Iraq: Out of the desert into Mosul (closed)

**Biggus** · 06-26-2014

Originally Posted by OUTLAW 09

They did shoot down several US types with the 12.7s before we left so the Mi-8 should not be a problem as it is slower at lower levels and a bigger target to shoot at----the Iraqi's do not have yet the new Russian Mi-35s which Russia was going to export to them.

I believe that a number have been delivered and have been active in the conflict.

I'm not entirely sure whether the Mi-28s have been flying sorties, though I assume they have been.

**OUTLAW 09** · 06-26-2014

Originally Posted by Biggus

I believe that a number have been delivered and have been active in the conflict.

I'm not entirely sure whether the Mi-28s have been flying sorties, though I assume they have been.

That is why ISIS has been probing Balad Airbase as that is the point where the Mi8s/35s were being flown into by Russia and then prepped. Balad was going to be the point as well for the F16s the US was going to be sending in---due to the length of the airfield runways.

Also the reason it appears that ISIS is gearing up to attack the base---would give them indirectly their own airforce.

But think they are really after the several hundred gun utilities and 114s used by JSOC before they pulled out.

Also taking Balad would be icing on the cake and a major strategic defeat of the ISFs ability to hold onto Sunni cities/towns.

ISIS and coalition have already taken FOB Speicher a really big airfield and major ISF supply depot and FOB Speicher when the US was there was always a Division headquarters FOB.

**OUTLAW 09** · 06-26-2014

Interesting Iranian drone/military forces article in the gulfnews.com from today quoting the New York Times.

Bahrain and KSA online news media sites have been rather quiet on Iraq ---actually way too quiet for my tastes outside of KSA reporting that Kerry arrived in the KSA for Iraqi talks.

http://gulfnews.com/news/region/iran...iraq-1.1352494

**JWing** · 06-26-2014

My new article "Iraq’s Western Front Is Anbar Next To Fall?". Dec. 2013 is when the current fighting started in Iraq due to a rash decision by PM Maliki. He turned an offensive against ISIS as an attack upon the protest movement there. The insurgents immediately took advantage of the situation and Fallujah quickly fell. Since the June offensive started the ISF has collapsed in Anbar just like in northern Iraq and the entire province may fall in the coming days.

**JWing** · 06-26-2014

Originally Posted by Biggus

I believe that a number have been delivered and have been active in the conflict.

I'm not entirely sure whether the Mi-28s have been flying sorties, though I assume they have been.

Iraqi Army Aviation has been putting all the new Russian copters into service shortly after their arrival. There is plenty of video on youtube of their use.