Devs Aug 5 >Syrian military cancels truce in N Syria, will resume operations. SyAF bombed the militant-held town of Khan Sheikhoun >militant forces in NW Syria have refused to withdraw from the 20-kilometer-deep demilitarized zone around the Aleppo, Latakia, Hama, and Idlib governorates >NE Latakia:RuAF launches massive attack after militants allegedly target Hmeimim Airbase.Russia says no casualties or damage at Hmeimim AB >unconfirmed:SAA gives militants until end of Eid(Aug 16) to withdraw from demilitarized zone. SAA will continue to target the militants inside the demilitarized zone until they withdraw >Erdogan:Turkey informed US, Russia about upcoming military operation in E Euphrates region >Massive explosion at Shayrat Airbase on Saturday kills 28 soldiers. Several explosions took place at an ammunition depot, which was believed to have overheated due to the temperature >India revokes jammu and kashmir’s special status, puts army on high alert >3 saudi airfields targeted in coordinated houthi attack.Last 3 months, Houthis carried out 60 drone attacks on southern Saudi Arabia. According to them Abha airport was struck 16 times, Jizan airport 14 times, Najran 11 times and King Khalid airbase 9 times. >Egypt’s Sisi vows to ‘eradicate brutal terrorism’ after car bomb attack in Cairo leaves 20 killed
>>235739 np maybe next time. >how are things with poos atm? Forces of both countries on full alert. Fighters flying combat air patrols and naval forces have left port but mostly politicians kvetching on both sides of the border.
>>235746 Lel, well see what happens next. The Indians have pissed off the Chinese aswell with this maneuver. The Chinks claim the Ladakh part of Jammu & Kashmir.
>>235742 how's that affecting Pakistan in any way? from what i understand, it's in pakistan's favor because now they appear more favorably compared to india's stance on kashmir
So taking Zakah and posturing towards Kafr Zita was the ruse to weaken the defense at Tell Sakhr and al-Ha...Hobait. Since they're taking Hobait, the only logical move afterwards is that they're aiming for Khan Sheikhoun and creating a kotel, otherwise, why bother? Man, the Athshan-Sukayk-al Tamanah axis can't open soon enough.
>The Taliban do not necessarily read meters per se, but levy what they estimate is fair and issue a payment receipt similar in appearance to the one provided by the state electricity company. The Taliban have also attacked towers in government-controlled areas to coerce the state electricity company to restore power where it has been cut off. According to one Breshna employee, ‘they threaten us to get us to fix or extend coverage, and if we don’t do it quickly they blow something up. Then we have two problems to fix instead of one. So usually we try to meet their demands promptly’.77 One (rather extreme) example is attacks on electricity infrastructure in Baghlan, the site of a major electricity tower that links power supplies from Tajikistan and Uzbekistan to Kabul and four other provinces. When power has been cut to Taliban areas of Baghlan and Kunduz, as it was most recently in the spring of 2018, the Taliban have attacked the tower and disrupted power to the capital, capturing news headlines and reminding people how far their reach extends.78 According to another Breshna official, ‘the Taliban have responsibility over everything in their areas, and our people, the mechanics and engineers, are only working with their permission’.79 https://www.odi.org/sites/odi.org.uk/files/resource-documents/12269.pdf
Interesting. This may explain the power outages in Maymana.
>>236089 This study challenges prevailing notions of control, clearly illustrating that the Taliban do not have to take territory to control it. Following the brief period in 2015–16 when the Taliban appeared to focus on capturing cities and grabbing headlines, their strategy has focused on creeping influence. They have already made the point that they have the military capacity to take some cities, but dramatic sieges are labour- and resource- intensive, and urban centres cannot be held once taken. Military operations of this nature also cause panic and mass exodus, making it more difficult for the Taliban to retain control and restore order. Aid agencies and businesses withdraw and trade slows down, reducing the potential Taliban tax base and angering civilians.
