Syrian Civil War: News #3

Solncepek wrote:1. Report: Airport in Northeast Syria Closed to Civilian Flights Because of Russian Use

The airport in Qamishli in northeast Syria has reportedly been closed to civilian flights because it is being used as a military base for Russian operations.

Wrong

The Qamishli International Airport stopped operating civilian flights last Friday, according to reports from local opposition media quoting eyewitness accounts of hundreds of passengers reportedly sitting in the gardens outside the airport waiting to travel.

The first regime comment on the closure came from a pro-Syrian regime news website on Tuesday quoting government officials as saying the airport would reopen “within the next two days.” The airport is currently closed while planes are being repaired, the report continued.

Seraj al-Hasakawi, an activist in Al-Hasakah province, confirmed to Syria Direct’s Noura al-Hourani that flights are mostly grounded, but says the closure is because“the airport has been used as a military airbase.”

Q: Why aren’t civilians able to get flights from the Qamishli airport now?

Civilian flights have become extremely rare since the Russian intervention began, because the airport has been used as a military airbase by the regime. The regime is flying a lot of missions, including moving military equipment and injured. The situation has also gotten more hectic because all the different planes flying in Syrian airspace now are preventing civilian flights.

Q: What impact does this have on civilians’ lives?

The closure of the airport has greatly increased people’s hardship, as they used to depend on it to move from eastern areas of the country under Islamic State control to the western provinces like Damascus, Homs, and Hama, to do things like visit their relatives or people they know who were arrested, or to deal with government bureaucracies. Most people are afraid to go overland.

Q: You mentioned that there are some exceptions—people who can get plane tickets. Who are they, and how do they get them?

There are exceptions for people who have acquaintances or relatives who work in the regime, especially people who know someone who works in the Air Force Intelligence. These people are able to make sure they get a ticket, or get transported in a cargo plane. The official price for a ticket used to be SP7,150 [$38], or between SP15,000 and SP17,000 [$80-$90] through a private company. But now tickets have to be gotten through middleman, who buy and sell tickets for much more, up to 30,000 SP [$159].

Much has been said about supposed SAA incompetence with dealing with ATGM, but I'm personally taking these claims with a grain of salt as jihadi propaganda. Firstly if the SAA never learned combined arms urban operations it would'nt still be able to hold out with a armor significant advantage to the jihadis, much less make so many advances. It's simply not logical. Anti-antitank infantry tactics exist since WW2 and are basic standard military training knowledge so it's very hard to imagine that SAA forces haven't adopted them in any way.

Most videos also clearly show syrian tanks taking proper cover and being supported by infantry while there are almost no videos of syrian armor bieng destroyed in significant quantity, and those that exist are either liver eater propaganda clips or recycled footage from the beginning of the war.

As long as the enmy has AT weapons vehicle losses are inevitable but it doesn't mean the army isn't taking measures.

Mod's, were going to need another thread soon.

Buratino used somewhere NE of Latakia. Apologies to Vietnamese members, but difficult to resist this old quote.

I love the smell of napalm in the morning. You know, one time we had a hill bombed, for 12 hours. When it was all over, I walked up. We didn't find one of 'em, not one stinkin' dink body. The smell, you know that gasoline smell, the whole hill. Smelled like victory.

Khepesh wrote:Buratino used somewhere NE of Latakia. Apologies to Vietnamese members, but difficult to resist this old quote.

I love the smell of napalm in the morning. You know, one time we had a hill bombed, for 12 hours. When it was all over, I walked up. We didn't find one of 'em, not one stinkin' dink body. The smell, you know that gasoline smell, the whole hill. Smelled like victory.

You know that feeling in Age of Empires II, when your troops are marching forward, and out of the fog of war flies a huge salvo from a siege onager that wipes out a dozen of your troops with every hit...

What are tactical guidelines for the use of TOS-1 and what effects can it achieve if used properly?

Walther von Oldenburg wrote:What are tactical guidelines for the use of TOS-1 and what effects can it achieve if used properly?

It uses a thermobaric 220mm missile which yields more warhead then propellant and has a maximum range of 8km while effective range is 4-6km at such effective range it covers with a batterie an absolute annihiliation area for anything living 300-400m area. It is a frontline GRAD more or less and used against formations, fortifications or just when job is unsafe for ground forces and Airforce is to expensive while not having most of the time a similiar amount of explosives to deal with them. Most GRAD systems were used due ineffective use of Bombs from high altitude against mounty regions where this thermobaric babies make a good use compared with HE-F bombs.

Assad Agrees to Russian Support of Syrian Opposition in Anti-ISIL Fight


The Syrian leadership must establish contact with opposition forces that are ready for dialogue, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has agreed to Russia's support of the Syrian opposition ready to fight Islamic State, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday.
Putin said he had asked Bashar al-Assad how he would view an armed opposition force that was genuinely ready to combat Islamic State militants. "He answered: 'Positively'," Putin said during a session of the Valdai Discussion Club in Russia's Sochi.

He added that whether al-Assad should go is up to the Syrian people via transparent elections.

"We must be sure that the government is being formed based on transparent democratic procedures. And we can speak, of course, of certain international control of these procedures, including elections. But this control must be objective," Putin said.

