Exclusive #BreakingNews #Israel|i air-forces have carried out several airstrikes inside #Syria today..
EXCLUSIVE: In Iraq, Russian Gun With Iranian Ammo Found on US-Origin Tank.
http://www.defensenews.com/story/def...tank/73999398/
Exclusive #BreakingNews #Israel|i air-forces have carried out several airstrikes inside #Syria today..
Assd tanks using smoke to try to protect themselves from TOWs--do not realize they cannot "smoke" all day----
Assad-forces in the "fog of war" in northern #Homs battle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqSCJ4EpeJk
From battlefield in northern #Homs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psYGVLolhqQ
Aleppo #IS overtaken hill position near Industrial City- seems #Assad-forces abandon it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0wh_-n33V4
Hama: Syrian Rebels recaptured Tal Sukayk & Atshan after Russian blitz helped Assad regime capture those two areas
Local activists says Intl Coalition targeted a Jabhat al-Nusra car near Sarmada in #Idlib and killed 2 ppl.
Today Syrian Rebels in Ghouta & Quneitra ended up destroying a total of 5 Assad tanks
Let's just say Assad offensive didn't end well in north #Homs too.
http://youtu.be/wqSCJ4EpeJk
http://youtu.be/Ub53unflmJU
Nusra explosives expert explains how to dismantle Russian bombs & re-use them against regime's soldiers & armor http://youtu.be/7qY6Vm40kjo
al-Hadder hospital in south rural #Aleppo was targeted by Russian airstrikes today, several civilians inc medical staff amongst casualties
IMHO, we should pay special attention at this offensive from Aleppo in southern direction.
Namely, that first push into northern Hama and NE Lattakia might have not went very far. At least the capture of 6 villages in exchange for about 500 KIA - including nearly all of involved top commanders - was a hefty price for actually achieving nothing. There is only one arena in which it was successful: it drew at least 20 different insurgent formations in its direction (i.e. these were deployed to reinforce the frontlines in Hama, Lattakia and SW Idlib).
The simultaneous collapse of insurgent positions north of Aleppo, Daesh and regime advances in direction of Nubol-Zahra pocket (Shi'a enclave north-west of Aleppo) drew even more insurgents in that direction: they must protect their last major communication to Turkey.
Assault on Rastan-Talbiseh pocket was expected: insurgents there cannot be helped by other insurgents because they are cut off and isolated since nearly four years.
But, the size of this attack does signal the importance of the Homs-Hama-Aleppo highway for IRGC & Russian commanders of this 'Syrian' military (i.e. 'the regime').
In that relation: attack from Aleppo down that highway in southern direction comes unexpected but is perfectly logical. And the word is that this is undertaken by two IRGC brigades and Ba'ath Party militia. Means: something like 'the shock force' of the regime.
This is now imposing the following question: have insurgents still enough reserves - and enough coordination - to stop that advance too?
Last edited by CrowBat; 10-16-2015 at 08:12 AM.
CB--think they can as I am assuming from the MOM and MOC they are being at least given the necessary intel on Syrian/Russian round movements in order to counter---they are not worrying about air strikes as they have already out positioned their munition/arms depots because of the Russian moves. The reason I say this is that the first few days of high TOW hits it appeared to signal that they knew actually what was coming and where in order to pre position the TOW teams--in the last few days the rebels are "quiet with their TOWs" and using other ATM systems (MILAN and Russian) more or less as a defensive effort---but where did the TOW teams disappear to?
Think even the Russians are running out of air targets since it appears they have cut back on their GPS guided munitions.
The Syrian ground units have started using armored vehicle smoke trying to screen themselves from the ATMs---they do not realize the TOW teams have recorded hits on tanks using smoke and smoke on the move so it is not new to them--they have adjusted and simply move in their head two fingers ahead of the smoke and presto there is the armored vehicle.
Ah.....now we know where the TOW teams headed.........
Rebels destroyed 3 tanks, 1 technical 23mm gun & 1 rocket launcher in regime offensive in southern #Aleppo countryside this morning
What is interesting was a small comment two days ago that the FSA and others did not have a lot of ATMs in this area?
Last edited by OUTLAW 09; 10-16-2015 at 09:03 AM.
Russia'n airstrikes on Kafr Dulbah near #Salma in #Latakia mountains
JaF launch counter assault on advancing #Assad-forces in southern #Aleppo countryside
Quneitra Rebels repelled regime assault on Trinjeh
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=33...61907&z=15&m=b …
Rebels repelled #Assad-forces to storm Balas & Tell al-Shaheed in southern #Aleppo countryside
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=36...65117&z=14&m=b …
Russians are deliberately killing civilians--better yet they do not care if they kill civilians--they had plenty of practice at it in Chechnya.
