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    Syrian War: News #12

    JohninMK
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    Post  JohninMK Sat May 20, 2017 2:02 pm

    calm wrote:Once more, great article from Elijah

    Has Russia asked Hezbollah to leave Syria?

    Excellent and very interesting analysis, thanks for posting it. Here is another view from the US



    WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States has proposed to Russia a plan for managing an increasingly complex battlefield in Syria’s main oil-producing region, where U.S.-backed forces fighting Islamic extremists are in conflict with Russian-backed Syrian forces.

    Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford declined to describe the proposal in detail, but said the Russian military is eager to find ways to avoid an armed U.S.-Russian conflict in the area around Deir el-Zour on the Euphrates River. The U.S. sees that area, from Deir el-Zour down the Euphrates River Valley to al-Qaim on the Iraqi side of the border, as the next major battleground in the evolving coalition campaign to destroy the Islamic State group. “We have a proposal that we’re working on with the Russians right now,” Dunford said at a news conference with Defense Secretary Jim Mattis. “I won’t share the details, but my sense is that the Russians are as enthusiastic as we are to de-conflict operations and ensure that we continue to take the campaign to ISIS and ensure the safety of our personnel.” Asked whether the proposal to Russia would address the problem of a Syrian army presence in Deir el-Zour, Dunford said, “It will. It will. And we’ve talked about that as a specific area that requires” avoiding U.S.-Russian conflict.

    Russia’s support for the Syrian government is a complicating factor in the battle to rid Syria of IS. That was demonstrated on Thursday when the U.S. bombed a contingent of pro-Syrian government forces in southeastern Syria that Mattis said were advancing in a threatening way toward a rebel camp near the Jordanian border where U.S. advisers were present. Mattis told reporters those forces targeted by airstrikes were “Iranian-directed forces.”

    Russia on Friday denounced the U.S. airstrike. “Whatever the reason for the U.S. strike was, it was illegitimate and marked another flagrant violation of Syria’s sovereignty,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in Cyprus.

    Three years into America’s campaign, President Donald Trump is pushing for an accelerated campaign to destroy IS. He hasn’t yet announced results of a strategy review he ordered from the Pentagon in late January. But Mattis said Friday that Trump approved a recommendation for a “tactical shift” toward surrounding IS militants in their strongholds, such as the Syrian city of Raqqa, so that the foreign fighters among them cannot return to their home countries.

    “By taking the time up front to surround these locations, instead of simply shoving them from one to another and actually reinforcing them as they fall back ... we now take the time to surround them,” Mattis said. “And why do we do it? Because the foreign fighters are the strategic threat should they return home to Tunis, to Kuala Lumpur, to Paris, to Detroit, wherever. Those foreign fighters are a threat. So by taking the time to de-conflict, to surround and then attack, we carry out the annihilation campaign so we don’t simply transplant this problem from one location to another.”

    Much fighting remains to fully expel IS from Mosul in northern Iraq, and the battle for Raqqa has barely begun.

    But the follow-on battle lines are already clear. They will be drawn from Deir el-Zour, which has come under increasing U.S. aerial bombardment, to the western Iraqi city of al-Qaim. The Pentagon refers to this area as the Middle Euphrates River Valley. IS leaders and operatives have gravitated there in apparent anticipation of losing Mosul and Raqqa.

    The coalition bombed an IS fighting unit and an IS vehicle near Deir el-Zour on Thursday. U.S. Central Command on Friday also mentioned five airstrikes targeting IS oil infrastructure near Abu Kamal, the Syrian city across the border from Iraq’s al-Qaim.

    Post-Mosul and post-Raqqa, the intent will be to militarily squeeze this stretch of territory from each end, according to U.S. officials.

