ISIS/ISIL conflict in Syria/Iraq (No OpEd, No Politics)

Jul 9, 2018
in case you cared:
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and
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NEW MAP update: Almost entire
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and
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Governorates are back under Government control.
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secured the borders near
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/i occupied
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heights and liberated 60% of the
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pocket in
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Basin.
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Jul 28, 2018
Jul 9, 2018
and
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NEW MAP update: Almost entire
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and
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Governorates are back under Government control.
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secured the borders near
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/i occupied
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heights and liberated 60% of the
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pocket in
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Basin.
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now
Feature: Syrian army secures borderline with Jordan, Israeli-occupied Golan Heights
Xinhua| 2018-08-09 05:27:00
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The official Syrian flag is again fluttering on the ground zero, a triangle of Syrian territory slicing between Jordan and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

In a trip for Xinhua and other media outlets to the southern province of Daraa Wednesday, reporters were taken to the ground zero, otherwise known as the Island, or Triangle.

This triangle is located in the far western countryside of Daraa, the birthplace of the Syrian war, which was recently recaptured by the Syrian army.

It is a high ground with a Syrian flag raised at its entrance. Turning right, an Israeli observatory is spotted from a distance on the Golan Heights; looking the other side, the Jordanian territories are seen.

During the crisis, the Syrian army has almost lost all border points, except for a crossing with Lebanon.

The Syrian government has repeatedly charged that weapons, munition, and fighters were being smuggled into the country from the loose border points that had fallen to the rebels.

During a wide-scale campaign that started in late June in Daraa and nearby rebel-held areas, the Syrian government forces have succeeded in restoring all border points with Jordan and were also deployed along the separation line with the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

The Golan Heights is a basaltic plateau spanning about 1,800 sq km captured by Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War.

This achievement is considered as an important victory for the Syrian army and a key step toward ending the Syrian war, as when the borders are controlled, the country becomes safer.

Capturing the borders also indicates that the Syrian army is gaining the upper hand in the Syrian war, after almost securing the southern region safe for a few pockets controlled by the Islamic State (IS) in the eastern countryside of Sweida province.

Back to the ground zero, the Syrian soldiers were seen standing guard looking both ways to Jordan and the Israeli-occupied territories.

A Syrian officer told Xinhua without giving his name that the achievement is part of a greater goal that army is working to achieve.

"The importance of this achievement emanates from the greater goal of liberating all Syrian areas and restoring the historic right of the Syrian army to capture the occupied territories," he said.

The officer reiterated the importance of the ground zero, saying "this area is considered as the ground zero as it is the link between the territories of Syria, Jordan and the Golan Heights."

It also links the Yarmouk Valley on the Jordanian side with the Ruqqad Vally on the side of the Golan Heights, he said.

The officer, meanwhile, stressed that the ultra-radical groups were hunted down by the army after fleeing their positions.

"The foreign-backed terrorist groups were defeated in this area and some of them fled to the Yarmouk basin and the Ruqqad valley, but those areas were combed and the terrorists were defeated," he said.

On the road, some washed out rebels' flags were seen as well as rebels, who decided to reconcile with the government. Russian vehicles and posts were seen with Russian flags flattering at their entrances.

Some of the rebels in the villages in the western countryside of Daraa were fully hooded, while others were seen with rifles.

The Russian-backed reconciliation deals went hand in hand with the large-scale campaign in Daraa and Quneitra.

Those deals allow the rebels, who refuse to reconcile, to leave for rebel-held areas in northern Syria while granting amnesty to others who hand over their heavy weapons and embark on the reconciliation process.

Some reports said the Russian side has given the rebels, who want to reconcile, six-month period to settle their situation and complete the reconciliation process with the government forces.

Now, the Syrian army is fighting IS in the desert region in the eastern countryside of Sweida, making progress in the fight against the remaining IS pockets there.

