Syria in 2015

[OUTLAW 09]

First comment on this--unconfirmed---

Not only #Russia sending military vehicles, now Chinese BAW ‘Yongshi’ (Warrior) jeeps arriving in #Syria:
Bit far from the “Silk Road”?????

[OUTLAW 09]

RuAF and Regime artillery pounding KafrZita, al-Habit and Latmin villages northern #Hama.
https://youtu.be/j34E4o4VHfc
https://youtu.be/gwTqNcnD9r8

Syria #Hama Movements of #Assad-forces in Al Mughayr when tried to storm Kafr Nabudah https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pf4EH3U439c …

Syria #Hama Reports: Failed #Russia'n airborne ops- helicopter landed on Tell Sukayk -16 captured
-not confirmed- http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=35...89372&z=16&m=b …

Syria #Hama Rebels shelling #Assad-forces in Maan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kur7DIqG3OM …
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=35...97247&z=14&m=b …

#Syria #Hama Rebels defeated #Assad-forces from Atshan & nearby Tell Sukayk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qltEqfor1kw …
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=35...03384&z=15&m=b …

[OUTLAW 09]

BREAKING Russian airstrike destroys the HQ of the 13th Division (FSA) responsible for launching multiple anti-tank (TOW) missile attacks

Syria #Russia'n propaganda at its best: "Destroyed HQ of Liwa al-Haqq & killed 200 gunmen"
"also killed 100 more by airstrikes in #Aleppo"

[OUTLAW 09]

Crow Bat--anything to this comment???

#Syria Regime withdraw dozens of military vehicles from the area around #Zabadani toward the city of #Damascus
-unknown reasons-

[OUTLAW 09]

Syria #Russia'n SU-30? in sky of northern #Hama
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HkXpJOEC4Y …
seems SU-34

#Hama #Russia'n gunship shot S-5/8 rockets on Kafr Nabudah
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uC27W33VUxQ …

Russia'n reconnaissance aircraft above northern #Hama
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8WsMHbLtPk …

Hama Seems TOW missed rocket launcher target
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7iKhedEjg4 …

[CrowBat]

Crow Bat--anything to this comment???

#Syria Regime withdraw dozens of military vehicles from the area around #Zabadani toward the city of #Damascus
-unknown reasons-

Not really. Too many things to follow at once from other battlefields in Syria.

The last I've heard from this area is that there were no regime forces there - IRGC and Hezbollah only - and that the IRGC negotiated a cease-fire with local insurgents (Kataib Madaya, Jaysh Thuwar and Qalamoun Hawks Brigade, all FSyA), because these are sitting on major water source for Damascus in ar-Rawda (few kilometres west of Zabadani). That was about one week ago.

[CrowBat]

Normally under Russian doctrine the current pocket there should have been "deep attacked" with two enveloping flanking movements to close the pocket--but instead almost head on attacks so what is coming from the flanks--suspect Russia is leery due to assuming the FSA is getting US intel feeds of Russian movements.

That attack on Kfar Zita area (on 7 October) was launched simultaneously along three prongs:

- on east and western side of Kfar Naboudah (west of Kfar Zita)
- on south and eastern side of Latameah (south of Kfar Zita)
- on western side of Moarek in direction of village named Latmeen.

Means: insurgents were exposed to simultaneous attack at the 'pocket' of Latameah, and flanking attacks too.

It 'didn't work because Russian air strikes and preparatory barrage by regime/Russian artillery was ineffective, and their planning (run by a Russian officer, at least according to one of captured NDF officers) was overoptimistic.

Namely, instead of turning around and running away on the sight of about 30 T-62s, T-72s and additional BMP-1s advancing on them, insurgents returned fire with TOWs. They say they knocked out 18 of armoured vehicles and captured 4. Videos and photos confirm 8 kills and 1 captured. Regime confirmed a loss of 9 armoured vehicles and 33 KIA (plus one Mi-25 shot down over Kfar Naboudah with the loss of its pilot). Insurgents lost three KIA (all three from IF's infantry).

