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Posts From Scott

May 25, 2018: Israeli, US Strikes On Government Forces. What Is Going On?

https://southfront.org/syrian-war-report-may-25-2018-israeli-us-strikes-on-government-forces-what-is-going-on/ Late on May 24, Israeli warplanes carried out several strikes on the al-Dabaa airbase in the southwestern Homs countryside, according to pro-government sources. The Syrian Air Defense Forces (SADF) responded to the attack by launching at least 2 S-200 surface-to-air missiles, according to local activists. The General Command of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) said in an official statement that the Israeli Air Force had targeted an airbase in

Conflict In Eastern Ukraine Can Soon Turn Into Open War

https://southfront.org/conflict-in-eastern-ukraine-can-soon-turn-into-open-war/ This week the military situation in eastern Ukraine has once again escalated as forces loyal to the Kiev government have advanced on positions controlled by defense forces of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DRP) near the city of Gorlovka. Gorlovka is the DPR-controlled town, located north of the DPR capital of Donetsk. Its pre-war population was about 256,000 people. On May 21, pro-Kiev troops, backed up by artillery and machine

May 24, 2018: Army To Start New Operation In Response To ISIS Attacks

https://southfront.org/syrian-war-report-may-24-2018-army-to-start-new-operation-in-response-to-isis-attacks/ The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and Liwa al-Quds have repelled an ISIS attack on their positions west of al-Mayadin in the province of Deir Ezzor killing at least 8 terrorists. According to pro-government sources, there are currently about 1,500 ISIS members and commanders operating in the Homs desert. The increased activity of these terrorists may trigger an SAA military operation in order to fully eliminate them earlier than it

May 23, 2018 Biggest ISIS Attack Near Palmyra In Past Few Months

https://southfront.org/syrian-war-report-may-23-2018-biggest-isis-attack-near-palmyra-in-past-few-months/ On May 22, ISIS attacked positions of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) near the T3 pumping station, near the city of Palmyra, in the province of Homs. The attack started with the explosion of a suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device. Then, ISIS infantry stormed the SAA positions. However, the advance was repelled. According to pro-government sources, at least 16 SAA soldiers were killed, 14 others were injured and a

May 22, 2018 Damascus Is Secured, Daraa Is Next

https://southfront.org/syrian-war-report-may-22-2018-damascus-is-secured-daraa-is-next/ Late on May 21, Russian air defense systems, allegedly a Pantsir-S short to medium range system, launched at least four missiles at “unidentified” targets over the Khmeimim air base in Syria, according to local sources. Later, the Russian military revealed that one unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) had been shot down. No damage or casualties occurred as a result of the incident. A similar incident took place on April 24

May 21, 2018 Syrian Army Liberates Southern Damascus As ISIS Withdraws

https://southfront.org/syrian-war-report-may-21-2018-syrian-army-liberates-southern-damascus-as-isis-withdraws/ The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and its allies are about to re-establish full control of the southern Damascus countryside. The SAA has already liberated the entire district of al-Hajar al-Aswad and the rest of the area from ISIS. On May 19, the SAA and the remaining ISIS militants reached a temporary ceasefire in the area. On May 20, a number of buses entered the area hinting that ISIS was

May 17, 2018: Army Liberates Rastan Pocket, Advances In Southern Damascus

https://southfront.org/syrian-war-report-may-17-2018-army-liberates-rastan-pocket-advances-in-southern-damascus/ The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and its allies have captured most of ISIS positions in the northern part of the al-Hajar al-Aswad district in southern Damascus. The ISIS defense collapsed following a successful attack by the SAA on the al-Quds Mosque. At the same time, the Syrian Air Force has carried out more strikes on ISIS positions in al-Hajar al-Aswad and in the Yarmouk refugee camp. The ISIS-linked news

Israel, U.S. Prepare For Further Attacks On Syria

https://southfront.org/israel-u-s-prepare-for-further-attacks-on-syria/ In 2018, the Syrian war entered into a new phase of the conflict marked by the increased tensions among key powers involved in the standoff. The collapse of ISIS’ self-proclaimed Caliphate, which used to be a main formal enemy of both the US-led bloc and the Syrian-Iranian-Russian alliance, has sharpened the contrast between the goals of the two sides. The Damascus government, Iran and Russia seek to solve fully

Syrian War Report – May 16, 2018: Syrian Army Liberates Dozens Of Villages In Rastan Pocket

https://southfront.org/syrian-war-report-may-16-2018-syrian-army-liberates-dozens-of-villages-in-rastan-pocket/ Syrian forces have re-established control of the area east of the M5 highway in the Rastan pocket in northern Homs now that militants have withdrawn from the area. According to pro-government sources, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and its allies are now in control of over 30 settlements located there. At the same time, the evacuation of militants from the pocket is still ongoing. On May 15, 73 buses

Syrian War Report – May 15, 2018: Palestinian-Israeli Conflict Fuels Syria Crisis

https://southfront.org/syrian-war-report-may-15-2018-palestinian-israeli-conflict-fuels-syria-crisis/ At least 59 Palestinian protesters were killed and 2,771 were injured by Israeli forces near the so-called security fence in the Gaza Strip during the May 14 demonstrations denouncing the opening of the US embassy in Jerusalem. Various sources provide conflicting numbers of people involved in the protests, but all of them agrees that there were at least 35,000-40,000 people at the security fence and in the nearby area.

