Aleppo

W. #Aleppo: warplanes bombed Darat Izza, including cluster bomb attack. http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=36.284135&lon=36.850204&z=11&m#…

Aleppo: #EuphratesShield forces with a killed #YPG fighter west of #Arima today. #Manbij

Aleppo: Video shows #EuphratesShield forces fighting with #YPG and #Assad regime fighters west of #Arima today. #Manbij

Turkey Foreign Minister today: "We will attack #YPG in #Manbij. We will free #Manbij from the yoke of terror."

Aleppo: #EuphratesShield forces have captured 2 pro-#Assad forces near #Batoushiyah village east of #Tadef today.
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=36.365734&lon=37.617960&z=14&m=b#

OUTLAW 09

03-09-2017, 06:24 PM

Aleppo: Funeral ceremony for 5 #YPG fighters who were killed by #EuphratesShield forces west of #Manbij.

OUTLAW 09

03-09-2017, 06:26 PM

Idlib: Some of the children who were killed by #Assad airstrikes in #Kafr_Nabl today.

OUTLAW 09

03-09-2017, 06:29 PM

Damascus: Pro-#Assad forces have killed 5 civilians and wounded 15 more in #Hamouriyah in Eastern #Ghouta with heavy artillery today.

Idlib: #Assad airstrikes have killed 5 children and wounded many more in #Kafr_Nabl today. 10 children were buried, but rescued.

Aleppo: Turkish artillery has killed 8 pro-#Assad forces and wounded many more near #Arima west of #Manbij last night.

Idlib: The Saad Ibn Muadh Battalion from #Kafr_Nabl has joined #HTS.

Assad regime forces, attacking densely populated suburban areas of #Damascus.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEg9vXrv6Mw#…

OUTLAW 09

03-09-2017, 06:35 PM

And here we have the #MMC/#SDF/#YPG fighter, wearing a #US badge and riding a US-flagged humvee.
Now we had it all! :D

OUTLAW 09

03-09-2017, 06:37 PM

Tens of thousands of civilians flee #Assad's Shiite militia assault on Al-Khafsah region towards the #SDF-held #Manbij area.

OUTLAW 09

03-09-2017, 06:58 PM

Russian ССО ВС РФ continues disguising themselves in #Syria as Hezbollah. ССО is used only for VIP targets
https://twitter.com/CT_operative/status/839897906572374016#…

OUTLAW 09

03-09-2017, 07:56 PM

MORE Russian SOF

CrowBat

03-09-2017, 08:01 PM

The #PKK-affiliated Yazidi militia “YBS" held meetings with the #Iran-backed designated terror org Kataib Hezbollah yesterday in #Iraq.

REMEMBER the US named these two... KH and PKK as terror groups YET are providing them direct support in Manbij.....

I thought Trump was fighting terrorist anywhere in the world?

APPEARS he is not...
Surprised?

I'm not.

Thanks to that dumbass in the White House - and all of his corrupt aides - what the USA are doing in this war is breaking all the records of shameful absurdity.

Alone thinking of this is making me sick - not to talk about prompting me to cease monitoring this war. Perhaps that's precisely what Trump, Putler, Assadists, IRGC and Hezbollah want to achieve...

That said: have stocked myself well with popcorn and Cola. Can't wait until this blows up into the face of the Israelis - and then all the media in the USA starts hysterically screaming, 'how could've we been so wrong, missed all of that, and let our noble military get involved with terrorists that are anti-Israel...'

CrowBat

03-10-2017, 08:21 AM

The Atlanticcouncil is usually publishing quite useful 'papers' about developments in Syria. Thus it's probably me, then when I read this piece by them - Manbij Saga: An End Game in Syria (http://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/syriasource/the-manbij-saga-an-end-game-in-syria), it appears to be an 'exercise in alternative history'.

Alternativelly, it's just a joke attempting to entertain...

For example:

The Manbij Saga: An End-Game in Syria? (title)

From my POV, only idiots can come to the idea to believe the SCW is over because the 'race to al-Bab' is over. And only idiots might come to the idea that the Manbij Saga is over because US, Russian and Hezbollah troops are now there.

In essence, drawing such conclusions is as dumb as when all the possible foreign 'observers' (but especially those in the USA) think that the Syrian War will be over once the Daesh will be defeated...

Clear evidence for this 'saga' being anything but over was already provided - by nobody else but newest US ally: the IRGC.

Namely, two days ago IRGC's thugs in Syria have re-deployed al-Ghalibun's (yes, ladies and gentlemen: that's Hezbollah/Syria's) Liwa Imam al-Bakr from its 'home thurf' (NW Aleppo, Nubol/Zahra enclave) to al-Bab (where there are no Shi'a at all), and ordered it to attack the OES forces there (i.e. the military of the US-NATO-partner and ally Turkey, and the Syrian insurgent forces).

But, what a surprise and disappointment: the OES forces fired back, and Hezbollah had its backsides served on the silver plate (https://twitter.com/op_shield/status/839942786682081280).

US-Turkish relations now hinge along a 50 km (31 mile) front line, snaking east to west along the Sajur river, and down to a smattering of small villages south of the town of Arimah. Various forces are now in control of intersecting front lines, including: Syrian Kurdish, Kurdish allied Arab forces, American Special Forces, Syrian regime elements, Russian Special Forces, Iranian units, Turkish military units, and Turkish allied forces.
Aha... so, the Syrian insurgents - FSyA and AAS - are now either non-existent or 'Turkish allied forces'. Probably because the 'only acceptable' Arab force there is this famed YPG/USA-controlled SCA...

Man, it must be nice to live in this sort of fool's paradise...

In November 2014, former Vice President Joe Biden reached a tentative agreement with then Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu to cooperate in Syria. For much of that year, the United States and Turkey were locked in negotiations about Incirlik Air Force Base in Adana, Turkey for strike missions and an airbase in Diyarbakir for Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR). The two sides remained at odds over how best to pursue shared goals: using military force to defeat the Islamic State (ISIS, ISIL, or Daesh), while simultaneously providing arms and training to elements of the Arab dominated opposition to force Bashar al-Assad to make political concessions.
Simply wrong. Turkey was always for a comprehensive solution in Syria. A comprehensive solution in Syria is one including removal of Bashar al-Assad. Erdogan & CO might have shelved such plans for the while, but one can bet his/her annual income: that's just shelving the plan, not abandoning it.

Foremost, contrary to short-sighted generals in the Pentagon, Turks knew and still know that destroying Daesh is no final solution to the war in that country: only the removal of Assad is. It's the USA that remain idiotically insistent on 'fighting Daesh only'.

Point is: that was the principal issue during those negotiations (and most of US-Turkish negotiations ever since) - and not Incirlik AB.

The Pentagon, however, lacked the legal authority to operate in these areas, prompting the passage of H.R. 3979, which included the Title 1209 authorities governing American military support to the Syrian opposition. The authorities bar the United States from directly arming the YPG (without a Presidential waiver), but allow for the provision of weapons to the SAC—which fights with the YPG as part of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
Ah, now lookie there! So, the USA are actually forbidden from supporting the PKK/PYD/YPG. In order to solve this issue, the Pentagon - in cooperation with the PKK/PYD/YPG - created that SDF comedy as an excuse!

This prompts me me to thank the author for finally explaining this issue that clearly. :rolleyes:

The Turkish downing of a Russian Su-24, and subsequent Russian bombing in support of the YPG north of Aleppo city in February 2016, nearly wiped out the rebels fighting along the Marea line—upending the T&E program. In response, the program was scaled back.
BS. It was a combined attack of the PKK/PYD/YPG, the IRGC AND the Daesh that - what a surprise considering the odds - pushed insurgents back to border (they were never even near of being 'wiped out'). All of this, though, was NOT related to the downing of the Russian Su-24: for this, Turkey 'paid' by Russians and Assadists ethnically cleansing 70,000 Turkomen from NE Lattakia, and the Russians then supporting the IRGC attack that cut off the land connection between Azaz and Aleppo.

But, ah yes: Russians are now 'allies' in this ridiculous 'war against Daesh' - together with Assadists, the IRGC and Hezbollah...

However, its successes should not be overlooked: Two T&E groups, Liwa al-Muatism and the Hamza Brigade, are now fighting as part of Euphrates Shield, alongside a smattering of other groups that continue to receive US support. However, the program failed to achieve its objective: to close the Manbij pocket without SDF forces, despite significant US support to the rebel groups, including 50 percent of strikes and ISR sorties from Incirlik. The failing prompted the use of the SDF west of the Euphrates, an operation that had initial Turkish acceptance, despite the YPG presence within the SDF.

This is moronic nonsense. This 'significant US support' was anything else but 'significant'. 'Significant' is what the Pentagon is all the time - and against better advice from nearly everybody in the State Department - doing for the PKK/PYD/YPG: the rest was merely an excuse for the purpose of the Pentagon being able to say, 'but we tried and it didn't work'.

And the YPG has no 'presence' in the SDF: the YPG is 90% of the SDF.

Twelve days later, on August 24, 2016 Turkish armor and Special Forces, trailed by various rebel groups, moved across the border into Jarablus.

'Trailed'? The FSyA and AAS are leading nearly all of attacks, with TSK providing the fire-power support.

But, let me guess: the Autor would never describe the YPG as 'trailing US forces'...

It also explains why Ankara, from the outset of Euphrates Shield, telegraphed its intent to consolidate in al-Bab, and then ousted the SDF’s Manbij Military Council, a civilian entity comprised of Arabs, but tied to the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (the PYD, which is the political arm of the YPG).

After applying the US-centric approach to the way he views and describes the situation, the author now shows he's clueless about the situation in Manbij. Namely. there are next to no 'revolutionaries' left in that town: those that were around went fighting Assadists in Aleppo, already years ago, and didn't come back; the few that were left were overrun by the Daesh. But foremost: Manbij was always one of Assadist strongholds in this part of Syria - and indeed: dominated by two families that had their representatives in Assad's 'parliament' in Damascus. No surprise then, these were more than happy to reach all sorts of agreements with the Daesh, once this arrived, and then with the PKK, when this took over. No surprise, they are now more than happy to cooperate with anybody - just not the Turks, FSyA and Ahrar.

Of course, not knowing about such 'minute details', the author needs other sorts of 'explanations' - and is happy to find these in his interpretation of Turkish intentions regarding Manbij...

Turkey, in this scenario, is still confined in Euphrates Shied territory in north Aleppo, where it must now begin to build up governing institutions to consolidate control over territory it now occupies. This will not be an easy task, with competing groups under de-facto Turkish control espousing vastly different visions for the future construct of civil institutions, like civilian courts, police forces, and basic civic institutions.
Yeah... and since it's 'so far much more turbo-problematic' to run such efforts with multiple parties, the USA are cooperating with a terrorist organization that's imposing itself upon everybody (namely the PKK).

Man, what a recipe for success: I'm now definitely ready to take bets when is this situation going to blow into the face of the USA.

OUTLAW 09

03-10-2017, 08:33 AM

CrowBat...here is your answer and I am surprised that this meeting results did not make the US MSM evening headlines....

Earlier this week, in an unusual three-way meeting in southern Turkey, the top commanders of the U.S., Russian and Turkish armed forces discussed how IS could be ousted from Raqqa. Turkish officials after the meeting indicated there had been no resolution over who should spearhead the Raqqa assault. Russian commanders insisted that whoever takes Raqqa, the city must be handed over to the Syrian army afterwards, said Turkish officials.

Russian SOF/PKK has taken over Manbij so why not Raqqa?

I simply cannot understand Generals like Mattis not understanding the PKK game in Syria nor his willingness to work with Russia....

