The Syrian Crisis

[bhramos]

The liquidation of the Dahur boiler continues.

 

[asianobserve]

U.S.-led forces kill an estimated 100 Syrian regime troops

In a major clash the U.S.-led military coalition in Syria has killed more than 100 troops allied with the regime of Bashar Assad — after some 500 soldiers backed by tanks launched what appeared to be a "coordinated attack" on a headquarters of rebel fighters being trained by American advisers, military officials revealed late Wednesday.

The combination of air and artillery strikes came after pro-regime troops attacked the compound of the Syrian Democratic Forces in Khusham, Syria, according to a military spokesman.

One SDF soldier was wounded, said Col. Thomas Veale of the Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve, the command that is directing the battle against the Islamic State terrorist group in Iraq and Syria.

The Syrian Democratic Forces have been a crucial American ally in the fight against ISIS.

"After 20 to 30 artillery and tank rounds landed within 500 meters of the SDF headquarters location, Syrian Democratic Forces supported by the Coalition targeted the aggressors with a combination of air and artillery strikes," the statement said. "Coalition advisers were with the SDF in an advise, assist and accompany capacity, and this action was taken in self-defense."

The pro-Assad forces were supported by artillery, tanks, and rockets in an attack that began late Tuesday and lasted into Wednesday morning local time.

U.S. officials declined to provide details on the military assets that were used to beat back the assault, which nations they were from, or the number of advisers in the area.

Veale said it's likely the pro-regime forces were trying to seize oilfields in Khusham that had been liberated from Islamic State control in September.

Efforts were undertaken before and after the battle to avoid any confrontation with Russian military forces in the area that are backing the Assad regime in the country's long-running civil war.

"Coalition officials alerted Russian officials of the SDF presence in Khusham via the de-confliction line well in advance of the PRF attack," the statement said. "Coalition officials were in regular communication with Russian counterparts before, during and after the thwarted PRF attack. Russian officials assured Coalition officials they would not engage Coalition forces in the vicinity."

It’s not the first time U.S.-led forces in the country primarily to hunt ISIS have targeted pro-Assad forces in self-defense.

On May 18, they attacked pro-regime forces that continued approaching coalition troops despite warning shots and Russian attempts to halt the troops.

The U.S. Navy also launched a volley of Tomahawk missiles at a Syrian airfield in April after Assad's troops used chemical weapons against civilians.

Last week, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, responding to reports of renewed gas attacks, warned the Syrian government it would be “ill-advised” to launch more chemical weapons.

“You’ve all seen how we reacted to that,” Mattis said, referring to last year’s cruise missile strikes.


https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/07/syria-military-strikes-329658

 

[Tactical Frog]

U.S. troops may be at risk of ‘mission creep’ after a deadly battle in the Syrian desert


« Syria and Russia condemned the United States’ military presence in Syria as “illegal” Thursday after an overnight confrontation in which U.S. warplanes bombed pro-Syrian-government forces as they approached an American-supported base.
U.S. forces targeted the pro-government troops with airstrikes and artillery after they launched an attack against a base belonging to the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces in the eastern province of Deir al-Zour, according to Col. Thomas F. Veale, a U.S. military spokesman. He said U.S. military personnel advising the Kurdish-led SDF were at the base at the time.
The Syrian government accused the United States of “aggression” in launching the strikes, which it said killed “scores” of people. Russia denounced the U.S. presence in Syria as “illegal” and accused the United States of seeking to seize Syria’s oil. »
...
« There were no U.S. casualties, and one SDF fighter was injured in the three-hour battle, during which the United States called on Apache helicopters, AC-130 gunships and F-15 fighter jets to repel the assailants, U.S. military officials said »
...
« Mattis denied that the attack and the U.S. response constituted American engagement in the Syrian civil war. “We are there to fight ISIS,” he said. “That’s what those [U.S.] troops were doing in that position.” If the Americans were “getting involved in the broader conflict, we would have moved to the other side” of the river and continued to engage the pro-government forces. He said the remaining attackers retreated to the western side of the Euphrates.
But the war continues to become ever more complicated. The attack on the southernmost flank of the SDF-controlled area in northeastern Syria came as Turkey pressed ahead with its nearly three-week-old offensive against the Kurdish enclave of Afrin in northwestern Syria. The enclave is controlled by the same Kurdish force that dominates the SDF, but it does not have direct U.S. support. »
...
« The prospect that U.S. troops will remain in Syria while shoring up Kurdish efforts to secure self-rule has provoked a convergence among countries opposed to any form of Kurdish autonomy, uniting Turkey, Russia, Iran and the Syrian government in a de facto alliance against the U.S. presence. »

https://www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/world/middle_east/syria-accuses-us-of-aggression-after-its-warplanes-strike-pro-government-forces/2018/02/08/bab1502a-0cb4-11e8-8890-372e2047c935_story.html

 

[asianobserve]

It's about time the Kurds are given their own country. They will be a force for good in the ME.

 

[Tactical Frog]

It's about time the Kurds are given their own country. They will be a force for good in the ME.

It is too dangerous to play with Sykes-Picot system. Any kind of Kurdish independent state is unacceptable for Turkey and Iran, the two historical biggest players. They would eventually side together to destroy a Kurdish state.

