Syrian forces begin ground offensive backed by Russia air and sea power[W:10]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/worl...3be168-5cf3-4e38-98f3-f6b75ed53871_story.html

The attack showcased Russia’s advanced military capabilities and closer coordination with the governments of Iran and Iraq, whose airspace the missiles traversed before striking targets in Syria held by the Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra, an affiliate of al-Qaeda.
first known operational use of state-of-the-art SSN-30A Kalibr cruise missiles, which were still being tested by the Russian navy in August.

The strikes came as Syrian troops backed by Russian air power launched their first major ground offensive since Moscow began its intervention in the conflict Sept. 30.

News reports and video of fighting uploaded to the Internet on Wednesday showed that the Syrian army was moving from the city of Hama toward Idlib, a stronghold held by a coalition of mostly Islamist rebels.

One video on Wednesday appeared to show the Free Syrian Army, a moderate force backed by the West, firing anti*tank missiles at government troops advancing with Russian air support.

( more at link)

Re: Syrian forces begin ground offensive backed by Russia air and sea power

so..the US is still saying "we believe Russia is targeting the wrong positions" and still kina lsot.

While Putin is calling everyone a terrorist except Assad.
Meanwhile 'the Regime' is coordinating it's land advances with Russian aire. Somewhere in here is Iran.

How dos this go from here? I can't see anything that could stop the Regime from major gains.....

Re: Syrian forces begin ground offensive backed by Russia air and sea power

It's looking that way. Russia Iran and Hezbollah are lined up against the rebels, hoping to clear them from the field to leave the stark choice of ISIS or Assad for the West.

Re: Syrian forces begin ground offensive backed by Russia air and sea power

Manc Skipper said:

It's looking that way. Russia Iran and Hezbollah are lined up against the rebels, hoping to clear them from the field to leave the stark choice of ISIS or Assad for the West.

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That has always been the choice, but the Media has helped promote the myth of "moderate rebels" to support the Pentagon NARRATIVE. It appears to me that the CIA has been attempting to create in Syria the same horrors it created in Libya. Is it difficult to find the good guys in this scenario? Assad is supposed to defend Syrians and he is. Qaddafi tried to defend Libyans. The USA seems to work for Big Energy's subliminal machinations for regional Corporate dominance. Assad is playing defense against a CIA offense.

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I think the CIA is a minor player here.
I'm sure it wanted to become a factor, but it isn't. The Syrian coalition can get weapons from most anywhere.
No shortage of anything in Syria ( except food / water/housing) plenty of death available upon request.

Re: Syrian forces begin ground offensive backed by Russia air and sea power

US intelligence was caught napping really. Russian advance was swift.

Re: Syrian forces begin ground offensive backed by Russia air and sea power

annata said:

I think the CIA is a minor player here.
I'm sure it wanted to become a factor, but it isn't. The Syrian coalition can get weapons from most anywhere.
No shortage of anything in Syria ( except food / water/housing) plenty of death available upon request.

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Do not underestimate the CIA activities. A billion dollars buys a lot of insurrection. They've admitted to that much spending in Syria. Another $500 million from DOD/Pentagon.

Re: Syrian forces begin ground offensive backed by Russia air and sea power

DaveFagan said:

Do not underestimate the CIA activities. A billion dollars buys a lot of insurrection. They've admitted to that much spending in Syria. Another $500 million from DOD/Pentagon.

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all I know of is the prior CIA training in Jordan. They gave them a bunch of TOW missiles which were promptly confiscated
by Islamists.
Then this last bunch ( a $1million a piece) were treated the same. Not exactly what would be called shaping events there.

Re: Syrian forces begin ground offensive backed by Russia air and sea power

annata said:

all I know of is the prior CIA training in Jordan. They gave them a bunch of TOW missiles which were promptly confiscatedby Islamists.Then this last bunch ( a $1million a piece) were treated the same. Not exactly what would be called shaping events there.

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http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-...ed-isis-tool-overthrow-syrias-president-assad

"But he did not admit what this internal Pentagon document demonstrates?—?that the entire covert strategy was sanctioned and supervised by the US, Britain, France, Israel and other Western powers.The strategy appears to fit a policy scenario identified by a recent US Army-commissioned RAND Corp report.The report, published four years before the DIA document, called for the US “to capitalise on the Shia-Sunni conflict by taking the side of the conservative Sunni regimes in a decisive fashion and working with them against all Shiite empowerment movements in the Muslim world.”The US would need to contain “Iranian power and influence” in the Gulf by “shoring up the traditional Sunni regimes in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Pakistan.” Simultaneously, the US must maintain “a strong strategic relationship with the Iraqi Shiite government” despite its Iran alliance.


The RAND report confirmed that the “divide and rule” strategy was already being deployed “to create divisions in the jihadist camp. Today in Iraq such a strategy is being used at the tactical level.”The report observed that the US was forming “temporary alliances” with al-Qaeda affiliated “nationalist insurgent groups” that have fought the US for four years in the form of “weapons and cash.” Although these nationalists “have cooperated with al-Qaeda against US forces,” they are now being supported to exploit “the common threat that al-Qaeda now poses to both parties.”

