Syrian Civil War: News #7

To all my Balkan friends, here's some celestial justice:

Former imam in #Montenegro port of Bar, Adem Mustafić, killed fighting for Islamic State in Syria: reports



https://twitter.com/BalkanNewsbeat/status/723587857319763968

Militarov wrote:

In this video Murican SOF merged with Kurds

And few screens:

Now this doesn't surprise me, I wonder if they are the reason why the Kurds have been targeting the SAA. The Americans also look rather unprofessional. The SADF has a word for them. Slapgat.

George1 wrote:what is "Murican SOF"?

American Special Operation Forces

Hezbollah, Syrian Army renew plans for Aleppo offensive

The long-awaited Aleppo offensive recently took a backseat to the much needed Palmyra-Deir Ezzor assault after the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) threatened to retake the ancient city of Palmyra (Tadmur) just two weeks after it was liberated by the Syrian Arab Army (SAA).

However, the High Command of the Syrian Armed Forces has once again reverted their attention to the large-scale Aleppo offensive after the recent failure of the Geneva Peace Talks and the collapsing nationwide ceasefire.

On Saturday night, an Al-Masdar correspondent in Damascus confirmed that the Syrian Arab Army’s plans for the Aleppo offensive have been once again green-lighted by their Russian and Iranian military advisers in southeast Aleppo.

The Syrian Arab Army’s contingency has changed though; it will no longer include the Greater Aleppo area.

Instead, the Syrian Arab Army’s military operation will concentrate on the rebel controlled districts inside the provincial capital, rather than the northern or eastern Aleppo.

The Syrian Arab Army will not be alone either; they will be joined by Hezbollah, Harakat Al-Nujaba (Iraqi paramilitary), Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), National Defense Forces (NDF), and Liwaa Al-Quds (Palestinian paramilitary from Aleppo City).

The date of this large-scale military operation has not been determined; however, three weeks ago, the Russian military did send a massive convoy of equipment to the city in preparation for the initial assault.

Source

Visc wrote:Syrian helicopters are carrying out patrol missions over Al-Qamishli. 105th brigade of Syrian Republican Guard and YPG units with heavy weapons have entered the city.

d_taddei2 wrote:
i agree with you, but Kurds are also forgetting that its the Russians who are pushing for Kurdish representation in the talks and allowed then to open a office in Moscow, the Kurds are playing a dangerous game, their going on as if ISIS and rebels are gone from Syria, the war in Syria is far from over, and they have to remember the SAA have had more battle experience than the Kurds especially the SAA outside of Qamishli and Al-Hasakah so this wouldnt be an easy ride for the Kurds and considering they have the SAA surrounded and out numbered in this area of Syria it really isn't that much of challenge. But i hope they come to an agreement soon.

There are some reports about a few Russian and Iranian authorities that arrived in Al-Qamishli city today and forced opposing sides to talks. Hopefully it will succeed.

Reportedly the talks brokered by Iranian and Russian officials succeeded and peace appears to be restored.

In Aleppo

SAA Tiger Forces @ Al Mazar Mount on the outskirts of Palmyra as they advance against Daesh (22-04-2016)


Had almost forgotten that T-54/55 was with a 4-man crew with single piece ammo. Pic from Sputnik, Loved it.


I still wish to see that very purposeful glacis armour upgrade of T-55 with a stretched front hull in service.

Ivan Sidorenko ‏@IvanSidorenko1 23 hours ago
#Syria #Damascus President Bashar al-Assad & First Lady Asma Al-Assad Visited #Dummar Cultural Center Today.
https://twitter.com/IvanSidorenko1/status/723960130757382145


Ivan Sidorenko ‏@IvanSidorenko1 Apr 22
#Syria #SyrianArabArmy #SyrianArmy #SAA Posted by #Tiger_Forces Soldier March 14th #Assad_Men Titled "Tiger Armor"


#Syria #SyrianArabArmy #SyrianArmy A #Tiger_Force Tank Driver who operates a T-90 #SAA
https://twitter.com/IvanSidorenko1/status/723605733930086400



btw, its funny to see Ivan Sidorenko having his patch in all sizes all over the pic....initially I though it was something else. I wonder what prompted him to do that much

Dima wrote:SAA Tiger Forces @ Al Mazar Mount on the outskirts of Palmyra as they advance against Daesh (22-04-2016)


Had almost forgotten that T-54/55 was with a 4-man crew with single piece ammo. Pic from Sputnik, Loved it.


