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ISIS ANNOUNCES IT HAS AIR DEFENSE WEAPONS
22
January, 2015
On
the internet there appeared photographs of weapons captured by the
Islamic State fighters near the city of Deir-ez-Sor in Syria. That
region has seen intense and bloody fighting in the last several
weeks, with the Islamic State launching a counteroffensive in
mid-January 2016. Judging from the photographs, the militants were
able to overrun a Syrian Arab Army air defense unit garrison and
capture at least one 2P25 launch vehicle of the 2K12 Kvadrat air
defense systems, an 1S91 self-propelled surveillance and tracking
unit, and several 3M9 missiles. Judging by the external appearance,
the 1S91 was operational at the time of capture.
J.Hawk’s
Comment: There
are several possible interpretations to this story. One is that ISIS
does not, in fact, have an operational air defense system at its
disposal but is rather bluffing, hoping to dissuade Russian aircraft
from operating over the territory it holds, because from an
operational point of view it would make more sense not to announce
this acquisition and use the element of surprise to ambush a Russian
aircraft.
The
second interpretation is that the story is actually true. Considering
that there are likely both Iraqi and Syrian Sunnis who have in the
past operated the Kvadrat system, the Islamic State would likely be
able to put together a complete launch crew, which in turn would
require to dedicate the Russian air group in Syria to dedicate a
number of aircraft (especially the Su-34) to the air defense
suppression mission.
The
third and most worrisome interpretation is that ISIS is actually
obtaining air defense weapons through external channels (while
claiming they were captured from the SAA), most likely Turkey, which
in turn could procure such weapons from Ukraine. The recent contacts
between these two countries’ defense officials suggest this
scenario cannot be ruled out. It would also mean a significant
escalation of the conflict in Syria.
TERRORISTS HAVE WEAPONS CAPABLE OF DOWNING AIRCRAFT IN SYRIA
Russian MoD:
Militants possess weapons such as ZU-23 [anti-aircraft gun] and
others that are capable to hit Syrian aircraft
©
Sputnik/ Press service of Russian Defense Ministry
22
January, 2015
According
to the Russian Defense Ministry terrorists in Syria posses weapons
capable of downing Syrian military-transport planes delivering
humanitarian aid to besieged areas.
“Indeed, militants possess weapons such as ZU-23 [anti-aircraft gun] and others that are capable of hitting targets at the height of 4,000 meters, especially, such a big aircraft as Syrian Air Force’s IL-76 military transport plane,” Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov told journalists.
According
to Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov such attacks by terrorists were
recorded when the first batch of Russian-Syrian humanitarian aid was
sent to Deir ez-Zor.
“It [the cargo delivery operation] is very risky. In most cases delivery is performed at night without any illumination.”
The Syrian
authorities confirmed that Russian humanitarian aid had been
successfully delivered to areas besieged by terrorists.
“They [Syrian authorities] confirmed that the humanitarian aid is ditributed to people in need,” Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said.
We
remember, on Jan. 15, a cargo plane of the Syrian Air Force
using Rusian P-7 platforms airdropped a total of 50 tons worth of
food supplies and basic necessities to Deir ez-Zor.
U.S. TO DEPLOY MORE TROOPS IN IRAQ
Pentagon’s
chief is looking for “an effective coalition” against Islamist
militants.
On
Wednesday, January 20, the US Defense Secretary Ash Carter met with
his French counterpart and to attend a defense ministerial to the
fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant. Ash Carter
met with his French partner seeking ways to bring Arab states “in
the game” too.
In
a joint press conference, the pentagon’s chief Ash Carter said that
US had plans to increase the number of troops in Iraq as it seeks to
“accelerate” its campaign to “crush” Islamic State in the
region.
Apart
from the bilateral meeting with French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le
Drian, Ash Carter also met the first with seven major members
included Britain, Germany, Italy, Australia and the Netherlands of
the anti-Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) coalition. The
“face-to-face meeting” is intended to figure out the ways to
boost their fight against Islamic militants.
Pentagon
stressed that the coalition’s major goal right now is to target and
destroy IS headquarters in Iraq and Syria while also combating their
supporters worldwide, “everywhere its metastasis have spread around
the world.”
“We’re doing this by providing a plan, clear leadership and the power of a global coalition wielding a suite of capabilities [that include] airstrikes, special forces, cyber tools, intelligence, equipment, mobility and logistics, and training, advice and assistance,” Ash Carter told into the joint news conference.
He
also laid out some of the Pentagon’s plans regarding the coalition
and its strategy. Addressing to the success in taking the Ramadi of
Iraq back from the IS, Carter told that he ‘expects’ the number
of additional US advisers in Iraq to increase, as well as “the
variety of the training they’re giving.”
The
Pentagon chief said,“So for example, as territory is retaken from
IS, as moving up and ultimately including Mosul, there are going to
need to be not just ground forces that can seize territory, but
police forces that can keep security,” Without giving number to the
reporters Ash Carter said that the number of US personnel is going
“to increase greatly as the momentum of the effort increases.”
He
also said that the reinforcement would also involve its coalition
partners. In this regard, Carter said that one of his goals is to
bring Arab countries – “Arabs and Sunni Arabs” – into the
military campaign, as they can be “an enormous contribution to
this.”