BUT we have seen the other ex Marine General Kelly in DHS totally back down from his own immigrant assessment done in house when Trump tells him he will ignore that intel assessment...

WHAT is amazing is that when the Generals Mattis...Kelly and DoS Tillerson sounded so moderate and sane in their Congressional statements Priebus the Trump CoS stated...they can have their opinions BUT will follow only exactly what Trump tells them to do.....

We are on the edge of a major head-on crash in Syria and the loss of personnel because no one and especially CENTCOM failed to take the time to do a thorough risk assessment....

The question will be...at what time will they stand up and officially leave or did they sell their souls to dance with the devil????

CrowBat

03-10-2017, 10:41 AM

Thanks. You say, you do not understand 'Generals like Mattis not understanding the PKK game in Syria nor his willingness to work with Russia....'

That was the principal reason why I posted that article by Atlantic Council above, and called the author an 'idiot'.

The Pentagon always insists upon specific agendas. Principal between these are such like 'support for Israel, our only friend in the Middle East', then 'obtain basing rights', etc.

Israel is supported through declaration of Syria for 'no issue of US national security'. Of course it is none: a Syria run by a pluralist ('democratic') system is not in Israel's interest, then if something of that kind would happen, Israelis know they would have to negotiate about returning the Golan Heights. On the contrary, a Syria dominated by an IRGC-supported genocidal regime, armed - whether directly or through different versions of Hezbollah - with WMDs, carrier systems, etc., and is an 'existential threat'. Existential threats are 'good', because they are securing continuous flow of economic and military aid from the USA.

The issue of obtaining basing rights is secured through illegal cooperation with the terrorist organization PKK, which grants the USA (and France etc.) bases inside northern Syria.

Finally, the defence sector is kept happy too: the 'destroy Daesh, no matter what's going on left or right' secures a continuous war and thus continuous orders for the defence sector.

That way, everybody is happy.

If this all results in all sorts of moronically nonsensical foreign policy decisions, and this then in major head-on crash in Syria - even more so. That's all perfectly in the 'higher national interest' - of the Pentagon (and, hand at heart: it is, then it's securing Israel, it's securing bases, and it's securing jobs.)

CrowBat

03-10-2017, 11:13 AM

Another 'interesting detail' here...

Here a Swedish member of the YPG (https://twitter.com/soder_jesper/status/840069208746598400) complaining about 48 hours of shelling by Turkish artillery, and this resulting in '12 and counting' of 'regime casualties'.

1.) Special thanks for confirmation about 'YPG' (read: PKK) and the 'regime' (see bellow for details) sharing trenches/positions.

2.) As mentioned above, the '12 and counting' KIA were not the 'regime', but members of al-Ghalibun's Liwa Imam al-Bakr (http://twitter.com/op_shield/status/839942786682081280)

Al-Ghalibun is short of IRGC's own official designation for Hezbollah/Syria.

BUT, regime's official nomenclature for them is 'Local Defence Forces' (i.e. not even 'National Defence Forces')

3.) Mind, 'although' the Turks thus 'killed 12 and counting' of 'regime' troops, there is not a beep of complaint from Damascus.

Compare this with that US 'bombing of regime positions in Dayr az-Zawr', from back in November, when Damascus couldn't stop crying about (perhaps) 6 killed, and the number of regime's thugs quickly rose to 60, then to 'more than 100' etc.

So, why not complaining and crying this time...? After all, there's even more reasons to do so, considering the culprits are the 'Ottomans' - despised and demonized not only by Assadists, but half the population of this planet too, meanwhile?

OUTLAW 09

03-10-2017, 02:34 PM

Charles Lister‏
Verified account
More on the formation of #Iran-backed “#Golan Liberation Brigade” by Kataib #Hezbollah - by my colleague @majidyar:

http://www.mei.edu/content/io/iran-backed-iraqi-militia-group-launches-new-brigade-liberate-golan-heights#…

Charles Lister‏
Verified account
The illogical world of MidEastern conspiracy theories never fails to amaze.
Apparently #Israel, US, #Hezbollah & #Iran are in cahoots.

OUTLAW 09

03-10-2017, 02:36 PM

Charles Lister‏
Verified account
White House in a “red hot” debate over #Raqqa strategy - may not decide until late-April 2017.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-wrestles-over-plan-to-take-raqqa-from-islamic-state-1489085768#…

White House #Raqqa debate:

1. Re-evaluate #YPG relationship & heal #Turkey ties

or

2. Use YPG to take city then hand it to #Assad/#Russia

Turkey Foreign Minister:

1. We will attack #YPG in #Manbij
2. U.S is “undecided & disoriented” on #Raqqa plans
http://sabahdai.ly/3OTcoA

WHO would have thought the Trump WH and yes even Trump himself is "confused and disoriented"??????

OUTLAW 09

03-10-2017, 02:38 PM

Turkey says relations with the U.S will be “seriously damaged” if the #Raqqa op is led by #YPG/#SDF
https://www.ft.com/content/21d9ba10-04c0-11e7-aa5b-6bb07f5c8e12#…

OUTLAW 09

03-10-2017, 04:41 PM

Germany forbids #calan and #YPG flags during public demonstrations.
Reason: They are "suited to promote the cohesion of the #PKK".

Germany bans public display of calan portraits, arguing that it would mobilize for banned terror group PKK.

SDF already set up a Manbij-style council to take over. Expectation YPG will then trade Raqqa to regime in return for autonomy.

The attacks were captured on video, the Russian Su-24 is clearly visible.
3 of the 5 dead were children.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0s7a2g21-A

5 civilians were murdered and 10 injured in three deliberate attacks by the #Kremlin regime's air force on #KafrNabl.

HTS has reportedly raided an opposition radio station in Saraqeb, #Idlib - confiscating its equipment & threatening staff.

E. #Aleppo: #Iraq|i fighters from Nujaba militia on bank of #Euphrates after #ISIS withdrawal.

OUTLAW 09

03-10-2017, 05:44 PM

For those that deal with pesky Russian trolls....

Jester is releasing a novel way for tracking/profiling Russian trolls.....

This @th3j35t3r program is great . Especially when you're rooting out a troll. Or self-analysis.

http://internetawacs.jesterscourt.cc...se.php#…

Actually a very interesting concept to say the least especially when working with large scale Russia twitter botnets.....

OUTLAW 09

03-10-2017, 05:49 PM

Syrian force says it has enough fighters to take Raqqa from Islamic State
http://reut.rs/2mrzLU7

Chechen MP, #MMC fighter trade patches on #Manbij outskirts, while
#YPG holds funeral for #Manbij fallen during #Turkey/#FSA clashes

OUTLAW 09

03-10-2017, 06:06 PM

OUTLAW 09

03-10-2017, 06:14 PM

Russia and the Menace of Unreality
How Vladimir Putin is revolutionizing information warfare

Putin is weaving a major deception....a disinformation blitzkrieg.
He's not done yet

https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2014/09/russia-putin-revolutionizing-information-warfare/379880/#

OUTLAW 09

03-10-2017, 06:41 PM

Unreported Russian deaths in Syria (at T4 airbase on Feb. 22) emerge on local news page - Alexander Zangiev confirmed KIA, others unidentifd

VK page of Zangiev indicates he was part of Russan military intelligence when his armored vehicle was struck by mine
https://vk.com/id156432979

RIS means actually GRU Spetsnaz....

OUTLAW 09

03-10-2017, 06:47 PM

Latakia: Rebels blowing up a group of pro-#Assad forces with ATGM in Northern #Latakia.

OUTLAW 09

03-10-2017, 08:19 PM

Russia Today Russia runs a long piece quoting a Forbes article highly critical of Putin who betted on Trump and got burned.
https://russian.rt.com/inotv/2017-03-10/Forbes-Tramp-iz-peshki-Putina#

OUTLAW 09

03-10-2017, 08:20 PM

Aleppo branch of #Syria-n Ba'ath Party leaked document from Jan 13 calls for terror attacks to influence April 16 referendum in #Turkey

OUTLAW 09

03-10-2017, 08:43 PM

Originally #YPG urged the #Assad regime to help against #EuphratesShield. Now #Assad regime urging #YPG to help against #EuphratesShield.

Turkish artillery has shredded the #Assad "border guards".

Jesper Sder‏
@soder_jesper
We are laying low in our "bunkers". Rest of the regime alive retreated. We are on our own again. Havnt eat in 2 days

Jesper Sder‏
48 hours of Turkish/FSA artillery has resulted in over 12 regime soldiers death. and Regime bodies and car still here. Im laying low.

OUTLAW 09

03-10-2017, 08:44 PM

US Senator #McCain to #US General Joseph #Votel yesterday: "I don't think you understand how serious President #Erdogan is about the #YPG."

OUTLAW 09

03-11-2017, 10:20 AM

A lot of civilians are talking about Rape Cases from Assad's Soldiers in eastern countryside of #Aleppo

Something that is not being talked about anywhere....

OUTLAW 09

03-11-2017, 11:06 AM

Syria 2 bombs hit 2 buses with #Iran'i pilgrims in #Damascus old town

OUTLAW 09

03-11-2017, 11:40 AM

CrowBat..head down...helmet on...stay in the trenches and buckle up this is going to be a rough ride now......

THIS is interesting and had not been previously commented on.....

Kremlin media Russia MoD news outlet: Ferry traffic between Russian-occupied Crimea and Turkey has been suspended by Ankara 2 weeks ago

The day after Erdogan's meeting with Putin, we learn that Turkey cut ferry service to Crimea.
https://ria.ru/society/20170311/1489793219.html#

Turkey fired artillery at #YPG/#SDF positions west of Azaz today & launched airstrikes on SAA positions near #Manbij. Casualties reported.

OUTLAW 09

03-11-2017, 11:49 AM

One anti-#HTS protest banner spotted in Al-Mastoumeh today read:
“Al-Mastoumeh is free, free… Jabha and al-Haya get out.”

Men, women & children gathered in Al-Mastoumeh today to protest against #HTS.
#HTS opened fire in air to disperse:

OUTLAW 09

03-11-2017, 11:51 AM

Breaking 30 people killed in a twin bombing near Damascus's Old city #Syria

Where bombs exploded near the Bab al-Saghir there is a local security services branch.

Around 40 people killed, 120 injured in double bomb attack on Shiite worshippers in #Damascus.

OUTLAW 09

03-11-2017, 11:54 AM

OUTLAW 09

03-11-2017, 12:06 PM

452 strikes by #Russian warplanes in the eastern countryside of Aleppo in 7 days only to enable Regime forces to progress on that front

Pro-regime journalist in Damascus: Latakia is ruled by families and warlords
Sorry in Arabic
http://www.enabbaladi.net/archives/136191

FSA News‏#@FSAPlatform 3h
3 hours ago
#Infographic || #Syria
Complete updated list of militia groups fighting for the #Assad regime in Syria
https://twitter.com/FSAPlatform/status/840485647160868864

OUTLAW 09

03-11-2017, 12:27 PM

Waer, #Ghouta, #Qaboun now = same barbaric regime strategy used in Aleppo WadiBarada & Daraya:
https://youtu.be/2O4c8JgnNa0

Free Syrian Army forces repel SDF attempt to infiltrate Twies frontline, many SDF fighters killed

OUTLAW 09

03-11-2017, 06:40 PM

Assad says Damascus "theoretically" shares goals with Trump, but that there has been no progress yet.
http://sana.sy/en/?p=101799

OUTLAW 09

03-11-2017, 07:14 PM

Syria 2 bombs hit 2 buses with #Iran'i pilgrims in #Damascus old town

Damascus: 16 #Assad regime fighters were confirmed killed by the bombings in #Damascus today.