"I mean both the Syrian legitimate government and opposition," he added.

Dividing Syria would lead to a permanent conflict in the region, Putin stressed.

"Dividing Syria is the worst option, it is unacceptable. It will not end the conflict and only create conditions for its escalation and continuation," he said.

"If Syria is divided into separate territories, they will fight with each other endlessly and nothing good will come out of it."

According to Russia's leader, outside interference and attempts to reorganize the Middle East have led to a rise in global threats.

"We see what is happening today in the Middle East. For decades, sometimes perhaps even centuries, ethnic, religious, and political conflicts, acute social problems have been piling up here," Putin said.

"In short, the explosive mixture was rising, and outside attempts to blatantly reorganize the region were the match that led to a real explosion, the destruction of statehood, an increase in terrorism and, in the end, an increased threat to the whole world," the president added.

The Valdai Club, established in 2004, aims to promote dialogue between the Russian and the international intellectual elite, and to foster independent, unbiased scientific analysis of political, economic and social events in Russia and the rest of the world.

Ok, thank you. I know that TOS-1 is the most effective in attacking tight formations - so if there is a convoy or a formation of several dozen pick-ups (or several hundred infantry) deployed on an open field, right?

How common are these types of formations in Syria? Were some studies done on rebel company-battalion level tactics? THis is really crucial question in military science.

Khepesh wrote:Buratino used somewhere NE of Latakia. Apologies to Vietnamese members, but difficult to resist this old quote.

I love the smell of napalm in the morning. You know, one time we had a hill bombed, for 12 hours. When it was all over, I walked up. We didn't find one of 'em, not one stinkin' dink body. The smell, you know that gasoline smell, the whole hill. Smelled like victory.

Launching MRLS from top of the mountain.... it's like Christmas...

Walther von Oldenburg wrote:What are tactical guidelines for the use of TOS-1 and what effects can it achieve if used properly?

Here is a front page from TOS-1 instruction manual

max steel wrote:Assad Agrees to Russian Support of Syrian Opposition in Anti-ISIL Fight


The Syrian leadership must establish contact with opposition forces that are ready for dialogue, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has agreed to Russia's support of the Syrian opposition ready to fight Islamic State, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday.
Putin said he had asked Bashar al-Assad how he would view an armed opposition force that was genuinely ready to combat Islamic State militants. "He answered: 'Positively'," Putin said during a session of the Valdai Discussion Club in Russia's Sochi.

He added that whether al-Assad should go is up to the Syrian people via transparent elections.

"We must be sure that the government is being formed based on transparent democratic procedures. And we can speak, of course, of certain international control of these procedures, including elections. But this control must be objective," Putin said.

"I mean both the Syrian legitimate government and opposition," he added.

Dividing Syria would lead to a permanent conflict in the region, Putin stressed.

"Dividing Syria is the worst option, it is unacceptable. It will not end the conflict and only create conditions for its escalation and continuation," he said.

"If Syria is divided into separate territories, they will fight with each other endlessly and nothing good will come out of it."

According to Russia's leader, outside interference and attempts to reorganize the Middle East have led to a rise in global threats.

"We see what is happening today in the Middle East. For decades, sometimes perhaps even centuries, ethnic, religious, and political conflicts, acute social problems have been piling up here," Putin said.

"In short, the explosive mixture was rising, and outside attempts to blatantly reorganize the region were the match that led to a real explosion, the destruction of statehood, an increase in terrorism and, in the end, an increased threat to the whole world," the president added.

The Valdai Club, established in 2004, aims to promote dialogue between the Russian and the international intellectual elite, and to foster independent, unbiased scientific analysis of political, economic and social events in Russia and the rest of the world.

Walther von Oldenburg wrote:Ok, thank you. I know that TOS-1 is the most effective in attacking tight formations - so if there is a convoy or a formation of several dozen pick-ups (or several hundred infantry) deployed on an open field, right?

How common are these types of formations in Syria? Were some studies done on rebel company-battalion level tactics? THis is really crucial question in military science.

TOS-1 has one huge disadvantage its very short range, because unlike MRLS with proper amount of propellant that accelerate the rockets for a good amount of range, the TOS just throws it like javelins. This exact disadvantage is not really good for most flat areas where it sits more or less for enemy to be spotted as soon as it starts firing with its only 4-6km effective range. Large formations in deserts are more common than in most places, due the infrastructure which runs usually across the country very close by rivers and between cities while rest of Desert usually does not serve any tactical or strategic objective unless for oil fields. Even tho i am actually not that well educated on warfare in deserts or ME kind of environments it is still relative simple compared with rural regions we have in europe.

I like where this is going....

Walther von Oldenburg wrote:Ok, thank you. I know that TOS-1 is the most effective in attacking tight formations - so if there is a convoy or a formation of several dozen pick-ups (or several hundred infantry) deployed on an open field, right?

How common are these types of formations in Syria? Were some studies done on rebel company-battalion level tactics? THis is really crucial question in military science.

When deployed they are integrated into the formation they are attached to and advance with designated tank/BMP support with each battery. Similar concept to use of IS-152 as "bunker buster" right at the front line during GPW.