The liberation of the Sweida desert will be the declaration of the entire liberation of the southwestern part of Syria, an achievement that would be the latest after the army has captured almost two-thirds of the country.
 

H2O

Junior Member
Registered Member
Honestly, if China wants reconstruction contracts, they should at least get involved in some form or another. Chinese citizens, regardless of ethnicity, have been tearing up the place and needs to be held accountable. And Syria was such a good, valid excuse to test out their military.

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2handedswordsman

Junior Member
Registered Member
Don't imply western politics directly to a non westerner. It will lead you to false conclusions. "valid excuse to test out their military" and then go there to rebuild the ruins for profit. Too inhuman don't you think?
 

Dizasta1

Senior Member
Chinese military will not deploy to Syria for Idlib offensive – envoy

Well from strategic stand point, where we can see how America, Britain and France are actively supporting so-called "moderate rebels" against Assad (we all know how splendid that turned out to be). That is only natural that Russia's premier ally, China, would step in and join the fight against terrorists such as ISIS & HTS.

Turkey, China, Iran and Russia should work together for peace in Syria. Where once the terrorists have been cleared out. Then work can begin in the rebuilding of infrastructure in the country. And at the same time, talks can begin between the Syrian government and the rebels for a peaceful solution to make Syria whole again.

It is not just Syria where China and Russia need to work together to establish peace. But also in Afghanistan, where (according to news reports) 10000 ISIS terrorists have managed to get into, traveling thousands of miles of territory of several countries. One wonders, how on God's green earth, did 10000 ISIS terrorists get into Afghanistan.

Syria and Afghanistan, are both very important countries where Russia and China must work together with Turkey, Iran and Pakistan.
 

taxiya

Brigadier
Registered Member
Honestly, if China wants reconstruction contracts, they should at least get involved in some form or another. Chinese citizens, regardless of ethnicity, have been tearing up the place and needs to be held accountable. And Syria was such a good, valid excuse to test out their military.

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Quite strange points that you are making. Here are some thoughts to each one of them.
  1. Reconstruction contracts: some may be commercial, but MANY may be donations. Syria is a country not just meant money to China. And China has been donating to the Syrian government.
  2. Who is tearing up the place? Some Chinese terrorists. I think they are already held accountable, e.g. eliminated by SAA. Are you suggesting these scumbags being the guilt of China? In that way, most of Syria's Arab neighbor and Western countries are the top guilty parties who should pay the reconstruction.
  3. Excuse? With Syrian government request who need excuse? It is the west and Saudi who made excuses to invade Syria in the first place.
Don't make Russia, Iran and China look as low as the others, we have the invitation and consent from a legitimate government who is a member of UN.
 

H2O

Junior Member
Registered Member
...also in Afghanistan, where (according to news reports) 10000 ISIS terrorists have managed to get into, traveling thousands of miles of territory of several countries. One wonders, how on God's green earth, did 10000 ISIS terrorists get into Afghanistan....

Well, if the Houthis, a bunch of khat chewing tribesmen armed with minimal equipment, can beat back the Saudi-led coalition armed with the most sophisticated equipment, then it shouldn't be a surprise if ISIS can do the same. Quite the feat without access to any airlift capabilities. :rolleyes:


Quite strange points that you are making. Here are some thoughts to each one of them.
  1. Reconstruction contracts: some may be commercial, but MANY may be donations. Syria is a country not just meant money to China. And China has been donating to the Syrian government.
  2. Who is tearing up the place? Some Chinese terrorists. I think they are already held accountable, e.g. eliminated by SAA. Are you suggesting these scumbags being the guilt of China? In that way, most of Syria's Arab neighbor and Western countries are the top guilty parties who should pay the reconstruction.
  3. Excuse? With Syrian government request who need excuse? It is the west and Saudi who made excuses to invade Syria in the first place.
Don't make Russia, Iran and China look as low as the others, we have the invitation and consent from a legitimate government who is a member of UN.