Arguably, there is no need to capture a city if atmospheric coercion, punctuated by occasional violence, is enough to ensure the population submits to Taliban authority. The critical point, and one which is often missed in analyses of Taliban control, is that governance does not come after the capture of territory, but precedes it. Coercion, coupled with the more popular aspects of Taliban governance such as justice, softens the ground. Taliban governance does not supplant the Afghan government but co-opts and augments it, resulting in a hybrid service delivery arrangement. Even in Kunduz City, which is ostensibly under government control, the author saw Taliban letters pasted up in the central chowk (bazaar), was shown receipts for Taliban tax payments and saw the results of the Taliban’s monitoring and regulation of classes in private universities (i.e. curtains placed across rooms to enforce gender segregation, objectionable pages ripped out of textbooks). In districts that NATO classifies as contested or under government control, the district centre is all that remains of a government presence, and even this is extremely limited. District governors, judges and other state officials may reside elsewhere for their own safety, and those who remain do so at the discretion of the local Taliban. The Afghan national security forces appear to have struck tacit deals with the Taliban in many districts, in effect unofficial mini-détentes. It is not uncommon for checkpoints to be manned by government police or soldiers until around 4 p.m., when they retreat and the Taliban assume their positions until the following morning. The fact that the Taliban collect taxes far beyond the borders of areas in which they have territorial dominance further underscores the need to rethink what constitutes Taliban control (Mansfield, 2017).
For the Taliban, control of people – rather than control of territory or popular support – is the priority. They seek to control the population, mainly to prevent people from informing upon them or acting against them. They use governance to keep the population at least marginally satisfied, and this, in combination with their coercive power, helps secure the population in areas under their influence or control. As such, the provision of public goods and strict regulations on personal behaviour are driven by ideology, but are also designed to control the population. The Taliban use outright violence against those they perceive as a threat, which in turn sends a message to the rest of the civilian population about what happens to those who might act against them. As Hirose et al. find in their study of Taliban targeting, the Taliban exhibit ‘an impressive, if imperfect, ability to monitor civilian attitudes, one that is likely more sophisticated and extensive than ISAF’s efforts’ (Hirose et al., 2017). Indeed, this Taliban strategy has been far more effective than the other side’s efforts to win the war through capturing Afghan ‘hearts and minds’.
This is reflected in the ways in which civilians understand ‘support’. Most civilians interviewed were either confused by or outright hostile to questions regarding whether they support the Taliban or the government. Kalyvas, writing more generally about civil wars, suggests that ‘most “ordinary” people appear to display a combination of weak preferences and opportunism, both of which are subject to survival considerations’ (Kalyvas, 2006: 103). A more accurate observation might be that ordinary Afghans feel they have very little choice in the matter; they tend to be conservative, basing most of their decisions on what they believe will enhance their chances of survival. At the same time, however, the Taliban must also, at least to some degree, prioritise the real-world concerns of their constituents, to prevent the widespread dissatisfaction that they fear would lead civilians to inform upon them. Their ideology has had to be reconfigured to fit these demands. One former official explained that ‘they know now that they have the support of the people. They cannot go against the will of the people because they need civilian support, so they have to change some of their ideas’.81 Such arrangements between insurgents and civilians are based on mutual yet unequal exchange and geared towards cementing ‘an informal social contract that can render an insurgent government a legitimate authority, thereby bolstering its position in its competition with the incumbent state’ (Mampilly, 2011: 52). Insurgent governance, in other words, is not government for government’s sake. It is another means of waging war.
Following last night attack #SAA with #RuAF/#SyAAf cover captured the villages of Sakhar, Tal Sakhar, Mushairifa &Jaysat from #HTS northwestern #Hama #Syria
>>236215 >tfw you dig sick ass trenches on your front that can't even be crossed by tanks and Hakim, the commander who handles the rear front doesn't even finish the earthen barrier
Oh, supposedly Houthi's al-Malik's brother was rekt by KSA in an air-strike. Invoking a jihad as vengance for his death and liberating Al-Ka'ba from wahabbis when?
>During morning of AUG 8th, #SAA launched a surprise-offensive by activating Kernaz front, capturing P275, Jaysat silos, Sakhr & Tal Sakhr at ~1100 H (EEST). >Later in the evening, army units continued advance & captured Jaysat & nearby farmlands of Damyoun at ~2100 H. #IdlibDawn
>>236244 Nice list. >How many more tanks they keep there? Yeah that's pretty wild for only one front and they have to be keeping a couple for Aleppo. There's probably even more unaccounted for from airstrikes on warehouses. Crazy.
