Rumours of massive Russian troop deployment to Syria

These are the rumours, from an unnamed 'insider' that appeared in Britain's tabloid publication, the Sunday Express today.

Let's just call it the 'Fog of War'

End of ISIS? Putin 'sending 150,000 soldiers to Syria to WIPE OUT evil Islamic State'

VLADIMIR Putin is preparing to send 150,000 troops to Syria in a bid to wipe out the evil Islamic State once and for all as he hints at joining the West following the Paris attacks.

The Russian leader is reportedly mounting an enormous military mission to take control of the terror group's stronghold of Raqqa.

The city is the self-declared capital of ISIS in Syria and is patrolled by as many as 5,000 jihadi members.

Putin is set to mobilise 150,000 reservists who he conscripted into the military in September.

Yesterday, following the Paris attacks, Putin hinted he was ready to join forces with the West to tackle Islamic State.

He told David Cameron: "The recent tragic events in France show that we should join efforts in preventing terror."


An insider revealed: "It is very clear that Russia wants to sweep up the west of the country, taking Raqqa and all the oil and gas resources around Palmyra.


"This is fast becoming a race to Raqqa – to secure the oil fields they need to cleanse the region of insurgents, and the IS capital is vital to do that."


In a show of strength, Russian jets have previously obliterated nine ISIS outposts in just 24 hours using bunker-busting bombs.

And from Investment Watch a few days ago

150,000 Russian Troops in Syria with Chinese Aircraft Carrier and Iranians Backing Them

RIGHT NOW, 150,000 VOLUNTEER RUSSIAN TROOPS ARE ADVANCING INSIDE SYRIA, THEY ARE BACKED UP ON THE GROUND BY IRAN, AND CHINA HAS AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER FLEET OFF THE COAST BACKING ALL OF THEM UP!

WHERE IS THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA REPORTING ANY OF THAT?

From the usually more reliable South Front

RUSSIAN TROOPS REPORTED IN COMBAT NEAR LATAKIA AND ALEPPO

Российские войска взяли штурмом позиции повстанцев вблизи Латакии

http://southfront.org/russian-ground-troops-reported-in-battle-in-syria/

Original posted by military-informant.com; translated from Russian by J.Hawk

Russian forces stormed rebel positions in Sakhl al-Gab, between Latakia and Idlib in northern Syria.

The assault involved Russian forces in up to battalion strength. The rebel-held heights were subjected to heavy artillery bombardment using howitzers and rocket artillery. Russian forces also had air cover in the form of Su-25M attack aircraft.

The ground operation involved Russian Naval Infantry supported by T-90 MBTs and BTR-80 [BTR-82?] APCs.

Right now the captured positions are held by Russian and Syrian forces.

Syria’s pro-government journalists are confirming that Russian ground troops conducted operations near Aleppo.

J.Hawk’s Comment: No way to tell yet whether the reports are true, but it is more likely than not that Russian ground units are participating in the fighting. Certainly the pictures of T-90 MBTs on flatbed trailers, which they would use in the event of lengthy marches rather than in security operations in direct vicinity of Khmeimim airbase, suggest the Russian ground component is no longer confined to the environs of Russian naval and air facilities in Syria. This development would be consistent with preparations reported in the weekly Russia Military Map status updates and the fact that the Syrian army is averse to conducting shock action assaults which reduces the effects of the Russian air/artillery bombardment. One or a few reinforced battalion battlegroups could operate as the “extraordinary force” on selected sectors of the front and have an effect on the overall situation out of all proportion to their numbers (and in fact we have seen something similar during the winter 2014/15 fighting on the Donbass), whereas the Syrian army, the “ordinary force”, would hold territory, conduct defensive operations, and create conditions suitable for the employment of Russian shock units