Syrian Civil War: News #5

Britain’s Royal Air Force (RAF) carried out several air strikes against Daesh militants in Syria on Sunday, deploying its Brimstone missiles for the first time there, according to a spokeswoman for Prime Minister David Cameron. "We saw five new attacks by RAF forces in Syria, targeting a Daesh (ISIS/ISIL) vehicle near Raqqa, enemy tunnels also near Raqqa and the Omar oil field. As part of these strikes the Brimstone missiles were also deployed," Reuters quotes the spokeswoman as telling reporters.

Britain joined the US-led coalition in implementing air strikes against the jihadist group in Syria late last year but has been reportedly criticized for conducting few operations, which largely targeted oil fields. Britain says its Brimstone missiles, which are designed to hit fast-moving targets and have already been used by Britain's Tornado jets in Afghanistan, Libya and Iraq, should bolster the fight against Daesh by delivering so-called surgical strikes that minimize civilian casualties.

Asked whether these latest missions indicated the UK was stepping up its fight against Daesh in Syria, Prime Minister's spokeswoman said: "This is part of the ongoing operation and work we are doing with coalition partners to defeat Daesh in Iraq and Syria. We have always been clear that it is going to take time and require patience and persistence, but it reflects the fact that where we identify targets and an ability to strike them, we will do all we can to tackle Daesh."

Read more: http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160111/1032949755/uk-syria-daesh-airstrikes.html#ixzz3wyHQv400

NEW MAP: Military situation in eastern #Aleppo Governorate. #SAA captured 'Ayishah #Syria #SAA #NDF #IslamicState

https://twitter.com/PetoLucem/status/686326348927922177







#Syria #Aleppo #WesternAleppo #SyAAF #RuAF intensify raids on militant positions @ Ma'arat al-Artiq & Kafr Hamra

https://twitter.com/IvanSidorenko1/status/686432465750077441







#SAA continues their offensive in #Shaykh #Miskin , capturing 12 new building south of Army Brigade 82 HQ #Syria #Russia #RuAF

https://twitter.com/Ibra_Joudeh/status/686531853910716416






Situation worsens for insurgents in #Aleppo: #SAA launched another offensive in order to recapture western suburbs.

https://twitter.com/PetoLucem/status/686584807644618752

SAA has taken control of Tartiyah, closing in on Salma, Latakia province

Also here is the map showing the result of the first day of Rashidin operation in Aleppo city

Aldin_Aba wrote:SAA has taken control of Tartiyah, closing in on Salma, Latakia province

Also here is the map showing the result of the first day of Rashidin operation in Aleppo city

Good idea using a Google "sat" map like that, makes it much easier to gauge how difficult the operation is.

Erk wrote:

Aldin_Aba wrote:SAA has taken control of Tartiyah, closing in on Salma, Latakia province

Also here is the map showing the result of the first day of Rashidin operation in Aleppo city

Good idea using a Google "sat" map like that, makes it much easier to gauge how difficult the operation is.

Looks like we have gained an interesting asset in Aldin.

Thanks guys and btw Salma has fallen

Isn't Salma that town in the mountains that looked as if it would take months to take?

JohninMK wrote:Isn't Salma that town in the mountains that looked as if it would take months to take?

Yes, this morning Syrian army launched diversionary attack and take Tathiriyah, then the main attack followed from direction of Durin. SAA is now inside Salma, some small resistance on northern outskirts.

JohninMK wrote:Isn't Salma that town in the mountains that looked as if it would take months to take?

Yes, Russia bombasted the place. SAA got from behind.

KoTeMoRe wrote:

JohninMK wrote:Isn't Salma that town in the mountains that looked as if it would take months to take?

Yes, Russia bombasted the place. SAA got from behind.

I will post the map tonight.

JohninMK wrote:Isn't Salma that town in the mountains that looked as if it would take months to take?

Yeap and it did.

About 3 months to conquer with SAA "at its gates" for a while even before the Russian intervention. The entire front in Latakia had to be completely re-adjusted at 3 locations, rebel supply lines were smashed by RuAF month after month. And only then it got infiltrated. Not unreasonable at all, It's a town-sized mountainous fortress with 3+ years head start in digging-in deep. On one direction it is similar situation to Monte Cassino from WW2 (not its altitude though).

Aldin_Aba wrote:

JohninMK wrote:Isn't Salma that town in the mountains that looked as if it would take months to take?

Yes, this morning Syrian army launched diversionary attack and take Tathiriyah, then the main attack followed from direction of Durin. SAA is now inside Salma, some small resistance on northern outskirts.

Interesting news, SAA has been emboldened since September.
Bdama, now that's the big prize, then on to Jisr Soukur.

Rami Abdel Rahman makes sad face...

''Syrian army 'enters rebel bastion in Latakia province' ''

http://news.yahoo.com/syrian-army-enters-rebel-bastion-latakia-province-monitor-110734427.html

Congratulations for liberating Salma. Good job RuAF and Syrian army. I hope they will now faste liberate this important mountain region of northern Latakia and than strike downhill against Aleppo and cut the terrorists from Turkish border.

@AboZain6, in Salma:


not a single fvck was given

On to some celebrity news from Syrian revolution.
Remember that journalist Hadi Alabdalah?


here with then Ahrar alsham leader (AQ affiliate)

Or Raed Fares, handler of poster folk (men only, pro-Ahrar alsham) from Kafranbel?


transl. “Ahrar al-Sham movement, you will feel the warmth of the people’s embrace, your path is their path and it seems you are on your way to them”

...Turns out their bearded allies in AQ needed some cash and abducted them both.