    American forces would support a group of Syrian Arab and Kurdish fighters known as the Syrian Democratic Forces driving southeast along the Euphrates from Raqqa toward Deir el-Zour, said the officials, who weren’t authorized to speak publicly on the military details and demanded anonymity. At the same time, Iraqi government forces, also supported by U.S. advisers and airpower, would advance toward al-Qaim. A separate U.S.-backed group of Syrian rebels would push up from the south to block IS escape routes, the U.S. officials said. Deir el-Zour presents an especially tricky challenge because the Syrian military has a base there and the U.S. has avoided tangling with Syrian President Bashar Assad’s forces other than an April 7 cruise missile strike.

    The overall outlook is further clouded by the Syrian government’s announcement this month of a new military push aimed at reasserting its authority in east, including in Deir el-Zour and the remote desert area near Syria’s borders with Jordan and Iraq. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem said last week “the main goal” is to reach Deir el-Zour, an oil-producing region that was largely captured by IS during its great expansion of territory three years ago.

    While the Middle Euphrates River Valley corridor may be the next key battleground, U.S. officials believe it will not be the last. There are other pockets of extremist control in Iraq, including Hawija, west of Kirkuk.


    https://apnews.com/47f1309c2b614cc5863cb70399d09ea1
    calm
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    Syrian War: News #12 - Page 40 Empty Re: Syrian War: News #12

    Post  calm Sat May 20, 2017 2:45 pm

    calm wrote:East Sweida
    Syrian War: News #12 - Page 40 DAQ6uu5XcAA9gTf

    Visit by Major General Zahereddine to Sweida, met with Druze figures
    Syrian War: News #12 - Page 40 DARSettVwAAPKle

    General Issam Zahreddine visited Jabal Sheikh (Mount Hermon) on Friday. He was given a hero's welcome by the people there
    Syrian War: News #12 - Page 40 DAOblvmV0AAtIwo



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    Post  ultimatewarrior Sat May 20, 2017 2:58 pm

    First IS needs to be destroyed. After that, if the US still does not leave Syria, then be my guest. PMU will kill them in Syria just like what happened in Iraq.
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    Post  Benya Sat May 20, 2017 3:26 pm

    SYRIAN ARMY TAKES CONTROL OF LARGE CHUNK OF SYRIAN-JORDANIAN BORDER

    Syrian War: News #12 - Page 40 Screenshot_2-2

    Syrian government forces, led by Druze militias and members of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party (SSNP) military wing, have regained a large chunk of the Syrian-Jordanian border from the joint militant forces supported by the US-led coalition.

    Government forces have reportedly captured a major part of the Zalaf area east of Suweida and continued advance in order to increase pressure on US-backed militants in the border area of al-Tanaf.

    No major settlements are located at the Syrian-Jordanian border. Thus, if the US-led coalition does not use force against Syrian troops, the Syrian Army, the SSNP, Druze militias and other pro-government units will likely reach the southern countryside of al-Tanaf without heavy clashes. Jaish Maghaweer Al-Thawra, a main US-backced militant group operating in the area, just does not have enough manpower to stop the government advance.

    Source: Arrow https://southfront.org/syrian-army-takes-control-of-large-chunk-of-syrian-jordanian-border/
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    Post  JohninMK Sat May 20, 2017 5:12 pm

    If correct it looks like the SAA are on the move cautiously east again.

    BEIRUT, LEBANON (4:00 P.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA), alongside the National Defense Forces (NDF), resumed their wide-scale offensive in the southern countryside of Palmyra, Saturday, targeting the Islamic State’s (ISIL) positions near Mount ‘Abtar.

    Led by their 5th Corps and 18th Tank Division, the Syrian Arab Army attempted to push southwest of Mount ‘Abtar this morning, resulting in a series of intense clashes with the Islamic State militants in the area.

    While their gains have been limited thus far, the army, along with the Russian and Syrian air forces, have managed to inflict heavy damage on the Islamic State’s defenses in the area, forcing the latter to abandon some points for safety.

