Syria in 2016 (January-March)

[felixraider]

russian military airbase Hmeymim in Syria (Latakia),imagery showing on 20 March

[CrowBat]

Crowbat & Outlaw09,

Slightly puzzled about the offensive to retake Palymra.

Approx. ten days ago you both IIRc posted that the desert highway between the regime's strongholds in the south and the offensive towards Homs was cut. I don't recall posts on that highway being secured. Presumably the regime secured the highway (from ISIS) and could attack Palmyra?

It was the highway to Aleppo that was cut, back in late February, and then again in early March.

The road - that is: there are actually two parallel roads there (one old and one new) - between Homs and Palmyra was never 'cut', and I do not recall any of us reporting it was: the area was rather 'threatened' by the Daesh advances in Qaraytan area, and few raids - but 'nothing serious'.

That said, south of Jubb al-Jarrah, the Daesh is still only 3-4km north of these roads.

[CrowBat]

Assad's army high ranking officers killed in #Palmyra so far:
2 Major General
3 General
2 Colonel
2 Major
Almost all from the Coast #Syria

[B]SAA Major General Ahmed Hamadeh from 134 brigade killed in #Palmyra battle

Regime has meanwhile published a list of 110 KIA from SAA/NDF alone.

Even if Assad/Russia kicks out IS in the end this is a really bad "victory".....

Victories are always 'bad' or 'good' depending on how well the victors use them for PR purposes.

Take Yemen as example: Saudi-led coalition is winning the last few months but they screwed up so much with their PR, nobody believes this any more.

In the case of Assadists, Iranians and Russians, we should have no doubt that they'll declare this a de-facto victory in war. Just wait for Col Botox.... erm... me again: Col Sohail Hassan to start posing in front of (what remains of) Palmyra's ruins.

[OUTLAW 09]

Dept of state statement on Geneva talks support HNC position of political transition without Assad in Syria.

[OUTLAW 09]

Clashes reported between rebels & YPG around Sheikh Maqsoud in #Aleppo

Assad MLRS attack targeting Morek in #Hama from Ma’ardis

Aftermath of the VBIED that targeted FSA Liwa Mutaz Billah HQ in Tafas, #Daraa earlier yesterday
http://youtu.be/5tWMq0fhdPI

Clashes between rebels & #ISIS on the outskirts of Jakka in north rural #Aleppo, #Syria

[OUTLAW 09]

Continuing to cover the Palmyra battle which is almost now like the fighting on the front line in eastern Ukraine........which is largely not being covered by MSM .......

Syria Unconfirmed report: #Assad-forces lost control of northern Amiriyah suburb of #Palmyra to #IS tonight
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=34...86409&z=15&m=b …

@PalmyraRev1
@markito0171 They controlled it in the daytime. And withdrew for the night. Developments changing moments

Syria #Assad forces took full control of #Palmyra after #IS retreated in night

16 dead #ISIS fighters were brought to #Albab 7 of them are not #Syrian. They were killed in #Palmyra.

Assad forces now control half of #Palmyra town

Syria #Palmyra Clashes at officers housing at road crossing to #DeirEzzor
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=34...01730&z=16&m=b …

[OUTLAW 09]

Continuing to cover the Palmyra battle which is almost now like the fighting on the front line in eastern Ukraine........which is largely not being covered by MSM .......

Syria Unconfirmed report: #Assad-forces lost control of northern Amiriyah suburb of #Palmyra to #IS tonight
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=34...86409&z=15&m=b …

@PalmyraRev1
@markito0171 They controlled it in the daytime. And withdrew for the night. Developments changing moments

Syria #Assad forces took full control of #Palmyra after #IS retreated in night

16 dead #ISIS fighters were brought to #Albab 7 of them are not #Syrian. They were killed in #Palmyra.

Syria #Palmyra Clashes at officers housing at road crossing to #DeirEzzor
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=34...01730&z=16&m=b …

Assad forces now control half of #Palmyra town

One has to be amazed that this particular social media activist is still active in the middle of this battle.........