Unsurprisingly, this clash is now known as something like 'Slaughter of Assadist tanks'.

Yesterday, the regime attempted another attack from Moarek in northern direction, attempting to combine a heliborne landing of 'commandos' at Tel Sukayk (behind insurgent lines) with another armour push toward north (that was a sort of 'frontal' attack). Heliborne landing took the insurgents by surprise, but subsequently they encircled commandos and captured 16 of them. A TOW team from the 13 Division FSyA then outflanked regime's armour and knocked out four T-72s bunched together behind few farm-houses (and that from 3.6km/2 miles range), scattering the NDF.

Learning from such failures, the much larger Russian-controlled NDF offensive on Ghab Plain, launched on 8 October, is a much more cautious operation. It is primarily run by infantry with plentiful air- and artillery support. That's the probable reason it didn't fail by now.

Nevertheless, advance is extremely slow, enabling insurgents to bring in reinforcements and recapture few of villages and tactically important positions they have lost earlier. Plus, regime is lying about securing of certain objectives - as seen from videos of additional TOW attacks, launched from places regime claimed as 'captured'...

[CrowBat]

Russians seem to have flown in an additional batch of Sukhois via Caspian Sea, Iran and Iraq to Syria, the last night.

Flightradar24 showed a corresponding track for Tu-154 RA-85563 - similar to that when such an aircraft led a formation of Su-34s to Syria, slightly less than two weeks ago. This morning, that flight was deleted.

That said, two days ago a 13th Russian Su-24M was observed at Bassel al-Assad IAP/Hmeemmem AB, near Lattakiya. Since sat photos from late September were showing presence of 12 Su-24s, this would indicate they've had already flown-in another batch sometimes in early October.

[OUTLAW 09]

Russians seem to have flown in an additional batch of Sukhois via Caspian Sea, Iran and Iraq to Syria, the last night.

Flightradar24 showed a corresponding track for Tu-154 RA-85563 - similar to that when such an aircraft led a formation of Su-34s to Syria, slightly less than two weeks ago. This morning, that flight was deleted.

That said, two days ago a 13th Russian Su-24M was observed at Bassel al-Assad IAP/Hmeemmem AB, near Lattakiya. Since sat photos from late September were showing presence of 12 Su-24s, this would indicate they've had already flown-in another batch sometimes in early October.

Iran/Russia intell sharing. Mohajer 4 drone flying alongside #RuAF Su-34. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8WsMHbLtPk …
NOTE--the SU-34 is a net centric aircraft able to share data with a number of sources.

BTW--the initial 33 aircraft is far to few to actually do close air support via Russian doctrine and at the same time cover the entire Syrian battlespace.

This confirms that the RuAf has realized they need more aircraft--but then that represents more aircraft to shot at--so they are in a kind of Catch 22 event.

[OUTLAW 09]

Syria week of unconfirmed(false?) news. Pro-rebels claim 3 helo, 2 RuAF Su-24Ms downed, 8 Russians soldiers + 16 VDV captured, 4 killed.

Iraq 6 months b/w Chinese CH-4B armed drone's delivery to Iraq & first public appearance.

[OUTLAW 09]

Wounded civilians in RuAF attack on Kafernabel #Idlib today.

Nearest #ISIL existence in 100 km east & nearest #FSA front is 50 km south. Make no mistake, this is systematic terror bombing nothing more.


Assad forces pounding Salma village in rural #Latkia with rocket artillery.
https://youtu.be/cwo9S21L5Ac

As-Sham Front fighters in al-Hakoura front in #Ghab plain.
https://youtu.be/xkE2jpXdHt4

Regime 23 mm antiaircraft gun on fire destroyed by #FSA near al-Mghayer northern #Hama.

Rebels blow regime position in Myasir #Aleppo with home made Saqr IRAM short-range rocket.
https://youtu.be/bV0yexESFno
https://youtu.be/zykbf7Uizxk

More IS propaganda--turned out to be a junk yard of old cars in their photo---
ISIL claim destroyed #FSA convoy northern #Aleppo! This looks junk yard to me..