 

[Tactical Frog]

But we can probably protect for ever Kurdish autonomous entities with great effect . A system of chinese concessions, in a way

 

[Tactical Frog]

Jerusalem (AFP) - An Israeli F16 fighter jet crashed in Israel Saturday as the air force was carrying out attacks against "Iranian targets" in Syria after intercepting a drone, a spokesman said.

"IDF (Israel Defence Force) has targeted the Iranian control systems in Syria that sent the UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) into Israeli airspace. Massive Syrian anti-air fire, one F16 crashed in Israel, pilots safe," Israeli military spokesman Lieutenant Jonathan Conricus wrote on Twitter.

According to a separate military statement, Israeli forces had identified an "Iranian UAV" launched from Syria and intercepted it in Israeli airspace with a combat helicopter.

Police said the F16 crashed in the Jezreel valley in northern Israel.

"Iran is responsible for this severe violation of Israeli sovereignty," Conricus said on Twitter.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/israel-jet-crashes-iranian-targets-attacked-syria-061303013.html

 

[Tactical Frog]

Douma (Syria) (AFP) - Fresh bombardment hit the Syrian rebel enclave of Eastern Ghouta on Friday, AFP correspondents reported, the fifth straight day of a bombing campaign that has killed more than 240 civilians.

Syrian warplanes and artillery have battered the enclave's towns since Monday, trapping thousands of families in makeshift bomb shelters and overwhelming rescue workers.

World powers failed to back an appeal by UN officials for a month-long ceasefire to allow for desperately needed aid deliveries and medical evacuations.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/air-strikes-batter-syria-rebel-enclave-fifth-day-114828685.html

 

[Flame Thrower]

It's about time the Kurds are given their own country. They will be a force for good in the ME.

You're soft on Kurds while America is hoping for another 10yrs of unstable ME and death of million poor souls, let's not even talk about the miseries of the living.

Don't expect Kurds to be any different from Syrians or Iraqi or Iranians or Saudis.

If I remember correctly Kurds Autonomous Region was in existence since 2005. Would you care to explain how different was it from Iraq or Syria in 2011!?

 

[Tactical Frog]

War in Syria escalating quickly ... this time Israelis will lose their temper. Iranian drones entering Israeli airspace = red line crossed

 

[Tactical Frog]

Iran’s men in Syria. Impressive. No shias in India willing to join this ragtag army ??

 

[Vayuputra]

Iran’s men in Syria. Impressive. No shias in India willing to join this ragtag army ??

there are thousands of shias who are willing to fight against ISIS but who si going to facilitate for their journey to Syria?

 

[IBRIS]

Israeli pilot ejected from F-16

 

[Tactical Frog]

there are thousands of shias who are willing to fight against ISIS but who si going to facilitate for their journey to Syria?

ISIS killed lot of FSA fighters too. And executed every anti-Assad democrat activist they could catch in Raqqa, Deir Ezzor and other places. I will post a few stories of these heroes when I have time.

 

[Akim]

Shot down T-129
................................

 

[Tactical Frog]

ISIS killed lot of FSA fighters too. And executed every anti-Assad democrat activist they could catch in Raqqa, Deir Ezzor and other places. I will post a few stories of these heroes when I have time.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/01/07/female-activist-killed-by-the-islamic-state-posted-this-final-defiant-message

Evilish forces are everywhere in Syria. It is not only Assad, ISIS who kill and abduct. Al Nusra, Jaish al Islam also kill and abduct . But Assad regime is responsible for more crimes and executions than any other party in this war. That is why I want Assad in a cell in The Hague, Netherlands.

 

[IBRIS]

AN ISRAELI AH-64 DESTROYS A IRANIAN DRONE 9/2/18

A drone sent by the Iranians from T4 airbase is destroyed as it crosses into Israeli airspace

The Israelis retaliated by striking at Iranian facilities at the T4 base

VIDEO:

 

[IBRIS]

Shot down T-129
................................

Turks are claiming that it crashed

Asked about the reasons for the incident, the head of the government said, "One of our two ATAK helicopters operating in the Afrin area crashed in. Two members of our glorious army fell as martyrs. reasons are not yet clear. The necessary investigations have started. We have some elements in hand, but we are waiting for confirmations. No clue allows to call into question an external intervention in the fall.

http://aa.com.tr/fr/turquie/turquie...sécrase-à-afrin-faisant-deux-martyrs-/1059731

 

[IBRIS]

Second f-16 made forced landing. 8 f-16 were involved earlier to target Syrian air defence installations.
Check out @HasanSari7’s Tweet:

 

[asianobserve]

U.S. drone destroys Russian-made tank in Syria

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. military drone aircraft destroyed a Russian-made T-72 tank in Syria over the weekend, U.S. officials said on Tuesday, in the second defensive strike against pro-Syrian government forces in less than a week.

No U.S.-led coalition or coalition-backed local forces were killed in the strike by a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone, which took place near Al Tabiyeh, Syria, on Sunday.

The U.S. military said it destroyed the tank after it moved within firing range of the U.S.-backed forces while being supported by artillery fire.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...roys-russian-made-tank-in-syria-idUSKCN1FX2SJ