>>236259 After that crest it's smooth sailing down to Shughur so you just know the Uyghurs and Chechens are putting everything into it - and tons of them are getting smoked by thermobarics.
>>236264 >tons of them are getting smoked by thermobarics. I want to believe, haven't seen a single pic though. I know, I know, no one is there to take a pic. Seems like a wait-for-the-other-fronts front anyway. Tigers should get that fucken ammo in 2013 and hold Jisr..
>>236266 Russians are on the ground and in the air on this front, i can't come up with any reasons thermobarics wouldn't be involved. >Seems like a wait-for-the-other-fronts front anyway Similar as in Daraa when the 4th kept the city lads occupied whilst el Tigro ravaged the countryside i guess. Disappointing 4th can't advance on their own anymore.
>>236270 Hmm, any pics of Ruski SSOs or TOS-1 or whatever in Latakia from last 2-3 months? Haven't seen any, really. >Disappointing 4th can't advance on their own anymore. Eh, with Rafi's brother from Liwa al-Quds being in prison for ISIS bussiness running I think anything is possible. Maybe Maher is inter-fighting with mkhabarat al-jawyia and has Suheil&friends on his ass? Maybe Bashar doesn't like him, maybe Ruskies don't really want to help the 4th with air support? Dozens of reasons.
>>236273 >pics of Ruski SSOs right here brah >>236208 >TOS-1 not that i've seen Feels silly to hinder progress on a second front, but arabs lol i guess.
SAA, please, hire Sean Connery to do the job. I'm kidding. SAA should do everything possible to save your average Hakim. Let the aviation and political process take care of the jihadis. Pointless to get some fine dudes from Latakia or DeZ fucked for idiotic Idlob.
>>235870 >>235870 >how's that affecting Pakistan in any way? from what i understand, it's in pakistan's favor because now they appear more favorably compared to india's stance on kashmir
It does look as if things are in favor of Pakistan but only in appearance. As of yet it hasn't resulted in any diplomatic success.
The UN released their usual (((deep concern))) statement regarding the issue that both sides should refrain from escalation and called on all parties to refrain from taking steps that could affect the status of Jammu and Kashmir[1](even though the Indians did just that). The Saudis[2] and the Americans[3] also expressed similar sentiments. The outliers here were Turkey and UAE. Erdogan had a telephonic conversation with Imran Khan and also expressed concern over the recent developments but assured support to backing Pakistan's stance[4]. While UAE similar to others also called for talks[5] but its ambassador to India termed the event an internal matter and backed India's manouver[5a]. China does seem pissed with this development[6] as I said earlier[ >>235748 ] they claim Ladakh part of Jammu & Kashmir to be their territory. Though how this will develop into concrete steps remains to be seen.
Some government officials in Pakistan even had the bright idea to threaten to disrupt the Afghan peace process in order to get the Americans to pressure the Indians(Reportedly they relented from further pursuing this course of action). Either they failed to realize or went on ahead despite knowing that it is because of India's Afghan strategy completely failing[7] and being effectively sidelined by Pakistan in the peace process[7a] is one of the reasons that they decided to abrogate the autonomous status of their controlled part of Jammu and Kashmir for which they were planing to do for sometime now(Trumps remarks about willing to mediate the Kashmir issue while meeting Imran Khan, which caught him by surprise[8], in Washington seems to have pushed the Indians to carry out their plans earlier then they wanted to). The Indians fear that should peace be achieved in Afghanistan on Pakistan's terms, the Pakistanis will shift their attention towards the eastern front and really turn up the heat in Kashmir and they are absolutely correct. So it is imperative for Pakistan that the talks continue without any problems. Also the Americans are already fucking over the Indians by negotiating a withdrawal* while barely giving a second thought to their concerns in Afghanistan I do not think the US is willing to fuck them over on the Kashmir issue as well if they ever hope to carry out their strategy to contain China in which India plays a central part. Even the Afghan Taliban released a statement essentially saying don't drag us into this shit[9].