It's a long read, but worth reading the entire article.

Re: Syrian forces begin ground offensive backed by Russia air and sea power

Moderator's Warning:

The CIA is not the topic. Do not quote and comment towards that part of the discussion, beyond this warning.

Re: Syrian forces begin ground offensive backed by Russia air and sea power

Manc Skipper said:

~ Russia Iran and Hezbollah are lined up against the rebels~

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That's why the Russian missiles fell in Iran while on their way to target. Iran will have granted overflight permission.

Manc Skipper said:

~ leave the stark choice of ISIS or Assad for the West ~

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I have a feeling the choice will be made quickly despite Turkey's hatred of Assad, Turkey had their chance to help shape events and sat and allowed ISIS to butcher many innocent Kurds and other smaller tribes and ethnic groups.

Re: Syrian forces begin ground offensive backed by Russia air and sea power

Infinite Chaos said:

That's why the Russian missiles fell in Iran while on their way to target. Iran will have granted overflight permission.



I have a feeling the choice will be made quickly despite Turkey's hatred of Assad, Turkey had their chance to help shape events and sat and allowed ISIS to butcher many innocent Kurds and other smaller tribes and ethnic groups.

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I firmly believe there's one constant in situations of conflict, that is, a power vacuum will always be filled. The West divered and Russia stepped in.

Re: Syrian forces begin ground offensive backed by Russia air and sea power

How about The Moment is the exact time to defend one's interests. Islamic Fundamentalist rebels turning Syria into another Libya or Iraq. Russia's port on the Mediterranean threatened. Assad's stability threatened. The West's support of the Islamic Fundamentalists reflecting a light that we are supporting the bad guys with no moral high ground to preach from. A request to Russia from Assad to help. A vote by Russian Legislature approving the request. Notification to the UN of the intent. If the USA helps the fundies, they will look bad, hell they'll be bad. When the US was allegedely bombing ISIS, they didn't blow up anything. Like a charade. I'm happy for the Syrian people that they have some real help. I don't see Assad as any kind of tyrant, nor as an evil dictator. He was a Doctor, with a Medical Practice that he gave up when his brother died in a car crash and he was requested to run the Nation. He doesn't seem like any kind of bad guy to me and I'm amazed he has been able to keep Syria collected. He does much bette in Syria than the USA has doen in Iraq or Libya.

Re: Syrian forces begin ground offensive backed by Russia air and sea power

DaveFagan said:

Do not underestimate the CIA activities. A billion dollars buys a lot of insurrection. They've admitted to that much spending in Syria. Another $500 million from DOD/Pentagon.

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That may not even be the full spending amounts. Look into the black budget, something use by both the CIA and the Pentagon to fund numerous programs.

Re: Syrian forces begin ground offensive backed by Russia air and sea power

Infinite Chaos said:

That's why the Russian missiles fell in Iran while on their way to target. Iran will have granted overflight permission.



I have a feeling the choice will be made quickly despite Turkey's hatred of Assad, Turkey had their chance to help shape events and sat and allowed ISIS to butcher many innocent Kurds and other smaller tribes and ethnic groups.

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That BBC story is based solely on the accounts of, and I quote, "unnamed US officials." I seriously find it hard to believe that story.

Re: Syrian forces begin ground offensive backed by Russia air and sea power

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which relies on a network of activists across Syria, said government troops seized control of Atshan on Friday amid intense Russian airstrikes in the region. It said troops also seized the nearby Um Hartein village.

Syrian troops have faced stiff resistance from the rebels, who have used advanced U.S.-made TOW missiles to attack Syrian tanks and armored vehicles.

The Russian defense ministry said in a statement that Russian planes flew 64 sorties and targeted 54 sites in the past 24 hours, without elaborating. Among the sites attacked, it said, were command outposts in Aleppo and Idlib provinces.

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Fierce battles in central Syria amid Russian airstrikes - Yahoo News

Re: Syrian forces begin ground offensive backed by Russia air and sea power

Russia's targeting of ISIS positions is minimal, they're unloading mainly upon all other (less extremist?) opponents of Assad.

No gains to be had for the West here, no alleviation for those currently fleeing the country with all the problems they pose for Europe.

Re: Syrian forces begin ground offensive backed by Russia air and sea power

annata said:

Fierce battles in central Syria amid Russian airstrikes - Yahoo News

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I've been traveling over the past few days, so I haven't been able to follow the Russian-backed offensives in great detail. How successful have they been? I remember reading (and I could be wrong) on the first day that the SAA lost at least a dozen tanks to ATGMs just in Hama while capturing some minor villages, which is not really a sustainable rate at which to lose armor. It seems entirely possible to me that the sheer incompetence of the SAA could make Russian support irrelevant against the battle-hardened Jaysh al-Fatah, especially since the Saudis have decided to start sending TOWs to the opposition.