Actually the bodycount must be around 60, or are #NDF fighters also #Iraq|i "pilgrims"?

OUTLAW 09

03-11-2017, 09:23 PM

As the "#SDF" approaches #Raqqa, searching for non-#YPG troops among the "Arab-Kurdish coalition" remains tough.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvEtGYm0uDQ#…

OUTLAW 09

03-11-2017, 09:32 PM

IS planted 100s of IEDs mostly in public places and civilian homes in al Bab but had no problem retreat from 10s of villages for Assad army

US State Department declares that #HTS and all groups that merged into it are now considered Al-Qaeda & thus, HTS = a terrorist organization:

U.S. State Dept/Ratney letter that labels #HTS as AQ also says Ahrar al-Sham is a "dedicated protector of the revolution."

OUTLAW 09

03-11-2017, 09:37 PM

Everybody in counterterrorism needs to pay attention to @ahmetsyayla warning on the huge ISIS build up in Turkey:

https://www.ctc.usma.edu/posts/the-reina-nightclub-attack-and-the-islamic-state-threat-to-turkey#…

OUTLAW 09

03-11-2017, 09:48 PM

Hassan Hassan حسن‏
Verified account
About Washington's growing tone-deafness in Syria
http://www.thenational.ae/opinion/comment/what-palmyra-tells-us-about-us-policy-in-syria#

Assad is a long way from victory in Syrian conflict
https://www.ft.com/content/608319f0-036c-11e7-ace0-1ce02ef0def9#…

OUTLAW 09

03-12-2017, 12:23 PM

Damascus: at least 16 #NDF fighters (and a Major from N. #Daraa) killed yesterday along with #Iraq|is by twin bombing

OUTLAW 09

03-12-2017, 12:25 PM

I haven't seen a chart on the ME as accurate as this.......maybe Trump WH...SecDef Mattis and DoS Tillerson need to review it....

OUTLAW 09

03-12-2017, 12:33 PM

Three #FSA D-30 artillery piece in action vs. #ISIS in S-W #Daraa province.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Iv1Bxdn_WM#…

OUTLAW 09

03-12-2017, 12:34 PM

One option being considered by Trump Team: back #YPG to expel #IS from #Raqqa, then hand over to #Assad/#Russia |

Iran has tried to use #Syria to open a second front against #Israel, and US policy over #Raqqa might help them.

If I wanted to hand the rest of Syria to the artists formerly known as Al Qaeda, this would be my plan.

OUTLAW 09

03-12-2017, 12:44 PM

Daraa: #HTS SVBIED has blown up an #Assad regime barrier in #Daraa today. Many pro-#Assad forces were killed.

OUTLAW 09

03-12-2017, 12:50 PM

M-ATV MRAP from #US Marine Corps arrived in #Manbij #Syria

OUTLAW 09

03-12-2017, 03:56 PM

Death toll from Damascus bombing climbs to 74
http://reut.rs/2mfg2Gl

Raqqa: #US airstrikes have killed 17 civilians in a school in Southern #Raqqa today.

RuAF airstrike on a makeshift oil refinery in eastern Idlib province
https://youtu.be/4vQbtHK1Dsg?t=51s#
http://wikimapia.org/#lat=35.640505&lon=36.981976&z=16&m=b&v=1#

OUTLAW 09

03-12-2017, 04:44 PM

Aleppo: Clashes between #EuphratesShield and pro-#Assad forces near #Al_Bab.

OUTLAW 09

03-12-2017, 05:49 PM

Daraa: Rebels have blown up an #Assad regime ATGM base and the regime crew with #TOW in #Daraa today.

OUTLAW 09

03-12-2017, 07:01 PM

Russia deploys more #Italian-made Iveco LMV tactical vehicles to #Syria.

Daraa: Rebels have killed 23 pro-#Assad forces in #Daraa today.

OUTLAW 09

03-13-2017, 12:04 PM

Damascus: Rebels ambushed a group of #Assad forces from the 4th Division in #Barzeh this morning.

OUTLAW 09

03-13-2017, 02:21 PM

No joke.
#Assad regime forces try to extinguish gas field fire with a tank.
Whole video:
https://twitter.com/QalaatAlMudiq/status/841288098193559553#

Russia, Turkey, and Iran will press on with Syria peace talks in Kazakhstan
http://read.bi/2miKLBw

OUTLAW 09

03-13-2017, 06:43 PM

Russia joined #Assad in bombing #Daraa city. Now also by night.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAUCMljvd6U …

US supported Kurdish Communist and US named terrorist proxy hard at work.....

The pro-#Assad militia #YPG is stopping Kurds from celebrating the 2004 #Qamishli uprising anniversary.

Heavy fighting and #Assad regime air strikes on #Daraa city today.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5sb6kw7Gbs …

Assad's #SyriaExpress tonight. More weapons and militants from #Tehran to #Damascus.

OUTLAW 09

03-13-2017, 06:47 PM

The U.S. is sending 2,500 troops to Kuwait, ready to step up the fight in Syria and Iraq
https://www.armytimes.com/articles/82nd-airborne-syria-iraq-kuwait-islamic-state

From yesterday's comments....
Lots of #RuAF strikes today on western #Aleppo suburbs, #Idlib & northern #Hama's Ghab plain villages (+ artillery shelling here)

SW #Aleppo: Ahrar Al-Sham destroyed a bulldozer erecting barriers inside Missile Base.

Jaysh al-Thuwar from #SDF in No- #Aleppo released 80 people from prison -among them many #EuphratesShield fighters

Breaking. A VBIED struck Regime fortifications in Al-Manshiyah (W. #Daraa).

W. #Daraa: heavy battle now in Al-Manshiyah district.

OUTLAW 09

03-13-2017, 06:53 PM

Intensified opposition fighting on multiple fronts today, including potential hotspots #Deraa & Al-Fuah/Kafraya.
Politics losing its hold.

HTS’s [new] political office have issued a response to U.S. Special Envoy Ratney’s letter, saying HTS represents “new phase” of revolution:

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (#HTS) has claimed responsibility for yesterday's bombings in #Damascus, #Syria - say they targeted "Shia militias."

OUTLAW 09

03-13-2017, 07:20 PM

HTS/al-Qaeda statement against Ratney throws the book at the US, capitalizes on the US's failures in #Syria:

https://kyleorton1991.wordpress.com/2017/03/13/al-qaeda-in-syria-denounces-america-claims-to-be-the-revolution/

Al-Qaeda in Syria Denounces America, Claims to Be the Revolution

By Kyle Orton (@KyleWOrton) on March 13, 2017

Michael Ratney, who has been the United States Special Envoy for Syria since July 2015, wrote a public letter on 11 March 2017 that labelled all constituent parts of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) as members of al-Qaeda and therefore as terrorists.[1] On 12 March, HTS’s “Administration of Political Affairs”—its newly-minted political office, perhaps evidence of an evolution in HTS’s thinking about an endgame in Syria—issued a statement in reply, which is reproduced below.

HTS’s statement is very heavy on defining HTS not only as a Syrian nationalist project—in other words, not al-Qaeda—but as the revolution. HTS correctly states that the West has tried to separate HTS from the mainstream rebellion and the opposition-supporting civilian populations that HTS has quite deliberately tangled itself into to further its ideological goal and to provide itself a durable base that can perhaps be used for foreign terrorism, while being shielded against Coalition attacks. In HTS’s telling, this effort to neutralize HTS is an attempt to put down the revolution entirely, and, given the degree of co-dependency HTS has wilfully fostered, this claim—like all good disinformation—has an element of truth to it.

HTS also capitalizes on what is simply a fact: al-Qaeda has done more for the Syrian opposition’s war against the Assad regime and its Iranian and Russian lifelines than the United States. The U.S. policy failures in Syria—stepping back from punishing the Assad regime for its chemical massacre in August 2013, doing nothing to inhibit the flow of Iranian-controlled Shi’a jihadists into Syria to rescue Bashar al-Assad’s regime, and backing the Kurdish PKK to displace the Islamic State’s hold on Sunni Arab areas in eastern Syria—have allowed jihadi-salafists, al-Qaeda specifically, to present themselves as a vanguard for the Syrian opposition.

HTS then uses these facts to audaciously denounce those who “interfere in the affairs of the revolutionary forces” and “strike discord among its members,” barely six weeks after it—a foreign-origin project, a splinter from the Iraq-based Islamic State (IS)—attacked and restructured the revolutionary forces in northern Syria to be subservient to its own interests, which are ultimately transnational.

***

Clarifications Regarding the Statement by Michael Ratney, the United States Special Envoy to Syria

Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) has (clearly) defined itself from the day of its inception. We have reaffirmed our commitment to the goals of our revolution, which are represented in toppling [Bashar] al-Assad’s criminal regime. We have also stated that we are fully independent and do not represent any foreign body or organization. Further, we have clarified that the establishment of HTS symbolizes a new phase of the Syrian revolution. The members of HTS are members of this revolutionary nation. They have pledged to champion the cause of their people and to protect them and their Islamic identity.

In late 2016, the people of Syria marched in massive protests demanding a merger of all revolutionary forces and a complete unity. The decision to form HTS was a direct response to these demands and came after careful consideration of the sensitive phase that we are going through in this great revolution.

In an unprecedented initiative, the most effective key forces of the revolution announced the complete disbandment of all organizations and the establishment of a new body, namely Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the aim being to establish a collaborative nucleus, a unified project that would: act as a shield for the revolution, guarantee the journey is continued, and ensure that its achievements would not go to waste. This project is the choice of our people, who showed tremendous support and backing of the announcement. After six long years of this revolution, the Syrian people have gained enough experience to allow them to distinguish friend from foe. They can determine very clearly those defending them and those who falsely claim their representation, inhumanely playing on their vulnerabilities and traumatic events.

Since the ignition of the Syrian revolution, the United State has been incapable of taking a decisive and definite stance. They have, on numerous occasions, contradicted their claims of freedom, the right to self-determination, and human rights. They have done this by backing oppressive tyrants against the nations endeavouring to achieve their freedom and dignity. These acts have further illustrated their hypocrisy and double-standards regarding their decisions. This is because their methodology in determined benefits is purely driven by their self-interest, not the interests of our people. As a result, their vetted interests take precedence to the interests of the people, their demands, and concerns.

This selfish policy has resulted in their constant preclusion of the hopes of our people as they insist on breaking their resolve and ending their revolution by the following:

1) Affirming the legitimacy of the Assad regime, refusing to topple it, covering up its war crimes, and turning a blind eye to them. A clear example was that of the chemical attack in 2013.

2) Permitting Iran and their militias to invade Syrian territory, while also turning a blind eye and remaining silent to their war crimes.

3) The support of the PKK and their racist policies against the natives of the land they govern.

4) Allowing Russian airstrikes against civilians, which have completely abolished entire towns and villages.

These are but some of the reasons that have caused the Syrian people to reconsider the position of the United States. This has allowed them to develop a clear vision of their reality, which poses the question: “What has the United States done for Syria?” and “What are the measures of determining this friendship that Michael Ratney claims?”

The “friends of Syria” do not stand with the enemy of the Syrian people; they do not back tyrants aiming to annihilate them; they do not support the onslaught against a nation.

Self-proclaimed champions of international peace and stability should not violate sovereign lands by allowing every invader “a piece of the pie,” all while preventing anyone wishing to rescue the victims to act!

