Iraq: Out of the desert into Mosul (closed)

[CrowBat]

In relation to supposed deployment of German special forces there....

I would not take such statements literally, or at least take them - but with a pinch of salt.

Germany agreed to deliver assault rifles, anti-rank 'rockets' (i.e. missiles or similar) and ammo to Iraqi Kurds, and to train them in the use of these - 'whether in situ or at a suitable place abroad'. That means: 'sure', German SF are there, but not with the purpose of getting involved in combat operations. They're there to train Kurds in use of German-supplied arms.

Namely, doing something like secretly deploying German SF into combat in Iraq, would be a political suicide for any German chancellor. And Angela is really not renowned for committing these 'all the times' (if at all, then quite on the contrary).

[OUTLAW 09]

In relation to supposed deployment of German special forces there....

I would not take such statements literally, or at least take them - but with a pinch of salt.

Germany agreed to deliver assault rifles, anti-rank 'rockets' (i.e. missiles or similar) and ammo to Iraqi Kurds, and to train them in the use of these - 'whether in situ or at a suitable place abroad'. That means: 'sure', German SF are there, but not with the purpose of getting involved in combat operations. They're there to train Kurds in use of German-supplied arms.

Namely, doing something like secretly deploying German SF into combat in Iraq, would be a political suicide for any German chancellor. And Angela is really not renowned for committing these 'all the times' (if at all, then quite on the contrary).

By the way the German SF were there long before any weapons shipping was approved and you do know how closely Us and German SF have been working together over the last years right--especially at the International SF Training Center here in Germany?

[JWing]

Latest security report on Iraq breaking down violence for August. Was a decided dip in reported attacks but casualties remained extremely high due to IS massacres and a report on Peshmerga losses in Ninewa. Actual numbers are probably far far higher as govt has stopped reporting on ISF & peshmerga losses. When they do come out they are always high. Here's a link to the article.

[CrowBat]

By the way the German SF were there long before any weapons shipping was approved and you do know how closely Us and German SF have been working together over the last years right--especially at the International SF Training Center here in Germany?

I know about cooperation, but about their deployment in Iraq 'long before'.... one is left to hope that the Bundestag has authorized this.

Otherwise, not only the SPD is going to rip Angela & Co apart...

[CrowBat]

...namely, from what can be found from sources like:

- Sddeutsche
- DW, and
- Die Zeit

Germany is about to supply the following arms to Kurds:

- 30 Milan systems
- 500 Milan missiles (variant unknown)
- 16.000 G3 and G36 assault rifles
- 8.000 pistols
- 240 Panzerfaust 3 AT-rocket launcher
- 40 machine guns
- 10.000 hand grenades
- an unknown number of Jeeps and Unimogs
- 5 Dingo 1 armoured vehicles

as well as

- 4000 bulletproof vests and steel-helmets
- 700 radios
- 680 night-vision goggles

A team of six soldiers is already in Erbil, setting up a military liaison post that should coordinate deliveries and distribution. Crew-training on Milans is to be undertaken at the Hammelburg grounds in Germany.

So, if there are any SFs there, and if they are involved in fighting... that's gonna be 'ein Skandal 1. Ranges'.

[davidbfpo]

We know Milan ATGW have been frequently used in Syria against the Bashir Assad regime and the UK liberally used them in Afghanistan before their "life" ended. So almost a "glad to go" gift.

Now the '240 Panzerfaust 3 AT-rocket launcher' are slightly different, as they can be fired within buildings - so have an extra value in urban fighting - where the Peshmerga will have to fight tomorrow and after. For details:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panzerfaust_3

[OUTLAW 09]

I know about cooperation, but about their deployment in Iraq 'long before'.... one is left to hope that the Bundestag has authorized this.

Normally German media would have pickedthis up but it must have survived under the radar or the German media is simply not commenting on it due to the political fallout if it became common knowledge--not even the Left Party picked up on it.

[OUTLAW 09]

JWing---appears from social media that the Assad AF and the US AF are both flying their own drones in the same air space these days--wonder if they are using the same targeting sheet.


The Syrian Arab air force and the @usairforce are flying aerial missions over #Raqqa side by side now.

pic.twitter.com/JZNeXyN6Tq

[JWing]

Germany sending those assault rifles appears confusing to me. Will not help supply and logistics for KRG. Everyone else is sending AKs, Germany couldn't do the same?

[JWing]

Here's my latest article analyzing car bombs in Iraq in 2012 to track the rebirth of the Islamic State. 2011 was the nadir for the group with much of its leadership dead or in prison. Estimates were that it could only carry out one major attack every 4-6 weeks. CIA estimated only 1,000 fighters left and many were speculating that it would devolve into a criminal gang. U.S. withdrawal relieved military pressure on group and Syria allowed a new battlefield for it to expand and rebuild in. Its rebirth shown in car bomb attacks throughout 2012. Jan and Feb had one day each of multiple car bombs across several provinces likely for propaganda purposes to show that it was still around after Americans left. By summer 2012 able to launch 2-4 car bomb waves a month and announced its Breaking Walls Campaign to restart the sectarian war marking the group's return as a fully reformed militant organization in Iraq. Here's a link to the article. Here are charts I put together for all the car bombs in Iraq in 2012, date, location, targets, casualties. Jan-March 2012. Apr-June 2012. Jul-Sep 2012. Oct-Dec 2012.

[Biggus]

Germany sending those assault rifles appears confusing to me. Will not help supply and logistics for KRG. Everyone else is sending AKs, Germany couldn't do the same?

I'm not aware of the specifics of what they're sending, but is it possible that there are still East German AK variants in storage?

[CrowBat]

JWing---appears from social media that the Assad AF and the US AF are both flying their own drones in the same air space these days--wonder if they are using the same targeting sheet.

Syrians flying their UAVs over ar-Raqqa?

Where are photos of these?

The link you provided is showing one of two Su-24s involved in the strike on ISIS HQ in the municipality building of Ghariba village (outside ar-Raqqa), two days ago. Damascus later claimed to have killed 18 Jihadists there and that the damage caused to a nearby prison was sufficient to enable some of people abducted by the ISIS to run away too.

Read: the strike was flown for show purposes, 'for the Americans to see' the regime is 'fighting ISIS'...

[OUTLAW 09]

Syrians flying their UAVs over ar-Raqqa?

Where are photos of these?

The link you provided is showing one of two Su-24s involved in the strike on ISIS HQ in the municipality building of Ghariba village (outside ar-Raqqa), two days ago. Damascus later claimed to have killed 18 Jihadists there and that the damage caused to a nearby prison was sufficient to enable some of people abducted by the ISIS to run away too.

Read: the strike was flown for show purposes, 'for the Americans to see' the regime is 'fighting ISIS'...

CrowBat:

Again: The Syrian Arab air force and the @usairforce are flying aerial missions over #Raqqa side by side now.

pic.twitter.com/JZNeXyN6Tq

https://twitter.com/MiddleEast_BRK/s...160256/photo/1