Iraq: Out of the desert into Mosul (closed)

[OUTLAW 09]

OK, let me 'draw' it:

- You wrote, 'Assad AF and the US AF are both flying their own drones in the same air space these days'...

- I asked: 'Syrians flying their UAVs over ar-Raqqa?'

Namely, what can be seen on the photos provided on the link you posted is:

- a) what looks like Predator (and if it is one, it's either US- or Turkish-operated), and
- b) one of two SyAAF Su-24s that flew the strike on Ghariba.

I.e. no 'Assad AF...own drones'.

Furthermore, meanwhile I've checked with few of my contacts 'close' to the SyAAF, and they don't have any kind of UAVs that could reach the area.

On the contrary, in the course of one of relevant e-mail exchanges, one of messages that ended on my PC contained an observation the essence of which was something like (I'm just citing here), '...stupid....[specific representative of the regime in Damascus]... is wasting resources necessary for supporting troops elsewhere for flying "airshow for Americans"...'

EDIT
Meanwhile I've checked with my Iranian sources (the quality of the same can be assessed with help of articles like this one), and it turned they're not flying UAVs over ar-Raqqa either.

So, sorry, but I remain a little bit confused: what kind of UAVs is 'Assad AF' flying there...?

CrowBat---then let's restate your comments for clarity?

1. you have deep experience and can tell the difference between a Pred and and Reaper at say 3500 ft?

2. why would Turkey be flying anything over Syria---not the northern Kurdish portion and northern Iraq--and since they supported IS then fly one at all?-explain that one to us

3. and your Iranian "contacts" are willing to tell you 1) they do not own drones capable of this and or 2) did they not several months ago claim to a have reengineered the R180 and are flying it?--which is it?

4. your Assad AF contacts are what "willing to state on record they do not neither own drones nor use drones-what about the series the Russian recently supplied to them?---that is like claiming we the Assad AF do not drop "barrel bombs" or bomb civilian positions to you not think---so what is it?

Not wanting to rain on your parade of excellent "sources"---these photos were in fact posted to the blog sphere and roughly six individuals who look at such air identification phootos came to the same conclusion--- and in fact your claimed SU24 you hang on is in fact a Iranian drone and yes they fly them over Syria and currently Iraq as well if my "sources" are correct.

Or are you telling us there are no Iranian "contractors" or militia or Quds fighting either in Syria and or Iraq?

Come on CB

[OUTLAW 09]

CB---concerning Iranian drones not capable of the distance you claim they cannot do---what keeps them from being launched inside Syria?

And are these two Iranian long range UAVs simply non existent and the Iranians are what lying?


In his news conference on Sunday, IRGC Commander Maj. Gen. Mohammad Ali “Aziz” Jafari told reporters that Iran has produced a new generation of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), named ‘Shahed 129’ capable of 24-hour non-stop flight.

“Shahed 129, which can carry out combat and reconnaissance missions with its 24-hour nonstop flight capability, is IRGC’s latest achievement in this field,” Gen. Jafari said.

IRGC commander added that Shahed 129 is armed with Sadid missiles that can hit “long-distance” targets. (ISNA, 17 September)

In August 2010, Iran unveiled domestically manufactured long-range Karrar Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV). Karrar is a 4-meter long Jet-powered drone reportedly capable of delivering a military payload on bombing missions against ground targets, with a 1,000 KM range and a maximum speed of approximately 1000 kph. The specifications of the new Shahed 129 and its differences with Karrar have not been made public.

[OUTLAW 09]

CB--you need to learn to doubt your "sources" inside the SAF. They should have known this.

New screenshots coming from Syria give a better view of the Shahed 129 spotted over Damascus on Apr. 10.

And it is not what "flying" inside Syria---come on CB

Noteworthy, such photos show that the version used by the Syrian Armed Forces of the made-in-Iran UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle), is sensibly different by the one unveiled in September 2013 in Tehran.

[CrowBat]

In order of appearance...

1. you have deep experience and can tell the difference between a Pred and and Reaper at say 3500 ft?

Nope.

But then: I never said I can. On the contrary, I only want to know what kind of 'Assad AF UAVs' can you tell us are flown around ar-Raqqa?