Syria #Assad forces took full control of #Palmyra after #IS retreated in night

PalmyraRev1
The #SAA did not have control of the city as a whole. #ISIS control of 3 distrincts. And continuing clashes.
#Syria #Palmyra , Mar 27 ,9:30AM

Palmyra ::
27-3-2016 , 09:30 AM
النظام و روسيا و حزب الله لم يسيطروا حتى اللحظة بشكل كامل...
http://fb.me/866j1z6SJ

Syria Despite regime claim sound of fightings in #Palmyra this morning

Yallasouriya 4:24 am on March 27, 2016
#Syria, Homs E. rif – Tadmur – last update.

Today battle was the most fiercefull one despite the russian air attacks and regime militias pre-empted artillery shelling. Daesh should thwart attacks on 3 fronts ; south east, with the purporse to reach the airbase and from the west of the town at the security military branch 221 and from the north side the commission to the Badiya development.

Landmines planted by Daesh within the town districts hinder regime militias capacity to enter the town.

Area still controlled by Daesh : airport;
Area controlled by the regime : Al Amiriya, and some areas in the north.

Assad regime General Ali Rahmoun Asker killed in Tadmur

[OUTLAW 09]

Syrian (Arab & Kurdish #FSA) rebels & the #USAF attacked #ISIS-held #Jakkah for the 1st time together today.

A suspected #ISIS car bomb attack on the rebel hq in #Tafas killed 5 fighters and wounded more.
#Daraa #Syria

Beside fighting #ISIS in Palmyra, #Assad forces broke the truce in #TerMaela,#Talbisa, #Morek, #EastGhouta, #Yadouda ,#Daraa & more.

[OUTLAW 09]

Russian Naval Express......

The submarine rescue chamber on #ВМФ BSF #ЧФ Project 527M, Prut class rescue tug Epron

ВМФ Project 527M, Prut class rescue tug Epron (ex-MB26) was last on the Bosphorus 211days&19hours ago on August28th

ВМФ Project 527M, Prut class rescue tug Epron returns to Bosphorus from 6 months 27 days Indian Ocean deployment

[davidbfpo]

It was the highway to Aleppo that was cut, back in late February, and then again in early March.

The road - that is: there are actually two parallel roads there (one old and one new) - between Homs and Palmyra was never 'cut', and I do not recall any of us reporting it was: the area was rather 'threatened' by the Daesh advances in Qaraytan area, and few raids - but 'nothing serious'.

That said, south of Jubb al-Jarrah, the Daesh is still only 3-4km north of these roads.

My apologies, a late PM post without checking my facts. Yes, it was the highway to Aleppo I meant to ask about.

That said thank you both for your posts in response.

[OUTLAW 09]

Palmyra Update............................

From proAssad commenter......
Ivan Sidorenko ‏@IvanSidorenko1
#Syria #Palmyra #Tadmur #Tadmor #Homs Just been Told Media Banned from Entering Eastern Neighborhoods BC Suicide ISIS Fighters Still There

In Assad speak this means IS is still in control of those areas with IEDs and snipers as well as fighters....so they are "half owners of a town"......

Main target of central/eastern #Syria is to break #IS siege on #DeirEzzor
Fall of #Palmyra only 1.step on 160km way

REMEMBER this is what the proAssad commenters posted last night.....
Syria #Assad forces took full control of #Palmyra after #IS retreated in night

[OUTLAW 09]

IS shelling Ahras in northern #Aleppo -town under control of #YPG/#SDF
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=36...44260&z=14&m=b …

Great article by @ABarnardNYT that once again makes clear the disruptive role the #Assad regime plays in #Syria. http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/23/wo...=tw-share&_r=0 …

[OUTLAW 09]

Regime has meanwhile published a list of 110 KIA from SAA/NDF alone.

Victories are always 'bad' or 'good' depending on how well the victors use them for PR purposes.

Take Yemen as example: Saudi-led coalition is winning the last few months but they screwed up so much with their PR, nobody believes this any more.

In the case of Assadists, Iranians and Russians, we should have no doubt that they'll declare this a de-facto victory in war. Just wait for Col Botox.... erm... me again: Col Sohail Hassan to start posing in front of (what remains of) Palmyra's ruins.

CrowBat...referencing our Botox COL........

Suheil al-Hassan inspecting the row of bodies in #PT after the loyalists were done playing.
https://youtu.be/ojTdDLImujg

The wax statue of Suheil al-Hassan watches #Assad's loyalists decapitate enemies for trophies

[OUTLAW 09]

Palmyra #Map: #Assad forces advancing eastwards, captured Mustadira gas field, #Arak village and gas field. #Homs

The weakness of #SAA under #Assad never was more apparent than now. Sidelined by #Russia and #Iran. https://twitter.com/johnnybrav_/stat...18777986416640 …

[OUTLAW 09]

Palmyra Update..............

