Islamic State: the enemy that refuses to die
https://shar.es/1CkcRM via @MiddleEastEye
Printable View
Islamic State: the enemy that refuses to die
https://shar.es/1CkcRM via @MiddleEastEye
Absolutely nothing. It seems they're now behaving in this fashion even when it comes to military operations. Of course, they can afford this - because casualties are not their (Russian), but primarily those of Iraqi Shi'a...
...a reason more to get surprised - or not at all? - when reading such nonsense as published in German Focus Online, and immediately re-published by RT, of course.
Accordingly, some sort of 'NATO secret paper' declared the Russian ops in Syria for 'highly efficient'. The VKS deployed 'only' 40 aircraft, and these are performing 75 sorties a day, usually striking several targets on each flight - in comparison to CENTCOM CJTF that's operating 180 aircraft, and striking only about 20 targets a day. Overall, Russians should have 'bigger effect' upon what's going on on the ground.
Curiously, what the RT didn't translate is that only 20% of Russian air strikes have hit the Daesh, or that because of Russian aerial activity, there are no bigger insurgent troop movements since months. The Focus is here mixing insurgents and Daesh (as so often), and instantly continuing the same sentence with conclusion that the Daesh ceased PR-actions like driving long columns of vehicles through captured territories.
For their targeting purposes, Russians should be using Syrian aerial reconnaissance, or support from own special forces and spies on the ground.
**********
I'm a 'convinced and practicising' atheist, but I hope and pray that this 'report' was
- a) prepared at least 2-3 months ago, when actual 'precision', 'target selection', and ROEs of the VKS in Syria were still largely unknown, and
- b) when every single German and/or Austrian (just for example) general, colonel etc. I met or saw on the TV was 'deeply impressed' by 'professionalism, highest standards of equipment' and all other sorts of usual prejudical nonsense regarding Russians in Syria.
Namely, such POVs were expressed during different conferences, meetings etc. in, say, 'German language area' without an end all through October, November, December. They were - obviously, and definitely - foremost based on RT's reports aired on the TV. Certainly never on any kind of detailed studies of Russian ops in Syria. The few I know have tried to do the latter were all quickly 'sillenced', or they sillenced themselves - as soon as it was clear Russians are NOT bombing Daesh - for the sake of their careers.
Furthermore, the VKS has no 40 aircraft in Syria since longer, and these are not flying 70+ sorties a day. That's really nonsense. It's rather so that the VKS originally deployed 12 Su-24s, 14 Su-25s, and 4 Su-30s (total of 20 aircraft), 14 Mi-24s and 2 Mi-8s to Syria (16 helicopters), and that these all together flew about 50-60 sorties a day on average for most of October and November. Number of aircraft was then gradually increased through November, and particularly in December. By 28 February, totals reached (all the following was confirmed by visual sightings and cross-referencing of their serials, borts etc.):
- 4 Su-35S' (it is possible there are actually 5-8 of them there)
- 12 Su-34s
- 4 Su-30SMs
- 4 Su-27SMs
- 32-34 Su-24M/M2/SVP-24s (26 confirmed visually; rest is according to what the Keystone Cops in Moscow say)
- 12 Su-25SMs
- 2 Su-25UBMs
- 15 Mi-8 (including 5 brought in by An-124s in mid-February)
- 16 Mi-24
- 4 Mi-35M
- 1 Tu-214R, and
- 1 Il-20M
- 1 An-30
- 1 Tu-214R (withdrawn on 29 February)
That's a total of 70 combat aircraft and 35 helicopters, or '105 aircraft' in total. I.e. an increase of nearly 100% (note: on 29 February, four additional Su-24s were deployed to Syria, and - contrary to Jane's reports: NO A-50 was ever deployed to Syria).
Now pay attention: despite this increase in number of available aircraft, and after just a short period (less than two weeks) in December, the average number of sorties they flew DID NOT increase. For most of January, they flew about 55-65 sorties a day - and this despite the fact that starting in November the VKS began deploying Tu-22M3, Tu-95SM and Tu-160 bombers from bases in Russia.
Which means that despite increasing the total number of aircraft involved - whether deployed in Syria or operating from bases in Russia - Russians failed to increase the total number of sorties flown.
Reasons? Maintenance issues (especially with Su-24s and Su-34s), weather etc.
(BTW: if anybody wonders why are there never more than 25 or so aircraft to be seen on sat photos of Hmemmem AB: not all of them are deployed there; all of helicopters are meanwhile distributed between Sanobar AB [between Lattakia and Hmemmem] and Shayrat AB [Homs], while the other half of aircraft is said to be based at Khelkhleh AB, in southern Syria.)
Regarding 'effectiveness' and 'precision': think these have been discussed here more than 'to the legnth'. The fact the VKS has 'mass displacement of the enemy population' as a part of its doctrine, and that this is resulting in ROEs of the kind are unimaginable for any NATO air force (indeed: for any kind of decent military around the world), should be well-known by now.