I've been following the Syrian war as best I can, and have not found any evidence of Chinese assistance, with the exception of the UNSC votes. It's been *claimed* that the Chinese have been providing satellite intelligence, financial, and medical training. However, I have yet to find any evidence of Syrian troops in China for training as claimed nor any humanitarian aid. There have numerous reports from Navy Times, RT America and even the BBC of Chinese military involvement, but with no evidence to support them.

Let's start with point 3. Maybe the word excuse isn't the correct word, but what I was trying to illustrate was that the Chinese government have a valid rebuttal to any accusations thrown at them by Western governments; just like Russia and Iran. IMHO, military exercises and testing can only flush out so many deficiencies in doctrine and equipment. Nothing can replace combat experience due to the chaotic nature of it.

Point 2. Wouldn't you consider it unfair to the Syrian government and it's people that they have to clean up after China's mess? No one should be surprised, in fact I'm expecting, of evidence to surface on what the Uighurs have nefariously been doing in Syria. No sane person will blame China for wanting these Uighur terrorists back alive for questioning. I sure many attempts have been made, even by invitation, to solicit Chinese military involvement, but nothing (AFAIK). I have no doubts the Russian government tried to lobby Beijing on behalf of Syria many times. I feel that China missed a golden opportunity on the World stage. Right now, Russia is the golden boy.

Yes, you are correct that the benefactors of ISIS should be contributing to the reconstruction costs of Syria. I believe both Putin and Xi have been calling out for "international" support for reconstructing Syria. Unfortunately, there will be no "international" help. Just recently, Lavrov accused the United Nations of covertly blocking any reconstruction attempts of Syria. Another black mark for the UN.

Point 1. It's unknown if it's donations or not. But, I've just found photographic evidence of
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. Again, the point I was trying to illustrate was, if you want something (i.e. reconstruction contracts), you have to give something back (i.e. involvement). The more you're involved, the bigger the pie you get.
 

taxiya

Brigadier
Registered Member
Well, if the Houthis, a bunch of khat chewing tribesmen armed with minimal equipment, can beat back the Saudi-led coalition armed with the most sophisticated equipment, then it shouldn't be a surprise if ISIS can do the same. Quite the feat without access to any airlift capabilities. :rolleyes:




I've been following the Syrian war as best I can, and have not found any evidence of Chinese assistance, with the exception of the UNSC votes. It's been *claimed* that the Chinese have been providing satellite intelligence, financial, and medical training. However, I have yet to find any evidence of Syrian troops in China for training as claimed nor any humanitarian aid. There have numerous reports from Navy Times, RT America and even the BBC of Chinese military involvement, but with no evidence to support them.

Let's start with point 3. Maybe the word excuse isn't the correct word, but what I was trying to illustrate was that the Chinese government have a valid rebuttal to any accusations thrown at them by Western governments; just like Russia and Iran. IMHO, military exercises and testing can only flush out so many deficiencies in doctrine and equipment. Nothing can replace combat experience due to the chaotic nature of it.

Point 2. Wouldn't you consider it unfair to the Syrian government and it's people that they have to clean up after China's mess? No one should be surprised, in fact I'm expecting, of evidence to surface on what the Uighurs have nefariously been doing in Syria. No sane person will blame China for wanting these Uighur terrorists back alive for questioning. I sure many attempts have been made, even by invitation, to solicit Chinese military involvement, but nothing (AFAIK). I have no doubts the Russian government tried to lobby Beijing on behalf of Syria many times. I feel that China missed a golden opportunity on the World stage. Right now, Russia is the golden boy.

Yes, you are correct that the benefactors of ISIS should be contributing to the reconstruction costs of Syria. I believe both Putin and Xi have been calling out for "international" support for reconstructing Syria. Unfortunately, there will be no "international" help. Just recently, Lavrov accused the United Nations of covertly blocking any reconstruction attempts of Syria. Another black mark for the UN.

