Reports of yet another SAA offensive, this time targeting the rebel held corner of Latakia . Which sounds like a good move because their other main offensive is at the Al Ghaab plains . Which is on the other side of the Latakian mountains . After the loss of Idlib and Jisr Al shougour there's been a real danger that the rebels would make a major push accross the plains into Latakia, and if that happens there'll be genocide basically .
There was a previous SAA offensive in al ghaab plains some weeks back but they took a serious kicking due to the rebels occupying the high ground and being heavily stocked with advanced guided missiles courtesy of the western powers . Turned into a turkey shoot on the open plains , tanks and trucks going up all over the place like roman candles .
But they've gone straight back in and taken a fair bit of ground . And with the other offensive going into the hills behind them they may well cause a major upset . Hopefully . Saw some photos of that tankie mob on the front lines too .
But what's interesting is that despite the propaganda about not targetting the extremists this is the first time they've ever had a go at the " moderate " southern front, who are, as per usual, embedded up to their arse among a host of jihadist loons .
Also they've shot down a Zionist reconnaissance drone that was taking a keen interest in their progress in the south .
Heard the Iranians are going to have a lot of cash after the nuclear deal and apparently a lot of it will be going to the SAA etc. Although this just could be mainstream media pish.
I've seen photos of some brand new Russian humvee type things...GAZ Tiger... and modern APCs in recent use on the battlefield , also what purports to be a Russian transport ship with so many vehicles on it they were also on plain view on the deck , passing through the Bosphorous . So they're definitely being resupplied by the looks of it . And using some better tactics .
Also not strictly war related but I came across this video of Easter being celebrated in Latakia . This is absolutely flipping crazy . Syrian Christians most definitely put their open carry , NRA counterparts in the redneck states to shame . And are much better dressed too .
I've seen some sights at Easter time in Ireland in my time but nothing that remotely compares to this . Jesus gets a volley and a half .
Something tells me those people won't just be lying down to die if push ever comes to shove .
I've seen photos of some brand new Russian humvee type things...GAZ Tiger... and modern APCs in recent use on the battlefield , also what purports to be a Russian transport ship with so many vehicles on it they were also on plain view on the deck , passing through the Bosphorous . So they're definitely being resupplied by the looks of it . And using some better tactics .
Also not strictly war related but I came across this video of Easter being celebrated in Latakia . This is absolutely flipping crazy . Syrian Christians most definitely put their open carry , NRA counterparts in the redneck states to shame . And are much better dressed too .
I've seen some sights at Easter time in Ireland in my time but nothing that remotely compares to this . Jesus gets a volley and a half .
Something tells me those people won't just be lying down to die if push ever comes to shove .
Well last year when the (surprise) election results were announced, the locals (I was in Latakia at the time) went absolutely crazy.We heard accounts that well in excess of 100 people were killed by celebratory gunfire countrywide.Where do all the bullets land?
Where do all the bullets land?
Regime warplanes continued to target the Outer Damascus suburb of Douma on Monday with repeated airstrikes, opposition media reported, one day after doctors and medical personnel in the city organized a protest for the first time calling for a truce to “stop the bloodshed of Syrians, whoever they are.”
Local media reported that surface-to-surface missiles and mortar shells struck residential areas of the city on Monday, killing at least eight people, even as rescue operations continued for those still trapped in the rubble of their homes after six regime airstrikes on Saturday that killed dozens of civilians....
...Amidst the ongoing fighting, Douma medical workers demonstrated Sunday for a ceasefire, with photographs posted on social media Sunday by the Douma Coordination Council.
“We want a humanitarian truce, we want a ceasefire from everyone,” one demonstrator’s sign reads.
“Stop the killing,” reads another....
Ha well I've had ice-cream at Baqdash and they are very good. The rest is quite accurate too.Life in Assad held Syria:
http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/ori...atters-stereotypes-residents-defy-image.html#
Interesting piece, but it's impossible to say how much is spin and how much is for real.
We all scream for ice cream.Ha well I've had ice-cream at Baqdash and they are very good. The rest is quite accurate too.
Life in Assad held Syria:
http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/ori...atters-stereotypes-residents-defy-image.html#
Interesting piece, but it's impossible to say how much is spin and how much is for real.
Our water reservoirs are 90 kilometers [56 miles] away, in Hafsa, a region held by IS [Islamic State]. In May, they cut the amount of water [supplied] by half. They asked for sterilization tablets although they had them in their stocks. Using this pretext, they cut the water and resumed the supply only after the tablets were delivered. Our engineers are with them and are held as captives. We still pay their salaries. The second aspect of the problem is distribution. The water pumped by IS flows to the Suleiman Halabi and Bab al-Nairab stations here [in Aleppo]. Both areas are controlled by Jabhat al-Nusra, and they are using the water as a weapon to impose their demands. In return for water, they ask for electricity, for instance. Because they attack transformers, power outages occur. When we began using diesel to generate power, they started asking for electricity. To keep the [water] pumping station working, we wanted to send a diesel power-generation unit there via the Red Crescent. They added a condition that the machine should deliver electricity to them as well. We proceeded, but the pumps were switched off anyway. They are now pumping us half of the water. … We are able to supply water only one day per week. The people working with Nusra there are our employees as well, a total of eight people. They are kept in a room and made to work on shifts of four people, banned from using mobile phones. We dispatch teams for maintenance work as well. They are not taken captive because they bring in equipment.
I've heard this before over all sides using resources they control to trade with each other.This is so confusingly brilliant/ridiculous/bizarre/mundane all at the same time.
I've heard this before over all sides using resources they control to trade with each other.
Yes. Madness.With utility company workers stuck in the middle, still getting paid government salaries while held in jihadi territory - it's fuckin absurd.
A lot of the IS leadership are ex baath party saddam henchmen, ruthless but pragmatic.With utility company workers stuck in the middle, still getting paid government salaries while held in jihadi territory - it's fuckin absurd.
Links? sources? or stfu
No I am tired of your link-free posturing. I have provided any number of links whereas you have provided none here to back up your claim and now you're trying to turn it round and make it look like I'm laughing at the deaths of a lot of people. Now do fuck off and find some actual sources to back up your claims, there's a good chap.
e2a I'm still waiting for a response to this one as well
'What do you make of the regime bombing hospitals in post #3133'