Wherever I asked, there is no trace of anybody there - whether the SyAAF or the IRGC-QF - doing so. And, although you said this is the case, it seems you can't either.

That said, this doesn't mean that neither has UAVs. On the contrary, the IRGC-QF has deployed 'even' its Shahed-129s in Syria. It's just not flying them over ar-Raqqa.

2. why would Turkey be flying anything over Syria---not the northern Kurdish portion and northern Iraq--and since they supported IS then fly one at all?-explain that one to us

This is actually two questions, so you'll get even two replies (and, since it seems you've got a major problem with understanding what I write, I'll draw it if necessary):

a, which is my answer to your second question) Turkey is not supporting the IS; and

b, which is my answer to your first question) because Turkey has a small garrison of about 20 troops protecting a memorial for Suleiman Shah. This is an area inside Syria, about one square kilometre of soil declared as Turkish.

The ISIS is threatening to overrun this place since early this year, and the THK is not only flying UAVs over this area, but its F-16s have destroyed several ISIS vehicles there. For details, see reports like this one: Turkey threatens retaliation if historic Syria tomb attacked.

3. and your Iranian "contacts" are willing to tell you 1) they do not own drones capable of this and or 2) did they not several months ago claim to a have reengineered the R180 and are flying it?--which is it?

1.) Yup, they don't see any special problem about getting quite frank.
2.) This is not something claimed by 'my' Iranian sources, but by specific talking-heads and wannabes in Tehran.

Sorry, I'm not of sensationalist sort, so you'll not find any corresponding article of mine.

4. your Assad AF contacts are what "willing to state on record they do not neither own drones nor use drones-what about the series the Russian recently supplied to them?---that is like claiming we the Assad AF do not drop "barrel bombs" or bomb civilian positions to you not think---so what is it?

The latter is bull ####.

And regarding the former:
a) They didn't say that, and
b) I didn't ask them about that. But, again: they said they're not running any kind of UAV ops over ar-Raqqa.

EDIT
...just like at earlier times, they've provided transcriptions of original orders issued by the Ba'ath Party HQ in Damascus, for specific SyAAF units to strike civilian population in specific places.

So, now you can go on complaining they're admitting attacks on civilians, and whatever else, but are just as beasty as to refuse admitting the sensationalist idea of the SyAAF operating UAVs next to US ones over ar-Raqqa.

Works fine with me. ;P

Not wanting to rain on your parade of excellent "sources"---these photos were in fact posted to the blog sphere and roughly six individuals who look at such air identification phootos came to the same conclusion--- and in fact your claimed SU24 you hang on is in fact a Iranian drone and yes they fly them over Syria and currently Iraq as well if my "sources" are correct.

You can attempt to belittle me as much as you like.

Simple fact is that you refuse to understand that you've babbled nonsense when stating 'Assad AF...UAVs' being run parallel to US (or whatever) UAV ops over ar-Raqqa.

Now, I'm following this war since more than three years and in all of that time I haven't heard about any kind of SyAAF UAV ops over ar-Raqqa. Thus, your commentary about 'Assad AF...UAVs' took me by surprise and I asked what is the basis for it. I've checked this, and there are no 'Assad AF...UAVs' where you said there are (obviously, basing your statement on that Twitter link).

Sorry if it turns that it's your own mistake that caused this misunderstanding, and that you're now attempting to act as if you didn't cause this.

Or are you telling us there are no Iranian "contractors" or militia or Quds fighting either in Syria and or Iraq?

Come on - yourself. Where did I say anything of that kind?

BTW, when it comes to IRGC-QF, you're wrong again: it's neither 'contractors' nor 'militia'. It's regular IRGC-QF personnel. Most are from 8th Armoured Najaf Division, there is a battalion of IRGC's SFs too, and then quite a few others. Let me know if you would like to hear details. And if you're too shy to ask, wait for slightly over a month longer, then grab yourself a copy of Syrian Conflagration. Everything is nicely listed there.

CB---concerning Iranian drones not capable of the distance you claim they cannot do...

Bull #### again. I nowhere said 'they're not capable'.

I said: not operated over that part of Syria.

---what keeps them from being launched inside Syria?

Where did I say that?

And are these two Iranian long range UAVs simply non existent and the Iranians are what lying?

Where did I say they're non-existent?