    Most of the terrain south of Palmyra is wide-open desert, with several mountain chains that provide the Islamic State much needed defensive posts to protect their positions from the Syrian government forces.

    Due to this terrain, the Syrian Arab Army has been forced to take their time in this region in order to avoid suffering heavy casualties and the loss of important military equipment.


    https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syrian-army-resumes-offensive-southern-palmyra/
    SeigSoloyvov
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    Post  SeigSoloyvov Sat May 20, 2017 5:16 pm

    I shouldn't be on here but figured you guys would like this news, I can confirm Russian SU-30's are escorting the SAA all the way

    https://southfront.org/syrian-army-is-in-20-km-from-al-tanf-town-controlled-by-us-led-forces-reports/
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    Post  JohninMK Sat May 20, 2017 5:21 pm

    Benya wrote:
    Syrian government forces, led by Druze militias and members of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party (SSNP) military wing, have regained a large chunk of the Syrian-Jordanian border from the joint militant forces supported by the US-led coalition.

    Government forces have reportedly captured a major part of the Zalaf area east of Suweida and continued advance in order to increase pressure on US-backed militants in the border area of al-Tanaf.

    No major settlements are located at the Syrian-Jordanian border. Thus, if the US-led coalition does not use force against Syrian troops, the Syrian Army, the SSNP, Druze militias and other pro-government units will likely reach the southern countryside of al-Tanaf without heavy clashes. Jaish Maghaweer Al-Thawra, a main US-backced militant group operating in the area, just does not have enough manpower to stop the government advance.

    Source: Arrow https://southfront.org/syrian-army-takes-control-of-large-chunk-of-syrian-jordanian-border/

    Looks like the Russians are very involved in the south, on the ground as well, as Seig say, in the air and they are taking another lesson out of the Americans book, embed your guys to protect everyone.

    Fedor Federov @leithfadel 34m34 minutes ago

    Russian officers are at the Iraqi border front. A Russian officer is pictured near the Al-Seen Airbase in east Damascus.


    Syrian War: News #12 - Page 40 DARv8ZKUQAARs-v


    Also

    Fedor Federov‏ @leithfadel 39m39 minutes ago

    A Syrian military source told me today that the Zarqa advance did not happen. There was an advance, but not that far.
    calm
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    Post  calm Sat May 20, 2017 5:38 pm

    SeigSoloyvov wrote:I shouldn't be on here but figured you guys would like this news, I can confirm Russian SU-30's are escorting the SAA all the way

    https://southfront.org/syrian-army-is-in-20-km-from-al-tanf-town-controlled-by-us-led-forces-reports/

    That is unconfirmed. Only southfront mention that, sounds more like morale boost. They have used to do that in their articles.
    calm
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    Post  calm Sat May 20, 2017 5:40 pm

    JohninMK wrote:
    Fedor Federov @leithfadel 34m34 minutes ago

    Russian officers are at the Iraqi border front. A Russian officer is pictured near the Al-Seen Airbase in east Damascus.


    Syrian War: News #12 - Page 40 DARv8ZKUQAARs-v


    Russian are present there, in that base, since months ago. Nothing new in that.

    SeigSoloyvov
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    Post  SeigSoloyvov Sat May 20, 2017 5:43 pm

    calm wrote:
    SeigSoloyvov wrote:I shouldn't be on here but figured you guys would like this news, I can confirm Russian SU-30's are escorting the SAA all the way

    https://southfront.org/syrian-army-is-in-20-km-from-al-tanf-town-controlled-by-us-led-forces-reports/

    That is unconfirmed. Only southfront mention that, sounds more like morale boost. They have used to do that in their articles.

    The part of them being that close to Tan-if is unknown, I heard mixed things. heard they managed to get that far but got pushed back in a counter attack.