Damascus Airstrikes on #Douma suburb killed 3 children this morning
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pr3OK71tqnU
#Russia'n airstrikes on towns in northern #Homs this morning
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNR-o_gydzw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnP4JRfBm_M
yd hit a public shelter
#Russia'n airstrikes continues on northern #Homs this morning
after 65 dead yesterday- mainly civilians
It seems the US coalition woke up last night & targeted #ISIS positions in #Dabiq north of #Aleppo.
News
#Assad's army started a new assault in the south,trying to recapture #Brigade82 in #ShaykhMaskin. #FSA fights
Fierce push by Assad & co under Russian air cover in Jabal Azzan this AM, reports 1 Assad tank destroyed & 1 BMP taken in al-Wadihi #Aleppo
More #Russia|n airstrikes this morning on Teirma’ala, Talbiseh & Ghanto in #Homs because not enough civilians were killed yesterday.
Assad-forces taken over Abtin town
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=36...24605&z=15&m=b …
News #Pictures
Besieged #Homs province this morning: Russian Su-24 bomb al-Ghantu and other towns.
pic.twitter.com/b4w9aKnP3c
Last edited by OUTLAW 09; 10-16-2015 at 09:35 AM.
The essence is mobility of TOW-teams. If you've followed the team of the 13 Brigade FSyA:
- 7 October: they knocked out 4 MBTs in Latameah/Kfar Naboudah Area
- 8 October: BMP + technical on western side of Ghab plain
That's a move of at least 40km (probably more than 60) over the night: from Kfar Naboudah in northern direction, via Khan Sheikhoun to Jishr ash-Shugour, then to Salma...
Similarly: TOW-armed Fursan al-Haq was in Latameah area on 7-8 October. Since 12 October it's in position north of Aleppo. That was a move of about 100km.
If there are reports about MBTs knocked out in Abtin area, then some of such groups are now there. That would be 'good news' for insurgents.
Putins Smart Bombs Arent All That Smart
http://foreignpolicy.com/2015/10/14/...ampaign=buffer
pic.twitter.com/i0Yc64d6rE
Even Putin no longer "knows" what the "truth" is??????
Putin says there are 5-7,000 Russian speakers in ISIS, which is about 3x more than he said there were a month ago http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articl...-islamic-state
What a scary read. Praising Putin for taming nations and keeping them peaceful:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/elena-ulansky/
Ms. Ulansky is at present a Managing Director at Platinum Partners, a sizable hedge fund, located in New York City. Her background includes several business development activities, raising capital, originating deals for PE firms & cross border M&A. She is part of a unique "think tank" organized by a famous hedge fund owner and participates regularly in the assessment of geo political situations and their global impact.
She graduated with a Master's degree in Economics, with distinction, from Moscow State University. She has a diploma in Art & Sculpture.
Her Scandinavian descent combined with upbringing in US and Russia, gives her an ability to relate to different cultures and issues. She is fluent in English & Russian and can navigate in French, Spanish & Italian.
She is passionate about spirituality & practices Yoga. She continues to expand her activities for the various causes as a "brand ambassador". Other interests include ballet, tennis & skiing.
Syria vs Chechnya - West Has to Learn From Putin
Posted: 10/15/2015 2:05 pm EDT
President Obama and other Western leaders are critical of President Putin's support of Syrian President Assad. The West is upset about Russia's use of missiles and aircraft to attack anti-Assad rebels in Syria. While there is no debate about the value of Russian attacks on ISIS; there is a deep concern over his support of Assad and the long-term consequence for the middle east of the effect of Russia, Iran and Iraq working together.
Putin on the other hand has complained of the lack of co-operation by the United States with the Russian military plan in Syria. Putin described this failure as a result of the West having "mush for brains".
To understand Putin's support of the Assad regime, one has to understand when Putin sees Syria he sees many of the same issues he has been dealing with in Chechnya. For Putin Syria is Chechnya. Chechnya has gone through wars with Russia and is now firmly aligned with Moscow.
Syria is too reminiscent of Chechnya for Putin. In both conflicts, the State fought rebels who had ISIS type terrorist actions (blowing up theatre in Moscow). Kadyrov has rebuilt Grozny (with significant financing from Moscow) and created his own version of the peaceful Islamist Republic of Chechnya. The last two years, Putin hoped that Assad would be able to do what he himself did in Chechnya.
