Syrian Civil War: News #10

Wonder if Hezbollah and other groups will start forming towards Palmyra after this sad defeat of NDF. Really a stain on Russia cause they helped liberate it. Also, it is proclaimed terrorists came en mass from Mosul. So Russia and SAA should have been watching that area like hawks.

miketheterrible wrote:So Russia and SAA should have been watching that area like hawks.

Fixed for you.

KiloGolf wrote:

miketheterrible wrote:So Russia and SAA should have been watching that area like hawks.

Fixed for you.

well, yes. But lets face facts here - Syrian intelligence is an oxymoron. Russia is their intelligence arm. Although, it was said to simply let Palmyria fall because now all civilians have been evacuated so place is prime for heavy bombardment. As well, SAA is forming up on the rural areas just outside of Palmyra with more reinforcements on their way. Battle said was semi small forces just to give time for the people to retreat. So I imagine they are waiting for Aleppo to be liberated before making a larger move on Aleppo. Since Dier Ezzor is only 180km away from Palmyra.

miketheterrible wrote:

KiloGolf wrote:

miketheterrible wrote:So Russia and SAA should have been watching that area like hawks.

Fixed for you.

well, yes. But lets face facts here - Syrian intelligence is an oxymoron.  Russia is their intelligence arm. Although, it was said to simply let Palmyria fall because now all civilians have been evacuated so place is prime for heavy bombardment. As well, SAA is forming up on the rural areas just outside of Palmyra with more reinforcements on their way. Battle said was semi small forces just to give time for the people to retreat. So I imagine they are waiting for Aleppo to be liberated before making a larger move on Aleppo. Since Dier Ezzor is only 180km away from Palmyra.

Part of the problem was the area has been having a large storm mostly sand. Air reconnaissance and support was down for 4 days. Only been the last 24 hours the RuAF has been able to get at the ISIS forces. They did 64 strikes, destroying about that many vehicles and ~300 fighters since as per the MoD.

ISIS has captured Al-Bayarat area west of #Palmyra
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=34.584888&lon=38.192081&z=13&m=b

In typical #SDF fashion the offensive on #Raqqa has occurred on three different fronts pushing towards Raqqa.


#SDF advancing toward #Euphrates northern side and #Raqqa - #DeZ axis by taking over #IS points in desert | 12,11,2016 | #Syria

Apparently the Russians and Americans have a deal to evacuate the remaining rebels out of Aleppo;

- Safe evacuation for all the armed groups from eastern Aleppo
- To identify safe corridors for the evacuation of the civilians and armed groups from eastern Aleppo
- The US-Russian Agreement for eastern Aleppo shall be put into effect within 48 hours
- Al Nusra will be evacuated to Idlib while other armed men can be evacuated to any other location

Have to see if the rebels agree.

Also Mateen Abo Ahmad from Al Zinki, guy who killed the Palestinian boy by cutting his head off, was captured by the SAA as he was fleeing from eastern Aleppo. Imagine the Palestinians are demanding they get him next.

Meanwhile 10 districts left in rebel hands of which the SAA is engaged in clearing 6 of them.

Fall of Palmyra can be seen as opportunity to hit daesh. When they take a city they have to concentrate their forces, were before most would probably have been scattered around in the desert and not presenting a substantial target. It is of course not good about Palmyra, but it now presents a known target and not running around in desert chasing mirage.

Interesting take of the strategic thinking of the Syrian government and it's Russian and Iranian allies;

https://elijahjm.wordpress.com/2016/12/11/iran-decision-to-move-towards-al-bab-prevailed-over-its-allies-but-why-was-allowed-in/

AmaqAgency claims they fully captured the farm areas west of #Palmyra along road to #Homs #Syria

IS is reportedly shelling T4 airbase.


Read this about T4. Battle is imminent, or so it seems...

big text a will leave a link
http://spioenkop.blogspot.rs/2015/06/fortress-t4-airbase-at-war.html

Fortress T4: An Airbase at War
[quote]

Khepesh wrote:Fall of Palmyra can be seen as opportunity to hit daesh. When they take a city they have to concentrate their forces, were before most would probably have been scattered around in the desert and not presenting a substantial target. It is of course not good about Palmyra, but it now presents a known target and not running around in desert chasing mirage.

Now that the weather has cleared they are taking a pounding from the air with the SyAF claiming several dozen vehicles destroyed today. That 4,000 must be down 20%. The problem next is to clear them back out of the city and hills. Good assault troops are rare, especially in this army.

Russia denied any agreement with US. Aleppo will be take. Soon.

Idlib next.

Story being pushed by the western media, "no comments" out of the US State department and "no deal yet" out of the Russian Foreign Affairs.

What's the latest, has Palmyra fallen yet or not??

AlfaT8 wrote:What's the latest, has Palmyra fallen yet or not??

yes it has fallen. And some surrounding areas too like a gas field.

A real stain on Russia this one is.

AlfaT8 wrote:What's the latest, has Palmyra fallen yet or not??

The city is surrounded and cleared from SAA/NDF. Airport was supposedly under fire and they've started to push towards T4.

One attempt to stop the 'second wave' at Qaratayn was a diversion and instead IS has gone under Qaratayn while the main forces of Isis is pushing towards Furqlus along road 32.

In clear from a strategic POV it doesn't make any sense. Unless ISIS is going to help out the Jihadis by cutting the M5 highway.

This (IMO) doesn't benefit ISIS but in one way which is providing them with means to defend themselves from the Turkish and SDF ops further north. Cutting the M5 will only be temporary and unlikely to be helping the Jihadis in Aleppo or Idlib.

Around 10 tanks captured by IS in 2 days.
4/6 today in Palmyra
video
http://video.jkikki.de/v/dtd11122016.mp4



And Vystrel

You know if there's a time for criticism now is the time. The NDF and SAA are a bunch of fuck offs. How do you push ISIS 7 kilometers away last night but withdraw from it the day after? Scared of casualties? Fucking imbeciles.

As well, even if there is a sandstorm, Russian cruise missiles can work in all weather. Should have been heavy bombardment. Oh well. Guess they will have to retake Palmyra again.

SeigSoloyvov wrote:

miketheterrible wrote:As well, even if there is a sandstorm, Russian cruise missiles can work in all weather. Should have been heavy bombardment. Oh well. Guess they will have to retake Palmyra again.

Cruise missiles alone wouldn't have stopped the attack.....That is a very silly thought.

would have at least possibly delay it and thin out their numbers more. But you are right.

At the end of the day ISIS reinforcements from Iraq should have been stopped in their tracks. They should have been bombed before even getting this close. The problem is not taking back Palmyra (which will happen) but its the casualties sustained in doing so, the SAA can't afford to lose more bodies. Also i fear this is being done so that ISIS can create a bigger buffer between the SAA in eastern Homs and Deir Ez Zoir so that they can make a final push on taking the city. The morale for the troops here must have dropped even more on the news that Palmyra has been taken, i feel bad for them as they have done a great job in holding out against ISIS. But time is ticking for them.

Once Aleppo is secure i am sure a force will be sent to retake Palmyra and surrounding area. Hopefully the SDF will start making even more progress towards Raqqa forcing ISIS to send majority of its forces there easing pressure on SAA fronts.