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

janjak desalin

Junior Member
Also just because its at the extreme range of the system doesn't mean that its beyond the potential of use.
so, now the whole base premise of your DUMB bomb spiel doesn't apply ... i.e. ballistic ordinance, lacking course-correcting inputs and subject to variable physical forces are less accurate [and, particularly at longer ranges]. so anxious to be right, one contradicts oneself.
and, in order to satisfy you, i unliked your informative post.
 
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janjak desalin

Junior Member
[...]
Nouriel Roubini write in a recent article,
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, that oil production continues in the ISIS area of Iraq:

Apparently the US coalition does not act against this oil transport, probably to appease Turkey that makes a nice profit on this trade. But this is also an important financial support for ISIS. When Iraq says that it has lost trust in US activities against ISIS Iran and/or Russia will use its air force to cut that trade.

Quite a lot is happening in the Middle East and in the World. It is fascinating and frightening.
this is what we observed in the nyt map of the areas of control, that isil and the 'rebels' share a common corridor of access to global markets at the syria/turkey border.
 

Air Force Brat

Brigadier
Super Moderator
journalists from The Komsomol Truth :) visited the Latakia air-base, and here's their photo-gallery:
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related picture I found:
2432134_original.jpg

EDIT
this one is even more interesting:
2432282_original.jpg

from the blog:
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just like flying through the St. Louis Gateway Arch??? LOL neat picture!
 
hah! The Head of State Duma Defense Committee
(Admiral Komoyedov
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)
said (for the record, to Интерфакс)
in Syria a Russian Volunteers Brigade or Batallion might appear, "which would include individuals with combat experience obtained in Donbass":
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puts the most recent development in Donbass
https://www.sinodefenceforum.com/uk...s-reports-data-etc.t7103/page-124#post-367447
into an interesting perspective
 

Zool

Junior Member
One thing Russia has going for it over the recent controversy of it's joining airstrikes in the ME, is that it was requested and authorized by the official Syrian Government. A point FM Lavrov made sure to highlight recently at the UN for those who care about the International Law aspect of all this. Now:
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By Jeff Schogol, Staff writer3:50 p.m. EDT October 5, 2015
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The Iraqi government would welcome Russian airstrikes against Islamic State targets inside Iraq, although it has not formally asked the Russians for help, Air Force Times has learned.

Russia recently began conducting airstrikes in Syria, but the U.S. and Russia disagree over whether the air attacks have been against the Islamic State or rebel groups allied with the U.S.

The Iraqis feel that the U.S.-led campaign against the Islamic State has become too focused on Syria and has not made enough progress on the ground in Iraq, a senior Iraqi diplomat, who asked to speak on condition of anonymity, told Air Force Times on Monday.

The official accused the coalition fores of moving too slowly, thereby missing opportunities to roll back the Islamic State in Iraqi cities. Since more than 2,000 Russians are among the Islamic State's ranks and Russia has experience fighting Islamic militants in Chechnya, it makes sense to include Russia in anti-Islamic State efforts, he said.

However, Iraq does not want the Russians to send combat troops to fight the Islamic State on the ground, the diplomat said.

The diplomat also sought to allay fears about Iraq's agreement to share intelligence with Russia and Syria, saying the Iraqi government has enough firewalls in its system to prevent harm to the U.S. and other coalition partners. The Iraqis will also coordinate closely with the U.S. on how to include Russia in the intelligence sharing operation, he said.

What the Iraqis need from the U.S. is more M1A1 Abrams tanks to help retake Anbar province from the Islamic State, according to the diplomat. The tanks would give the Iraqi military the offensive capability it needs right now, he said.

Both the State Department and Congress have approved the
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to Iraq. Before the Islamic State captured Mosul and much of northern Iraq last June, the Iraqi army had about 140 Abrams tanks.

An unknown number of those tanks were destroyed, damaged beyond repair, lost or captured. In January,
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showed a Kata'ib Hezbollah convoy in Iraq that included an M1A1 Abrams on a truck.