Interesting pictures of a couple of the A-10s now at Incirlik being air refuelled. Can anyone identify the weapons carried. It might give an idea of their mission/targets. Given refuelling they may be loitering in the air rather than going directly to/from a target.

http://theaviationist.com/2015/10/22/cool-photos-show-a-10-warthogs-refueling-mid-air-during-operation-inherent-resolve/


Also, in the same vein, has anyone seen a photo of a Su-25 carrying rocket pods or are they only armed with bombs?

How are these things employed organization-wise? Are they attached to a battalion (or higher level command) as a mobile artillery unit?

SANA video of the SAA offensive in Aleppo countryside.





"Secret videos of the Syrian army operations room in Aleppo"

http://www.aparat.com/v/R1jEc

Walther von Oldenburg wrote:How are these things employed organization-wise? Are they attached to a battalion (or higher level command) as a mobile artillery unit?

They are essentially a special purpose breakthrough system to be deployed as batteries with BTG in the area of the front where higher command needs them deployed, for instance at the front on the main axis of advance to help achieve the breakthrough and continue forward with the armored assault. They are assets held at Army level for strategic use, perhaps almost in a way that some of the SS Panzer Korps were used as a "firefighting/ breakthrough force". They have never yet been used in the scenarios they were envisaged to be used in, WWIII type massive armored assault. There is of course no reason why an entire TOS brigade could not be used en masse, which would be a fearsome sight, but they are chemical troops, not artillery, and not configured to fight as a unified artillery brigade and need to rely on the unit they are with to supply their protection and logistic needs.

JohninMK wrote:Interesting pictures of a couple of the A-10s now at Incirlik being air refuelled. Can anyone identify the weapons carried. It might give an idea of their mission/targets. Given refuelling they may be loitering in the air rather than going directly to/from a target.

http://theaviationist.com/2015/10/22/cool-photos-show-a-10-warthogs-refueling-mid-air-during-operation-inherent-resolve/

Looks like LGB's and Maverick missiles

Also, in the same vein, has anyone seen a photo of a Su-25 carrying rocket pods or are they only armed with bombs?

Seems mostly bombs, but there was a video with S-124 rockets being used a few days ago

Walther von Oldenburg wrote:How are these things employed organization-wise? Are they attached to a battalion (or higher level command) as a mobile artillery unit?

To add to what Khepesh posted...

In the Russian Army they are usually organised in "Chemical Artillery" Battalions or maybe Brigades which include the reloading vehicles and infantry armed with shoulder launched thermobaric launchers (RPO) riding in Heavy BMOT APC's

Bring it on Qatar, we can bring Debaltsevo to Yemen and Bahrain if you like :

Qatar Threatens Military Intervention in Syria

Islamic State redeploying reinforcement from Iraq to Syria — Russian Defense Ministry

Reinforcements are also redeployed from Syria's Raqqa province to the country's western regions

MOSCOW, October 22 /TASS/. The Islamic State leaders are redeploying reinforcement units from Syria’s Raqqa province and Iraq’s territory to western Syria, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said on Thursday.

"Our unmanned aerial vehicles are fixing a considerable increase in the number of new IS targets in Syrian territory. The IS leadership is redeploying personnel reinforcement from Raqqa province and Iraq’s territory to the area of military hostilities in the west of Syria," Konashenkov said in an interview on Rossiya 1 television channel.

Russia started a military operation against the Islamic State terrorist group (which is banned in Russia) in the Syrian territory at the request of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on September 30. The air group in Syria includes more than 50 warplanes, including Su-34 and Su-24M bombers; Su-25 assault aircraft; Su-30SM fighter jets as well as Mi-8 and Mi-24 helicopters. The Russian Navy is also involved in the military operation. The warships of the Russian Caspian flotilla delivered a massive cruise missile strike from the Kalibr-class sea-based missile system on the night to October 7.

The Russian authorities have totally excluded a possibility of any ground campaign in Syria.

South Aleppo countryside



Same area - These guys look like IRGC

Said to be the hill top where the TOS-1A was filmed bombing earlier...

#Syria #Latakia #اللَاذِقِيَّة Three Years & 7 Unsuccessful Operations #SAA #NDF Finally Took control #كتف_الغدر Kat al Ghadar earlier today



https://twitter.com/IvanSidorenko1/status/657318017735487489

Inside the besieged Deir e-Zor (Kweiris) airbase with Republican Guard Paras

Southern Aleppo front

JohninMK wrote:Interesting pictures of a couple of the A-10s now at Incirlik being air refuelled. Can anyone identify the weapons carried. It might give an idea of their mission/targets. Given refuelling they may be loitering in the air rather than going directly to/from a target.

http://theaviationist.com/2015/10/22/cool-photos-show-a-10-warthogs-refueling-mid-air-during-operation-inherent-resolve/


Also, in the same vein, has anyone seen a photo of a Su-25 carrying rocket pods or are they only armed with bombs?

I think that RUAF is using this opportunity to get rid of old unguided bombs and this is pretty much what the doctor ordered: loads of terrorists sitting in the middle of the desert...perfect