    The jet's, however, was the main point
    JohninMK
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    Post  JohninMK Sat May 20, 2017 5:48 pm

    SeigSoloyvov wrote:I shouldn't be on here but figured you guys would like this news, I can confirm Russian SU-30's are escorting the SAA all the way

    https://southfront.org/syrian-army-is-in-20-km-from-al-tanf-town-controlled-by-us-led-forces-reports/

    Thanks for that and the link which has some interesting comments. A map from that link.

    If this is correct it looks like the SAA will get to the border now if the US seems to be moving their FSA people north east out of the way, This will definitely block any remaining supplies heading over the border in that area.

    From other information there seems to be more SAA forces heading towards them up the border from the south west (not on the map) this has the potential of sealing the border with Jordan, cutting off more supply routes. If completed, these moves rather than just rushing east from Palmyra, are starting to make strategic sense as the Syrians/Russians will be well aware that there is a real chance that the SDF is going to be bogged down in Raqqa for a while yet. They may even take serious losses which might affect their will to go further, on to Deir.

    Intriguingly, this could open up the possibility of overland convoys of stuff and troops from Iran rather than flying it in. The US and Israel will love that! Better get the SAM trucks ready.

    Syrian War: News #12 - Page 40 Screenshot_1-2


    Thanks Calm I missed that. Nothing wrong with a morale boost, we will just have to wait to see what the Coalition does to see if my suppositions come true.
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    Post  PapaDragon Sat May 20, 2017 7:42 pm


    What is the situation with that crossroad southwest of Palmyra? Looks like something that should be a priority given that it's a desert out there?
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    Post  PapaDragon Sat May 20, 2017 9:30 pm

    Syrian War: News #12 - Page 40 P3Rrh4k

    Syrian War: News #12 - Page 40 DAS1rCyUAAA4P0L
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    Post  par far Sat May 20, 2017 10:29 pm

    calm wrote:
    eehnie wrote:
    Lol, pure trolling. Pure non-sense. Conceding the Kurds to the US and painting them as opposed to Russia and Iran, worrying by the advance near Israel (see South of Syria). Well, too obvious pro-Israeli propaganda, like always from him.


    You need to understand that Russia needs peace and stability in SYria after this war. Iran and increasing presence of of them around Damascus will just increase number of airstrikes for Israelis.
    And no, Russia will not attack Israel becouse of some crazy Arab-Jewish conflict of fanatics, Russia have better things to do.



    full article
    http://foreignpolicy.com/2017/05/04/putin-has-a-new-secret-weapon-in-syria-chechens/
    The quiet deployment of roughly 1,000 Muslim special forces from Russia’s southern regions shows that Moscow is serious about upping its ground game in Syria.

    Moscow is actually expanding its role in Syria. Russian officials announced major expansions to Russian military bases in the country while the number of private contractors fighting on the Kremlin’s behalf also swelled...

    ...This growing presence allows the Kremlin to have a greater role in shaping events on the ground as it digs in for the long term. Such forces could prove vital in curtailing any action taken by the Assad regime that would undermine Moscow’s wider interests in the Middle East while offering a highly effective method for the Kremlin to project power at a reduced political cost.


    ...As Moscow’s footprint deepens, North Caucasian special forces have taken on increasingly important tasks across Syria, from guarding Syrian Kurdish units against Turkish incursions in Manbij to ensuring the success of negotiated rebel evacuations on the outskirts of Damascus. The growing role of the brigades demonstrates a desire on Russia’s part to wield greater influence over areas of Syria it deems crucial, particularly in the face of occasional tension with its Syrian and Iranian allies. Although outward appearances suggest solidarity, Moscow has occasionally clashed with both Damascus and Tehran. Perhaps the most publicized example of this uneasy alliance came during the late stages of the Aleppo campaign. Iranian officials were reportedly incensed with the terms of a cease-fire brokered for the city by Russia and Turkey in December 2016 that were imposed without their input. Iran later intentionally scuttled the deal, using its Iraqi and Syrian proxy forces to resume fighting in Aleppo. Not coincidentally, Moscow’s first Chechen soldiers arrived in Syria within weeks of that event.