Another #TOW #ATGM by Division 101
https://youtu.be/UYJUN0Rbdrw

Rebels say they took Tall al-Quba' (UN) the highest regime and hezbollah position northern #Qunitera.

The rebels formed a new coalition Jaish al-Sham @sham__army combining members of Ahrar al-Sham & army defectors.

3 Assad tanks reportedly killed so far by the FSA today at al-Moughair, Um Hartain near Ma’an & Kafrnaboudeh. #Hama #Syria

[OUTLAW 09]

Russian MoD in total rejection of reality: "active ISIS groups is registered all over the territory of the Syr.Ar.Rep at the present time".

Thus, #Russia could attack "55 ISIS objects" in the last 24 hours in "Raqqah, Hamah, Damascus and Aleppo" & "Idlib".

[OUTLAW 09]

First confirmation of Russian mercenaries fighting in Syria---same model used as in eastern Ukraine--"per contract"
Russian troops of Central Asian origin (plenty seen in Ukr.) or Afghan mercs with brand new Russian gear in #Syria? pic.twitter.com/Kv8y8FsISC

New Photos released by #SAA #SyrianArabArmy #SyrianArmy Tiger Force Soldier's. pic.twitter.com/bXc1GTiY0h

What Russian operating systems are in action in Syria? It's a big list. Take a look. pic.twitter.com/JWNZSeKdz9

VIDEO #Russia(n) Krasukha-4 electronic warfare system in #Syria
https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=6&v=YQtsEvAYBWk …
pic.twitter.com/iMS056Ljqz

Russia : Great video showcasing the 'perfection' and accuracy of #Putin 's weapon systems https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELz8...ature=youtu.be …
IN Arabic----

Syria: the First Coastal Division (#FSA) has deployed tanks in #Latakia to repel the regime https://youtu.be/6sKzFkPpBDc

[CrowBat]

...and now to make an end with all the idiotic claims about Chinese deployment (especially those about 'Chinese aircraft carrier') to Syria, here a statement from official source in Beijing:

Hua Chunying, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, said on October 8, 2015 that she has not got any information about the Chinese Air Force's possible involvement in the air strike against "ISIS" in Syria.

While Russia is launching military intervention against Syria, many media, mainly the Israeli media, have published a series of sensational reports: China is preparing for military intervention in the armed conflicts.

Apparently none of these reports is based on hard facts. Russia's news agency Sputnik published an article by Kashin, expert with Russia's Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies in this regard on October 9.

These sensational reports often mention China's aircraft carrier "Liaoning" which seems to be moving towards the Syrian coast and is ready to use its own J-15 warplane there. The report by Debka, an Israeli media, is the most incredible. It said that China's aircraft carrier "Liaoning" has arrived at the Syrian coast (or entered Russia's "Tartous" Base), and that the carrier-borne aircrafts will assist Russia in the air strikes against "ISIS".

Such rumors collapse automatically. A spokesperson of China's Ministry of National Defense has said that aircraft carrier "Liaoning" is basically an experimental and training ship. As it is China's only aircraft carrier, any movement of it will draw the close attention of all major military powers and many media.

Aircraft carrier "Liaoning" has to cross the Indian Ocean and the Suez Canal in order to enter the so-called "battlefield" -- this fact itself is a piece of sensational news. "Liaoning" ship needs to be accompanied by destroyers, frigates and depot ships. But no one has seen these happening so far.

Many other media, such as a Lebanese media called Al Masdar, made more "detailed" reports. It said that China will send military advisers and technical personnel to Syria, and also quoted an Syrian insider as saying that the Chinese will arrive "in the next few weeks". However, there is no solid evidence in this regard either.

Perhaps the Syrian crisis will still last for a long time, and we have no idea when China will decide to intervene. It is completely possible that China's cautiousness will help it choose a more successful moment for its appearance on the world stage as a leader.

[OUTLAW 09]

Syria week of unconfirmed(false?) news. Pro-rebels claim 3 helo, 2 RuAF Su-24Ms downed, 8 Russians soldiers + 16 VDV captured, 4 killed.