Re: Syrian forces begin ground offensive backed by Russia air and sea power

MadLib said:

I've been traveling over the past few days, so I haven't been able to follow the Russian-backed offensives in great detail. How successful have they been? I remember reading (and I could be wrong) on the first day that the SAA lost at least a dozen tanks to ATGMs just in Hama while capturing some minor villages, which is not really a sustainable rate at which to lose armor. It seems entirely possible to me that the sheer incompetence of the SAA could make Russian support irrelevant against the battle-hardened Jaysh al-Fatah, especially since the Saudis have decided to start sending TOWs to the opposition.

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you are up on it. Really I'm not that thorough on the day to day battles, that's all I know and then some
( my focus has always been Libya -if you want to look) Libyan Civil War 2014 - Present | DCJunkies

Keep us posted - if you want to document "SAA offensive" or similar -just an idea

Re: Syrian forces begin ground offensive backed by Russia air and sea power

MadLib said:

I've been traveling over the past few days, so I haven't been able to follow the Russian-backed offensives in great detail. How successful have they been? I remember reading (and I could be wrong) on the first day that the SAA lost at least a dozen tanks to ATGMs just in Hama while capturing some minor villages, which is not really a sustainable rate at which to lose armor. It seems entirely possible to me that the sheer incompetence of the SAA could make Russian support irrelevant against the battle-hardened Jaysh al-Fatah, especially since the Saudis have decided to start sending TOWs to the opposition.

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Syria conflict: Assad forces make 'significant gains' 10/18/2015
Syria conflict: Assad forces make 'significant gains' - BBC News

Government gains are being reported in Idlib, Hama and Latakia provinces.

Russia says its aircraft carried out more than 60 missions over Syria in the past 24 hours, and that the Islamic State group was its main target.
But the Russian strikes appear to have impacted heavily on rebels fighting both the government and IS.

The main battlefront is currently close to the key highway that links the capital Damascus with other major cities, including Aleppo,
and President Bashar al-Assad's forces are believed to be seeking to cut off rebels in Idlib..........

.....Before Russia's intervention, Idlib had all but fallen to a rebel coalition.......

analysis
A senior commander of the al-Nusra Front, the al-Qaeda affiliate which has forces in the area, has issued a call to all the rebel groups to unify and launch a
co-ordinated counter-attack on all fronts.
He said if the rebels lost the initiative to the regime and the Russians, they would suffer a series of collapses and their future would be bleak.

(more)

In his comments to Rossiya 24, Mr Putin said he believed his country's military intervention in Syria had the support of both Sunni and Shia Muslims across the Middle East.

Questioned about the Middle East's sectarian divisions, the Russian leader said: "In Syria, we do not, under any circumstances, want to get tied up in any inter-confessional conflict."

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Re: Syrian forces begin ground offensive backed by Russia air and sea power

Re: Syrian forces begin ground offensive backed by Russia air and sea power

annata said:

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Thanks for the good map. Even where (merely) a snapshot of today, worth bookmarking:thumbs:

Re: Syrian forces begin ground offensive backed by Russia air and sea power

The Syrian army and allied Iranian and Hezbollah forces are preparing for a ground offensive against insurgents in the Aleppo area backed by Russian air strikes

Control of Aleppo city and the surrounding province is divided among the Syrian government, a range of insurgent groups fighting Assad, and the Islamic State group that controls some rural areas near the city.

The second official, who is close to the Syrian government, said:

"The decision to launch the battle of Aleppo has been taken ... It is no longer hidden that thousands of Iranians are now in Syria and their role is fundamental."

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Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps, Hossein Hamedani, was killed in Aleppo province ..was Syria's most populous before the civil war began in 2011

Exclusive: Syrian army, allies preparing attack in Aleppo area - sources | Reuters

Re: Syrian forces begin ground offensive backed by Russia air and sea power


Sukhoi Su-25 Frogfoot

The Russian Su-25 Frogfoot is a low-flying tank-like plane that specializes in providing aerial cover and attacking ground targets.
The Russian air force will use the Frogfoots to support the Assad regime in the same way the USAF is using the A-10 Warthog to support the Iraqi government,” a former US Air Force aviator told The National Interest.

Russian state-owned media outlet RT reports that since Tuesday Kremlin forces have carried out 40 airstrikes against rebel and ISIS forces throughout five Syrian provinces. The majority of these strikes occurred around the city of Aleppo and in the neighboring province of Idlib, which is completely under opposition control.
At the same time as these airstrikes, the Assad regime is massing a large counter-attack against rebel forces in Idlib, Hama, and Aleppo.
The regime offensive initially stalled last week after rebels armed with anti-tank missiles destroyed several Syrian armored vehicles.

Here's the Russian jet that's terrorizing Syria's anti-Assad rebels - Yahoo Finance