https://southfront.org/syrian-war-report-september-13-2017-army-prepares-to-cross-euphrates-river/
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Hezbollah declared a victory in Syria as the Russian Defense Ministry announced that pro-government forces have liberated 85% of the country from militants.
“We have won in the war [in Syria],” Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said on Tuesday, according to the Lebanese newspaper al-Akhbar. He added that “the path of the other project has failed and wants to negotiate for some gains.”
The Russian military group’s Chief of Staff, Lieutenant-General Aleksandr Lapin announced “To date, 85% of Syria’s territory has been cleared of the militants of illegal armed groups.” The general added that ISIS is still in control of about 27,000 km2 of Syria’s territory.
According to Lieutenant-General Lapin, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and its allies have killed over 450 ISIS members, destroyed 5 battle tanks, and 42 vehicles equipped with large-caliber machine guns during the operation near Deir Ezzor city as well as unblocked 1,000 troops that had been surrounded in Deir Ezzor Airport.
He added that the Russian Aerospace Forces destroyed 180 facilities, including ammunition depots and command centers, in the Uqayribat area in eastern Hama.
On the same day, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu visited Damascus and held a meeting with Syrian President Bashar Assad. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, “The sides discussed current issues of military technical cooperation in the context of successful actions of Syrian government forces with the backing of the Russian aerospace force to exterminate the terrorist group Islamic State [ISIS] in Syria.“
The visit came amid the continued battle against ISIS in Deir Ezzor province. The US-led coalition and the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are seeking to establish control over the oil-rich countryside of Deir Ezzor city and if it’s possible to prevent further SAA advances towards the border with Iraq.
The Syrian-Iranian-Russian alliance is now developing a strategy to find a better way to liberate Deir Ezzor city amid the need to take control of the Deir Ezzor-Baghdad highway that will be a vital supply line between Syria and allied Iraq and Iran.
Meanwhile, the SAA Tiger Forces and their allies started storming ISIS positions inside Deir Ezzor city and preparing for a possible operation to cross the Euphrates River.
The SDF has further advanced in the northern countryside of Deir Ezzor and seized the Sadkop center, the paper mill plant and the cotton storage near the 113th Air Defense Base.
A representative of the SDF-linked Deir Ezzor Military Council has also claimed that the SDF is going to strike back the “regime forces” if the SAA or its allies try to attack the SDF.
In the city of Raqqah, the SDF has captured Thakanah district and advanced on ISIS positions north of it. The SDF advance is ongoing amid an intense bombing campaign by the US-led coalition.
“The Pentagon has relied on an army of contractors and sub-contractors – from blue-chip military giants to firms linked to organized crime – to supply up to US$ 2.2 billion worth of Soviet-style arms and ammunition to Syrian rebels fighting a sprawling war against the Islamic State (ISIS).
Arms factories across the Balkans and Eastern Europe – already working at capacity to supply the Syrian war – are unable to meet the demand. In response, the US Department of Defense (DoD) has turned to new suppliers like Kazakhstan, Georgia, and Ukraine for additional munitions while relaxing standards on the material it’s willing to accept, according to an investigation by the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN) and the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP).
Reporters have pieced together the Pentagon’s complex supply line to Syria using procurement records, ship-tracking data, official reports, leaked emails, and interviews with insiders. This program is separate from a now-defunct CIA effort to arm rebels fighting Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad.”
Extract
https://www.occrp.org/en/makingakilling/the-pentagon-is-spending-2-billion-on-soviet-style-arms-for-syrian-rebels
Charge them formally with a crime at the UN, even if it doesn’t achieve much, just to bring this to public attention.
And this report from OCCRP is from a Soro-sponsored group.
Mr. Chaos ratting our General Chaos and the Colonels of Chaos.
I dont have a southfront account so perhaps someone with one could flick this on to them given the troubles they have been having with youtube.
http://www.breitbart.com/tech/2017/09/11/report-youtubes-censorship-appeals-algorithm-is-killing-content-creators/
https://southfront.org/important-message-southfront-is-censored-on-youtube/
They have their own website.