After the first glimmer of hope on a path to fulfilling the Syrian people’s hopes and aspirations, the United States, represented by their Special Envoy to Syria, Michael Ratney, attempts to mislead the public regarding the formation of HTS. It aims to misdirect the revolution so the people do not achieve their goals. It does this by casting doubts and fears about this project and eventually hopes to end the revolution and separate its members from the masses.

The United States also hopelessly strives to interfere in the affairs of the revolutionary forces and their internal structure and strike discord among its members. This will lead to its ultimate goal of infighting rather than remaining focused on the enemy whom all weapons are currently drawn at.

We would like to reaffirm that HTS is the project of a unified nation. Their doors are open to all those wanting aid, support, and to defend our cause and our people. Millions of people world-wide share this hope and have stood in solidarity with this project for this nation and people. Our project is clear in its vision, goal, and mission. We are stronger as we stand by our sincere mujahideen brothers. We are proud of the leaders, thinkers, and great minds of our nation and hope to complete a project that will bring relief and joy to every free Muslim who seeks a better future for his children and family, a future of honour, dignity, and resolve.

***

Notes

[1] An interesting part of Ratney’s letter was that it referred to Ahrar al-Sham as a “dedicated protector of the revolution.” The U.S. has shunned Ahrar, refusing all public engagement with it, for the eminently-defensible reason that Ahrar has important connections back to its founding with al-Qaeda’s network, as demonstrated again recently when the Coalition killed Abu Hani al-Masri, a Qaeda-associated jihadi who was an Ahrar military commander. Ratney’s statement is therefore a potentially important marker.

Ahrar has tried to straddle the line between Syrian Islamism and global jihadi-salafism. Ahrar succeeded in providing al-Qaeda a portal into the rebellion, but the outcome for Ahrar has been less positive, with the organisation splitting along that faultline between nationally-focused Islamist revolutionaries and transnationalist jihadists. The state backing for Ahrar, particularly from Turkey, has contributed to this, with Ankara ensuring that its allies retain the formal levers of power within Ahrar, which led to the defection of al-Qaeda’s closest allies within Ahrar to HTS.

One potential, however unlikely, is that Ahrar is pulled away from its foundation, sheds its al-Qaeda-inclined operatives, and is drawn into the rebel mainstream. Those looking for signs of this might see it in the fact that, a day before Ratney’s letter there was a statement by Issam al-Barqawi (Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi), probably the most prominent jihadi cleric, who favours al-Qaeda, wondering if Ahrar had departed jihadism altogether.

Still, it should be said that al-Barqawi, in many ways the spiritual father of the Islamic State, is an extremist even by jihadist standards and has clashed with other pro-al-Qaeda clerics on this question of how al-Qaeda should treat non- Qaeda jihadists.

Continued....

OUTLAW 09

03-13-2017, 07:22 PM

Interesting: Jihadi scholar Maqdisi hopes Trump will designate MB to show jihadis no point in moderating, intl system will never accept you

OUTLAW 09

03-13-2017, 07:23 PM

The inherent weakness of the pro-#Assad coalition remains though, and locking down: Aleppo, Homs, Damascus, and the east = near-impossible.

OUTLAW 09

03-13-2017, 07:31 PM

W. #Daraa: heavy clashes raging in Al-Manshiyah district. Direct hit on T-55.

EuphratesShield fighters bombed a VBIED of #Daesh before arriving to their location in Sosenbat N #Albab.

N. #Idlib: pro-Assad in #Fuah & #Kefraya are shelling the nearby town of Binnish.

At least 12 #RuAF & #SyAF airstrikes confirmed on Rebel-held #Daraa today.

W. #Daraa: Al-Bunian Al-Marsous operation room identified some pro-Regime recently killed in Al-Manshiyah district.

N. #Idlib: supplies airdropped today over #Fuah & #Kefraya.

OUTLAW 09

03-13-2017, 07:32 PM

Pretence of "reconciliation" slipping away now; pro-#Assad coalition more openly imposing what this really is: defeat and deportation.

New ceasefire in Wa'er drops demands for prisoner release - 10-15k expected to leave in weekly batches of 1,500 to Jarablus, n. Homs, Idlib

More on al-Waer evac from al-Modon (ht @Dwilkofsky1): Russian "military police" to enter at 2 districts after oppo. evacuates in 2 mos

OUTLAW 09

03-13-2017, 07:35 PM

E. #Damascus: Rebels inside #Qabun's orchads on 15th day of Regime offensive.

E. #Damascus: some Regime fighters recently killed by Rebels on #Qabun front. 1st one was from #Hasakah.

N. #Idlib: the road between #Binnish and #Fuah is full of barricades and fortified positions.

N. #Idlib: Rebels seized over Al-Azraq and Al-Zaghab positions S. of #Fuah.
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=35.957340&lon=36.682105&z=15&m …

N. #Idlib: Rebels are advancing on #Fuah & #Kefraya after mutual shelling. Several positions in outskirts reportedly seized.

OUTLAW 09

03-13-2017, 07:37 PM

W. #Daraa: pro-Assad failed this night to take back the ground they lost to Rebels yesterday.

Heavy clashes E. of #Daraa as pro-Regime forces are trying to advance towards the Silos.

Hama: Many #Assad fighters were killed or wounded during clashes between #Assad regime militias in Western #Hama on Sunday.

DeirEzzor: #ISIS shelling pro-#Assad forces in #DeirEzzor with a tank today.

OUTLAW 09

03-13-2017, 07:43 PM

DeirEzzor: Photo shows 2 of the #ISIS fighters who infiltrated the #Assad regime positions in #DeirEzzor last night.

DeirEzzor: 28 pro-#Assad forces were killed by 6 #ISIS fighters in #DeirEzzor last night.

DeirEzzor: #Assad regime has killed 15+ civilians with rockets and heavy artillery in #DeirEzzor tonight. Crazy shelling to stop #ISIS.

DeirEzzor: Reports that the #Assad regime is losing ground in #DeirEzzor tonight.

DeirEzzor: A widespread #ISIS attack against the #Assad regime in #DeirEzzor was confirmed by several sources, including regime sources.

OUTLAW 09

03-13-2017, 07:45 PM

Damascus: #Ahrar_al_Sham snipers show their rifles in Eastern #Ghouta.

OUTLAW 09

03-13-2017, 07:47 PM

Daraa: Dozens of wounded #Assad fighters have reached the #Damascus hospitals. They were wounded in #Daraa today.

Daraa: Second rebel ATGM strike has destroyed a regime Shilka in #Daraa.

OUTLAW 09

03-14-2017, 06:11 AM

Will Pakistan send a combat brigade to protect Saudi Arabia? The impact of the Yemen war is obviously widening.
http://www.thenational.ae/world/middle-east/pakistan-in-talks-with-saudi-arabia-to-send-combat-troops-to-protect-the-kingdom#

OUTLAW 09

03-14-2017, 06:16 AM

What the hell of an excuse is this?

Pilot of Rus plane that crashed nr Sochi killing 92 possibly disoriented by reflection of stars in sea -@kommersant
http://www.kommersant.ru/doc/3241365

Are not pilots trained to watch their instruments....

OUTLAW 09

03-14-2017, 06:21 AM

New @UNCoISyria report details #Assad regime attack on school in Haas, #Idlib.

36 civilians killed, incl. 21 children & 6 women.

OUTLAW 09

03-14-2017, 08:30 AM

Russia deploys spec-op forces close to Libya border - media
https://www.unian.info/world/1821646-russia-deploys-spec-op-forces-close-to-libya-border-media.html#

Don't know about Egypt but Russian troops deployed in Libya should not be a surprise - Putin secures his oil assets

New UN report on Syria mentions the chlorine IRAMs Bellingcat identified earlier this year
https://www.bellingcat.com/news/mena/2017/02/14/new-visual-evidence-chlorine-gas-attacks-eastern-ghouta/#

Where goes Russian SOF goes Russian FP and occupation/annexation/sphere of influence.....Russia now copying the US FP of the 50s/60s.....

OUTLAW 09

03-14-2017, 08:37 AM

Israel Goverment claim #Iran set up Navy Base in #Syria, other say army/airbase near Hmeimim in##Latakia. #IRGC deny reports

When IRGC denies then it is true...same tactic as with Russian MoD...in eastern Ukraine...and Syria...

OUTLAW 09

03-14-2017, 08:39 AM

UN Syria Commission
✔
@UNCoISyria
Released today - Our latest paper (A/HRC/34/CRP.3) documents violations in #Syria over past 7 months:
http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Countries/SY/A_HRC_34_CRP.3_E.docx#

OUTLAW 09

03-14-2017, 08:41 AM

Das #Kreml-Regime hat die ganze Nacht die Anti-Al-Qaida Hochburg al-Atarib und andere Stdte bei #Aleppo mit Brandbomben terrorisiert.

OUTLAW 09

03-14-2017, 08:48 AM

UN Syria Commission‏
Verified account
Our latest @UNCoISyria report also finds #Syria forces purposely targeted #WadiBarada water and armed groups did not poison the well #HRC34

OUTLAW 09

03-14-2017, 09:09 AM

Infighting happened in Ghouta, Idleb, Dara, Azaz and btw regime militias. YPG tweeps ashamed of new partner Assad and are trying so hard to cover it

OUTLAW 09

03-14-2017, 09:21 AM

Blogs of War @BlogsofWar
Using Social Media, Carter Center Maps Syria Conflict
http://ift.tt/2mHu31T

Russia concerned about ISIS chemical attacks in Mosul (but doubted stronger evidence of Syria govt use at UNSC).
http://tass.com/politics/934827

OUTLAW 09

03-14-2017, 09:52 AM

Syria Heavy airstrikes on Deir Hafer in eastern #Aleppo to prepare regime ground assault on #IS held town

The @IndDoctorsAsso will take over, rebuild and reopen al-Bab's "Hikma" Hospital with Turkish government help.

OUTLAW 09

03-14-2017, 10:12 AM

Nuke sniffer Constant Phoenix pinging away again with no position. Last location heading east over the Med.

USAF #WC135C 62-3582 ENKA14

Constant Phoenix nuke sniffer - Last position logged passing over Israel @ 31,000ft...

USAF #WC135C 62-3582 ENKA14

TOGETHER with.....
And #ModeS straight from the transponder. No callsign being transmitted...

USAF RC135W 62-4138

Similar package was being run in the Baltic and North Sea areas on the previous reports of elevated i131 reports....

OUTLAW 09

03-14-2017, 01:43 PM

Haaretz.com‏
Verified account
#

Iran Reportedly Built Weapons Factories in Lebanon for Hezbollah
Plants can produce different types of missiles, including those with a range of more than 500 kilometers, Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Jarida, considered an Israeli mouthpiece, quotes an anonymous source as saying

http://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/iran/1.777038

CrowBat

03-14-2017, 02:33 PM

Just another 'told you so' moment here...

Over the last six years my reporting about Iranian 'investment' into its military adventure in Syria was repeatedly declared for 'wrong' and 'unsupported'. Not only various Westerners, but especially Iranians declared me for 'biased' when I posted first reports from my sources in Syria that Iranians are spending up to US$ 1,5 billion - including about $500 million in fuel, rest in cash - for Assad's survival, every single month, already back in November 2011.

Sure, I never had anything firm to support such reports but 'anonymous sources' and a handful of articles citing scarce reports about various Iranian loans etc. But, it could be that, sigh, after nearly 30 years of researching the local military, I really might have a few sources there, and that their info is good.

Nevertheless, I was belittled by almost everybody who ever read related reports, and my sources questioned (if not belittled too).

For similar reasons, I've been called names and various other things also when reporting that Iran can't buy such things like Su-30s (https://warisboring.com/iran-is-too-much-of-a-mess-to-acquire-russian-weaponry-999adf4017e9#.dm5squ81f), because it's a too big mess.

