Syrian War Report – Jan. 7, 2019: Russian Warplanes Strike Terrorists In Idlib De-Escalation Zone
Starting from January 4th, the Russian Aerospace Forces carried out a series of airstrikes on terrorists’ positions in the Idlib de-escalation zone. The airstrikes targeted Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) forces in the towns of Darat Izza, Kafrnaha, Jamiat al-Rahal, Urum al-Kubra and the 111th Regiment base in the western Aleppo countryside.
HTS’ news network Iba’a said that the group responded by shelling positions of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) in the district of al-Rashidin in the outskirt of the city of Aleppo, claiming that 7 service members were killed, but pro-government sources doubted the claim.
On January 4th, a group of Turkish-backed militants defected and handed over their positions in the district of Jamiat al-Arman west of the city of Aleppo to HTS. After imposing control of Jamiet al-Arman, HTS advanced on the opposition-held part of the western Aleppo countryside and captured the towns of Sinkar, al-Hota and the 111th Regiment base. HTS also entered the town of A’wejel after reaching an agreement with the local council there.
On January 5th, HTS announced that its fighters had captured several battle tanks and armored vehicles while Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movements remnants were trying to smuggle them in the Turkish-occupied Afrin area.
Despite the support from the Turkish-backed National Front for Liberation (NFL) and Syrian National Army (SNA), the Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement in fact lost almost all of its positions to HTS in merely a few days of limited clashes. According to reports, the remaining members of the Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement are now fleeing the Idlib de-escalation zone to Afrin.
On January 5 and January 6, HTS continued attacks on Turkish-backed militant groups. HTS captured the towns of Deir Sim’an and Atarib in the opposition-held part of Aleppo province. Atarib was under the control of two Turkish-backed groups Thuwar al-Sham and Byariq al-Islam. As a result both Turkish-backed groups were dissolved.
This week, HTS will contribute steps in order to consolidate its recent gains and prepare for further expansion within the opposition-held area. If the NFL and the SNA fail to undertake real steps to stop this expansion, this will confirm that Turkey also failed to turn the myth of the “moderate armed opposition” into reality and the only capable “opposition force” is al-Qaeda-linked terrorists.
On January 4th, the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) media wing released a video showing the on-going anti-ISIS operation in the Euphrates Valley. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), of which YPG is the core, are storming ISIS positions in the town of Ash-Shafah. On January 5, the SDF imposed control on the districts of al-Razazah, al-T’as, al-Ramtha, Marzuq, al-Sur and Hawi al-Sur inside the town. Despite that, SDF is yet to enter its southern part and the nearby areas of al-Muh and al-Basatin. ISIS still controls this area.
According to the SDF, US-led coalition warplanes supported the advance conducting 129 airstrikes on ISIS positions, vehicles and gatherings. As a result of the airstrikes and the clashes on the ground, more than 71 fighters of ISIS were reportedly killed.
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Two things pop out of this SitRep.
Point One: Turkey’s proxies are crap on the ground. FSA has crumbled and virtually gone from the battlefield. National Front for Liberation (NFL) and Syrian National Army (SNA), and the Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement are all useless.
Combined with the weakness of Turkey’s military and weak Air Force, Turkey is done in Syria.
They cannot fly over their proxies or their own troops without Russian permission. And if they get air cover from the US, the Kurds (who they really want to smash) cannot be attacked on the ground. Even if the US leaves or stays out of it, if Erdogan attacks the Kurds, the Russians will give heavy weapons to the Kurds.
Turkey is done unless it works with the Russians to resolve the Kurdish problem inside Syria.
Point Two: US coalition is crap from the air. 129 airstrikes, 71 ISIS killed. If the Russians flew 129 sorties there would be 400-500 dead ISIS. Clearly, the US is tactically weak from the air. Or, they are flying phony strikes, not really intending to decimate the headchoppers on the ground.
Every location the US and Turkey have responsibility to destroy ISIS, AQ or al Nusra, the terrorists continue in strength. Only the Russians, Syrians and Iranian allies actually liquidate the terrorists and take the turf.
