Iraq: Out of the desert into Mosul (closed)

[OUTLAW 09]

#Analysis #Map
Final evidence, the #IslamicState is 600 meters away from #Assad-regime held #Deir_Ezzor #airport.

pic.twitter.com/67XBOPWJ9U

[OUTLAW 09]

The US military just released videos of a strike against an ISIS electronic warfare unit in Syria. http://read.bi/1ulFzcB

[davidbfpo]

No surprises here, but a very clear commentary on Iran's expanding influence if not power in Iraq. Here is one passage:

...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.

Link:http://www.thetower.org/article/how-...ublic-of-iran/

[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.

[OUTLAW 09]

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.

[CrowBat]

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).

[JWing]

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.

[OUTLAW 09]

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).

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