IS has completely withdrawn from Palmyra.....Assad/Hezballoh/IRGC now control the remaining ruins.....

تنسيقية مدينة تدمر
‏@PalmyraRev1
#هام #تدمر #Palmyra ::
العصابات الشيعية والروسية والإيرانية تسيطر الآن على المدينة بالكامل بعد انسحاب تنظيم داعش منها.

[OUTLAW 09]

For the 3rd time Touqli in north rural #Aleppo appears to have fallen to #ISIS again following fierce clashes with rebels. smh

[OUTLAW 09]

Palmyra Update..............

IS has completely withdrawn from Palmyra.....Assad/Hezballoh/IRGC now control the remaining ruins.....

تنسيقية مدينة تدمر
‏@PalmyraRev1
#هام #تدمر #Palmyra ::
العصابات الشيعية والروسية والإيرانية تسيطر الآن على المدينة بالكامل بعد انسحاب تنظيم داعش منها.

Russia Today claiming the #Palmyra victory for Putin, not unfairly - a huge propaganda win for Russia vs feeble West

[OUTLAW 09]

ISIS supporters blame the rebels so-called ceasefire for the fall of Palmyra.
You are enemies after all and surely they will not help you. Needless to remind you that ISIS went through long months of undeclared ceasefire with the regime during which both fought the rebels

Palmyra is liberated from a mass-murdering, head-chopping cult by another mass-murdering, head-chopping cult

#Syria, lattakia rif, a russian cargo plane transporting advanced tanks was targeted in Hmimim airbase/Basil airport in Jable. I have no confirmation from the LCC yet. But it seems Jaish Al Islam shelled the airbase.

Another Russian friendly fire incident.....
#‎Homs‬ ‪#‎Tadmour‬ Russian warplanes target a bus on Damascus-Deirezzor road near Tadmour city with 2 airstrikes; the first broke the bus windshield and led to material damages, and the second led to the martyrdom of one elderly man and several wounded in addition to destroying the bus.

Syria, Deir Ezzor, clashes between rebels and regime forces

#Syria, Deir Ezzor, clashes between the regime forces and Daesh in Al Senaa district

#Syria, Deir Ezzor, clashes between the regime forces and Daesh at ALjafra

#Syria, russians bomb and Daesh progresses
Russian jetfighters carried out air attacks on Mheen, Tadmur in Eastern Homs rif and on points captured by Daesh at the outskirts of Sadad in the southern rif. Meanwhile, Daesh announced to have captured points in Al Duwa after clashes with the regime foces at the west of Tadmur. Daesh…

Russian jetfighters carried out air attacks on Mheen, Tadmur in Eastern Homs rif and on points captured by Daesh at the outskirts of Sadad in the southern rif. Meanwhile, Daesh announced to have captured points in Al Duwa after clashes with the regime foces at the west of Tadmur. Daesh…

#Syria, Homs western rif, Daesh control the Mafraq barrier nearby Al Qaryatayn.

#Syria, Homs rif, regime forces in Qormos barrier target Al Hola with Shilka

[OUTLAW 09]

Russia Today claiming the #Palmyra victory for Putin, not unfairly - a huge propaganda win for Russia vs feeble West

BUT WAIT then Assad's SAA evidently cannot hold Palmyra......

Assad told Putin that Tadmur cannot be controleld wihout Russia help via @BassamJaara

[OUTLAW 09]

Palmyra Update..............

IS has completely withdrawn from Palmyra.....Assad/Hezballoh/IRGC now control the remaining ruins.....

تنسيقية مدينة تدمر
‏@PalmyraRev1
#هام #تدمر #Palmyra ::
العصابات الشيعية والروسية والإيرانية تسيطر الآن على المدينة بالكامل بعد انسحاب تنظيم داعش منها.

Typical IS battle tactic....they pulled back but are again attacking ........

Violent clashes are taking place between Daesh and both the regime forces and militias at another northern and northwest side of Tadmur, this following an attack Daesh launched against the regime forces and all staying behind the architectural site.