Though it has to be mentioned that the Indians might not be under any severe diplomatic pressure yet but things are not looking good for them as well. By arresting the Kashmiri leaders who were willing to work with the Indian government and ordering curfews and total communications blackouts they are alienating the locals even those that were not hostile to the government[10]. News reports have surfaced indicating that large protests took place yesterday in there[11, 11a]. Add in the fact that the insurgency in recent years has been increasingly becoming localized and the growing religious tensions in India this can easily exacerbate the situation.
#HRE/#ALF attacked #FSA/#TFSA forces near #Aleppo. They captured a Fortuna One 3L/6L thermal scope, Chinese Type-56-1, two AKMs and a craftmade anti-material rifle with a W85 HMG barrel.
>No further advances south of Kabani. Turkestan Islamic Party has been able to obstruct the advance into the town. If the army is unable to take the last two hills south of the town, they will likely retreat https://twitter.com/leithfadel/status/1160275307590500352
>>236778 Could be outdated info, could be arabic sources overestimating the gains, could be due to counterattack or maybe he counts the northern expansion as half of the town.
>>236765 throttling of the rotors as he was moving it (thus creating an artificial force of air against the blade's motion) but my point was that his gun looks very ineffective
>>236803 >but my point was that his gun looks very ineffective It jammed the drone so it did it's work but i wonder if there are anti-drone rifles that actually fries the electronics or hijacks the drone controls.
>>236813 >It jammed the drone so it did it's work way too slow, imagine if it was carrying grenades, people would have died by then >that actually fries the electronics not at that scale, that would imply sending an electromagnetic impulse too strong to be contained in a puny handheld weapon https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_pulse#Non-nuclear_electromagnetic_pulse_(NNEMP) >hijacks the drone controls. should be possible on a handheld device, but that would require being able to find the right signal frequency and decrypting the signal if it's working with encryption
honestly the best technology to get rid of drones is a shotgun loaded with birdshot
>>236826 >way too slow Did it actually move in the video? >honestly the best technology to get rid of drones is a shotgun loaded with birdshot Yep, but overkill during just a protest.
>>236885 >Russian choppers are relentless in northeastern Latakia. Much of the Syrian Army’s attack in Kabani is Russian choppers spotting jihadists and striking them. Haven't seen Angels of Death deployed in a long time. I think last time was hunting IS in the deserts.
>Less than 24 hours after its liberation .. Syrian Defense Minister visits the town of al-Habit in the countryside of Idlib under the guidance of President Assad
>pro-militant FB-account from Maarat (al-Numan): We renew our call to our remaining families south of Khan Sheikhoun to evacuate immediately .. Your regions were sold by Erdogan and his mercenaries https://twitter.com/Bosni94/status/1160647283416993792
>#HTS & rebels 'mulling withdrawal' from #Tamanah, S. #Idlib. Situation 'untenable' as lack of cover is becoming critical. >Dozens of rebel fighters have refused to leave, will fight rearguard action to delay #SAA advance, allow rebels to reposition for counteroffensive. https://twitter.com/Dalatrm/status/1160635923492691968
>11th Division sent a large number of reinforcements to the southern countryside of the Idlib Governorate, where they are expected to take part in the operations near Sukayk https://youtu.be/JjtS8qvsgfM
>>237389 >high profile threadlet overbuilt APC >doesn't perform well imagine my sock the point of these is to make them easy to replace and low profile you don't build a drone for the same goals as a tank
Rebel media outlets are saying Iranian militias and Hezbollah are leading the charge east of Khan Sheikhoun, seems mostly like desperate damage control.
>>237394 > but is low profile a real point or just common sense? StuGs in the normandy campaign utterly BTFO'd amerimutt tanks because they used the bocage landscape to stay out of sight and pop out of unexpected places where they can't be seen by enemy tank crews in the distance the only place where low profile might not be useful is in purely flat territory like a desert (ie north african campaign of WW2)
lmao imiagine this becomeing real and "safe zones" coming into effect within the timespan of a single week; quite unfortunate week for the SDF >>237412 too good to be real tbqh
>Russian hired, Serbian special forces were active for the first time in Kabina front today. (In Zuwayqat and point 122) https://twitter.com/Alqalqal/status/1160990395179982852 Serbian special forces, Iranian militias, you can tell the jihadis are losing big time.