Now, years later, the LA Times says, Why has Iran wrecked its economy to fund war in Syria? (http://www.atimes.com/article/iran-wrecked-economy-fund-war-syria/)

Estimates of Iran’s military expenditure in Syria vary from US$6 billion a year to US$15-US$20 billion a year. That includes US$4 billion of direct costs as well as subsidies for Hezbollah and other Iranian-controlled irregulars.

Assuming that lower estimates are closer to the truth, the cost of the Syrian war to the Tehran regime is roughly in the same range as the country’s total budget deficit, now running at a US$9.3 billion annual rate.
...

The Iranian regime is ready to sacrifice the most urgent needs of its internal economy in favor of its ambitions in Syria. Iran cut development spending to just one-third of the intended level as state income lagged forecasts during the three quarters ending last December, according to the country’s central bank. Iran sold US$29 billion of crude during the period, up from $25 billion the comparable period last year. The government revenues from oil of US$11 billion (655 trillion rials) were just 70% of official forecasts, and tax revenues of US$17.2 billion came in 15% below expectations.

Chaos in Iran’s financial system prevents the Iranian government from carrying a larger budget deficit. The US$9.3 billion deficit reported by the central bank stands at just over 2% of GDP, under normal circumstances a manageable amount. But that number does not take into account the government’s massive unpaid bills. According to a February 27 report by the International Monetary Fund, the government arrears to the country’s banking system amount to 10.2% of GDP. Iran’s delegate to the IMF Jafar Mojarrad wrote to the IMF, “Public debt-to-GDP ratio, which increased sharply from 12% to 42% in 2015-16, mainly as a result of recognition of government arrears and their securitization, is estimated to decline to 35%#in 2016-17 and to 29% next year. However, it could rise again above 40%#of GDP after full recognition of remaining government arrears and their securitization and issuance of securities for bank capitalization,” Iran’s banks have so many bad loans that the government will have to issue additional bonds to recapitalize them, Mojarrad #added. Iranian press accounts put toxic assets at 45% of all bank loans.

Iran’s financial system is a black hole, and the government cannot refinance its arrears, recapitalize its bankrupt banks, and finance a substantial budget deficit at the same time. Its infrastructure requirements are not only urgent, but existential.# The country’s much-discussed water crisis threatens to empty whole cities and displace millions of Iranians, particularly the farmers who consume more than nine-tenths of its disappearing water supply. Despite what the Tehran Times called “a desperate call for action” by Iranian environmental scientists, the government slashed infrastructure spending by two-thirds during the last fiscal year.

The Iran Revolutionary Guards Corps evidently has first claim on the public purse. It is also willing to shed blood. Reported dead among Iranian-led forces in Syria include at least 473 Iranians, 583 Afghans, and 135 Pakistanis, as well as 1,268 Shi’a fighters from Iraq. In addition, perhaps 1,700 members of the Hezbollah militia have died. Other estimates are much higher. The IRGC’s foreign legions include volunteers from Afghanistan and Pakistan, where Shi’ites are an oppressed minority often subject to violent repression by the Sunni majority. IRGC-controlled forces include the Fatemiyoun Militia recruited mainly from Shi’ite Hazara refugees from Afghanistan, with reported manpower of perhaps 12,000 to 14,000 fighters, of whom 3,000 to 4,000 are now in Syria. Iranians also command the Zeinabiyoun militia composed of Pakistani Shi’ites, with perhaps 1,500 fighters in Syria.
...
As next I'm waiting for somebody to tell me this is a 'true bargain' for Iran... or they're going to buy Su-30s in about two weeks.

Guess, reporting such things 6-12, sometimes 60 months ahead of the mainstream media is making one 'unpopular' and 'unreliable'.

OUTLAW 09

03-14-2017, 03:04 PM

FSA News @FSAPlatform
#Map || #Daraa

Calculation of geographical military control across Daraa province:

- 63% Opposition
- 29% Regime
- 8% Daesh

OUTLAW 09

03-14-2017, 04:16 PM

Breaking: #Russia's special operations troops & drones in #Egypt, near #Libya border; US officials
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-russia-libya-exclusive-idUSKBN16K2RY?utm_campaign=trueAnthem:+Trending+Co ntent&utm_content=58c80e1d04d301165addce42&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=twitter#

OUTLAW 09

03-14-2017, 04:24 PM

Manbij: Funeral ceremony for #YPG fighters who were killed by #EuphratesShield forces west of #Manbij.

On Russia's 5yr plan to improve facilities in Tartus (Russian)
http://classic.newsru.com/world/10mar2017/tartus.html?utm_source=rss#

Damascus: Rebel snipers have killed several pro-#Assad forces in #Jobar District today. No gains for the #Assad regime (as always).

Aleppo: #Russia|n airstrikes have killed many civilians in #Deir_Hafer in Eastern #Aleppo today.

Nope. This is no Nazi KZ plan
This is the #Assad regime "evacuation plan" for al-Waer
Organized ethnic cleansing in front of the world & @UN

Every week, 1500 people (500 armed men and their families) will be deported. For 8 weeks. Area by area.<<
Yep. Reads like a Nazi plan.

OUTLAW 09

03-14-2017, 05:21 PM

BREAKING: US IC leaked to Reuters Russian state secret of ССО ВС РФ operators deployment to Egypt for Libya mission
http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheats/2017/03/14/u-s-warns-libya-of-russian-interference.html#

This is absolutely first time (in history?) USA to break the news such way & warn Russia of JSOF-alike deployment.

OUTLAW 09

03-14-2017, 05:51 PM

Doctor and civilian from besieged Syrian town of Madaya say a UN aid convoy has arrived at gates for the first time in five months.

Damascus: Rebel snipers have killed several pro-#Assad forces in #Jobar District today. No gains for the #Assad regime (as always).

Damascus: #Assad regime T-72 destroyed by rebels in #Jobar District in Eastern #Damascus.

Azor

03-14-2017, 06:01 PM

Just another 'told you so' moment here...

Over the last six years my reporting about Iranian 'investment' into its military adventure in Syria was repeatedly declared for 'wrong' and 'unsupported'. Not only various Westerners, but especially Iranians declared me for 'biased' when I posted first reports from my sources in Syria that Iranians are spending up to US$ 1,5 billion - including about $500 million in fuel, rest in cash - for Assad's survival, every single month, already back in November 2011.

Sure, I never had anything firm to support such reports but 'anonymous sources' and a handful of articles citing scarce reports about various Iranian loans etc. But, it could be that, sigh, after nearly 30 years of researching the local military, I really might have a few sources there, and that their info is good.

Nevertheless, I was belittled by almost everybody who ever read related reports, and my sources questioned (if not belittled too).

For similar reasons, I've been called names and various other things also when reporting that Iran can't buy such things like Su-30s (https://warisboring.com/iran-is-too-much-of-a-mess-to-acquire-russian-weaponry-999adf4017e9#.dm5squ81f), because it's a too big mess.

Now, years later, the LA Times says, Why has Iran wrecked its economy to fund war in Syria? (http://www.atimes.com/article/iran-wrecked-economy-fund-war-syria/)

As next I'm waiting for somebody to tell me this is a 'true bargain' for Iran... or they're going to buy Su-30s in about two weeks.

Guess, reporting such things 6-12, sometimes 60 months ahead of the mainstream media is making one 'unpopular' and 'unreliable'.

The article was not in the LA Times but the Asia Times. The Asia Times is partially owned by David P. Goldman, who is a prolific commentator on Iran, Islam and the Middle East. For a number of years, he has put forth his views (sometimes under his "Spengler" pen name) that:

Demographics is destiny
Turkey is facing economic collapse and ethnic Turks will be eclipsed by ethnic Kurds within Turkey
Iran is facing economic collapse, rampant drug use and a demographic cliff
Egypt is "North Korea on the Nile" and will be unable to feed itself
Turkish, Arab and Iranian policies are all responses to failing states and societies
Putin understands the Muslim world better than Western leaders, in particular Bush, Obama and Merkel
Muslims are deliberately inflicting horror on themselves (e.g. Mediterranean crossings) as part of strategy to overcome the West by way of demoralization

See Goldman's book here: How Civilizations Die (And Why Islam Is Dying Too) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_Civilizations_Die). I have followed Goldman for a number of years and I agree with many of his opinions, although his predictions have not quite come to fruition.

Given your well-known views on Islam, the Arabs and Syria in particular, you may want to browse through Goldman's past works before acknowledging his support.

Back to Iran...

I see that Iran's legend-wait-for-it-dary stealth fighter is back, according to War is Boring (https://warisboring.com/its-back-iran-s-fake-stealth-fighter-is-reportedly-in-production-42208bbadb90#.zaaf8tsq1). I wonder what no dice arms purchase prompted this revolution in Iranian industry?

By the way, I had read somewhere and perhaps it was your commentary on SWJ, that Iran was funding Assad to the tune of USD $2 billion per month in 2011, and this was before Gen. Tilly (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Tserclaes,_Count_of_Tilly) - I mean Gen. Soleimani and the Catholic League's - I mean IRGC's 32,000+ strong mercenary army had swung into action e.g. at Magdeburg (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sack_of_Magdeburg) - I mean Aleppo ;)

Therefore, I would imagine that Iran's annual costs for its Syrian adventure are $25 billion+ per year. Thanks to the JCPOA, whatever its merits, Iran can now keep the charnel house in full swing for another few years...

CrowBat

03-14-2017, 06:37 PM

The article was not in the LA Times but the Asia Times. The Asia Times is partially owned by David P. Goldman, who is a prolific commentator on Iran, Islam and the Middle East.I see. Thanks for correction in this regards: was in a big rush when posting that, this morning.

Re. Goldman: haven't ever heard of him before. But, he did his homework - at least in this case.

That said: it's curious that it takes a person of the kind you described to draw such conclusions. Is everybody else too afraid to say the same - or, 'just' must be either some sort of anti-Islam freak? Or, alternatively: is nowadays everybody disagreeing with Airbus and Boeing selling airliners to Tehran something like 'jihadist supporter' and 'paid by Qatar'?

Re. that Qahir-313 comedy: I simply do not know why is anybody still even talking about it. That's literally a, 'carpenter and welder cashed 25,000 bucks for their part of the job, director pocketed a million' scam.

Hell, the later even managed a unique feat for an Iranian director: he got fired for corruption. If that isn't ringing bells, I don't know what else should.

By the way, I had read somewhere and perhaps it was your commentary on SWJ, that Iran was funding Assad to the tune of USD $2 billion per month in 2011...There were few reports from back in late 2011 and through 2012, about Tehran lending money to Assad, about Assad letting Russians print money for him etc. But, until this article by Goldman, only the - much belittled - Daily Mail published anything of that kind, in form of the article Inside the Glasshouse (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3718583/Leaked-intelligence-dossier-reveals-location-secret-Iranian-spymasters-HQ-Syria-codenamed-GLASSHOUSE-Iran-fighters-ground-Assad.html).

(And, certainly enough, I disagree with quite a few of figures in that feature - but then those about the way the IRGC-QF in Syria is organized, how many troops it has got, what troops etc.)

Therefore, I would imagine that Iran's annual costs for its Syrian adventure are $25 billion+ per year. Thanks to the JCPOA, whatever its merits, Iran can now keep the charnel house in full swing for another few years...'Best' of all is: after all the other sanctions of the last 40 years failed, Tehran was finally on the verge of bankruptcy back in early 2014. They were about to make this public - when Oblabla (i.e. his The Mentalist) 'carved out' that 'historic' deal...