As of Sept. 24, the U.S.-led coalition has destroyed 121 tanks in Iraq and Syria, according to U.S. Central Command's latest list of targets struck. The list does not describe what kinds of tanks were destroyed. The Islamic State has captured many of the Syrian army's tanks.
 

thunderchief

Senior Member
Could Russia fly strategic bombers like the Tu-22M Backfire and Tu-160 Blackjack from Russia to Syria and back for large scale carpet bombing? The USAF used B-52s in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Theoretically yes, but ... Tu-22M have their refueling probes removed in order to comply with SALT agreement, i.e they are no longer strategic (nuclear) bombers . Tu-160 are basically nuclear missile carriers, I don't think Russia would risk them for bombing missions . Tu-95 are also missile carriers (and recon planes) . Thy could be potentially used for cruise missiles strikes, but at this point there is no reason to do that, because all of the targets are well in range of tactical aviation and not terribly well defended .

So far, Russian strategy seems to be to strike certain targets identified by UAVs . Some of those are deeper inside jihadi controlled territory, and they got hit by Su-24 or Su-34 . Some are closer to front lines ( like those guns and MLRS reportedly destroyed yesterday) and they are mostly hit by Su-25 . Russian aerial contingent is relatively modest and despite significant number of sorties they mostly managed to stop further attacks of various rebel forces on territory still held by Assad, but they haven't been able to route them and allow SAA to move to offensive (at least not for now) .
 

janjak desalin

Junior Member
yet another regional endorsement of the Russian action.

Jraq militia boss says US not serious about fighting IS

i24news Published October 06th 2015 03:52am
Top leader slams US efforts against IS, says 'Russia is moving in a very serious way against' Jihadists
A top leader of Iraq's Popular Mobilization paramilitary organization said Monday that Baghdad had turned to Russia because the US-led coalition was not serious about fighting the Islamic State group.

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found at DefenseTech
NATO Blasts Russian Fighter Jet Incursions into Turkey
NATO on Monday criticized Russian fighter jet incursions into Turkish airspace over the weekend, calling the move irresponsible and dangerous.

Russian Sukhoi Su-30 Flanker attack aircraft entered Turkish airspace on Saturday and Sukhoi Su-24 Fencer multi-role fighter aircraft did the same on Sunday. The planes flew over the Hatay region, located in the southern part of the country on the Mediterranean Sea and bordering Syria, according to NATO.

“The aircraft in question entered Turkish airspace despite Turkish authorities’ clear, timely and repeated warnings,” it said in
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. “In accordance with NATO practice, Turkish fighter aircraft responded to these incursions by closing to identify the intruder, after which the Russian planes departed Turkish airspace.

“Allies strongly protest these violations of Turkish sovereign airspace, and condemn these incursions into and violations of NATO airspace,” according to the statement. “Allies also note the extreme danger of such irresponsible behaviour. They call on the Russian Federation to cease and desist, and immediately explain these violations.

NATO also called on Russia to “immediately cease” its attacks on the Syrian opposition and instead urged for the federation to focus on attacking militants affiliated with the Islamic State in Iraq in Syria, known as ISIS or ISIL. Ankara also issued a formal warning.

CNN in Turkey
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that a pair of MiG-29 planes had Turkish F-16 aircraft under radar lock for more than five minutes. The MiG-29s were presumed to belong to the Syrian air force.

The twin-engine Su-30 is Russia’s newer multi-role fighter and capable of air-to-air and air-to-ground operations. The older Su-24 is also a twin-engine aircraft designed in part to conduct long-range strike missions.

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commercial satellite imagery showed Su-30SM and Su-24 fighter jets (partially covered in nets), Il-76 transport aircraft, Mi-24 Hind helicopters (also partially covered), T-90 tanks and BTR-80 armored personnel carriers at Bassel al-Assad International Airport.

The imagery also showed Mi-17 Hip helicopters and probable Ka-27/28 Helix helicopters, in addition to a fuel storage facility, at the Istamo Weapon Storage Facility.

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last week from the Russian television network RT shows some of the military’s more than 50 jets and helicopters now operating in Syria, including the Sukhoi Su-25UB Frogfoot attack planes and Su-34 Fullback advanced strike fighters conducting airstrikes from a base in Latakia.
source:
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