    The importance for Moscow in being able to control unexpected events on the ground was highlighted in late January when rumors began to spread that Assad had suffered a stroke. Adding fuel to the fire, some opposition figures claimed that the Syrian president had flown to Beirut for treatment; Damascus uncharacteristically denied the claims instead of ignoring them, fueling the speculation. Amid the uncertainty, reports emerged that with Assad’s health failing, Iranian forces were posturing to install his brother Maher, who is rumored to not be among the Kremlin’s preferred list of successors. Within several days, Assad returned to Damascus and held a series of publicized meetings, calming the situation. But the incident highlighted the value for Moscow in having its own ground forces in the Syrian capital...

    ...The Ingush battalion, meanwhile, continues to function in Damascus, having been spotted in the center of the capital throughout April. There are signs that the Ingush battalion is becoming more involved in front-line action with rebel forces in the Syrian capital.





    More on those private contractors here /
    https://vk.com/video-70187376_456239264
    http://rusvesna.su/news/1494197947
    http://rusvesna.su/news/1494871646
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dcUaogp25M



    https://translate.google.ru/translate?hl=ru&sl=ru&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Ffree-news.su%2Finteresnoe%2F19524-v-siriyu-pribyl-kontrpartizanskij-specnaz&sandbox=1
    Syrian War: News #12 - Page 40 C9sqduJXsAEuu4G

    There were even a clash in Wadi Barada, when Russians tried to enter to force the casefire, but Iranians/Hezbollah block them. Iran was the one who run the show in that pocket. They cleared it at the end.
    immediately after that Russian military police were deployed for the first time in a city on Lebanese border, clear indicator of clash between 2 influences. Town that some used to say used to be one of the routes for weapons to hezbollah before the war.

    Feb 23
    RU MP to be deployed in Syria border town of Serghaya that rebels have surrendered to SAA 3 days ago. First MP deployment outside Aleppo
    Syrian War: News #12 - Page 40 C5YEe70WQAYSbK9Syrian War: News #12 - Page 40 C5YEf3KXUAA7LL4
    Syrian War: News #12 - Page 40 C5YEhBbXUAAilh3Syrian War: News #12 - Page 40 C5YEhyYWcAIljig


    If Israel is so worried about Hezbollah, than Israel can go to war with Hezbollah and get their asses kicked like they did in 2006. Hezbollah and Iran has played a huge role in Syria, they play a major part in Syria now and after the war.
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    Post  par far Sat May 20, 2017 10:54 pm

    PapaDragon wrote:
    Cyberspec wrote:
    PapaDragon wrote:So no I don't understand what the fuck is so important down south that requires those civilians to stay encircled even one hour more than necessary

    Opening the Baghdad-Damascus road...pretty important goal don't you agree?

    The moment Deir ez Zorr is secured whole southern desert falls as a result along with that road (of currently very dubious usefulness).

    This detour is a waste of time. Idlib won't stay quiet forever and Iranian morons are just wasting precious time. They can take over the whole south and build a highway to Lebanon it still won't matter because Israelis will clean them out in one afternoon.

    .......
    Amid the uncertainty, reports emerged that with Assad’s health failing, Iranian forces were posturing to install his brother Maher, who is rumored to not be among the Kremlin’s preferred list of successors. .....

    Looks like it's time for Maher to suffer a fatal skiing accident and to send his Iranian sugardaddies back to Tehran in either vertical or horizontal orientation. They provide zero usefulness and have proven to be a massive liability and a future hostile force.

    If the Israelis try and clean anyone out, do you think that Israel will just be left untouched? The Israelis assholes are nervous because their terrorists are getting killed.
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    Post  Guest Sat May 20, 2017 11:05 pm

    Maher is quite... bad tempered person. Very hotheaded, and not very bright in general.

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