Syrian War: News #14

Latakia is under a ceasefire (of sorts) and is FSA, while the focus presently is to clear out the ISIS forces. I think the SAA have enough on their plates without opening more fronts.

KomissarBojanchev wrote:

Big_Gazza wrote:

KomissarBojanchev wrote:Why isnt the SAA steadily advancing in the easier barren East Hama terrain unlike in the nightmarish mountains of Latakia?

Cuz they are facing 1000s of dug-in and fortified and well-stocked ISIS terrorists maybe?

Northern Latakia also had almost 10000 jihadists in extremely fortified heavily forested mountains with very little infrastructure.

Because command and whole SAA structure on that front is corrupt, and shit. We all saw that in rebel offensives on North Hama 2012/2013/1014/2015/2016 and 2017...
And now in east Hama...


Words from Another #SAA #SyrianArmy #SyrianArabArmy Soldier About the Shitty Situation of Eastern



SAA is advancing from south



and north.
Syrian Army liberates Jabab Marina from ISIS. East Ithriya garrison
Great map and this is 100% true. Sadly, we captured it two days ago, but a Da'esh counter-attack resulted in the death of 20 soldiers
https://twitter.com/leithfadel/status/894172023160807424

Once you get past the Tiger Force, Republican Guard units, 4th Division and the 5th Corps , the SAA is not very strong.

The problem with SAA and other arab armies is in commanding officers and overall structure of command chain.
If we look at the Tigers and at RG they are all the same man, but command is competent. The problem is in "Family employment" and that they need to choose someone who is loyal or who is part of their clan. Over someone who is competent in leading an army into battle.

Normal countries do not have this problem, because they are fighting external enemy. But Syria and other arab "semi/full dictatorships", where enemy is within and society is tearing apart that is reality. All this is leading to massive casualties, casualties that are way over the number that is required for some battles.

franco wrote:Once you get past the Tiger Force, Republican Guard units, 4th Division and the 5th Corps , the SAA is not very strong.

this is a general issue. I imagine the Russians are going to help expand the 5th corps and tiger forces eventually with well trained men, and Iran will probably do so for other units.

I'm curious if any major training facilities for SAA special forces units have been set up in western Syria? I mean, Russian PMC's are supposedly in Syria assisting, so it would make more sense to get these PMC's to run a logistics and training center in order to help build up a formidable force for Syria. A lot better option than going out and doing the job themselves. I can imagine there are at least some men the SAA can recall back to train, and then replace other units for training once the last ones training is complete.

Command is everything, i am sure that they have competent SF, or soldiers. Tiger(hasan) cannot lead more man than he already have.

In addition to your comments. As in the offense being undertaken in Raqqah right now. A lot of people don't realize that although the Tiger Force is small (~2,000), they are used strictly for assault purposes and are assisted by a force of ~8,000 SAA and NDF (tribal fighters). Covering the lines, flanks, mopping up and other support roles. Actually very similar to the way an old Roman Legion fought.

Syrian Civil War Map‏ @CivilWarMap 6h6 hours ago

Syrian Democratic Forces fully captured Hisham Ibn Abdulmalik district in Raqqa

^^
Yes, acc to Ivan, 4000 tribal fighter are in Raqqa area.

And this, they are all defending the flanks.
SAA/RG and others fighting off is around Resaf for days now. And that is just around Resaf, front is wide...

Aug 2


Jul 26



Dead Daesh killed by SyrianRepublicanGuard 124th Brigade near Resafa
18+
Jul 23
https://twitter.com/IvanSidorenko1/status/889226727284670464

24th Brigade announce 7 Martyrs this morning due to FIERCE Daesh Attack @ Resafa
Jul 18


Sometimes those Tribal fighters are storming villages to. But they have big casualties. 20 kia per village. So far numbers are around 500 IS KIA, and around 200 on SAA side.
That is the number that is circulating online, not confirmed.

BEIRUT, LEBANON (5:25 P.M.) – The Islamic State (ISIL) launched a desperate offensive near the strategic city of Al-Sukhnah, Monday, targeting the Syrian Arab Army’s (SAA) positions north of their former stronghold.

ISIL began the offensive by storming the small hilltops located north of the Al-Sukhnah; this would result in a series of clashes that would last for two hours.

Unable to penetrate the Syrian Army’s defenses, the terrorist group was forced to withdraw their remaining forces from the front-lines in order to avoid a high casualty count.

According to a military source in eastern Homs, the Syrian Army killed well over 20 Islamic State terrorists on Monday, including several foreign combatants.

This failed offensive will likely be the Islamic State’s last attempt to recover Al-Sukhnah, as the Syrian Army has been quickly securing all flanks around the city.

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/isils-counter-offensive-near-sukhnah-ends-disaster/

https://southfront.org/syrian-war-report-august-7-2017-sukhna-liberated-army-continues-advance/

ISIS DEPLOYS LARGE REINFORCEMENTS TO RETAKE SUKHNA FROM ARMY

ISIS has reportedly deployed large reinforcements, including experienced infantry and technicals, from the terrorist group’s strong points in the eastern Salamiyah countryside in order to launch a counter-attack and to retake the strategic town of Sukhna from the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and its allies.

According to reports, a notable ISIS force is still deployed in the hills north of Sukhna. The terrorists use this area to coordinate artillery strikes on government troops inside the town. At the same time, a high number of IEDs and a threat of suicide bombing attacks don’t allow government forces to secure the Sukhna countryside.

On Monday, the SAA and allies repelled few ISIS attacks in the Sukhna area, but sporadic clashes continued appearing near the town.