After two decades of Sunni separatist fighting, Chechnya is now headed by Ramzan Kadyrov, a former rebel who switched to pro-Russia side. Putin established a stable government in Chechnya and is able to sustain it regardless of numerous factors that make this region of Russia by far one of the most volatile in the world.
This is true despite Chechnya's population being primarily Sunni followers of Islam. There have been many reports of ISIS in Iraqi freeing Sunni's and executing Shiites. To Sunni ISIS fighters, Shiites are apostates and must die. The one result of the Syria war Putin cannot allow to have happen, is the Sunni ISIS fighters spreading to Chechnya.
Currently Chechnya is a part of Russia. As a part of a republic, Chechnya is obliged to follow the Federal law of Russian Federation. But Putin has allowed exceptions to federal law in an attempt to promote peace in Chechnya. For example is monogamy. In keeping with Islam, it is legal to have multiple wives. This "flexibility" is just one example of Putin's flexibility in his control of Chechnya. Of course Chechnya is still very far from being a self-sustained and balanced country. Russian subsidies of Chechnya's economy could be considered astronomical; but if one compares it to the "price" of war Russia would have to pay otherwise, they make perfect sense.
Vladimir Putin believes that if Assad is permitted to be overthrown and ISIS survives the Middle East will be more of a mess than it is today. While the West is seeking a "transition" to a democratic government and rejecting Assad, it's "track- record" of nation building in the Middle East is dismal. Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya, clearly, are not a desirable model for a future Syria. Putin fears of what may happen in the Middle East if Syria is left without Assad's strong leadership and no clear understanding of who will replace him. The current situation reminds him of what has been happening in Chechnya years before his leadership, and how successful he views his strong military response and control of Chechnya.
However unsuccessful Assad has been in fighting ISIS, Putin has a point asking the West some basic questions: who will be responsible for Syria after the removal of Assad? Who will contain Sunni extremists? Who will help Russia if ISIS extremists return home to cause terror in the North Caucasus and other Russian regions with significant Sunni Islamic population? And finally, who will guarantee the safety of chemical weapons in Syria?
Bottom line - Putin has done something close to impossible by "taming" the Chechen nation, and keeping them peaceful for more than a decade. Perhaps it makes sense to listen to his position on Syria.
Last edited by OUTLAW 09; 10-16-2015 at 09:53 AM.
Rebels claim captured high rank officer + 5 #SAA soldiers during battle in southern #Aleppo countryside
Aleppo: Syrian Rebels regain positions lost in Sabiqah, Bahriya+Muqasarat in south Aleppo, repel pro Assads & kill 8 http://fb.me/2q45ADMUx
At least 3 killed, tens wounded in a wave of #Syria|n regime air strikes on #Douma today.
Looks like regime fails completely in their offenses & focusing now on Jabal Turkman it appears.
Every day #Assad-forces testing a new frontline in northern #Syria - all attempts supported by #Russia'n airstrikes but results very limited
Southern #Syria mostly quiet, but regime continues to advance into Shayk Maskin & dropped 4 barrels on city today http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=32...54718&z=14&m=b
Russia'n airstrikes on hospitals of Al-Eis/Al-Hadher in southern #Aleppo countryside http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=35...38431&z=14&m=b
Reference Putin's "Syrian adventure"
What worries me is that I don't think he has an exit strategy. Possibly losing face in upcoming Hama offensive will make him more aggressive
Such a valid comment--Putin also did not have an exit plan for the eastern Ukraine--it appears he always depends on western leaders to "save his face" and give me an exit??? WHY is that????
Putin looking for any type of victory/advance on the ground to bargain with. So far rebels didn't even give him that
Regime offensive is not going well in #Aleppo according to latest reports as well.
Several Assad soldiers spotted trying to sneak thru Salamiyah-Homs highway N #Homs & ended up in rebel's truck box.
Northern Homs battlefield, no time to fix the position, two rebels hold DShK gun & one fires
https://youtu.be/tAuDdLwio3o
BTW--single shots of a 12.7mm MG is an art not a science----
33 combat sorties from #Hmeymim airbase ystd in Idlib, #Hama, #Damascus, #Aleppo & #Deir ez-Zor provinces compared to 84 the day be4.
In a very good functioning air targeting intel fight you should be able to run 24 X 7 X 365---what it appears is that the Russians have simply run out of targets and do not know what to hit that will help "their ground attack".