But since you asked: the Shahed Aerospace Shahed-129 is presently one of most successful Iranian UAV projects (together with the shorter-ranged Shahed-123, which is an even bigger success, with at least 274 pressed into service so far), that's sure. But, indeed, Jafari is lying about the UCAV capability of the Shahed-129: they were planned to get armament in form of Sadid missiles, but the company proved unable to realize this project - for lack of necessary technology.

And Karrar is (presently) just a PR-project.

CB--you need to learn to doubt your "sources" inside the SAF. They should have known this.

You only need to learn to answer questions.

For example: what kind of evidence can you provide for your 'Assad AF...UAVs' being operated 'along' whatever other kind of UAVs over ar-Raqqa?

New screenshots coming from Syria give a better view of the Shahed 129 spotted over Damascus on Apr. 10.

Did I ever say Shahed-129s were not deployed in Syria?

So, now, 'come on Outlaw': what kind of 'Assad AF UAVs' can you show us as operated over ar-Raqqa?

Anyway, I would like to express my gratitude to you in this place: experiences of this kind with you make me start to understand (and appreciate) the meaning of 'knowledge is power'.

[OUTLAW 09]

CB--then I would appreciate your answers to the following--if you are up to it?

Did I ever say Shahed-129s were not deployed in Syria?

No--but you did state did you not that Iranian drones did not have the range---come on my friend 1700kms is not enough?

Since you are so tight with your Syrian AF "sources"-why not answer for us the following--Syrian AF using chemical bombs--yes or no?

I can help you if you want to see the link before you answer--your answer will be interesting.

Now answer those questions my friend.

[OUTLAW 09]

For those that want to see what weapons are making it into the Syria opposition here is a whole series of videos from a YouTube link.

https://www.youtube.com/user/as3addaraa/videos

This link is for CB as well --so you CB can get more informed about the opposition as you are about Assad and the Iranians.

[OUTLAW 09]

CB--in your rant about your deep contacts to Iran and the Syria AF---you failed to respond did you not to my question---what can your provide to us from your Syrian AF or Iranian contacts about improvised chemical bombs being dropped on Syrian civilians?

Here is a link that is easy for you to read.

https://bellingcat.com/news/mena/201...ian-air-force/

[CrowBat]

CB--then I would appreciate your answers to the following--if you are up to it?

I'm all your's, hon.

Did I ever say Shahed-129s were not deployed in Syria?

No--but you did state did you not that Iranian drones did not have the range---come on my friend 1700kms is not enough?

You're either completely confused and mixing two different of my statements, or simply have immense problems of comprehending what you read.

I said:

a) contacts 'close' to SyAAF say they don't have any kind of UAVs that could reach the area, and

b) Iranian sources say they're not flying UAVs over ar-Raqqa.

That's implying anything else BUT what you manufactured out of my statements, namely that I should've said 'the IRGC didn't deploy UAVs to Syria' or 'Iranian UAVs in Syria lack the range to reach ar-Raqqa' etc.

Since you are so tight with your Syrian AF "sources"-why not answer for us the following--Syrian AF using chemical bombs--yes or no?

Officially, it's SyAAF, standing for Syrian (and) Arab Air Force.

And yes, back in 2013 they did fly several attacks (think the total was about 7-8) with chemical weapons. Don't have any details for this year, because I was preoccupied with various publishing projects (including the one mentioned above), but I'll get back to this topic next year and then find out, don't worry.

This link is for CB as well --so you CB can get more informed about the opposition as you are about Assad and the Iranians.

Thanks for all attention. I'm at least as well-informed about them as I am about any other party there.

Why do you ask: need any specific info?

CB--in your rant about your deep contacts to Iran and the Syria AF...

Why 'rant'?

If at all, then 'bragging'.

Yup, I'm guilty of having my contacts 'there', in certain corners of the world, and that since ages - which should be no secret for anybody who might have read such publications like this one and/or this one.

You have my most humble apology, but one can't prepare such publications without proper research, and decent research works only with help of contacts.

---you failed to respond did you not to my question---what can your provide to us from your Syrian AF or Iranian contacts about improvised chemical bombs being dropped on Syrian civilians?

No clue. Never asked them because there's ample evidence of this.

Did I make myself guilty of something now?