2 days ago - 35°36′N 36°33′E
Nusra have reportedly kidnapped the activists Hadi al-Abdallah (@HadiAlabdallah) and Raed Fares (@RaedFares4) in Kafranbel. #Syria #Idlib

http://syria.liveuamap.com/en/2016/10-january-nusra-have-reportedly-kidnapped-the-activists

and then released after this.. an alleged fb post violation..

@BBassem7
The only reason you Hadi and Raed were released after Hadi signed a paper that Raed committed a Sharia violation with his post.

https://twitter.com/BBassem7/status/686272294746898432

My take is a good sum of petrodollars was transferred to the group's account, throw in a few kgs of captagon to be safe.
Anyhow back to the important stuff, Latakia (Salma area) and Al Ghab front after the town of Salma fell:

[quote="KiloGolf"]On to some celebrity news from Syrian revolution.
Remember that journalist Hadi Alabdalah?

here with then Ahrar alsham leader (AQ affiliate)

Ahrar Al-Sham and Jabhat Al-Nusra are not the same groups, he had good relations with both.. Here is him with guys that captured him.


They where arrested for disagreement with JN about what are they broadcasting on their radio station.

Liberating Salma is an amazing achievement. Just a week ago I remember looking at a map and thinking that it's probably going to take a while before Salma is liberated. Congratulations to the VKS and the SAA. Great news!

Aldin_Aba wrote:Ahrar Al-Sham and Jabhat Al-Nusra are not the same groups

Hence what I said, AQ affiliate.
They work together, so one could even claim their reported difference is just semantics in that particular war.

Wait, Raad_Saa is a "Kafranbel hose"? I think there's a problem there, Raad_Saa if abducted would have been skinned alive given what he's been posting on the "Rebels".

As i promised its a map time. Salma attack today unfolded in 3 phases. All 3 phases conducted with RuAF support
1st phase was diversionary attack on Tathiriyah with artillery support from Kadim hills.

2nd phase started when Tathiriyah was captured, with most of rebel units still on other side trying to fend of attack SAA unit Suqur Al-Sahra with NDF and artillery support from Durin mountain secure Salma suburbs and sorounding hills hour after attack started

3rd phase was assault on village itself from the suburb direction and mountains above Salma center, Syrian army units in Tathiriyah and artillery from Kadim keep rebel forces busy inside Marj Khawka.

KoTeMoRe wrote:Wait, Raad_Saa is a "Kafranbel hose"? I think there's a problem there, Raad_Saa if abducted would have been skinned alive given what he's been posting on the "Rebels".

You mean like... Raad_Saa = RaedFares4 ?
Maybe some people are above and beyond those perceived"differences" between such groups. Hence, lumping them all may not be such a bad idea afterall. Maybe these differences lack the substance we tend to give them and do not go beyond a group logo and some twitter accounts.

Aldin_Aba wrote:As i promised its a map time. Salma attack today unfolded in 3 phases. All 3 phases conducted with RuAF support
1st phase was diversionary attack on Tathiriyah with artillery support from Kadim hills.

2nd phase started when Tathiriyah was captured, with most of rebel units still on other side trying to fend of attack SAA unit Suqur Al-Sahra with NDF and artillery support from Durin mountain secure Salma suburbs and sorounding hills hour after attack started

3rd phase was assault on village itself from the suburb direction and mountains above Salma center, Syrian army units in Tathiriyah and artillery from Kadim keep rebel forces busy inside Marj Khawka.

What happened to the defenders? Was the quick final collapse down to fleeing to fight another day?

JohninMK wrote:

Aldin_Aba wrote:As i promised its a map time. Salma attack today unfolded in 3 phases. All 3 phases conducted with RuAF support
1st phase was diversionary attack on Tathiriyah with artillery support from Kadim hills.

2nd phase started when Tathiriyah was captured, with most of rebel units still on other side trying to fend of attack SAA unit Suqur Al-Sahra with NDF and artillery support from Durin mountain secure Salma suburbs and sorounding hills hour after attack started

3rd phase was assault on village itself from the suburb direction and mountains above Salma center, Syrian army units in Tathiriyah and artillery from Kadim keep rebel forces busy inside Marj Khawka.

What happened to the defenders? Was the quick final collapse down to fleeing to fight another day?

Fled to fight another day, one of the major group fled after Syrian forces took Tathiriyah, others where cornered in northern sector and doomed.

Aldin_Aba wrote:

JohninMK wrote:

Aldin_Aba wrote:As i promised its a map time. Salma attack today unfolded in 3 phases. All 3 phases conducted with RuAF support
1st phase was diversionary attack on Tathiriyah with artillery support from Kadim hills.

2nd phase started when Tathiriyah was captured, with most of rebel units still on other side trying to fend of attack SAA unit Suqur Al-Sahra with NDF and artillery support from Durin mountain secure Salma suburbs and sorounding hills hour after attack started

3rd phase was assault on village itself from the suburb direction and mountains above Salma center, Syrian army units in Tathiriyah and artillery from Kadim keep rebel forces busy inside Marj Khawka.

What happened to the defenders? Was the quick final collapse down to fleeing to fight another day?

Fled to fight another day, one of the major group fled after Syrian forces took Tathiriyah, others where cornered in northern sector and doomed.

If they fled it's either a sign of collapse or they've been building up stronger positions up north (question is where?).