Considering their ties with the AQI, this is why I can't stop wondering how much was the Daesh's 'spill' into northern Iraq - and especially into Mosul - actually orchestrated by the IRGC-QF?

Even the few well-informed Iranians I happen to know have their doubts the IRGC is capable of running something of such proportions. But, considering what happened afterwards... well, that story is still well away from being known 'inside out'.

Azor

03-14-2017, 08:04 PM

I see. Thanks for correction in this regards: was in a big rush when posting that, this morning.

I'm sorry. For what it's worth, I'd hardly call the LA Times mainstream media given their often lacking political correctness.

Re. Goldman: haven't ever heard of him before. But, he did his homework - at least in this case.

That said: it's curious that it takes a person of the kind you described to draw such conclusions...

Goldman takes an alternative perspective on the Middle East. Basically, he believes that Muslim civilization is in the midst of its own version of the Thirty Years War, which was kicked off when the United States overthrew minority rule in Iraq and when the Sunni Arabs of Iraq were faced with tyranny of the majority, by way of democracy.

His general recommendations are to contain the violence and prevent it from disrupting the oil and gas supply, forcefully prevent migrants from the region entering the West, and for the United States to play the role of offshore balancer, as Great Britain did. Goldman believes that the conflict will be resolved by the "30% solution" (http://www.atimes.com/the-30-solution-when-war-without-end-ends-spengler/): it will burn out when 30% of the fighting-age males are killed or grievously wounded and no longer capable of fighting.

He has referred to the Syrian Civil War's casualties as a "down payment" on this 30%, and believes that bleeding the Iranians and Sunni Arab jihadis white in Syria is preferable to either turning their attention to Israel or the West.

Goldman's focus on Iran is due to his belief that Iran represents an existential threat to Israel in a way that jihadism does not. Yet he is anti-Muslim overall.

As callous as this sounds, referring back to the Thirty Years War, it was in England's interest to have Spanish, Swedish and French power ground down. The failure of the Spanish Armada aside, it was the Thirty Years War that tore the guts out of Europe's finest military machine: the Spanish tercios. Goldman recommends that Washington sit back and simply tend to the fire...

With respect to the "30% Solution", it is completely accurate for both National Socialist Germany (33% KIA/WIA) and the Confederate States of America (32% KIA/WIA).

Combining the populations of Egypt, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen, and excluding non-Muslims, Kurds and males aged 45-65 (assumed to be 18% of males aged 14-65), we are left with over 37,305,000 fighting-age males.

30% would be roughly 11.2 million casualties, including 5.6 to 6.4 million deaths. This does not include of course Iran, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain or Jordan.

This level of carnage would be considered merely a bad day in Chinese history, and is certainly less than the Thirty Years War.

CrowBat

03-14-2017, 10:42 PM

I see. OK. Obviously, it's about the time to take a closer look at the 'Californian media-landscape': might explain why certain magazine editors there did express their interest in some of my articles. (Gotta check if that's good or bad.)

Re. Goldman: well, the way you explain it... that explains a lot. It explains Israel's silence over what's up in Syria, just for example (att least in the public, nobody there is talking about that issue, nor giving a damn; only the 'experts' do).

Of course, and for what seem to nowadays be 'just my own reasons' (primarily: humanity) I can't agree with the idea of 'looking the other way while they slaughter each other'. And I surely can't agree with the idea that the 'Sunni Arabs of Iraq were faced with tyranny of the majority, by way of democracy': rather than this, that 'democracy' - see Maliki - never gave them a trace of chance to co-exist under it.

Furthermore, considering the globalisation, it's simply impossible to 'contain' the conflict - which, BTW, is not even that much sectarian as the Iranians, Assadists, Saudis, Russians, the PKK, and even Americans (and various Western powers) are trying to make it. Just for example: out of about 15,000 Ahrar ash-Sham's combatants in Idlib, about 500 are Kurds.

He has referred to the Syrian Civil War's casualties as a "down payment" on this 30%, and believes that bleeding the Iranians and Sunni Arab jihadis white in Syria is preferable to either turning their attention to Israel or the West.Makes me wonder if he's heard that Syria might have some kind of population too. Some say, 23-26 million.

What does he suggest to do with all of these people - or shall they all get slaughtered, or slaughter each other for the sake of... whoever's advantage, too?

Goldman's focus on Iran is due to his belief that Iran represents an existential threat to Israel in a way that jihadism does not.Anti-Muslim or not: theoretically, he's right.

The question is: what is that 'existential threat' for Israel? I.e. what is really such, and what do they declare for such - in the public?

Namely, there is actually none - and that already since 1947 (which, BTW, is something nearly all of 'great Israeli military leaders' say in their memoirs, too). But Israel always needs one. Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't it already Ben Gurion in the early 1950s that said something like, he would pay 1 million of bucks to any Arab that would cause a war...?

Goldman recommends that Washington sit back and simply tend to the fire...Well, Bush ignited it, and Obama did his best during his watch. So, can't call this a 'wrong theory'.

This level of carnage would be considered merely a bad day in Chinese history, and is certainly less than the Thirty Years War.... OK, I see. Though, knowing Iranians: this could go on for much longer than 30 years, and get far costlier, too.

OUTLAW 09

03-15-2017, 05:45 AM

I'm sorry. For what it's worth, I'd hardly call the LA Times mainstream media given their often lacking political correctness.

Goldman takes an alternative perspective on the Middle East. Basically, he believes that Muslim civilization is in the midst of its own version of the Thirty Years War, which was kicked off when the United States overthrew minority rule in Iraq and when the Sunni Arabs of Iraq were faced with tyranny of the majority, by way of democracy.

His general recommendations are to contain the violence and prevent it from disrupting the oil and gas supply, forcefully prevent migrants from the region entering the West, and for the United States to play the role of offshore balancer, as Great Britain did. Goldman believes that the conflict will be resolved by the "30% solution" (http://www.atimes.com/the-30-solution-when-war-without-end-ends-spengler/): it will burn out when 30% of the fighting-age males are killed or grievously wounded and no longer capable of fighting.

He has referred to the Syrian Civil War's casualties as a "down payment" on this 30%, and believes that bleeding the Iranians and Sunni Arab jihadis white in Syria is preferable to either turning their attention to Israel or the West.

Goldman's focus on Iran is due to his belief that Iran represents an existential threat to Israel in a way that jihadism does not. Yet he is anti-Muslim overall.

As callous as this sounds, referring back to the Thirty Years War, it was in England's interest to have Spanish, Swedish and French power ground down. The failure of the Spanish Armada aside, it was the Thirty Years War that tore the guts out of Europe's finest military machine: the Spanish tercios. Goldman recommends that Washington sit back and simply tend to the fire...

With respect to the "30% Solution", it is completely accurate for both National Socialist Germany (33% KIA/WIA) and the Confederate States of America (32% KIA/WIA).

Combining the populations of Egypt, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen, and excluding non-Muslims, Kurds and males aged 45-65 (assumed to be 18% of males aged 14-65), we are left with over 37,305,000 fighting-age males.

30% would be roughly 11.2 million casualties, including 5.6 to 6.4 million deaths. This does not include of course Iran, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain or Jordan.

This level of carnage would be considered merely a bad day in Chinese history, and is certainly less than the Thirty Years War.

Some might say LATs and NYTs have the same owners...

OUTLAW 09

03-15-2017, 01:01 PM

OUTLAW 09

03-15-2017, 01:41 PM

6 years ago, MILLIONS of Syrians PEACEFULLY protest the Assad regime and demanded FREEDOM and DIGNITY.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMZHn8nBEf4#…

On the 6th anniversary of the war in Syria, Russia dropped a bunker buster on innocent civilians.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7i65Lh8MRQ#…

6yrs on, who has been killing #Syria’s civilians?

92.2% - #Assad regime
2% - #Russia
1.8% - Non-AQ opposition
1.6% - #ISIS

OUTLAW 09

03-15-2017, 01:54 PM

Yesterday, PYD cadres also threw a sound grenade & vandalized the office of the KNC opposition group in Girk Leg, Hassakeh

THIs is the same Kurdish proxy the US claims can win in Raqqa and seems to forget that they are just a fig leaf for the PKK a US named terror group....

OUTLAW 09

03-15-2017, 02:03 PM

Also last night,the #Russian regime attacked a residential building in #Idlib,killing sleeping women and children.

OUTLAW 09

03-15-2017, 02:11 PM

Evidently another suicide bombing in Damascus......

Seems like there's another explosion in Damascus, in Rabweh (between Malki and Mezzeh). #Syria

Damascus: 31 people confirmed killed, 60 wounded by the suicide bombing at the Palace of Justice in #Damascus.

Damascus: Location of second bomb attack at a restaurant in #Rabwah ist just a few 100 meters away from #Assad's Palace.

Bloody aftermath of the suicide bombing in the Palace of Justice in #Damascus. 34 killed, 80 wounded

OUTLAW 09

03-15-2017, 02:53 PM

Russian Syrian Express....

ВМФ #ЧФ BSF Tapir class LST Nikolai Filchenkov 152 transits Med-bound Bosphorus en route to #Tartus #Syria for its 3rd deployment in 2017

She is starting to look rather worn out and is riding high on this return trip vs others that have been loaded coming back...

Russian naval maintenance being what it is is..she will need a major overhaul soon...

OUTLAW 09

03-15-2017, 03:03 PM

Russian Syrian Express...."Ship of Interest"

Ship of Interest: Coming from Novorossiysk, DR Congo flag Yara J transits Mediterranean-bound Bosphorus en route to #Tartus #Syria

OUTLAW 09

03-15-2017, 03:06 PM

Russian Syrian Express..."Ship of Interest"

SoI.....Bulk carrier Zara from #Balchic #Bulgaria to #Tartus #Syria (marinetraffic reporting Beirut Lebanon) passing #ChiosStrait #AegeanSea

OUTLAW 09

03-15-2017, 03:08 PM

Russian Syrian Express....."Ship of Interest"....

SoI.......Syria Government flag SYRIAMAR Syrian General Authority for Maritime Transport bulk carrier Finikia transits Bosphorus towards BlackSea

OUTLAW 09

03-15-2017, 03:11 PM

Russian Syrian Express..."Ship of Interest....US sanctioned ship"....

SoI....Gen Auth For Maritime Transport SYRIAMAR ship Laodicea is on @USTreasury OFAC SDN list since 3AUG2015. Vessel transited Bosphorus 13:00Z

OUTLAW 09

03-15-2017, 03:14 PM

Russian Syrian Express..."Ship of Interest" carrying corn...

Ship of interest: Togo flag cargo ship Island Bay transits Med-bound Bosphorus en route to #Tartus #Syria carrying corn

OUTLAW 09

03-15-2017, 05:40 PM

SCD teams still pulling people from under rubble. So far 25 killed (16 kids, 6 women,3 men), following airstrikes that targeted #Idlib City

OUTLAW 09

03-15-2017, 06:53 PM

The Pentagon is reportedly considering sending 1,000 more troops inside Syria
http://read.bi/2mtfDze

OUTLAW 09

03-15-2017, 06:58 PM

Photos of 5th Corps - Ba'ath Brigades of Syrian Armed Forces http://syria.liveuamap.com/en/2017/14-march-more-photos-of-5th-corps-of-syrian-armed-forces#…

OUTLAW 09

03-15-2017, 07:05 PM

W. #Daraa: night/thermal vision equipment seized by Al-Bunian Al-Marsous operation room in Al-Manshiyah.

OUTLAW 09

03-15-2017, 07:10 PM

Damascus: Location of second bomb attack at a restaurant in #Rabwah ist just a few 100 meters away from #Assad's Palace.