I still wish to see that very purposeful glacis armour upgrade of T-55 with a stretched front hull in service.

NOT at 55, but a 62...

Bore evacuator at 1/3...Also T62 had a Single body ammo.

^^^ Ah tks for that correction....no wonder I felt there was some difference to the barrel...

A good Damascus area focused map which helps to give a clear idea regarding the terrorists den around Damascus. International terrorists intend was to do a Misrata type thing and march on to Damascus. Since they are a big pocket, no more suplies can come from outside...so in time they will/need to be cut into smaller pockets and kill all the western bred rats.

Al-Masdar News ‏@TheArabSource  38 minutes ago
Syrian Army gains the upper hand in the battle of #Damascus - Map update
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syrian-army-gains-upper-hand-battle-damascus-map-update/

I read this as yet another deal (bolded part in the article) by trading the govt/pro-govt soldiers inside/around the prison/area. Kurds have done that earlier too where they backstabbed the SAA and traded the men and officers of SAA to the terrorists who massacred them.

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/ypg-keeps-captured-prison-qamishli-releases-tens-ndf-prisoners/ | Al-Masdar News

YPG keeps captured prison in Qamishli but releases tens of NDF prisoners
By Chris Tomson - 24/04/2016 3

With the Russian-brokered peace deal in Qamishli largely holding over the past 48 hours, YPG officials said they would not hand over the Allya Prison which was captured three days ago after a heavy siege on NDF soldiers and state workers inside the building complex.

However, according to Kurdish sources in Qamishli, the Asayish (YPG affiliated police force) will release around 80 government soldiers, many of whom surrendered during the attack on Allya Prison.

Nevertheless, Allya Prison holds no strategic importance as it lies on the eastern outskirts of Qamishli and is completely dislocated from government-held districts in the city center.

Kurdish YPG spokesman Canaan Barakat said 7 Asayish and 3 YPG fighters died during the three-day clashes with the National Defence Forces (NDF) and Assyrian paramilitary troops of the Sootooro, Hamiya Al-Jazeerah and Gozarto Protection Forces.

The government side is believed to have lost 22 soldiers and paramilitary fighters during the skirmishes as their troops lacked the up-to-date equipment and weaponry which has been supplied lately to the YPG and Asayish, mostly by the United States.

Meanwhile, government troops are expected to hand over their gains inside Qamishli city. These include Al-Shabab City district, the Al-Zhour Roundabout, the Al-Ba’ath Bakery, the Hadaya Hotel and the checkpoints of Al-‘Awijah, Al-Wahda, Abu Raghab and Kurayrish.

It would be worthwhile for the YPG to keep a good eye on their western 'supporters' and keep their local 'allied' Kurdish militias (not the pure ideological YPG units, but the militias/armed men who just happen to be Kurdish) under control as they are only having a temporary relations with the leftist group. The murican/western 'supporters' will be doing their own bit to penetrate the YPG circle/areas and pull the plug on the whole YPG structure with other Kurdish militias once the work is over. Hope that time don't come and the guys realize that their only true cooperation can happen with the Russians and Syrian Govt.

All in all its yet another success for the Russian (Syrian & Iranian) diplomacy/negotiations as they have successfully doused yet another fire (after Azeri-Armenia) that could have flared up even more to the benefit of the western scums and their armed groups inside Syria.

BM-21 GRAD Retweeted
Afghan Shia fighter from #Liwa_Fatemiyoun with a T-90 in Syria.


The sights on this T-90 appear damaged in combat...result of small arms fire.
T-90s have had a good successful campaign in this war aiding the advancing uniys and of the only two (reported/shown) cases of anti-tank missile hits (in other cases the missile probably never reached the MBT due to Shotra) on T-90, the tank remained solid with no penetration, courtesy its ERA.

Visc wrote:Hezbollah, Syrian Army renew plans for Aleppo offensive

The long-awaited Aleppo offensive recently took a backseat to the much needed Palmyra-Deir Ezzor assault after the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) threatened to retake the ancient city of Palmyra (Tadmur) just two weeks after it was liberated by the Syrian Arab Army (SAA).

However, the High Command of the Syrian Armed Forces has once again reverted their attention to the large-scale Aleppo offensive after the recent failure of the Geneva Peace Talks and the collapsing nationwide ceasefire.

On Saturday night, an Al-Masdar correspondent in Damascus confirmed that the Syrian Arab Army’s plans for the Aleppo offensive have been once again green-lighted by their Russian and Iranian military advisers in southeast Aleppo.