They need to use the other social media outlets to keep propagating their audience and financial supporters.
Send them something today.
Donate.
Fire a shot at YouTube and the Google Oligarchs who are censoring the world.
Green Ammo $$$.
A house full of pedos is not the best place to put your child-care centre!
Google was created using NSA seed money when it became apparent that formal government projects to build future NSA facilities would continue to fail hard. The best systems for gathering and processing intellignce information would be perfected in the ‘commercial’ sector instead.
Google owns Youtube, which is why Youtube is a safe haven for the biggest source of pirated material on the planet.
Youtube is what the intelligence community call a ‘meta honeypot’. Like a pedo offering the child target candy before grabbing him/her, Youtube ensures it has ‘offers’ that few can bring themselves to refuse.
At first Google satisfied itself with plain intelligence gathering about those that uploaded material ‘of interest’. But now we are in the second stage. Youtube, by killing channels (hard- or soft with demonetisation) ensures those that are (***currently***) allowed to remain self-censor. And Google, like Facebook, is on the very edge of purging all ‘fake news’- in other words any alternative to obscenities like the BBC or NYT.
Russia is implementing ‘The Great Firewall’ (much to its dying shame). So is the UK. The Deep State is being perfectly assisted by tyranical over-reach by the governments of its target nations. In truth anyone who seeks real governmental power- our side or the bad guys- wants to end ‘people power’.
It is highly ironic that the only nation where this isn’t easy is the USA- with the planet’s only near perfect free speech constitution. Outside the USA ‘free speech’ means government approved speech. But America controls its population by other means.
Moderator J NOTE: I trust our readers have the intelligence to judge for themselves the accuracy or lack of accuracy of the assertions contained in the following paragraph.
And this is the essential nature of the Internet- where new media isn’t allowed to become ‘old’ media, cos we- the users- are too nimble and are always moving forward. Today, most of what is happening in Syria is considered by Russia to be the ***private*** concern of the masters of the governments involved. Our time of ‘usefulness’ as righteous ‘cheerleaders’ has passed. Putin wants the power (in private) to betray whomsoever he wishes in the name of ‘the deal’. And the region will have to wait, with bated breath, for the next- far bloodier- conflict in the near future.
Russia’s betrayal of Syria (and Iran) is on-going–despite the denials of many people here and by the not-so-alternative Anglophone media.
Just witness the Russian response to the recent Israeli bombing raid against Syria, which consisted of tacit approval of this aggression:
This article was written by Andrew Korybko. Mod
“Although it may pain many in the Alt-Media to read, Russia’s actions in passively allowing Israel to bomb what it claims (whether accurately or not) are Iranian-related infrastructure and troops (whether its own or allied) in Syria indicate that Moscow believes that Tehran “deserved it”, or put more gently, that Iran is “provoking” Israel through its presence in western and southern Syria and that Tel Aviv is therefore “justified” in militarily responding to it with “surgical strikes”. This explanation shouldn’t be taken as the author’s personal endorsement of this policy, but just as an empirical observation acquired from analyzing all of the Israeli bombing raids on Syria over just this year alone. The implicit cooperation, albeit even if passive, that Moscow extends to Tel Aviv in this regard might also have to do with its decision makers wanting to keep Iran on the overall strategic defensive so that the existing support that Russia provides to it acquires a relatively more heightened importance by comparison
[…]
“Does anyone still seriously think that Russia and Israel aren’t allies”
http://theduran.com/does-anyone-still-seriously-think-that-russia-and-israel-arent-allies/
Does anyone still seriously think Korybko is an ally of Russia?
JS
Exactly. Basically, he is a casebook example of “soft support” from the right for zionazism.
I dont buy any of the arguments. Neither Korybko´s nor the readers here.
The S-400 were not there close to Iranian installations for fun. The S-400 are there to protect the build up of lets say Iranian build anti-air installations for Syria.