>>237459 >imagine having an entire press article dedicated to your random death >imagine being called a conspiracy nut for suggesting that jews control the media
>>237418 >Serbian special forces meaning serbian militias of possibly ex SOF status? no way official serbian troops are there >>237419 true. have no idea of the actual agreements of the reconciliation, but it should give way for heads to bump nad friction to arise
>>237467 >meaning serbian militias of possibly ex SOF status? Serbians affiliated with/hired by Wagner or just made up pro-rebel propaganda bullshit. I'm leaning towards the latter since they started claiming iranian militias/Hezbollah are on the Sukayk front today aswell. >it should give way for heads to bump nad friction to arise Indeed. >>237468 RuAF definitely tries to avoid bombing mosques, I've only seen footage of Syrian artillery "accidentally" hitting them. It can almost be considered a miracle that not a single minaret in Habit got hit considering the SAA's GRAD-strategy.
>>237459 >A “Magnus” rescue team, which began the search, helped German police identify him >Hilik Magnus btw I know this guy used to live in the same area he's Swedish and kinda looks like old Varg
>>237411 >no way this is legit. like how the fuck would Tabqa either manage to organize itself to leave the SDF nor would the SDF (overlords) allow this Remember the tribal heads who went to the tribal meeting in Ithriya?
>>237482 >Never seen a single swede with that name yes that's a nickname >Yechiel “Hilik” Magnus was born in 1949, in Malmö, Sweden, then moved with his family to Israel.
>is that guy some sort of wizard? kek pretty much he's in _every_ foreign rescue involving israelis/jews as usual jews have to rely on foreign Übermensches to save them
Good and long article on children of jihadi fucks and their wanna-be-toibois = women. AFP is crying why Iraq, fuck, don't execute 15yo completely indoctrinated full Dawlat jihadis. They're providing a wider view too - of course it's, well, bad. What would you do with these young jihad? Honestly I'd say Interpol/Frontex check every single one in Europe (they do have the budget to do that), if in doubt - send them to Idlob Zoo or Afgan.
>>237499 >I will be in America by Friday >just in time to be bombarded with Epstein pedogate horseshit by TVs in public area and relatives arguing fruitlessly about this politics come to think of it, spending any time in America is probably dreadful since there is always some political clusterfuck going on. >>237509 Hitlerjugend kids managed to never be allowed to mount any resurgence, so they ought to be able to manage the same in Iraq. >did you forget to link the archive article btw?
>>237511 What do you think fascist, this badge is universal in the MUSLIM WORLD! This kid is surely an Uyghur displaced from his family due to ASSAD PUTIN REGIME destroying l*yalist s*ria enclaves of peaceful Tribals. It's kontraunderrättelsetjänst manipulation, that what it is, that picture! t. Bild
>>237516 Best damage control is "that's not an ISIS badge, the flag is used by many groups" as if a flag used by hundreds of al-Qaeda subgroups would be better than an ISIS flag when used en masse by "moderate syrian rebels".
Serioues note: reconcilated FSA moderate-jihadis might form the backbone of TAF observation points in Idleb. After Dara'a (90%) and other reconcilation deals plenty of not-so-moderate my-life-against-Assad jihadis might've joined the TAF, since there's completely open passage of people on T/S border. That would explain weird actions on TAF OPs. Yet assigning retarded fucks to do this job seems quite low even for TAF.
>>237526 >as if a flag used by hundreds of al-Qaeda subgroups would be better than an ISIS flag when used en masse by "moderate syrian rebels". Shahada is the new Black))
>>237527 Wouldn't turkmen or other "TFSA" N Aleppo goons with more loyalty to Erdomeme be more suitable for such a job than corrupt southern Syrian mercenaries? Like those red beret wearing doofuses pledging allegiance to Erdo in turkish...
>>237525 >that pic >Oh no no no no please dont be legit kek >>237516 do you guys btw even know what Bild Zeitung (newspaper) is like? pic related is what the typical covers always include: Celebrity drama, huge ads and naked women. It is the single most degenerate widely popular newspaper in germany (great though for when we were 11 standing at the bus stopto go to school crowding around the newspaperdispencery flipping thrugh practically a playboy, since at least every second page has some nude woman spread about). It is so ironic that someone like Julian Röpcke who works for that degenerate newspaper is somehow siding with jihadist. His article condeming assad and praising Nusra might literally be on the same page as a woman cuping her breasts
>>237634 >>237578 #Syria: since the takeover of Sukayk area (SE. #Idlib) 2 days ago, pro-Assad forces tried several times to control strategic Tell Tari but were repeatedly repelled. Several #ATGM|s fired & a SVBIED was also set off today on Tell Sukayk front
>>237641 Not sure if I should laugh or cry. The English subtitles are more or less 100% correct in translation. Jesus Christ getting this much wrong on chans is painful to watch listen to. Cringe factor to the max.