Bloody aftermath of the suicide bombing in the Palace of Justice in #Damascus. 34 killed, 80 wounded

3rd explosive device in #Damascus, this time dismantled by Regime forces near President Bridge (city center).

OUTLAW 09

03-15-2017, 07:12 PM

E. #Damascus: Regime fiercely shelling #Qabun area with IRAM rockets. 20 reported only this morning.

OUTLAW 09

03-15-2017, 07:14 PM

NW #Daraa: Ahrar Al-Sham shelling Jaish Khalid positions. Front is static since over a week now.

The @USTreasury has designated a new financier of AQ in #Syria - #Kuwait-based Muhammad Hadi al-`Anizi:
https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/sm0027.aspx#…

OUTLAW 09

03-15-2017, 07:45 PM

FSA 1st Coastal Division | Fagot #ATGM set-up with clear serial numbers #Latakia:
https://youtu.be/Kd0ZcO_ClEk

OUTLAW 09

03-15-2017, 08:27 PM

Palmyra: #ISIS ATGM strike against #Assad tank southeast of #Palmyra today.

OUTLAW 09

03-16-2017, 08:19 AM

First aid delivery to Madaya in nearly 4 months provided vital aid but lacked dialysis supplies, fuel, & cooking gas
http://syriadirect.org/news/madaya-gets-first-delivery-in-5-months-icrc-says-%E2%80%98not-a-solution%E2%80%99/#

BUT Iran air drops UN aid supplies to their two enclaves every week...????

OUTLAW 09

03-16-2017, 08:27 AM

OUTLAW 09

03-16-2017, 08:37 AM

John Dorian, the top spokesman for the U.S. coalition said that 75% of the forces that Involved in #Raqqa Op are Arabs "HE IS LYING"

Everybody in the ME and Syria knows that the only forces in Raqqa Operation are YPG , And they invented a new name for them "SDF"

AND the US is providing CAS and US SOF support for three US named terror groups....Hezbollah....Iraqi Hezbollah (KH) and PKK a Kurdish communist terror group from the 70s....

OUTLAW 09

03-16-2017, 09:21 AM

WOW...who knew......????

Syria's government exploits UN's aid delivery system, new report says, depriving millions of assistance
http://abcn.ws/2mPMNMY

Better late than actually never....

OUTLAW 09

03-16-2017, 09:34 AM

"We are trying to lay the foundation for Assad prosecution along the lines of Nuremberg,"

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-warcrimes-idUSKBN16M24Z#

OUTLAW 09

03-16-2017, 01:31 PM

MFA Russia 🇷🇺
✔
@mfa_russia
#Zakharova: The ballyhoo over the White Helmets is part of the ongoing information war against the Syrian government and Russia

OUTLAW 09

03-16-2017, 01:55 PM

WOW...who would have guessed this would occur...many of the comments here has already predicted this development...only Obama....CENTCOM and now Trump somehow missed it....as usual......

Charles Lister‏
Verified account
#@Charles_Lister 1h
1 hour ago

I have a new article in @ForeignPolicy today, it's important:

“AlQaeda Is Starting to Swallow #Syria's Opposition”

http://foreignpolicy.com/2017/03/15/al-qaeda-is-swallowing-the-syrian-opposition/#…

OUTLAW 09

03-16-2017, 02:03 PM

Kyle Orton‏
Verified account
#@KyleWOrton

U.S. won't partner with Roj Pesh b/c "were not trained by Coalition forces"

Will partner with #PKK, trained in combat against a NATO state.

BUT WAIT.....PKK is a US/EU named communist terror group out of the 70s and has been fighting Turkey for over 40 years....

Suspending the CIA support for Syrian rebels guarantees that al-Qaeda will continue to eliminate Syrian moderate groups http://www.realclearworld.com/articles/2017/03/15/vapid_western_policy_is_enabling_al-qaeda_in_syria_112250.html#…

OUTLAW 09

03-16-2017, 02:25 PM

US Army Rangers deploy west of Raqqa to deter#Russian, Turkish and #Syria opposition forces#in area

OUTLAW 09

03-16-2017, 02:27 PM

We urgently need some humor after this week....

Moscow zoo sues Ad company after rented raccoon appears in nude photos. Animal 'in shock' on return. :D
https://tjournal.ru/42043-ispolzovat-zhivotnih-v-eroticheskoi-reklame-eto-zoofiliya#

NOW this story got picked up by BBC....
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-39290208

Moscow zoo is suing a video studio that hired one of its raccoons and made what the zoo calls an "erotic" video.
The petting zoo - where children can feed and interact with animals - sometimes rents animals to filmmakers.
Spokesman Viktor Kiryukhin told the BBC the raccoon - Thomas - returned from the studio traumatised. "We noticed he was attracted to women's breasts."
Video firm Art-Msk called the zoo's lawsuit "absurd". They also said the raccoon stole a model's bra on set.
Art-Msk shoots video clips for advertisements. Russian media quoted its marketing manager Valery Bogatov as saying they had requested a trained animal, but got Thomas "who was young and ran off all the time".
Legal wrangling
According to the zoo, the deal in August 2016 was for Thomas to be used in a regular advertisement.
But the zoo says that when it saw the footage on social media, featuring a naked model, it complained and asked for all video and photos to be withdrawn.
After the request failed, the zoo filed a lawsuit in October, also demanding compensation for damages caused to the raccoon.
The zoo says it renewed the lawsuit on Tuesday because no action had been taken.
Art-Msk's Valery Bogatov argued that the video was not erotic because it was destined to be broadcast on federal television. An erotic film would have been illegal, he said.
Viktor Kiryukhin however said Thomas's interest in women's breasts suggested that during filming they had "put out some treats for him, so he associated breasts with a treat".
The raccoon's behaviour since his return had unsettled female zoo staff.
"It took two to three months to change his behaviour. Now he is happy again… but he was sad before," he told the BBC.
The zoo calls it "immoral to mix nature with eroticism". The zoo's motto is "little animals are not toys".
A nature conservation group has backed the zoo's cause in the raccoon case.
Mr Bogatov has threatened to counter-sue the zoo, and to claim compensation for the damaged bra, the Russian blogsite tjournal reports.
Some Russian media have suggested the lawsuit is a public relations stunt. A statement the zoo posted on social media about the case featured plenty of socially savvy hashtags, including #interestingmoscow and #scandal.
But the zoo's press service said it was not orchestrated, and alleged the video had undermined the reputation of a family-friendly petting zoo.

OUTLAW 09

03-16-2017, 04:44 PM

Russian Syrian Express...."Ship of Interest"...

Ship of interest: Comoros flag cargo vessel Princess Maria transits Med-bound Bosphorus en route to #Tartus #Syria carrying barley

Appears to be vastly overloaded...

OUTLAW 09

03-16-2017, 05:13 PM

What a tragedy, 7 children from one family were killed with parents in yday's Idleb Russian strikes. Total 14 children killed in the attacks

OUTLAW 09

03-16-2017, 06:26 PM

Moscow narrative:"Putin is Tsar &will lead Rus Holy Crusade to defeat Islamic Jihad" was planned long ago

Now the propaganda escalates

OUTLAW 09

03-16-2017, 07:01 PM

DeirEzzor: #ISIS launched a heavy attack on the #DeirEzzor Airbase and detonated a SVBIED.

OUTLAW 09

03-16-2017, 07:03 PM

What a tragedy, 7 children from one family were killed with parents in yday's Idleb Russian strikes. Total 14 children killed in the attacks

Aleppo: Horrible massacre committed by #Assad/#Russia tonight. Airstrikes have killed 75+ civilians in a mosque.
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=36.117961&lon=36.800530&z=16&m=b#…

Aleppo: That would be the worst single massacre by #Assad/#Russia since many months. 1 day after they slaughtered 17 children in #Idlib.

Western media and politicians ignored the children slaughtered by #Russia yesterday and they will ignore this massacre too.

OUTLAW 09

03-16-2017, 07:07 PM

No rebel offensive, no raids, no ATGM strikes, no Grad or mortar shelling against the #Assad regime in Northern #Syria.

The calm before the storm??????

OUTLAW 09

03-16-2017, 07:13 PM

Appears that the West has totally forgotten this.....

Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.

- Sun Tzu

OUTLAW 09

03-16-2017, 08:27 PM

More of American vehicles comes from Iraqi Kurdistan to Rojava /Northern Syria to use in Raqqa battle

Notice the US SOF Strykers came in via Turkey.....

OUTLAW 09

03-16-2017, 08:28 PM

The killing of Abood Hamed, leader of #ISIS, During the battles near #Palmyra. Contributed to the destruction of the ruins of Palmyra Museum

Leaked recording from slain government fighter in Deraa suggests 50-60 regime KIA in first two days of new fighting
http://www.all4syria.info/Archive/395715

OUTLAW 09

03-17-2017, 04:43 AM

Aleppo: Horrible massacre committed by #Assad/#Russia tonight. Airstrikes have killed 75+ civilians in a mosque.
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=36.117961&lon=36.800530&z=16&m=b#…

Aleppo: That would be the worst single massacre by #Assad/#Russia since many months. 1 day after they slaughtered 17 children in #Idlib.

Western media and politicians ignored the children slaughtered by #Russia yesterday and they will ignore this massacre too.

URGENT

Appears that Airwars is claiming this strike on the mosque was committed by the US not Assad or Russia...if so a major blunder...

Horrible: US admits to airstrike in #Syria , hit a mosque, killed 42 mostly Civilians.
https://airwars.org/news/unilateral-strike/#

This is the second MAJOR blunder by US led forces...there was a strike on a school in Manbij CALLED in by the PKK on a school building that had allegedly IS fighters inside....127 men..women and children were killed in that strike and CENTCOM sworn to the world they would investigate it....

Yep they sure did....absolutely nothing of the kind and let the news cycle move on and got away with it.....

OUTLAW 09

03-17-2017, 05:07 AM

Aleppo: #US must apologize and compensate the #Syria|n families. #US apologized and compensated after #US airstrikes on #Assad fighters.

OUTLAW 09

03-17-2017, 09:08 AM

SYRIA: Israeli AF conducts strikes inside Syria, says it was fired upon by anti-air systems.

Israel carried out strikes against Syria last night - not new. #Syria fired back - new.

BREAKING Syria says Israeli raids hit 'military target' near Palmyra

Four Israeli jets raided the military base of the #Syrian army in close proximity to Palmyra — Syrian army reveals.

Syria army says shot down Israeli plane, hit another
http://m.gulfnews.com/amp/news/mena/syria/syria-army-says-shot-down-israeli-plane-hit-another-1.1995597#

OUTLAW 09

03-17-2017, 09:41 AM

BREAKING: Senior Hizballah leader killed in #Syria (Developing story).

OUTLAW 09

03-17-2017, 09:43 AM

URGENT

Appears that Airwars is claiming this strike on the mosque was committed by the US not Assad or Russia...if so a major blunder...

Horrible: US admits to airstrike in #Syria , hit a mosque, killed 42 mostly Civilians.
https://airwars.org/news/unilateral-strike/#

This is the second MAJOR blunder by US led forces...there was a strike on a school in Manbij CALLED in by the PKK on a school building that had allegedly IS fighters inside....127 men..women and children were killed in that strike and CENTCOM sworn to the world they would investigate it....

Yep they sure did....absolutely nothing of the kind and let the news cycle move on and got away with it.....

First daylight video confirms again: northern side of mosque collapsed; CENTCOM says it was not directly targeted.