“I want to hear from my counterparts over the next couple of days – how can we get them in the game. I have long said that Arabs and Sunni Arabs need to get in the game.” the Pentagon chief said
“Every nation must come prepared to discuss further contributions to the fight, and I will not hesitate to engage and challenge current and prospective members of the coalition as we go forward.” he also added.
All
together for the first time, defense ministers from 26 counter-ISIS
coalition nations, plus Iraq, will be meeting in Brussels in February
on a discussions to “hasten” the defeat of terrorists.
U.S. ADMITS BOMBING CIVILIANS IN IRAQ AND SYRIA
©
US Air Force / Staff Sgt. Shawn Nickel / AFP
On
January 21, a Western media outlet Daily Beast reported that the U.S.
military is to announce it killed or wounded civilians on at
least 14 occasions in Iraq and Syria.
A
US defense official told to Daily Beast that the 14 new incidents
which claimed at least 15 of civilian casualties occurred in 2015.
Until
last week, the US had accepted responsibility in just two such cases.
The
report said that American military launched more than 7,500
airstrikes over the course of 17 months of ISIS war, the toll could
very well increase.
The
Daily beast also said that Pentagon was reluctant to admit causing
civilian casualties during its bombing campaign against the terrorist
group Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL and now in three weeks,
it is to announce 14 new cases from 2015 that killed or injured a
total of 29 innocent people.
The
news website also said that last week the military detailed five
incidents between April 12 and July 4, 2015, that had claimed eight
lives and left three others injured. This week the Pentagon is to
acknowledge five more incidents, and next week four additional cases
will be announced.
The
report indicates the US desire to avoid civilian casualties, and for
that reason it is so long avoided targeting the terrorist group’s
revenue-generating facilities, such as the convoys of stolen oil that
IS smuggles out of Syria and Iraq.
U.S. Central Command spokesman Air Force Col. Patrick Ryder stated to the website that “We take all allegations of civilian casualties seriously and assess all incidents as thoroughly as possible. In accordance with our commitment to transparency, we are working to release assessment findings of closed allegations as soon as possible.”
A
recent UN report said that nearly 19,000 civilians had been killed in
the fighting in Iraq alone. A war in which bombs are being dropped
from 30,000 feet from the above from the ground, it could lead to
many innocent deaths.
No permission sought, none given: new US airbase in Syria anyway
 |
|
Rmeilan,
site of the newest US airbase, is at upper right, between "M4"
and the red-circled "1" in this map.
|
NEWSFRONT, January 21, 2016
Translated from Russian by Tom Winter
The US is building an airbase in Syria without any okay from Damascus.
The upgrading of an abandoned airbase is going on right now in northeastern Syria, on territory controlled by Kurdish Peoples Defence units. Yesterday American experts started to prepping the runways and other key infrastructure for a new air base.
However, all these activities are not consistent with the official authorities: Damascus has not given Washington permission.
Reporters have noted the fact that US cooperation with the Kurds in the fight against the IS terrorist group is already causing a lot of questions. Furthermore, it has become certain that the Kurdish units that are in the Syrian Democratic Forces, are often in contact with the Americans, giving them targets for US airstrikes
Turkey
in Panic Mode After Spotting Russian Engineers on Syrian Border
Amid rising tensions between Ankara and Moscow, Turkish President Erdogan has expressed concern over the alleged presence of Russian engineers near the country’s Syrian border.
22
January, 2015
The
Turkish government has expressed alarm over Russia’s air campaign
in Syria since it began last September. Along its Syrian border zone,
Turkey has dug defense trenches and increased security forces,
despite the fact that Moscow has repeatedly stated its goal is to
combat terrorist groups in Syria.
On
Friday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed new levels
of panic, sounding the alarm over the alleged presence of Russian
inspectors at an airport near the Turkish border.
"We
have said this from the beginning: we won’t tolerate such
formations (in northern Syria) along the area stretching from the
Iraqi border up to the Mediterranean," he told reporters. "We
maintain our sensitivities on these issues."
Erdogan
said he plans to discuss the matter with US Vice President Joe Biden
when the two meet on Saturday.
"I
can say that Turkey is closely watching every military movement on
its borders and especially the border with Syria," a Turkish
government source added, speaking on condition of anonymity.
But
the president fails to address the underlying cause for any tensions
in the border zone: Ankara’s downing of a Russian bomber in Syrian
airspace. Following that incident, Russia was forced to move S-400
air defense systems to Hmeymim airbase.
"They
thought that we would turn tail and run. No, Russia not that
country," Russian President Vladimir Putin said last month. "We
have increased our presence in Syria, have increased the number of
combat aircraft deployed there. There was no Russian air defense
system there – now there’s the S-400.
"If
before, Turkey had constantly violated Syrian airspace, let them try
it now."
Moscow
also deployed warships to the Mediterranean to assist in the
anti-terror campaing, as well as to protect Russian jets.
Erdogan’s
comments also come amid Turkey’s increased concern over the
presence of Kurdish militants along the border. While the YPG has
proven to be one of the most effective ground forces fighting against
Daesh in northern Syria, Ankara has labeled the group a terrorist
organization.
While
Moscow has pushed for the inclusion of the YPG in Syrian peace talks,
Ankara has refused, threatening to extend the bloody conflict.
"For
us, there is no difference between PYD, YPG, PKK, or Daesh,"
Erdogan said. "We will discuss this with Biden tomorrow.
"I
hope that this joint stance will be aimed at preventing this wrong
Russian formation in northern Syria."
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