There can many explanations why S-400 were not fired. Dummies, not ready, not working, not ready for Libanon fired missiles, not ready for Israeli attacks only US Coalition attacks, etc.
Its a complicated situation and so far Russia/Iran/Syria have cleared various obstacles/direct Coalition attacks/killings in a splendid way.
I would not judge anything on this another single incident out of hundreds, but look at the overall picture.
Generally speaking, the most nonsensical comments come from the Twilight Zone.
Today’s is a keeper. Remarkably, inane in aim and execution.
Because the intent of the comments is always the same, distinguishing one from any of the dozens of others is difficult.
I suggest a template could be copied and pasted:
“Putin stupid and devious. Twilight adept and remarkably insightful.”
You can have it free. Save yourself plenty of time.
The US relied on so-called “moderate rebels”, who are in fact mercenaries, many of questionable combat abilities. I don’t see them stopping the Syrian Army, which also has Russian air support. This leaves the US to intervene directly. Not a good idea, as US troops are on Syrian territory without the permission of the Syrian Government. Trump better admit defeat in Syria.
So what is special about the Euphrates?
Sure it is a big wide river but that’s not it.
Remember back in May when the US shot down a Syrian plane? The Russians said they would provide cover for the Syrian air force – west of the Euphrates.
Since then the US has installed about 11 military bases – east of the Euphrates – plus have gathered together thousands of terrorists rebranded and Kurds as well. and western special forces.
Maybe Russia have updated their statement and will give air cover, but if they haven’t, then those Syrian army guys are going to very vulnerable as they head for Al Hasakah.
Big test too for Mr Lavrov, persuading all these Americans to just go home but I’m sure he’ll try.
This is most difficult part of the war.
I would point to the de-escalation zone in the Southwest (Daraa) which Russia got the US to certify. Who would have thought that would happen?
And the Kurds have turned over areas to SAA.
So, there are surprising events so far.
Also, Russia has called off the US from aerial stalking the convoy of ISIS and their families stranded in buses.
I believe the US is in a situation where they will lose whatever turf they use the Kurds to take. The Kurds will lose if they stay and fight SAA. And the Russians have not shown any hesitation in their battle plans. If the Russians are involved with this crossing the Euphrates and taking of the oil fields (which they appear to be), then the US will cede.
It’s fairly simple military logic. The Russians inform the US of their intention and then do it. The US can lose their proxies or not.
Since the US has a long-term plan (not a strategy) to use the Kurds to help carve out of Syria and Iraq a Kurdistan, and to keep some SOC troops in various small bases in the East, they need to avoid the utter destruction of both in the coming days.
If the US had a strategy, they would be in Syria in force themselves. Because they are facing four nations (Russia, Syria, Iran and Turkey) and swarms of hardened militias and Hezbollah and Quds Force units, the US has not a prayer of holding the turf they covet in Syria. In fact, if they persist with their plan, Iraq, also, will turn on them with more than PMU troops.
Doing war requires more than hegemonic power and total disregard for international law. It requires generals who can strategize and command battlezones. The US has none. They have hundreds of 4- and 3-star goons, thousands of combat experienced colonels and battalions of special forces.
But they can’t win anywhere they are faced with a determined opponent.
The Americans will find their proxies and advisers in a cauldron if they hang around long enough. Then they will be humiliated in surrender and retreat or turned into ashes by thermobaric rockets and missiles.
“If the US had a strategy, they would be in Syria in force themselves”
Why? They have an endless supply of extremely tough and well armed fighters on payroll and no need to worry about body bags coming back to US with bad press and also they can even bomb them if they do wrong things. And can deny responsibility for their atrocities.
Daesh or al nusra are not defeated they just are called something else now.
“But they can’t win anywhere they are faced with a determined opponent.” – true but it not useless US troops that Syria is fighting. Syria is fighting the toughest guys on Earth. Evil – sure but totally tough and never give in.
Who knows how it will turn out? You maybe right I hope so but I have doubts and without Russian air cover the SAA not going to recapture east Syria.