Expect the ISIS groups to operate as an insurgency for a long time, nurtured by US duplicity and CIA and Israeli logistical and financial support. And inside those insurgent cells, US and UK and French special ops.
Syria War 2.0 is under way. It will go on for long time. The CENTCOM presence will be there for as long as Trump is in the Oval Office. He has no power to change things. Like the Nowhere Wall, POTUS 45 is impotent.
He can create chaos for China and Russia and stir more turmoil for Syria, but he can’t do anything positive.
The Hegemon and Israel are scared of the success of Russia and Assad and by proxy, Iran. They intend to overturn that success.
Syria 2.0 will be over soon..Take a look at these loser faces, they’re at the end of their rope.
https://southfront.org/syrian-democratic-forces-capture-five-foreign-terrorists-including-two-americans-in-euphrates-valley/
Resignation, exhaustion, and (on the youngest one) visible leishmaniosis. Apparently a large number of ISIS terrorists have come down with this disease…
Israel and USA will find it hard to overturn the situation. Trump’s flip-flopping, pulling out/ not pulling out/ is a stark contrast to the steadfastness of the Russia-Syria-Iran alliance.
The lesson to be studied is Vietnam. 1968, Tet Offensive. The American People and the MSM turned against the war. It lasted until 1975, though there was never one day during those years that the US was close to winning.
What matters in these wars is what geopolitical factors are at play.
Israel wants the war. CENTCOM wants the war. Neocons want the war. Turkey wants the war. Qatar wants the war. the Muslim Brotherhood wants the war. NATO wants the war. EU leadership wants the war. UK wants the war. France wants the war.
Like Vietnam, where the war was to contain China and defeat USSR who was the number one backer of Vietnam’s nationalist struggle to unite North and South, the stakes were geopolitical, as well as for control of the oil and gas known to US to be in the South China Sea.
Syria has many of the same elements.
Containing Iran, restricting Shia Crescent, defeating Russia, protecting Israel’s regional hegemony, and maintaining the dominance of CENTCOM in the ME are huge stakes.
By reducing the ISIS ‘threat’ to insurgent cells and directing that insurgency, territory and infrastructure can be kept in the hands of US, UK and French special forces, and provide some leverage to control some of the Kurd forces.
Stopping reconstruction by China and Russia is also part of the strategy. What will be rebuilt will be paid for by Saudi and UAE states, thus Sunni helping Sunni Syrians, while all the other factions, Shias, Christians, Alawites are denied reconstruction of infrastructure and industry.
It has begun.
What the US doesn’t have the stomach for is hundreds if not thousands of body bags going back to the States,they love war just so long as other people do the dying,they are a paper tiger,a few days ago a Chinese Admiral said it could take a couple of US aircraft carriers to be sunk before they come to their senses,i fear they could be right.
Our soldiers and pilots returning from duty in Syria have several salient points they make in conversations concerning the war. To a man they clearly state that US and ‘coalition’ assets (UCA), air, land and sea, do precisely zero in the ‘fight’ against the ‘terrorists’.
1. UCA openly and 100% support the ‘terrorists’ they supposedly are fighting. Openly visible proof of this support is clearly shown in the public displays of vast quantities of weapons, ordinance, armored and support vehicles from modern main battle tanks down to backyard made ‘armored’ cars. The weapons and ordinance are a vast spectrum from sources all over the world but 98% originated in USA, UK, France, Germany, Israel, and former Warsaw Pact countries. In other words, NATO, read USA. I won’t mention the other goodies, the state of the art medical machines with the technicians to operate them, ultra modern commo systems, the very latest anti tank missile systems from USA, and nifty little items like the most modern, and large, tunnel boring machines with the technicians to operate them and maintain them.
2. Command and Control of the ‘terrorists’ is 100% US, UK, Israel, Germany, France and Polish servicemen, either official armed forces or ‘contractors’. Again, read NATO.
