#BREAKING: In Makhachkala, capital of Dagestan, FSB building (security services) is on fire, only 2 days after Grozny
pic.twitter.com/ugsrVpm6mY
Confirmation of Chechen Russian speakers in Syria and the Islamist fighting in Dagestan is getting tough.
This video purportedly proves that Russian speakers took part in the siege of Al Zahra and Nubl in Syria.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hBqT...ature=youtu.be …
FSB Building is burning in Makhachkala /Dagestan (in Russian)
http://russian.rt.com/article/62986
pic.twitter.com/cOfaSOfhwG
Last edited by OUTLAW 09; 12-05-2014 at 03:13 PM.
#BREAKING: In Makhachkala, capital of Dagestan, FSB building (security services) is on fire, only 2 days after Grozny
pic.twitter.com/ugsrVpm6mY
#BREAKING Vilayat Dagestan,a Jihadist group based in the Russian republic of #Dagestan claims responsibility for FSB fire in Makhachkala.Originally Posted by OUTLAW 09
Reportedly conflict w/rebels in #Chechnya is ongoing: Russian authorities use heavy artillery/helicopters in Shali.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-Sqf3LZB6E&app=desktop …
ISW @TheStudyofWar
ISW's ISIS Sanctuary Map (that you see everywhere) just got updated. Find it here and RT.
http://iswiraq.blogspot.com/2014/12/...r-5-2014.html?
pic.twitter.com/XoQlrzV4YT
Just wrote an article about whether the militias in Iraq will be able to be successfully integrated within the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF). Iraq faced a similar dilemma in 2005 when Badr took over the Interior Ministry and police commandos that became the National Police and were carried out mass arrests, sectarian attacks, ran secret prisons, etc. Only through several retraining and vetting programs by the U.S. along with a committed Interior Minister and a new commander of the National Police was the force finally cleared out and became loyal to the government rather than Badr. Now the situation is much different with the major outside power Iran pushing militias to the fore and Interior once again run by Badr. Read more here.
^^Oh, what a surprise....
With Iranian Army - repeat: regular Islamic Republic of Iran Army (i.e. 'not only the IRGC', which has at least four brigades, or an appropriate equivalent of corresponding assets) - now operating its 23rd Takawar (Commando) Brigade inside Iraq, the IRIAF F-4Es and Su-24MKs flying dozens of air strikes, and the 'gentlemen' of... was it the 5th SOG or 10th SOG?... cooperating with them in regards of FAC-ops....
....the West de-facto depends on Iran to 'save us' from the Daesh in Iraq.
Guess, it's logical to expect the Iranians to let Washington vet future Iranian diplomatic representatives in Baghdad too.
Finished off my Understanding Anbar series with the perspective of several Iraqi generals who were interviewed by the US Marine Corps in 09. All served under Saddam and some got jobs post-03 as well with new ISF. Their description of Anbar after the U.S. invasion parallels today's situation. U.S. made mistake after mistake that alienated the population and helped lead to the insurgency. Then Al Qaeda in Iraq abused Iraqis and Anbar decided to turn against them eventually with the Awakening. Similar to Maliki turning people against Baghdad, and now Islamic State carrying out many of the same tactics like executions and abductions of Iraqis that is turning tribes against them. Read more here.
Just published my security report for Iraq Dec 1-7. Attacks and casualties remained at low level showing that insurgency is regrouping. Only in Anbar is IS on the offensive still. Also has freedom of movement in Salahaddin. Otherwise IS has drastically cut back its operations across the rest of the country. Read more here.
#Analysis #Map
Final evidence, the #IslamicState is 600 meters away from #Assad-regime held #Deir_Ezzor #airport.
pic.twitter.com/67XBOPWJ9U
The US military just released videos of a strike against an ISIS electronic warfare unit in Syria. http://read.bi/1ulFzcB
USAF & allies make an awkward choice: ISI or Iran
No surprises here, but a very clear commentary on Iran's expanding influence if not power in Iraq. Here is one passage:Link:http://www.thetower.org/article/how-...ublic-of-iran/...this (air) campaign is quite obviously meant to help the main ground forces currently fighting the I.S.—namely, the Iraqi government and Shia militias in Iraq—in the hopes that the Islamic State may be defeated through their combined efforts.
(Near the end) Nor does the eventual creation, or attempt to create, an Iranian sphere of influence across the Middle East bode well for American or Western interests.
davidbfpo
A long article in The Guardian, based on an interview with an ISIS veteran and entitled 'Isis: the inside story'. Some content is new IIRC.
Link:http://www.theguardian.com/world/201...e-inside-story
Cross-posted on the wider thread on detention in COIN.
davidbfpo
ISIS: The Inside Story
ISIS: The Inside Story
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Now the IS ground strategy is becoming clearer---by spreading the fighting over two countries IS has forced Iran to spread their support forces for Assad as well across two countries--Hezbollah is spread thin---the Iraqi Shia militias pulled back from Syria to defend Iraq etc.
Assad has no more manpower coming from other sources.
Then this today:
This is the second time in 3 days, Syrian rebels use the TOW vs. Northern Daraa.
Notice, #Assad troops have no reserves to fight back
there was some indications that the US had cut back on the supplying of TOWs based on the analyze of TOW videos being released--the number of videos actually did drop which would have indicated a short supply.
But then TOW videos started up again---maybe the resupply was simply a problem and not a foreign policy shift again by this administration.
Obama’s Strategy for Defeating ISIS is the Only Viable Option. It Can Work.
Obama’s Strategy for Defeating ISIS is the Only Viable Option. It Can Work.
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Fight ISIS? You're Kidding, Why?
Fight ISIS? You're Kidding, Why?
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Who said Assad has manpower - or might be in need of the same?
The IRGC-QF needed just few months to reorganize, recruit and train new units and send them to Syria.
The SF ('Southern Front' insurgents) in Dera'a can keep on posting flashy videos of their TOW deployments around Sheikh Miskin, but the fact is that their brethren in northern Syria (SRF) was overrun by the JAN, and whatever is left of the Free Syrian Army and the Islamic Front (IF) is in the process of getting overrun or at least encircled and besieged in Aleppo.
And that by IRGC-forces now led by Maj Gen Hamedani (ex CO IRGC's Basiji Corps and creator of the 'National Defence Force' in Syria).
Thus, again: who said Assad needs manpower? The IRGC surely has plenty of it in reserve... If nothing else, there are still enough Palestinians, Afghan Hazaras, or whoever else is next on their 'to recruit' list... (for details, see my last four posts in 'Syria...' thread).
Just wrote a piece on Iranian airpower in Iraq. November an Iranian F-4 jet was filmed flying missions over Diyala. Iranian jets have probably been flying missions in Iraq since July. Iraqi pilot said Iranians were regularly flying jets prop planes and helicopters for the Iraqi air force. Read more here.
And then just why is the Assad army losing slowly more and more ground?
You seem to be in a contradiction.
Groups involved in the Wadi al Dayf Offensive:
Jabhat Al Nusra
Ahrar Al Sham
Jund Al Aqsa
Division 13
Liwa Fursan Al Haqq
Faylaq Al Sham
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