Also remember nobody ever shoots down American planes when bombing Syria. Russia will never do that.
So the US and NATO countries got thousands of fighters on the ground plus US airforce that does what it pleases and hey nobody shoots back.
It don’t look good one bit but things can be surprising like you say.
I love to know what Russian policy will be on air support for SAA east of the Euphrates.
Raqqa is intentionally being razed to the ground . Its a form of ‘built to destroy’ . If the SAA cross the Euphrates river and turn left ; that is when the shit will hit the fan . It took them too long to get there to begin with.
They took control of the highways. They covered their flanks from counter-attacks.
If they rushed ahead, they would have been highly exposed and ISIS would have stopped them and slaughtered them.
The weeks of fighting gained control of the ground in their rear and Deir ez Zor held out and the thrust by Tiger Force was successful with few losses.
This was great military strategy along the way.
The tactics they used to gain all the high ground and reinforce along the way worked.
This is real war not a video game. And doing it this way enabled the Russians to kill thousands of ISIS with bombs, missiles and rockets.
Study the war more closely. It has been brilliantly generaled by Russian and Syrian staffs. Coordination of forces has been excellent.
Thanks for the reply: I believe that that SAA took too long to get to Dier Ezzor and missed the opportunity to roll up the Eastern bank of the Euphrates. The writing on the wall has been evident for at least a year and the partition of Syria well under way . The road to Palmyra and onwards to Dier Ezzor isn’t the Ho Chi minh trail nor a Vietnamese jungle . Armoured formations with the aid of Russian airpower could have moved forward faster than they did . This Montgomery-eske cautious approach is time consuming . Of course there would have been losses -there always are in war , but to say that the SAA would have been slaughtered in an open desert requires a good imagination. What about the terrorists in their treeless environment ,where are they to hide and how would they be resupplied – by Toyota pick-up trucks in the open desert and no one will see them . The SAA may not yet comprehend the advantages of mobile warfare , there are many references available by the likes of Heinz Guderian and Marchal Zhukov. Unless the Syrian MBT’s that the SAA had at the outset of the war have either been destroyed or dilapidated due to want of parts which limited their ability to be used in large numbers .Nevertheless the Syrian Government will be facing a conundrum with the various Western sponsored opposition gangs all claiming a piece of Syrian territory and therefore influencing Syrian democracy itself, this has already started with the Kurds de-facto proclaiming administrative rights . Anyone who thinks that this war is drawing to and end in the near future is dreaming . Half of the Western plan for Syria has already been achieved which is the destruction of the Country – the estimated costs of rebuilding by some estimates will amount to a hundred billion dollars . How will Syria pay for this if they lose control over the oil producing regions. Will certain sanctions be removed in order to allow western investors to lend and subject Syria to perpetual debt and the SAP’s that accompany such policies. The second part of the Plan is to supplant the Syrian Government with a kind of political solution by the various western backed factions , if this comes to pass there will be no celebrations .
Mobile warfare in the Syrian desert today is not the same thing as mobile warfare in 1941. Tanks, that were largely invulnerable to infantry in 1941 can now be destroyed at ranges measured in kilometers by man portable AT missiles. In 1941 reconnaissance assets did not include a constellation of satellites with optics that can read the license plates on cars and transmit those images in real time to battle field commanders.
But the goal for the SAA is not just to lift the siege of DE, but to extend its control over as much territory as possible so as to allow as many people as possible to return to something like a normal life. Every pocket of ISIS control the SAA bypasses, the more resources that must be devoted to providing security for both supply lines and vulnerable civilians. Assad is not just running a war, he’s trying to save a country. This requires a different style of warfare and I think the results speak to the effectiveness of the means in this case.
Syria is more like a Sumo wrestling match with several wrestlers grappling at the same time for leverage to force the others out of the “circle” (which in this case is Syria) than some blitz through the desert.
I think in the end Syrian and Iraqi Araps will form a new state…they have to do. Otherwise Sorani and Kurmanci People will clear them from these countries with the support of USA.