3. Coordination of ‘air strikes’ is done 100% through native English speakers embedded with the terrorists, clearly heard and recorded over open radio channels before, during and after the ‘strike’. The vast majority of the ‘air strikes’ either drop no ordinance or drop ordinance over open areas and/or patently civilian areas. There is an amazing number of ‘mistaken’ ordinance drops on SAA and more than once on Russian assets.
While President Trump ordered the withdrawal of all US forces from Syria which instantly led to the resignation of his MoD among other ‘top’ advisers, the drum roll of protest from those who should know better has been continuous and ever increasing. Now Bolton is openly telling The World that the withdrawal will be slow and only after Kurd assets are guaranteed safety by Turkey. Bolton is also openly ‘warning’ President Assad that a new chemical attack in Syria after the US ‘withdrawal’ will have ‘consequences’. So, now we know there will be another chemical attack, probably in Manbij and of course against civilians.
In other words, the Commander In Chief of US Armed Forces is being openly and blatantly disobeyed by the very troops and civilians who swore do uphold the Constitution and obey the orders of the CIC/President. This is called a coup d’etat and this coup is open, blatant and ever increasing. US is dissolving in to anarchy with members of Congress openly calling for the impeachment of the legally elected President of the United States of America, the panting dog ‘news’ media egging the ‘politicians’ ever onward and hollywood going b/t s//t insane. Or is it American Culture that is going insane?
There are several things I find amazing even after three years of Russian assistance to The Sovereign State of Syria, couple of which are thus:
First, within 3 months of engagement of very small numbers of Russian troops and aircraft, more was done to turn the ‘regime change’ against President Assad to defeat than four years of UCA ‘efforts’ to ‘stop’ the terrorists. This leads to the realization of anyone with more reasoning ability than a 2 month old milk baby that UCA IS the terrorist organization.
Second, after these several years of ongoing tragedy, death and destruction, I find it an amazement that any ‘credible’ ‘news’ organization would deign to hint that this turkey sitting in his mum’s basement in London is in any way, shape or form a credible ‘news’ source. “According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR)” Way to go, South Front. Now we know who is paying your bills.
Auslander
Author
An Incident On Simonka
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Sevastopol, The Third Defense
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Auslander never fails. Great points, all of them.
Auslander
Another excellent comment from the Auslander. However, when it comes to Trump, one has to wonder if he was at all sincere when it comes to his election promisses. He promised much and did almost nothing. Did he improve relations with Russia ? No. Did he start rebuilding the infrastructure in the US ? No. All he did was publish fake data on “low” unemployment in the country. Did he drain the swamp ? No. It would appear that the swamp controls him, and one has to wonder if it has always controlled him. Then we have that little matter of 200 admirals and generals backing Trump during his election. Why ? So that they could have a puppet in the White House ? Finally, Trump’s decision to pull US troops from Syria, but not from Iraq. What is that supposed to mean ? Perhaps because Iraq is closer to Iran than Syria ? Does Trump plan to attack Iran this spring or summer ? Se shall see.
Israel to seek $250bn from Arab countries that expelled Jews to ‘restore their rightful property’
https://www.rt.com/news/448252-israel-compensation-jews-arab-states/
All this from an entity founded on land belonging to Palestinians and that up to today, destroy Palestinian homes and steals their land for its endless expansion.
The shakedown of Germany and other European countries was good while it lasted, but like all good things its coming to an end because only a few ‘holocaust survivors’ are still alive.
Consequently, new funding sources have to be identified and tapped.
Dont be surprised if US lawmakers – who are all AIPAC operatives – follow this up by crafting a law that obligates the US government and courts to act as Israel’s collection agents, where this new racket is concerned.
When the Palestinians are fully and completely compensated, maybe then we can talk.
Until then, none of these countries targeted should even dignify this with any form of acknowledgement.
Chutzpah
/ˈxʊtspə,ˈhʊtspə/ noun
-extreme self-confidence or audacity
Chutzpah is certainly more than that, it means: “insolence”, “cheek” or “audacity”.