Point 1. It's unknown if it's donations or not. But, I've just found photographic evidence of
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
. Again, the point I was trying to illustrate was, if you want something (i.e. reconstruction contracts), you have to give something back (i.e. involvement). The more you're involved, the bigger the pie you get.
I am not going to details for the reason that China does not brag its involvement in hot regions. This is not unique to Syria, but everywhere.

The reason that you did not find or is not aware of China's involvement may be because you don't follow Chinese media? Just two examples, there were twice that China donated humanitarian aid to the Syrian Red Crescent (Government agency) for displaced people inside Syria, this is reported by CCTV and Xinhua. Syrian military officials have visited China (at least once reported), the contents of their talk was not released except the joint statement of "enhancing cooperation", so nobody knows the detail of China's involvement and China will never tell.

Regarding the Chinese terrorists, China know who they are due to the Hukou system (nobody is missing unaccounted as the leader of the village is responsible), China just want them dead wherever they may be. For that, China is happy to pay the bill for the bombs, and the bill may be much more than enough for a head.

The bottom line is, there are so many ways to help Syria than PLA boots on the ground which is more of a bragging show which is never the Chinese style. Remember, China tried so hard to hide its involvement during the Vietnam war, China may be just doing the same (doing but not showing).

Once again, Syria is not a market frenzy to grab just for money, never that simple.
 
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Dizasta1

Senior Member
Well, if the Houthis, a bunch of khat chewing tribesmen armed with minimal equipment, can beat back the Saudi-led coalition armed with the most sophisticated equipment, then it shouldn't be a surprise if ISIS can do the same. Quite the feat without access to any airlift capabilities.

Houthis cannot be compared to ISIS, the same way Syrian military cannot be compared to Saudi military.

For starters, Houthis are fighting within their own territory, for their right to live as a free people and not be a vassal state to the Saudi regime. Whereas ISIS is a sordid bunch of psychotic illiterates, who are under the impression that they follow Islam. When in reality, they are a depraved, low life scum that have no right to exist. On the same note, ISIS combat skills are at best compared to a bunch of blind hogs. Which is why they are being beaten on every front by the Syrian-Russian militaries.

When it comes to the Houthis, all credit to their combat skills. But in all honesty, Saudi military (not Arabs of Arabia, and yes there is a big difference between them) could win a battle, even if the enemy had nothing but sticks and stones to fight back with. All their shiny, super expensive military hardware counts for squat, when they have next to zero strategy and combat tactics. So Houthis are essentially fighting against a bunch of knuckleheads, who had Americans, British and French militaries come to protect them in GW1. They're the same bunch, when the Holy Kaabah was taken over by a large group of young, armed Arabs (various nationalities) back in the early 1980s, and Pakistan Military was called in to break their hold on the Holy Site. Saudis don't know how to fight a war, they wouldn't be able to save themselves if an actual military marched on their territory and western powers weren't around to help them.

It is precisely what will eventually happen, once the Houthis break through the Saudis defensive lines, sometime in the next couple of years.

ISIS didn't reach Afghanistan, from Syria/Iraq on some giant magic carpet. They had help, they received assistance in transporting them from the Middle East to the Central Asian country. One day, the truth will come out on who assisted them. On that day, those who did help ISIS, will be made an example of, I am certain of it. None the less, ISIS is taking a severe beating at the hands of Afghan Pukhtun tribal warriors (yes, I did not call them Taliban, because that term no longer exists among the Tribal Pukhtuns). The Afghan Tribal Pukhtuns have now killed hundreds of ISIS members in Afghanistan. And ISIS came in for a shock, since they assumed Pukhtun support, based being Muslims. Well, Afghan Pukhtuns recognized ISIS for what it really is, a cancer.
 

H2O

Junior Member
Registered Member

LOL I agree. It's difficult to convey sarcasm on the Internet.

You say a couple of years before the Houthis break into Saudi territory? I don't believe the Saudi-led coalition will last that long and neither will MbS.
 
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