With Russia’s new government Putin transitions from defense to offense

Alexander Khaldey translated by Scott Humor The slew of comments on new appointments to the Cabinet of Ministers of Russia continues. The comments of most analysts are nothing but puzzling. Infamous satirical literary provocateur Kozma Petrovich Prutkov once wrote that any expert resembled a dental abscess, due to its one-sidedness.   In fact, the expert is not a narrow specialist, but someone who understands what is happening far more than

Victory Day Parade in Syria

Russian and Syrian troops based in Latakia’s Khmeimim Air Base in held their own Victory Day parade on Wednesday, celebrating the 73rd anniversary of the Soviet Victory over Nazi Germany in the Great Patriotic War.       Syrian troops took part in the Victory Day parade. Brigadier General Suheil al-Hassan, the commander of The Tiger forces was present at the Khmeimim Air Base Victory Day parade. In August 2017,

Ukraine Escalation: Regional Security Threats And Global Chessboard

https://southfront.org/regional-security-threats-and-global-chessboard/ The situation in Eastern Ukraine may undergo a dramatic transformation due to the end of the so-called “anti-terrorist operation” (ATO) on April 30, and the subsequent “reformatting” of military operations in Eastern Ukraine, which could spell either an escalation or, rather to the contrary, the resumption of the peace process that has been moribund since the second round of Minsk Accords signed in the early months of 2015. US

May 8, 2018: Rastan Pocket Deal, Ka-52 Crash

https://southfront.org/syrian-war-report-may-8-2018-rastan-pocket-deal-ka-52-crash/ An evacuation of militants and their supporters has started in the Rastan pocket in northern Homs. On May 7, 62 buses carrying out a batch of militants left the area towards the northern town of Jarabulus currently controlled by Turkey and its proxies. A second batch is set to leave the area on May 8. According to local sources, about 3,000 persons are set to be evacuated. Prior to

Syrian War Report – May 7, 2018: Syrian Army Delivers Devastating Blow To ISIS In Southern Damascus

https://southfront.org/syrian-war-report-may-7-2018-syrian-army-delivers-devastating-blow-to-isis-in-damascus-countryside/ ISIS’ defense is rapidly collapsing in southern Damascus under a pressure from the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and its allies. Last weekend, government forces liberated the southern part of the al-Hajar al-Aswad district from ISIS terrorists and made a few important gains in the northern part of the district, including a local power station and the nearby points. By May 7, the SAA and its allies have stormed northern

Syrian War Report – May 3, 2018: Syrian Army Storming ISIS-held Yarmouk Camp

https://southfront.org/syrian-war-report-may-3-2018-syrian-army-storms-isis-held-yarmouk-camp/ In southern Damascus, the Syrian Arab Army and its allies have made important advances over the last few days entering the northern part of the Yarmouk refugee camp area and a farm area west of al-Hajar al-Aswad. According to the ISIS-linked news agency Amaq, 20 Syrian Army soldiers have been killed in the recent clashes in al-Hajar al-Aswad. Government troops have also started entering the eastern part of the

Restoring Strategic Balance: Russia’s ‘Invincible’ Nuclear Weapons

https://southfront.org/restoring-strategic-balance-russias-invincible-nuclear-weapons/ On March 1, 2018, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin made his most important speech probably since the time of the 2007 Muenchen Conference. If 11 years ago he declared that Russia would not allow disrupting the strategic balance and losing great power status, in 2018 it was proven this has not happened and would not happen in the foreseeable future. During his speech, Russia’s president introduced 6 high-tech weapons systems which

Syrian War Report – April 30, 2018: Yarmouk Operation, Deir Ezzor Tensions

https://southfront.org/syrian-war-report-april-30-2018-yarmouk-operation-deir-ezzor-tensions/   Syrian government forces have liberated the districts of al-Ma’dhaniyah, al-Asali, al-Qadam and al-Jourah in the southern countryside of Damascus from ISIS. Government troops captured all these areas after air and artillery strikes had destroyed all the ISIS defense there. The ISIS-linked news agency Amaq claimed that 16 Syrian Army (SAA) troops had been killed in the recent clashes. According to pro-opposition sources, members of Jaish al-Islam, Hayat Tahrir

Russia Considers Delivery Of S-300 Air Defense Systems To Syria

https://southfront.org/russia-considers-delivery-of-s-300-air-defense-systems-to-syria/ Russia may “soon” deliver S-300PMU-2 ‘Favorite’ missile defense systems to Syria, the Russian newspaper Kommersant reported on April 23 citing two military diplomatic sources. The S-300PMU-2 ‘Favorite’ is an export version of the Russian S-300 missile defense system. It has the range of 195 km and uses the 48N6E2 missile. This missile can be used against aircraft, cruise missiles, UAVs, theater ballistic missiles, even against intercontinental ballistic missiles. According

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