“Leo Rosten in The Joys of Yiddish defines chutzpah as “gall, brazen nerve, effrontery, incredible ‘guts’, presumption plus arrogance such as no other word and no other language can do justice to”. In this sense, chutzpah expresses both strong disapproval and condemnation. In the same work, Rosten also defines the term as “that quality enshrined in a man who, having killed his mother and father, throws himself on the mercy of the court because he is an orphan”. Chutzpah amounts to a total denial of personal responsibility, which renders others speechless and incredulous … one cannot quite believe that another person totally lacks common human traits like remorse, regret, guilt, sympathy and insight. The implication is at least some degree of psychopathy in the subject, as well as the awestruck amazement of the observer at the display”.
Chutzpah
lying, cheating, smearing
when you seemingly look like the underdog
while in truth your papa owns the bank
and all local mafias
yawn.
Meanwhile Israel 2.0 is taking shape in NE Syria.
I wonder if TheSaker will publish this piece by Mr Mr Koenig, which pushes for a Kurdistan for peace (lol)..
https://journal-neo.org/2019/01/04/peace-for-syria-or-a-new-kurdistan-as-a-regional-stabilizing-factor/
I always said it was about the Oded Yinon Plan and the New Middle East maps, which show a balkanized Middle East, with a new shining Kurdistan made up of bits of Syria, Turkey, Iraq and Iran.
You have to be either complicit or a complete fool not to see what is taking shape. You were warned — it was never about pipelines or regime change. The Kurdish forces are ethnically cleansing NE Syria (Raqqa was pulverized for ’em) and setting up a new regime. Mr Koenig is advocating negotiating with Zionist proxies, basically. This is no different from that other great “progressive” phony Chomsky, i.e. use Kurdistan to push Israeli policies.
It all seems to be pretty clear now. Strange how many on this site haven’t perceived the long term goals of the dastardly and deceptive AZE. Many bought into the embellished construct known as ISIS, who are essentially a small part of the remake of the region now becoming rather clear to all who discern thoughtfully. The MSM is pushing and has for many years the idea of Kurdish Victimhood (let’s not make the silly mistake of assuming all Kurds, like assuming all Jews etc). Although, like many minorities, in different regions, they have genuine greviances, none of them justify hosting Illegal US as well as coalition bases, dutifully acting as empires mercenaries and receiving their benedictions and heavy weaponry in the truck loads, No! In the plane loads!, carving out a third of sovereign territory rich in oil, fertile land and Water resources, being part of the displacement of Arab (Muslim and Christian) lands pulverised by lethal air power and bombing campaigns only to move in and claim victory against so called ISIS, therefore, remorseless for the destruction before their eyes. The SDF/YPG PKK affiliated group (predominantly Kurd but also Arab and a host of coalition advisors and mercenaries) may have established their unholy alliance to better their prospects but an alliance with the greatest crooks ever seen will ensure they will be dragged to further intensify and destabilise the region by their handlers and most malignant benefactors. Whatever, one may think of Turkey, such a dangerous force on it’s underbelly, is a justified existential threat. No sovereign state or clear minded person can disagree with that. Yet, not only them but Iraq, Iran are facing similar rupturing scenarios. Which, secretary of state, egregiously conveyed, “the birth pangs of a new middle east”. Well I’m sure ‘Kurdistan’ which is a non-existant entity was very much part of her mind (illegal Iraq war established where?). An entity, that seems to follow the neoliberal machinations, which Peter K also goes along with, designed to reshape the region favourable to Israel while justifying further mayhem and destruction. If they had it their way they would love to see this illegitimate growth pummel it’s way connecting to the four seas while leaving everyone in it’s rubble. An ideal buffer growth to any threats that may remain beyond Israel’s dreamed of borders and destiny.
Who said, ‘It’s a fools world’. (myself included).
Yeah, definitely not well thought out by Koenig. I wonder who, or what, had influenced that reasoning. He’s generally on target, this time, though, he missed it entirely.
You were not alone. One could have get a ‘feeling’ of what was concocted from the ritual ‘denounciations’ of the ‘infamous’ imperialist Sykes-Picot Agreements (which actually set the basis of modern Syria and Iraq).
What is never said about Sykes-Picot, is that Russia was initially part of it.