I am surprised of the frequency of the SAA night attacks. And they mostly succeed. Did uncle Vlad provided them with some nightvision and other useful gear?
>Collage of 72 #ATGM hits on #Assad loyalist targets. All were shot during the ongoing Assad's forces offensive in #Idlib and #Hama countryside. Most hits courtesy of #NLF
>Jihadists launched a massive counter attack against SAA in Idlib with some of their most fanatic jihadis and they were all wiped out in just a few hours. Nobody knows what exactly happened. There was just a lot of fire and explosions seen from a distance. https://twitter.com/Souria4Syrians/status/1161392999995252737
>Military sources: the National Liberation Front regains control of the al-Salam checkpoint near Khan Sheikhoun south of Idlib after the advance of Russian militias under the cover of heavy air raids
>With the fall of Tal A'as #SAA have reached outskirts of Khan Shaykhun & now troops are attacking western neighborhoods probably to accelerate evacuation of Hama salient rather than create a foothold inside the city
>After gaining control of Kafr Ayn, Tell As, Khirbat Murshid and Mintar, the army is setting-up its defense in the region and moved to no other point. >The enemy is trying to raise morale by spreading the news of army's control over the Salem Barrier and Salt Factory and later announcing that it has retaken it.
>>237818 Most operations lately were carried during the night and such a sudden attack at the town didnt really make sense. Well, lets hope that with the recent advances the evacuation process accelerates
>>237826 Most of the militants will probably transfered away of the front and if they dont get bombed by the russians they will regroup Civilians at Idlib and other urban centers Also >According to information, the front north and east of Habit was mainly held by foreigners and most of them retreated to Jisr. https://twitter.com/Bosni94/status/1161537384690913282
>Captured militants of the "moderate opposition" and their destroyed equipment on the western outskirts of the city of Khan Sheikhun in the southeast of Idlib province
>>237728 Quite sure it should be ex airman rather than ex airforce soldier >>237884 so did they use a manpad to shoot the jet down? Or did the aircraft got too close to gunfire?
>>237936 Ah shit poor guy's gotta be decapitated. Hope they'll trade him for some jihadi prisoners so he can get back up in his jet and bomb the fucks he was traded for. Unlikely though. Best of luck pilot buddy!
Acc to RuAF activity yesterday and today jihadis dropped the M5 as a route for reinforcing Khan Sheikhoun. Now they move from Maarat al-Numan, Kafr Rumah, Kafr Nabel, Kafr Sajnah and Maarat Tayrah. Roughly.
>Terrorist media sources report that the militants used a jihad mobile, controlled by a suicide bomber, to attack the positions of the Syrian Arab Army units in the area of Sukayk. https://twitter.com/StasSwanky/status/1161940931114917890
>>238056 This front is a disaster, militants are putting all their eggs in this basket and when SAA lost momentum failing to take tell al-ter'i they became sitting ducks for ATGMs. Jihadi media are claiming that they've captured the village but no evidence yet. IMO SAA should retreat and focus on the western front which thankfully is making progress.
They underestimated the jihadis, used inexperienced manpower and failed. They could try to charge the town head on without securing the flanks if they're stupid but for now i think they'll just focus on defending Sukayk as long as the jihadis keep launching counterattacks and let the RuAF do some landscaping.
- News about the #SAA retreat from #Sukayk and Tal Sukayk is not true. - The #HTS VBIED exploded in the vicinity of Sukayk. - SAA artillery pounding Abedin and Madaya in north of Habit and Tal Tarei near Sukayk. - No new changes on military map of the region yet.