Finally, while certainly hindering large-scale movement of insurgent forces between Azaz, Aleppo and Idlib in January, and surely depending on Assadist HUMINT for much of their targeting, Russians proved unable of tracking large-scale troop movements of their opponents over longer periods of time. There are several dozens of examples for this, the Daesh's offensive on Khan Nassir being only the newest one...
Bottom line: sorry, but, if there is really some kind of an ominous 'NATO intelligence report' really convinced Russians are ah so precise, and effective and whatever else, and if the NATO has no clue how about how many aircraft are Russians actually operating in Syria, then...
...sigh... then 'good night'... :rolleyes:
With such quality of 'intelligence', Russians could drive all the way through Poland, Germany and France to Spain - before anybody in Brssels would find out.
BREAKING: Saudi airstrikes to assist FSA against #ISIS near Sweida in southern #Syria, a day after Jordan did so in Tanf -
One week ago narrative was "GCC won't dare to support FSA with strikes in Syria", wait for the next change soon https://twitter.com/AmichaiStein1/st...67723395571713 …
Al Arabiya English
✔ @AlArabiya_Eng Saudi FM: Assad must cede power at the beginning of the transitional process
http://ara.tv/6brfq
From the Ukrainian Defense intelligence briefing from yesterday....
Situation around Syrian conflict
Quote:
On March 9, 2016, it is planned the projection of Su-34 aircrafts, as well as cockpit and engineering personnel of the 47th composite aviation regiment (Buturlinovka) of the 6th Army of the Air Force and AD of the Western Military Command to Khmeimim airbase (Syria).
The measures to ensure joint force grouping of the Russian Federation Armed Forces in Syria were, as follows:
flights of military transport aviation aircrafts en routes: Mozdok – Khmeimim (An-124); Khmeimim – Mozdok (Іл-76);
passage of the large-sized amphibious warfare ship "Tsezar Kunikov" (according to the technical specifications, it can carry different cargos, such as 150 marines and 13 armored combat vehicles; 150 marines and 10 tanks with crews; 500 tons of cargo) and Black Sea Fleet rescue tug “Profesor Nikolai Muru” through the Bosporus strait in the direction of the Mediterranean
TASS
✔ @tassagency_en Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier to head for Mediterranean in summer — source
http://tass.ru/en/defense/860815 …
Unconfirmed reports says Russia has frozen the delivery of S-300 to Iran
http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Rep...IwQTBGMTI0RDM= …
https://twitter.com/linforusse/statu...73976944218112 …
Appears Hezbollah was able to get their hands on Russian SA22s...
Nato centre analysts claim 2have evidence of ‘info war’ over migration crisis w/links to #Putin
http://www.theguardian.com/world/201...P=share_btn_tw …
Russia had a track record of funding extremist forces in #Europe #MustRead via @STRATCOMCOE
https://twitter.com/2111015/status/706266289539563521 …
SNHR doc. gov &pro-gov (Russian)forces killing 12victims including 3children, 3women & 2victims by torture untill this moment in Sat, Mar 5
Two Syrian soldiers stationed at Joureen camp defected to the FSA in the Ghab plain. #Syria
http://youtu.be/qWNkQxQlXXI
Russian warships sailing through Bosphorus strait frightens Turkey
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/wo...-a6914796.html …
Criminals not #Refugees!
2 German newspapers claim ~5000 #Shabiha (#Assad- mafia thugs) fled to #EU the past months
Enough: NATO should stop feeding the Russian troll
http://www.politico.eu/article/nato-...a-war-baltics/ …
Russian Syrian Express..........
Transport vessel "Yauza" completed 7-day transit from Tartus, Syria to Novorossiysk, RF (Feb 28-Mar 5)
Project 22870: Built at Astrakhan #Звездочка ; #ВМФ #ЧФ BSF Professor Nikolay Muru transits Bosphorus
https://youtu.be/FRNF-g0FUx8
ЧФ Nikolay Muru was named after the famous Russian ship constructor. #ВМФ tug entered the Marmara Sea 14:30GMT
Bosphorus: #ВМФ ‘Salvage & Rescue’ division insignia with diving helmet is on Professor Nikolay Muru
This is 2016's first Syria deployment for #ВМФ #ЧФ BSF 158 Tsezar Kunikov. Ropucha class LST is en route to #Tartus
SyriaExpress making up for the lost time: #ВМФ #ЧФ BSF 158 Tsezar Kunikov transits southbound Bosphorus towards Med
Video of #ВМФ #ЧФ Tapir class LST Saratov 150 transits southbound Bosphorus en route to #Tartus
http://youtu.be/t8q8C1GBL3o
Saratov resumed RU-SYR transits after a 2 month break. Other Tapir cls vessel N.Filchenkov hasn't been around either
ВМФ #ЧФ Tapir class LST Saratov 150 carried 6 short containers above the deck
Russian Maritime Register of Shipping's multipurpose salvage vessel Spasatel Demidov transited northbound Bosphorus
The Independent
✔ @Independent Nato claims it has proof Russia is trying to oust Angela Merkel
http://ind.pn/1QuyHaV
3 Assad IRAM rockets have hit outskirts of Bait Nayem & al-Fadayiya near Marj in E. Ghouta less than an hour ago, no casulaties reported
FSA NSA commander says NSA still controls al-Tanf border crossing
Difficult to verify who controls what in al-Tanf border crossing tbh…both FSA NSA & ISIS claim they have control…time will tell I suppose
Heavy clashes reported between Ahrar rebels & regime forces at the Kisin front in #Homs
Syria: Faylaq a-Sham has secured a large-scale defection of fighters from IS in northern Rif Aleppo.