“Russia was to get Istanbul, the Turkish Straits and Armenia. The controlling powers were left free to determine state boundaries within their areas. Further negotiation was expected to determine international administration in the “brown area” (an area including Jerusalem, similar to and smaller than Mandate Palestine), the form of which was to be decided upon after consultation with Russia, and subsequently in consultation with the other Allies, and the representatives of Hussein bin Ali, Sharif of Mecca”.
Had Russia stayed in the war, the Middle East would have look differently from the Muddled East of today. There wouldn’t have been an Israel. The Balfour declaration was issued a few days (9 November) after the Bolshevik coup-d’etat of 7 November- known as ‘the Great October Revolution’, and before the denunciation of the ‘secret treaties of Russia’ by Comrade Trotsky, the Commissioner for Foreign Affairs of the Bolshevik Government (25 November).
Koenig is a (n ex) banker. A neocon stooge if ever there was one.. as are 99.97% of the ‘journalists’ in so-called alt media.
Referring to a comment on MoA today, Trump is backed by Mercers, Kochs and Adelsons. As are Bolton and Pompeo.
Process this understanding and the contradictory plotlines begin to unwind.
Meanwhile Brighton Beach Russians, who did so much for Trump and Adelson in the 90’s, laundering so many trillions through Atlantic City during the period Russia and the former Soviet Union were being ‘restructured’, are mostly laying low for obvious reasons.
The Anglo-Zionist civil war, if such a thing exists, will be resolved in Anglo-Zion.
The Grand Deception (and hand-wringing) about America’s military supposed withdrawal from Syria is quickly deflating like a popped balloon.
This withdrawal was merely tactical reshuffling of American military troops in the region and not a principled pull-out.
And even then, this withdrawal is likely being delayed for God knows how long.
Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis: US Claims of Pending Pullout from Syria is a Deception
https://syria360.wordpress.com/2019/01/07/abu-mahdi-al-muhandis-us-claims-of-pending-pullout-from-syria-is-a-deception/
Brigadier-General Amin Hatit: US Not to Withdraw from al-Tanf Base
https://syria360.wordpress.com/2019/01/07/brigadier-general-amin-hatit-us-not-to-withdraw-from-al-tanf-base/
Bolton Overrules Trump: No Withdrawal From Syria
https://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2019/01/07/bolton-overrules-trump-no-withdrawal-from-syria/
Trump Bows to Domestic Pressure by Delaying his Withdrawal from Syria; A Storm is Gathering in the Levant
https://ejmagnier.com/2019/01/02/trump-bows-to-domestic-pressure-by-delaying-his-withdrawal-from-syria-a-storm-is-gathering-in-the-levant/
Trump’s Troop Pullout Not Peace, More Imperialist Reconfiguration
https://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2018/12/28/trump-troop-pullout-not-peace-more-imperialist-reconfiguration.html
“US Claims of Pending Pullout from Syria is a Deception”
Most definitely, and trump is a very willing part of that deception, being the dedicated israeli quisling that he is.
How many times have we seen this israeloamerican bs before?
Well it seems to be hotting up re Erdo v Bolton….interesting….https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201901081071294813-turkey-us-bases-syria-handover/
Destroy your 22 bases in northeast Syria or give them to me as otherwise you plan to hand them to the Kurds
and
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201901081071294558-erdogan-bolton-remarks-syria/
Saying Kurds fight daesh is all lies
Erdo getting the upper hand in the face of Boltons “mad panic”tour of the middle east?
Southfront article ….https://southfront.org/hayat-tahrir-al-sham-expansion-in-idlib-de-escalation-zone-is-part-of-turkeys-plan-report/
I am getting confused
….sighs.
Infighting continues among ranks of terrorist groups in northern Syria
https://sana.sy/en/?p=155061
Syrian opposition urges countries not to reconcile with Assad
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-saudi/syrian-opposition-urges-countries-not-to-reconcile-with-assad-idUSKCN1P00CG
Bahraini Foreign Ministry announces resumption of work of its Embassy in Damascus
https://sana.sy/en/?p=154519
I did have to chuckle today when I read an article on SouthFront about the tests of the amazing new “self-propelled tank” that Russia is developing.