If ISIS is able to deploy reinforcements and to re-group before the SAA secures the town and nearby hills, the terrorists will likely have a chance to take Sukhna back. The situation remains tense.

https://southfront.org/isis-deploys-large-reinforcements-retake-sukhna-army/

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I wonder how large those reinforcements are and how they would look like, like more rooftop snipers, more VBIEDs, or large convoys of technicals.

Benya wrote:ISIS DEPLOYS LARGE REINFORCEMENTS TO RETAKE SUKHNA FROM ARMY

ISIS has reportedly deployed large reinforcements, including experienced infantry and technicals, from the terrorist group’s strong points in the eastern Salamiyah countryside in order to launch a counter-attack and to retake the strategic town of Sukhna from the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and its allies.

According to reports, a notable ISIS force is still deployed in the hills north of Sukhna. The terrorists use this area to coordinate artillery strikes on government troops inside the town. At the same time, a high number of IEDs and a threat of suicide bombing attacks don’t allow government forces to secure the Sukhna countryside.

On Monday, the SAA and allies repelled few ISIS attacks in the Sukhna area, but sporadic clashes continued appearing near the town.

If ISIS is able to deploy reinforcements and to re-group before the SAA secures the town and nearby hills, the terrorists will likely have a chance to take Sukhna back. The situation remains tense.

https://southfront.org/isis-deploys-large-reinforcements-retake-sukhna-army/

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I wonder how large those reinforcements are and how they would look like, like more rooftop snipers, more VBIEDs, or large convoys of technicals.

Problem for ISIS is the more they gather stuff the easier they are to bomb they have no AA defenses to protect them, plus we have heard nothing about this from out spots here.

This is most likely just a PR stunt.

It seems most ISIS from Al Sukhnah have fled to Deir to try and capture it.
https://mobile.almasdarnews.com/article/isil-reinforcements-enter-deir-ezzor-launch-big-offensive/

From yesterday. SDF getting the job done in Raqqa.

Posted as it is an impressive bang! No indication of what caused it but probably not spontaneous combustion.

24 Resistance Axis‏ @Syria_Hezb_Iran 3h3 hours ago

BREAKING: 5 militants killed & many wounded in huge explosion of ammunition & missiles depot in west #Daraa al-Balad




Also, last night


Leith Abou Fadel‏ @leithfadel 12h12 hours ago

East Damascus right now. Unreal.

Posted about this in the Iraq thread by mistake

BAGHDAD (AP) — A powerful Iraqi Shiite militia said Tuesday that at least 40 of its militiamen were killed in an attack the previous day on its positions across the border in Syria. The militia blamed the U.S.-led coalition for the assault but the Islamic State group claimed its fighters had targeted the militiamen.

The deputy head of the militia, known as Kattaib Sayeed al-Shuhadaa, accused U.S. forces of carrying out the early Monday assault. The Baghdad-based spokesman of the U.S.-led coalition, Army Col. Ryan Dillon, dismissed the allegation, saying on Twitter that no coalition airstrikes took place in the area at the time.

According to the militia’s deputy, Ahmed al-Maksousi, they were hit by artillery fire in Syria’s Jamouna area, about 12 kilometers (about 7.5 miles) from the Iraqi border.

He said the attack was launched from around Iraq’s city of Mosul, recently recaptured by Iraqi forces from the Islamic State group, and was followed by an on-the-ground assault by S militants. Along with 40 killed, at least 30 militiamen were wounded, al-Maksousi added.

The militia vowed “this act will not pass without punishment.”

In an online statement, IS said it staged a three-pronged attack that included a suicide bombing, followed by fighters storming the militiamen’s positions. The group added that one IS fighter was captured.

Several Iran-backed Iraqi Shiite militias have been fighting in Syria alongside Syrian government troops.

https://apnews.com/3fa70c3b105140b88c7062a32f138678

Decent bit of up armouring, not a one off.

"ARMY AND ALLIED FORCES ADVANCE IN DAMASCUS DESERT, LIBERATE MORE AREAS (VIDEO)."



https://southfront.org/army-and-allied-forces-advance-in-damascus-desert-liberate-more-areas-video/

The crew had no chance. 2S1 direct hit to the side from a TOW. But what was a 2S1 doing so close to the front lines? I know in the past some were used against buildings using anti armour rounds.

https://mobile.almasdarnews.com/article/video-syrian-army-tank-gets-blown-smithereens-missile-attack-east-damascus/

d_taddei2 wrote:The crew had no chance. 2S1 direct hit to the side from a TOW. But what was a 2S1 doing so close to the front lines? I know in the past some were used against buildings using anti armour rounds.

https://mobile.almasdarnews.com/article/video-syrian-army-tank-gets-blown-smithereens-missile-attack-east-damascus/

Syrians lack adequate fire support vehicles. So that role is mostly filled by Gvozdikas which cope quite badly.

JohninMK wrote:Decent bit of up armouring, not a one off.

Seems they had bad experience with counter-battery at some point with these.

Surely if they had such a bad problem with fire support that Russia would have supplied some vehicles shilka, tanks, Afv, zu-23-2, Konkurs, brdm -2 with at-5/at-6 and 120mm mortars ideal or urban areas

d_taddei2 wrote:The crew had no chance. 2S1 direct hit to the side from a TOW. But what was a 2S1 doing so close to the front lines? I know in the past some were used against buildings using anti armour rounds.

https://mobile.almasdarnews.com/article/video-syrian-army-tank-gets-blown-smithereens-missile-attack-east-damascus/

Using them for direct fire, like this...