Iraq 6 months b/w Chinese CH-4B armed drone's delivery to Iraq & first public appearance.

First official footages of Iraqi CH-4B UAV http://aerohisto.blogspot.com/2015/1....html?spref=tw …

[OUTLAW 09]

Voices in Damascus telling me public presence of Russian military quite visible. Officers Club full of Russian officers located next to MOD.

Told Russian military presence - troops, advisers, technicians, logistics - over 3000. #Assad asked for "as many as possible." More to come.

Russia, Assad, Iran & proxies working "to get rid of all the Opp. What wld be left is Assad/Daesh. "Leave no room to negotiate with anyone."

Video: @masoudtarek on "The Arab Spring: Pathways of Repression and Reform" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2PFzCjOd-w …

Really worth listening to----
Video: @masoudtarek on "The Arab Spring: Pathways of Repression and Reform" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2PFzCjOd-w …

[OUTLAW 09]

http://www.unian.info/world/1149058-...-airspace.html

Russian jet shot down by Turkey after it flew into its airspace

10.10.2015 | 19:04

A Russian jet has been shot down by Turkish forces after it flew into the country's airspace, according to as yet unconfirmed reports circulating on social media, the Daily Express has reported.

Eyewitnesses saw a large explosion in Huraytan, northern Syria, while three fighter jets were hovering above.

One journalist tweeted that three Turkish planes were responding to "mysterious" lock-ons from Mig-29 jets, which are used by Putin's forces.

Express.co.uk has contacted the Turkish government and the Russian military but neither could be reached for comment.

It comes amid heightening tensions between Putin and the West just days after another Russian bomber violated Turkish airspace.

F-16 fighters were scrambled after a MIG-29 twin-engined jet locked radar on Turkish planes near the town of Yayladagi, in Hatay province close to the border with Syria.

Turkish jets then escorted the Soviet-era aircraft back into Syrian airspace.

[OUTLAW 09]

Russia government not used to open source investigation says @EliotHiggins "this means they can't lie & get away with it anymore"

Footage
#FSA TOW vs. regime bolldozer in #Latakia prov.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZTiW5ram6s …
Probably a Kamaz left of it ... pic.twitter.com/HcLssZlEvQ

Footage
Multiple artillery (or MLRS) rounds hit #Salma in #Latakia province.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ftcWF0CPcM …
pic.twitter.com/H8Gu8MdIbc

VIDEO #Syria rebels fire SPG-9 gun destroying an #Assad forces position #Hindarat #Allepo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7CaQJTN0xk … pic.twitter.com/WcygUSjrC4

Vid: Russian helos flying at low altitude firing 10s of rockets at rebels in Ghab Plain in #Hama (Jorin to Mansoura) http://youtu.be/UU_yrPTh15Q

Unexploded Russian BM-30 Smerch rocket found in northern #Hama.

The rebels formed a new coalition Jaish al-Sham @sham__army combining members of Ahrar al-Sham & army defectors.
After much preparation, Jaish al-Sham forms in N. #Syria mainly to fight #ISIS. Led by @TalalBazrbashi & @abuabbas5

Idlib 6 civilians including women and children killed by regime airstrikes targeting the town of Tamanaa

Unconfirmed reports that rebels were able to shoot down one of the Russian helicopters with AA fire near Mansoura in the Ghab Plain, #Hama

[OUTLAW 09]

Putin-#Russia will fight for right of #Palestinians to their own state

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/wo...-10141902.html … pic.twitter.com/7uZHnjrcgL

[OUTLAW 09]

Eliot Higgins ‏@EliotHiggins
Russia Today is turning into the crazy ex-girlfriend of the MSM.

Russian RT reported that JN had executed local civilians because of their hands being tied----
RT report from Bahsa in Al Ghab. No indication of executed civilians. Hands tied in preparation for burial.

Russian AF chief: “Not a single civilian facility has been hit by our aviation in Syria.” http://bit.ly/1GBUOp7 Another airpower miracle.