https://youtu.be/4d1ocMgRlh0
"The biggest beneficiaries of the nuclear deal are...Iran’s supreme leader and the Revolutionary Guards"
http://on.wsj.com/1UJ39kN
Pro-Assad media says the regime is close to retaking Palmyra *and* Raqqa City.
With legions of laser-equipped sharks and airborne swine.
Saudi FM: Assad has to leave "at the beginning of the process ... it's not going to be 18 months"
http://bit.ly/1YgOMnu #Syria
Interesting straw in the wind from "WikiBaghdady" on Abu al-Atheer: Atheer led a delegation to KSA to try to gain support for a caliphate.
Acc to "WikiBaghdady," al-Baghdadi reached out to Nasir al-Wuhayshi in advance of the caliphate declaration, and al-Wuhayshi rejected idea.
One Saudi shaykh Atheer met was Sulayman al-Alwan ("Al-Qaeda's Mufti") who rejected the caliphate proposal b/c scholars didn't support it.
SNHR
At least 253 breaches since the beginning of the truce in Syria in 27 Feb 2016
http://goo.gl/tg1oOd
Syria #Aleppo From frontline against kurdish #YPG
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vj6GsQgIga4 …
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=36...39797&z=16&m=b …
Assad-forces provoke also at #Aleppo's southern frontlines
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqDhaLlcWao …
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=36...41264&z=14&m=b …
Assad-forces shelling Al-Qahira in #Hama's Ghab plain with rockets
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lPem0CqLp0 …
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=35...61914&z=14&m=b …
Mass destruction in #Aleppo's suburbs by #Russia'n airstrikes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrGpPTcgzHY …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DU8lGmBu3KI …
Russia'n airstrikes on Tel Rifat paved kurdish #YPG way to annex arab city from #FSA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isgL6XcuA9c …
Smoke from regime violating the Cessation of Hostilities during Friday prayers in Khan alSheih #Damascus countryside
Regime violating the truce with airstrikes in eastern #Ghouta Sheifonyeh against the @SyriaCivilDef:
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?sto...d=420796315726 …
29 regime tanks destroyed by the Free Syrian Army in February
Syria, Deir Ezzor, Assad’s NDF and militias steal UN aids in Al Joura (controlled by regime)
https://yallasouriya.wordpress.com/2...lled-by-regime …
Acc to #SDF
Intl coalition starting to construct a 2nd air base in north #Syria, #Rojava.
Probably south #Kobani, close Lafarge cement plant
Zahra n'hood #Aleppo 2day, regular heavy machne gun&sniper fire frm across f'line bhind these buildings.
Footage
#YPG with interesting IFV on T-55 chassis in Eastern #Syria.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmgej2DzIqo …
Twitter Reports Massive Increase in Russian Government’s Content Removal Requests
https://globalvoices.org/2016/03/06/...oval-requests/ …
Don’t Fall for #Putin|’s Game Warn Europ. Officials-Kremlin strategy distracts the West w/#propaganda
http://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs...pean-officials …
Update
26 people were killed on the 8th day of the #SyriaCeasefire
- LCC
Russian satellite images show #ISIS preparing for massive offensive ...
http://bit.ly/1UJdygb
Over 6 medical facilities in #Aleppo bombed by #Russia/Regime in 12 weeks before #Hudna. #CoH must hold to end illegal attacks @amnesty
Assad artillery shelling started targeting the #Damascus suburb of #Douma a little while ago
Regrettably another residential building was blown up by Assad & #Hezbollah terrorists in Zabadani today.
Zenki showing their defense vs. #Hazara & Iranian invaders in W-Aleppo
https://youtu.be/B0RnylYdhwY
Intense Assad MLRS attack on the villages of al-Kinda & al-Ruwaisa in rural #Latakia over an hour ago. #Syria
On Orient TV last night FSA Ahmad al-Abdo Martyr Forces cmdr Col Bakour al-Salim claims al-Tanf border crossing is still under rebel control
Ahmad al-Abdo (operating in E. Qalamoun & badiya) aim to open route to E. Qalamoun, encircle ISIS & cut road bet. Bir al-Qasab towards Raqqa
Confirms that capturing al-Tanf crossing was a joint op. between Ahmad al-Abdo groups & NSA (locals from eastern area trained in Jordan)
ADF front reposts stmt from Nov ‘15 following the announcement of the formation of the New Syria Army (NSA)
ADF reiterating that NSA is a component of ADF which aims to liberate the eastern area first then other areas until regime is gone