>field source: Syrian Army bombards with rocket launchers locations of al-Nusra in the town of Mdayaya and Kafr Sanja and its surroundings northeast of al-Hbeit in Edlib countryside .. https://twitter.com/MIG29_/status/1162090775712292864
>It will be a huge mistake if the Syrian Army stops at Khan Sheikhoun. The Ghab Plains, Jabal al Zawiya, and the entirety of southern Idlib needs to be captured for starters. Operation should not end until HTS is no more and all foreign fighters are turned to organic compost
>There is no town of Khan Sheikhoun’s caliber and strategic importance until Ma’arrat al-Nu’man. Khan Sheikhoun is southern Idlib’s most formidable line of defense. Good luck to rebels trying to construct any defense line until the Ma’arrat al-Nu’man — Kafr Nabal — Ghab line.
>Khan Sheikhoun...Ma’arrat al-Nu’man...Jabal Shashabo...Saraqeb...Jisr al-Shughour are the keys to breaking HTS. The Battle for Idlib concludes with liberating those cities as a paralyzed HTS will not be able to prevent the fated reconciliation of northern Syria.
>>238117 >>238119 #UPDATE: Syrian MoD confirms a missile was launched from airspace over northern Lebanon towards Masyaf in northwest Syria, claims it was shot down by Syrian air defences
With the release of Khan Sheikhoun, the means to start the project to reopen the Aleppo-Damascus International Highway and open the Idlib Front on its wide roads and the fall of the first fort of terrorists in Idlib province, in addition to isolating Hama countryside from Idlib.
>>238315 >Marat Numan and Sarakeb have agreed to surrender to the Syrian army. We'll see in the next few days No way this is true. IT would've solved the offensive pretty much with almost whole M5 under army.
>Panama-flagged supertanker Grace-1 with 2.1 million barrels of crude oil has been renamed to Adrian Darya, will be navigating under the flag of #Iran and will be heading tomorrow towards #Syria. https://twitter.com/ejmalrai/status/1162347205740695552
>Reports that Hayat Tahrir al-Sham prevented commanders from the 2nd Corps of the Turkish-backed "National Army" from entering Idlib to prepare the deployment of their forces in the ongoing campaign against the regime. Opposition factions continue losing ground to the regime. https://twitter.com/Elizrael/status/1162348413616308224
>Breaking , Abdeen , Mager Hanteh and Harsh Taweleh North Al-Habiet Under SAA Control https://twitter.com/MIG29_/status/1162396776881709059 Man, this shit is confusing. "Harsh" is an area with trees (not populated) so the recently added village "Harash" on wikimapia is obviously misnamed. Abdin on wikimapia and google maps is Khirbat Abdin on geonames so "Harash" could be Khirbat Abdin or Maghar al-Hantah (the name is used on a village west of Maghar al-Hammam) which surely must have been taken earlier if it was where it is on wikimapia. Now there's "Harsh Taweleh" which i have never seen anywhere... fuck it i'll just post a snusmap based on my assumptions.
>>238409 Pretty good defensive position. It would be wise to fortify these to reppel country attacks. Meanwhile advance east from that front and simultanously north-west from Sukayk. No point to advance further north when Khan Sheikhoun is waiting.
>>238411 >advance east from that front For some reason the SAA seems reluctant to storm Khan Sheikhoun from the west and this group of SAA is obviously stronger than the one on Sukayk, if GRAD shelling is an indicator of SAA movement, the madmen will try to reach the M-5 north of Khan Sheikhun and force the jihadists to redirect troops from the Sukayk front to stop that. Pic related, they might even go for Kafr Sejena to secure paved roads to the M-5. http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=35.512946&lon=36.598034&z=13&m=w&gz=0;365732288;354773767;0;0;39482;241802;161361;475150;827407;156551 >north-west from Sukayk Sukayk front failed miserably, i hope those 5th corps reinforcements >>238381 are heading there.
>>238415 >try to reach the M-5 north of Khan Sheikhun This is madness. They'll get raped with ATGMs and minefields. They'll be overstretched like a 50y/o Philipino hooker. I think Sukayk is much more reasonable. Unless.. Maybe SAA wants to eliminate as much jihadis as possible to destroy HTS, or at least break them. But in this case they have to advance like this anyway, from the Sukayk front..
