Syrian Civil War - 2017

[Skoblin]

Originally Posted by Frtigern

Because maybe he doesn't really care about destroying ISIS, so long as Russia helps him destroy the FSA. Maybe for Assad ISIS weakens the FSA and Kurds. Maybe Assad is ok with Turkey going after the FSA/SDF and Kurds? Was Turkey invited? In short, you only get invited if you support the Assad regime on who to get rid of first, although while doing have to fight against both. Maybe if he really cared about getting rid of ISIS he would have made peace with the FSA and worked together to get rid of ISIS?

1. With the exception of one small corner in SW Syria, ISIS is not engaged anywhere against the FSA.
2. Turkey is not going after the FSA. Turkey is currently allied with the FSA in northern Syria.
3. The Assad regime is not fighting against the Kurds. In fact, the Assad regime is loosely allied with the Kurds at all three Kurdish enclaves: NW Syria, NE Syria and Sheikh Maqsoud in Aleppo.
4. The Syrian army has come to an agreement with the Kurds in northern Syria to establish a security zone to protect the Kurds against attacks by Turkish and FSA forces west of Manbij.

[Gixxer86g]

A quote from the link I posted recently.....

The United States has sent about a thousand additional troops into Syria since late February. The latest of these is a U.S. Marine artillery unit (six 155mm towed howitzers that can use GPS guided shells with a range of over 40 kilometers) as well as a company of U.S. Army Rangers. Most of the American reinforcements have been special operations troops and artillery units (including at least one truck mounted MLRS HIMARS rocket launcher system. These carry one, six rocket, container. The 227mm rockets are GPS guided and have a range of over 70 kilometers. The 12 ton HIMARS truck can fit into a C-130 transport as can trucks carrying additional 227mm rockets. There are also at least six American Stryker wheeled armored vehicles in Syria, mainly to provide protection for American forward observer teams near the front line calling in air and artillery strikes for SDF forces. The Strykers are also apparently being used to make it clear to the Turks where American forces are. The rangers and artillery are there to take part in the advance on Raqqa and to prevent Turkish forces from interfering with SDF efforts. SDF has been moving towards Raqqa for over a year and insists it now has sufficient ground forces to take Raqqa, but only if the Turks leave them alone.

[GMan88]

Originally Posted by Frtigern

Because maybe he doesn't really care about destroying ISIS, so long as Russia helps him destroy the FSA. Maybe for Assad ISIS weakens the FSA and Kurds. Maybe Assad is ok with Turkey going after the FSA/SDF and Kurds? Was Turkey invited? In short, you only get invited if you support the Assad regime on who to get rid of first, although while doing have to fight against both. Maybe if he really cared about getting rid of ISIS he would have made peace with the FSA and worked together to get rid of ISIS?

Maybe, maybe, maybe. What's not maybe is, isn't it illegal to send military forces into another country's territory without permission?

[Snowygerry]

Not if they shelter "terrorist" groups

Assad should know all about foreign interventions, can you say Lebanon ?

[Skoblin]

After a four day respite, the Syrian army has resumed its operations in northern Syria against ISIS, capturing the towns of Humaymah Kabira and Humaymah Saghira. It would seem their intention now is to isolate the main ISIS-base in northern Syria: Deir Hafer.

[nikolas93TS]

What ISIS did was a schoolbook example of delaying action. Successfully withdrawing in good order from superior attacking forces is considered among the most difficult of military feats, if not the most. Especially if other units have already been routed. They pulled the most of their depleted forces from Al-Bab, deployed them on more favourable defensive terrain and significantly reduced the length of the frontline. Dayr Hafir amd Jirah are two pivots of the new "balcony", with Shubayt hills forming the other. The bulk of their forces got an opportunity to rest and regroup after months of heavy fighting, and in meanwhile they could have been bolstered by some Jund al-Aqsa soldiers.

Tiger forces also need some rest, and a chance to prepare a new attack. If they succeed in piercing new ISIS defensive line, ISIS will need to pull back all way to Tabqa. Manbij plain is currently an important strategic objective, as it is a part of bread basket of Syria. The government could apparently afford only one-third of the wheat it had planned to purchase for the month of January. In fact, Damascus' cash crunch kept it from finalizing a deal for a much-needed 1 million-metric ton wheat shipment from Russia at a 20% discount. The offer reveals Russia's interest in helping the Syrian government get back on its feet — one that Damascus lacked the funds to take advantage of. But other countries are lining up to cash in on Syria's eventual reconstruction, especially Iran, but Damascus still need a degree of autonomy, particularly with gas and wheat, to maintain services (therefore loyalty) in regime-held areas.

[eddie3rar]

Interesting story. $500million cash ransom payment, Fuaa and Kafraya, Qatar, Nusra Front. Got a bit of everything.

http://www.unz.com/pcockburn/iraq-se...al-kidnappers/

[Daemon of Decay]

[Karri]

What's happening there, some updates please??

[JML]

Rebels are fighting among themselves while SAA slowly advances. Turkey bombs Kurds while Kurds fight ISIS. Pretty much usual Middle Easterns cluster****.

Besides that only thing noteworthy is that Kurds/SDF have nearly captured Tabqa town and dam near Raqqa.

[eddie3rar]

Looks lethal

https://www.liveleak.com/view?i=a69_1495044222

[GMan88]

Originally Posted by eddie3rar

Looks lethal

https://www.liveleak.com/view?i=a69_1495044222

Good video. I wish they'd included what happened when the smoke cleared. Now I'm curious if those tanks survived the explosions.

[Vaeltaja]

What is your take on the recent news on US strike on Assad's troops (either militia or army, unclear currently which)? http://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-aircr...-al-tanf-base/

[nikolas93TS]

Originally Posted by Karri

What's happening there, some updates please??

Al-Qaboun evacuation follows more than two months of heavy fighting between government and opposition forces for control of the small district, which lies just a few hundred meters from rebel-controlled East Ghouta, the last major besieged rebel enclave on the outskirts of the capital. Al-Qaboun, along with the adjacent opposition districts of Tishreen and Barzeh, had long been a crucial entry point for food and supplies into East Ghouta via a network of rebel-built, underground smuggling tunnels connecting the two areas. To make matters worse for rebels in East Ghouta, infighting erupted between two major Islamic groups.

Near Palmyra, Assad forces are steadily gaining ground, both in Eastern Homs near T4 airbase, as well in Arak direction, east of Palmyra. While securing vital gas fields, they are also establishing a solid foothold for planned advance on Deir-al-Zoir, with the parallel intent of curbing the expansion of US-trained and funded rebels with the Free Syrian Army faction Maghawir a-Thawra (MAT), formerly known as New Syrian Army.

ISIS's offensive in December 2016 proved to be their likely last successful attempt on reversing fortunes. Raqqa is surrounded by all means and purposes, and their counterattacks elsewhere were met with rapid failure (including few on Assad forces on Aleppo corridor). Mosul will fall in a matter of days, Iraqis are also slowly advancing towards Syria border and Tiger Force resumed advance in Northeast Aleppo plans after stopping and reversing rebel offensive in North Hama.

[JML]

According to Syrian Civil War Map‏ SDF has entered in to eastern district of Raqqa. SDF announced today that operation to capture Raqqa has started.