The tanks of a 100 years ago weren’t really very fast, but they were self-propelled. Its not like they had to be towed around the battlefield by horses. Although, come to think of it, there’s probably a picture of that as those tanks of a century ago did tend to break down alot.
The article later refers to a “self-propelled tank destroyer”, which is a concept which only dates back to around 1943. All the European combatants in what Russia calls The Great Patriotic War had thought of the idea of putting an anti-tank gun on a tracked chassis and giving it at least some armor.
I like SouthFront, But some of their propaganda about Russian wonder weapons does go a bit over the top. But then again, maybe I’m just sensitive to it after being exposed to constant propaganda about American wonder weapons for the last 60 years.
E
“I did have to chuckle today when I read an article on SouthFront about the tests of the amazing new “self-propelled tank” that Russia is developing.”
Ah, an “expert”.
Correction, a “superior expert”, who can chuckle. :-D
“The article later refers to a “self-propelled tank destroyer”, which is a concept which only dates back to around 1943.”
Actually, 1939, or perhaps earlier.
“All the European combatants in what Russia calls The Great Patriotic War had thought of the idea of putting an anti-tank gun on a tracked chassis and giving it at least some armor.”
Or on wheeled and half track chassis.
Without a link to the article being criticized (bog standard), one cant compare the commenter’s historically inaccurate critique with what was written in the article.
Russian Military Police Begins to Patrol Manbij Area in Syria’s Aleppo Province
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201901081071289545-russian-military-syria-aleppo/
“The military police of the Russian Armed Forces began patrolling the territory in the Manbij area in the Syrian province of Aleppo near the Turkish border, the police’s spokesman Yusup Mamatov told reporters.”
Syrian Army Arrive in Northwestern Provinces to Repel Nusra Attacks – Reports
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201901081071287341-syria-army-troops-attacks/
“Additional forces of the Syrian army arrive in the provinces of Idlib, Aleppo and Hama and are ready to repel the attacks of the terrorists from the Hayat Tahrir Ash-Sham group (former Jabhat al-Nusra, banned in Russia), the pro-government Syrian newspaper al-Watan reported on Monday, citing local sources.
“Syrian army forces from military units in the south and in the centre of the country arrive in the north and north-west of Hama Province and south-east of Idlib Province, while other military convoys move north and north-east of Aleppo province,” local sources told the newspaper.”
The sources added that the army in Aleppo and its neighbourhood is fully prepared “for any confrontation with Nusra, after it seized control all the points on the line of contact with the army.”
According to the sources, Nusra terrorists intend to escalate tensions by shelling residential areas of Aleppo and conducting other provocations.”
This is probably the Chechnyan MP’s, they get along quite well with the Syrians and have deep respect for the work they’ve done to date.
I see a slow but steady flow of SAA troops, and Russian assets, going in that general direction. I think it’s only a matter of time before the order is given to clean out Manbij, there’s lots of bad guys there. Of course UCA will be furious but in the end there’s nothing they can do.
It’s also only a matter of time before SAA takes the vast areas east of the river and next to the north borders with Turkey under their control again. That is when the mass graves all over Syria will be opened and the entire world will be shown the depth of the horrors that UCA inflicted upon the Syrian populace. If this was a world with justice, every single foreign soldier and contractor who had anything to do with this massive and years long war crime would be going to prison, but that will not happen. Officially.
Auslander
Author
Never The Last One, an epic novel of Russian Spetznaz.
https://saker.community/product/never-the-last-one-a-novel-by-r-h-auslander-pdf-ed/
Blue Cloud, a look at life through the eyes of a koli.
https://saker.community/product/blue-cloud-my-life-annya-koli-pdf-novel/
http://tass.com/world/1039104
Erdo says what his altruistic plans are for Syria now isis is militarily defeated…….
129 airstrikes and 71 ISIS killed?
What a typically pathetic “effort” by the US military against ISIS.