AND the Russian CAS has been hitting and killing Assad positions and troops far faster than Islamic State positions.
Russians are rapidly learning what the US learned in over 12 years of fighting --air power is great BUT in the end the" boots on the ground rules".
Russia airforce reduces nmbr of sorties in #Syria as it monitors, process &analyse militants' retreats, new positions & logistical routes
It's also aimed at allowing ground forces to move closer to rebel fronts.
THIS is the true admission that they cannot run CAS without tactical ground controllers of which they have none.
http://eng.syria.mil.ru/en/index/syr...2060909@egNews …
BASED on the Russian MoD press releases--THEY are chasing the terrorist and especially Islamic State completely out of Syria--BUT notice their information differs from the actual reality on the ground reporting.
NOTICE--attacking and killing civilians is not in the MoD PR????In the course of the last 24 hours, the Russian aviation group in Syria has continued conducting pinpoint airstrikes against ISIS facilities on the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic.
The Russian aircraft performed 33 combat sorties from Hmeymim airbase engaging 32 ISIS infrastructural facilities in the Idlib, Hama, Damascus, Aleppo and Deir ez-Zor provinces.
The flight intensity of the Russian Aerospace Forces has decreased.
This is caused by transformation of contact line as a result of offensive operations carried out by the Syrian Armed Forces.
The militants are retreating and trying to equip new positioning areas and change the ammunition, armament and materiel supply logistical system.
The Russian reconnaissance means are registering these changes. The processing and analyzing of data received by both Russian reconnaissance means and Informational Centre in Baghdad is also carried out.
The intensity of reconnaissance flights of aviation and UAVs is certainly increased in order to check and confirm the received data.
In the Eastern Guta region (Damascus province), a fortified fire position of Osa AA missile system, which had been captured by the militants, was destroyed by a Su-34 bomber. Strike with KAB-500 guided bomb caused elimination of concrete fortifications, which used to shelter the AA system. The air defence missile system was eliminated.
Su-24M bombers hit a two-storey building, which the ISIS militants had used as command centre (Aleppo province). As a result, the target was destroyed by a direct hit of an air bomb.
Near Al-Atarib, Idlib province, Su-25 attack aircraft carried out strike against underground plant manufacturing high-explosive mines. The militants produced the mines in order to plant them at the highways of the region. The detonation of the explosives caused destruction of the target.
During reconnaissance operation near Khan Shaykhun (Hama province), the aviation detected a strong point with a hidden terrorist artillery battery.
It is worth mentioning that the artillery positions equipped in compliance with strict engineering rules is the evidence of presence of well-trained professionals among the ISIS terrorists.
After reconnaissance check, Su-34 and Su-25 aircraft carried out a sudden group strike against the targets. Fortifications, six artillery guns and four off-road vehicles equipped with mortars were eliminated by the strike.
In the mountain area of Damascus province, air reconnaissance means detected a hidden base of the terrorists. There were three armored vehicles and eight off-road cars equipped with large-caliber machine guns and mortars.
Two Su-25 aircraft hit the base and eliminated military vehicles, ammunition and fuel depots.
After task performance, all the Russian aircraft sucessfully returned to the Hmeymim airbase.
75 confirmed dead today in #Homs due to #Russia airstrikes many of whom are kids and women. Heartbreaking. Bodies still under rubble
Russia likely to be responsible for 2nd largest number of civilian deaths in October behind #Syria Government
Last edited by OUTLAW 09; 10-16-2015 at 10:33 AM.
VIDEO: Infamous TOW operator Abu Hamza destroys #SAA technical in #Latakia, #Syria.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lz4-DJHYBNo …
Footage
#Assad forces and the Russian air force pound #Salma (Latakia) w/ all they've got.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBtd2Ee1hWA …
Footage
A Russian cluster bomb container that hit Al-Lataminah in #Hama prov.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_358XwQZww …
Confusion over whether it is a cluster bomb and or a fuel bomb.
Telegraph World News ✔ @TelegraphWorld
Syrian army and Iran fighters in major Aleppo assault http://tgr.ph/1OHKmTC
Four these in Syria currently and have been used against FSA---
Footage of #Russia's TOS-1.
A devastating weapon that uses only thermobaric warheads
https://youtu.be/SDdEP7q8Ums?t=14s …
From the Russian info war media Sputnik----
Russian state news agency suggests more missile strikes likely (though the use of "at any moment" is a bit strange) https://twitter.com/SputnikInt/statu...64041123823617 …
Last edited by OUTLAW 09; 10-16-2015 at 10:41 AM.
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