The Syrian Arab Army’s contingency has changed though; it will no longer include the Greater Aleppo area.

Instead, the Syrian Arab Army’s military operation will concentrate on the rebel controlled districts inside the provincial capital, rather than the northern or eastern Aleppo.

The Syrian Arab Army will not be alone either; they will be joined by Hezbollah, Harakat Al-Nujaba (Iraqi paramilitary), Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), National Defense Forces (NDF), and Liwaa Al-Quds (Palestinian paramilitary from Aleppo City).

The date of this large-scale military operation has not been determined; however, three weeks ago, the Russian military did send a massive convoy of equipment to the city in preparation for the initial assault.

Source

Is this politically feasible? They have to make sure they don't kill an American backed terrorist or else American planes will bomb the Russian base and SAA.

ultron wrote:
Is this politically feasible? They have to make sure they don't kill an American backed terrorist or else American planes will bomb the Russian base and SAA.

With the pressence of Russian air defense systems, air force and probably Iskander that's much easier said than done. Besides, it would mean an all out war and I don't think they're ready for that just yet.

magnumcromagnon wrote:

Militarov wrote:

Time to knock the woodpeckers and cuckoo birds out the 'birdhouse'

Rook wrote:Rook ‏@2Rook14 Apr 22
#Syria: PHOTO: An #SAA/Hezbollah fighter next to an T-72AV equipped with "Sarab-1"

Interesting, they're calling it "Sarab-1" apparently. Which means "Mirage" in English.

OminousSpudd wrote:

magnumcromagnon wrote:

Militarov wrote:

Time to knock the woodpeckers and cuckoo birds out the 'birdhouse'

Rook wrote:Rook ‏@2Rook14  Apr 22
#Syria: PHOTO: An #SAA/Hezbollah fighter next to an T-72AV equipped with "Sarab-1"

Interesting, they're calling it "Sarab-1" apparently.  Which means "Mirage" in English.

Yes, that name is around since few months ago.

Visc wrote:

ultron wrote:
Is this politically feasible? They have to make sure they don't kill an American backed terrorist or else American planes will bomb the Russian base and SAA.

With the pressence of Russian air defense systems, air force and probably Iskander that's much easier said than done. Besides, it would mean an all out war and I don't think they're ready for that just yet.

I was JK Who cares about Americans?

Militarov wrote:Yes, that name is around since few months ago.

Sorry, I'm usually a few months behind the news.

Two questions if I may:

1) Why are there two separate threads for Syrian war (one Syrian war news and the other Russian military involvement and aid to Syria), why not keep it all together, since both are very related to eachother it is easier to keep them updated and we would have everything in one place instead?

2) Why is this thread named "Syrian Civil War"? In reality, this conflict is everything but a civil war. "Conflict in Syria", "War in Syria" or something along those lines would be much closer to reality in my opinion. We are not Wikipedia

Thanks.

Iraq’s strongest paramilitary force joins fight against ISIS in Deir Ezzor

Iraq’s strongest paramilitary force, “Hashd Al-Sha’abi”, has joined the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) in their battle against the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) terrorists inside the Deir Ezzor Governorate.

Led by Firas Al-Iraqi, Hashd Al-Sha’abi’s primary goal is to aid the recently deployed Syrian Special Forces (under General Ghassan Tarraf’s command) in their bid to recapture the strategic village of Mohassan in southern Deir Ezzor.

Hashd Al-Sha’abi only deployed 250 soldiers to this volatile front in eastern Syria; however, they do possess technologically advanced weapons that were supplied by the Syrian Special Forces.

General Tarraf and his elite soldiers from the Syrian Special Forces – backed by Hashd Al-Sha’abi – have recently increased the intensity of their ground assault in Deir Ezzor, capturing several buildings in the Industrial Zone on Sunday afternoon.

Source

ultron wrote:
I was JK Who cares about Americans?

Ah I see, I didn't realize that was sarcasm

Anyway, US Army Col. Steve Warren himself said that Nusra holds Aleppo and is not party to the ceasefire agreement when he was asked about Russian air strikes in the city. This was probably a blunder on his side.

“I’m not going to predict what their intentions are,” Warren said of Russia. “What I do know is that we have seen, you know, regime forces with some Russian support as well begin to mass and concentrate combat power around Aleppo. … That said, it’s primarily al-Nusra who holds Aleppo, and of course, al-Nusra is not part of the cessation of hostilities.  So it’s complicated.”