"It was still standing when we left the area".....

US army airstrike on "al-Qaeda meeting" yday.
If they mixed up #Idlib & #Aleppo, did they also mix up AQ & a mosque crowded w/civilians?!..

OUTLAW 09

03-17-2017, 09:52 AM

If it was indeed a #US airstrike on a crowded mosque during evening prayer, than #Trump is no better than his Russian counterpart.

OUTLAW 09

03-17-2017, 09:55 AM

This was the first video footage and report from yesterday's mosque air strike...

62 people were killed and more than 200 wounded in a suspected #Russian air strike on mosque in Al Jeineh.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZ7Hebs7AJA#…
pic.twitter.com/m957DWbTln

First reporting claimed a "double tap" strike common for Assad and Russia BUT not CENTCOM

CrowBat

03-17-2017, 03:24 PM

First daylight video confirms again: northern side of mosque collapsed; CENTCOM says it was not directly targeted.

"It was still standing when we left the area".....

US army airstrike on "al-Qaeda meeting" yday.
If they mixed up #Idlib & #Aleppo, did they also mix up AQ & a mosque crowded w/civilians?!..
They targeted two rooms at the front of the mosque, where - supposedly - around 60 HTS were meeting, supposedly including al-Mohasini.

Eventually, the bombs (seems Mk.82s were used) collapsed the entire side of the hall in which over 300 civilians were attending an evening prayer...

And, on the other side of Syria - a 'sovereign country with legitimate government' as Assadists love to say - the Israelis smashed another of top Hezbollah 'commanders'. Four fighter bombers bombed him somewhere in Palmyra area.

The 'professional and competent' (just citing from an official release) 'armed forces' of that 'sovereign country with legitimate government' then fired at least 1, probably more of SAMs in their direction.

Seems one of the SAMs in question flew in direction of the Jordan Valley in Israel - and was thus shot down by an Israeli Arrow 2 (I doubt reports about Arrow 3s being used).

OUTLAW 09

03-17-2017, 03:51 PM

The most civilians who were killed by #US airstrikes during the last months lived in #Raqqa Province and #Mosul. Unreported by the media.

Calling the kettle black....and being also the black kettle themselves....
Russian Ministry of Defence: Moscow awaits clarification from US on mosque attack in al-Jeena, Idlib, which killed dozens of Syrians

OUTLAW 09

03-17-2017, 03:55 PM

More bad news for #Erdogan.
#Putin decided to also preempt / prevent a possible #EuphratesShield offensive on #Afrin canton.
Troops trapped.

OUTLAW 09

03-17-2017, 03:56 PM

They targeted two rooms at the front of the mosque, where - supposedly - around 60 HTS were meeting, supposedly including al-Mohasini.

Eventually, the bombs (seems Mk.82s were used) collapsed the entire side of the hall in which over 300 civilians were attending an evening prayer...

And, on the other side of Syria - a 'sovereign country with legitimate government' as Assadists love to say - the Israelis smashed another of top Hezbollah 'commanders'. Four fighter bombers bombed him somewhere in Palmyra area.

The 'professional and competent' (just citing from an official release) 'armed forces' of that 'sovereign country with legitimate government' then fired at least 1, probably more of SAMs in their direction.

Seems one of the SAMs in question flew in direction of the Jordan Valley in Israel - and was thus shot down by an Israeli Arrow 2 (I doubt reports about Arrow 3s being used).

57 bodies have been collected so far from al-Jinah mosque, where a weekly Tablighi meeting was taking place.

15-20 more bodies missing

A #Syria|n child was pulled alive from the rubble of the destroyed mosque after #US airstrikes last night.

US official: AQ strike in N. Syria involved two Reapers that fired roughly entirety of their Hellfire payload and followed up w/ 500lb bomb.
US Air Force destroyed the mosque with GBU-12 Paveway II laser guided bombs (227 kg) and Hellfire missiles fired by Reaper drones.

OUTLAW 09

03-17-2017, 04:00 PM

More fragments of munitions leftover from the US strike on old wing of al-Jinah mosque.

“Woodward HRT” is California-based defense company:

OUTLAW 09

03-17-2017, 04:03 PM

Qatar’s Foreign Minister calls the Al-Jinah Mosque airstrike “heinous” & says mosques “cannot be a place of murder or bloodshed."

Ahrar al-Sham says the airstrike that hit Al-Jinah mosque was American & should be declared a war crime:

US strikes that hit mosques & kill 10s of civilians give AlQaeda even more of an advantage. Makes this worse:

Trump thinks looser targeting limits will make America safer; he's dangerously mistaken. Hitting a mosque during prayers = incitement.

Note any military action that knowingly hits a place of worship = war crime.

The strike also took place during evening prayers

OUTLAW 09

03-17-2017, 04:08 PM

Raqqa: On the night of March 11th-12th #US airstrikes killed 22 displaced civilians, including 7 children & 6 women, in #Raqqa Province.

OUTLAW 09

03-17-2017, 04:09 PM

CrowBat

03-17-2017, 04:11 PM

I... I am really shocked by this action. It's hard to explain why.

It's not like I didn't expect this to happen: I just didn't want to 'believe' anybody in the USA is THIS STUPID as to do such things.

I mean: by side that from documents of this kind (https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3515908-Use-of-Force-Principles-FINAL.html) it's more than obvious that Trump, his aides, and all those supporting them - are living in a fool's paradise.

...or they all fell to the Earth from some other universe... then there is NO explanation for sheer idiotism of the ideas like 'to defeat IS in 30 days', then go babbling in the same paper about 'paying greatest possible attention at preventing civilian casualties' - and then ordering an air strike on a mosque in which there is an evening prayer every single ####ing Thursday since four years!!! :mad:

...and then the CENTCOM and the Pentagon... so professionally stupid, so professionally unprofessional as always: when caught red-handed, they can only stutter about 'targeting two buildings nearby', while all the evidence says clearly: they targeted a mosque full of civilians (https://twitter.com/QalaatAlMudiq/status/842709482346070016)!

I consider myself somebody trying to understand both - or all - of parties involved in conflicts I monitor/study; and, also somebody trying to explain all of them to each other. But, atrocities of this kind are a result of such reckless and idiotically arrogant logic that they can only be described as war crimes.

And war crimes... are something I can't explain even to myself, not to talk about somebody else.

OUTLAW 09

03-17-2017, 04:26 PM

Aleppo: All Friday prayers in Northern #Syria where cancelled today after the deadly #US airstrikes on a mosque in Western #Aleppo.

OUTLAW 09

03-17-2017, 05:50 PM

OUTLAW 09

03-17-2017, 07:10 PM

For the last two years Russian Today has given the open source analysis team from bellingcat grief on anything they wrote....

Suddenly today they are even quoting them....FIRST time a Russian propaganda media outlet uses a true and verified true story.....

RT is now citing Bellingcat's research, guess we won them round finally
https://www.rt.com/news/381077-mosque-strike-aleppo-missile/#

OUTLAW 09

03-17-2017, 07:29 PM

Does Israel really care what the Russians say as Syria is not a part of Russia..YET at least...

BREAKING: Moscow summoned Israeli envoy to discuss Israeli strikes in Syria

Syria #IAF conducted several airstrikes on #Hezbollah near #Palmyra & killed high rank commander "Badie Hamya"

OUTLAW 09

03-17-2017, 07:35 PM

Notable that #Al_Jeineh building bombed by US, which locals say was a mosque, does have a loudspeaker (top right). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBwagt3lXXU#…

Using @TerraServer, you can see the plot in March 2010 and construction in August & October 2015:
https://www.terraserver.com/view?utf8=%E2%9C%93&search_text=Idlib%2C+Syria&searchLat=35.826845&searchLng=36.578064#

OUTLAW 09

03-17-2017, 07:40 PM

Syria #FSA in clashes with #IS in eastern #Qalamoun

E. #Damascus: Jaish Al-Islam destroyed a T-72 and one armoured bulldozer on #Barzeh front.

SW. #Aleppo: #FSA Division 23 took out with a #TOW an #ATGM launcher on Tell Uhud.
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=36.145569&lon=37.097912&z=14&m#…

Jaish Al-Islam: Al-Bunian Al-Marsous offensive on Al-Manshiyah in #Daraa significatively reduced military pressure on besieged E. #Ghouta.

Regime losses since Bunian Marsous started offensive on Manshiyah (#Daraa): 6 armours, 38 officers (2 generals), 16 tunnels/caches, 2 drones
E. #Qalamoun: #FSA deployed several tanks to back offensive vs #ISIS in Jebal Afai & Jebal Batra.

OUTLAW 09

03-18-2017, 09:16 AM

bellingcat @bellingcat
Our detailed analysis of the US mosque bombing, more updates to come this weekend
https://www.bellingcat.com/news/mena/2017/03/16/us-missile-remains-reportedly-recovered-from-site-of-aleppo-mosque-bombing/#

OUTLAW 09

03-18-2017, 10:08 AM

New Gerasimov article on nature of warfare
https://russiamil.wordpress.com/2017/03/17/new-gerasimov-article-on-nature-of-warfare/#
… via @russmil

Russian Military Reform
Tracking developments in the Russian military

March 17, 2017 by Dmitry Gorenburg

New Gerasimov article on nature of warfare

Valery Gerasimov, the Chief of the Russian General Staff, has published a new article on the nature of modern warfare. Given how much attention has been paid to his 2013 article on this topic, it seems worthwhile to quickly review what’s changed in the last four years.
The most important observation, though, is how much hasn’t changed. Gerasimov still focuses on the American origin of hybrid warfare, both attributing the origin of the term to American theoretical writings and discussing its implementation in the Middle East, and particularly in Syria.
Gerasimov’s discussion of the origins of the conflict in Syria is worth citing at length. He notes that in the first stage, internal Syrian tensions were transformed into armed actions by the opposition. The opposition was supported by foreign trainers and an active information war from abroad. Subsequently, terrorist groups supplied and organized from abroad then entered the conflict against Syrian government forces. The conclusion that Gerasimov draws is that hybrid warfare is actively practiced by the United States and other NATO members, in large part because this type of action does not fall under the definition of aggression.
Nevertheless, Gerasimov isn’t eager to assume that the hybrid warfare concept is here to stay or to introduce it into official Russian discourse. Instead he focuses (as in the 2013 article) on the continuing erasure of the boundary between conditions of war and peace. He highlights that it is more and more common for a country’s sovereignty and national security to be threatened in peacetime. The spectrum of reasons for use of military force is continually expanding, with force being more often used to secure a state’s economic interests or to enforce democratic values in another country.
Much of this is a repeat of the 2013 argument, with the focus on Western states using a wide spectrum of measures (political, economic, diplomatic, informational) combined with the “protest potential of the population,” to ensure that their interests are observed. Cyber warfare is added to this list, with an example of cyber attacks on Iranian energy infrastructure.
What seems interesting to me is the second half of the article, where Gerasimov discusses how Russia is responding to this heightened risk of “new generation” warfare. Here, Gerasimov drops all the discussion of hybrid and information warfare. Instead, his focus is very much old school: a discussion of strategic deterrence with nuclear weapons and long range aviation. To this is added the development of long range cruise missiles and other precision-guided munitions, next generation fighter aircraft, modern ships, etc. There is also a discussion of advances in automation and electronic warfare. In other words, Russia is preparing to respond to this threat environment by strengthening its conventional and nuclear military capability. There is virtually no discussion of Russian efforts to engage in information warfare or hybrid warfare of any kind. “Little green men” play no role in this vision of Russian military power. Instead, we are given to understand that Russia will respond to any aggression with overwhelming force.