If SAA indeed decides to cut off Khan Sheikhoun from the north, it'll be really bad if jihadis launch an assault on recently liberated areas in the Ghab Plain. They'll simply run out of capable units, because this theoretical operation is quite huge.
>>238417 >They'll get raped with ATGMs and minefields and you think storming Khan Sheikhoun will be any different? Check out what happened on the Sukayk front where the jihadis have the high ground versus inexperienced SAA units with lesser night vision capacity, total ATGM carnage. >They'll simply run out of capable units TF is not using all their units yet you know.
>>238419 >TF is not using all their units yet you know. I know Taha and Ass units are deployed. What's left? >and you think storming Khan Sheikhoun will be any different? Eh, I know it could be a pain in the ass, but RuAF & MLRS can do the job. Of course both options are hard, I'm not sure which is the worse one.
>>238420 Shaheen, Zaydar and Al-Komeet among others. Mostly Tarmah doing the heavy lifting right now. >Eh, I know it could be a pain in the ass, but RuAF & MLRS can do the job. Of course both options are hard, I'm not sure which is the worse one. SAA are much stronger on this axis (night operation capability, experienced troops and commanders), they need Sukayk front to succeed to take Sheikhun, so why not capitalize on the jihadis western front is collapsing and force the eastern front to direct jihadiss to west.
>>238425 >Map shows >military source to me guy maps If he added the name of what's now Harsh Abdin on wikimapia i would believe it, but he hasn't so it's probably just sloppy work.
>>238460 The Madaya-Kafr Dun-M5 prong would be an ATGM death trap from Kafr Sejena, there's no paved road and no village to fortify, might aswell storm Khan Sheikhoun from Tell Aas because that wouldn't be defendable.
Battle of Idlib - Front of West Khan Sheikhoun Syrian Army forces take control of Khirbet Abdeen, Mughr al-Hanta, Harsh and Tal al-Arjhi northwest of Khan Sheikhoun
>>238468 >>238469 Wait a minute, "a saa who attempted to infiltrate the village of Shelyut". Am i just tired or did someone put psychedelics in my food? Who the hell posted this?
>>238469 >Silly Abu Hajaars, there's only one way to avoid the kotel and that's hopping in your jihadmobile and taking the M-5 north. Wait, wait, wait, this way they'll blow up Maraat al-Numan))
>Just a reminder, there are 50,000 Syrian soldiers around greater Idlib that haven’t lifted a single finger yet. So far the operations have been carried out by small select groups. Battle didn’t start yet; we will see after Khan Sheikhoun. https://twitter.com/LaconicJaro/status/1162489752014266370
>>238478 Now well.. Well that's quite a news for me. 50.000? Really? Seems unreal. But the part: >So far the operations have been carried out by small select groups. That I can agree on.
>>238481 >50.000? Really? Seems unreal The overwhelming majority are just there to defend and not to advance, there's 100's of kilometers of frontline after all. The SAA could brute force their way into Idlib by opening the entire front without precision RuAF support but that would drastically increase casualty rates.
>>238483 >The SAA could brute force their way into Idlib by opening the entire front without precision RuAF support but that would drastically increase casualty rates. Yeah sure that makes sense. I mean I'm drunk anyway, but it's obvious precision air sorties/grid zone MLRS + "special forces" is to reduce the casualties. As you pointed out it's dumb to rush the front with literally guys with AKs without support. I just find it weird that there's half my country's army at the front after these many years of war.
>>238600 >Lots of reports that a checkpoint was airstruck in Bukamal, leading to Iranian deaths. I’ve not heard back from anyone on this, but it’s entirely possible it happened. Though with the positions of more valuable targets known I’m hesistant to believe just a checkpoint was bombed. https://twitter.com/NotWoofers/status/1162747287027798018
>#Syria: reinforcements belonging to Ahrar Sharqiyah (part of Turkish-backed National Army) coming from #Afrin/#EuphratesShield areas reached Greater #Idlib to face pro-Assad Offensive on S. front. https://twitter.com/QalaatAlMudiq/status/1162735626283864065
>Interview with #Syria|n Hezbollah fighter cc. ongoing Offensive in S. #Idlib: "if you follow the statements of the Russians in the past 2 days, they have affirmed that the raids they have carried out do not conform with the advance on the ground & the cost has become exorbitant". https://twitter.com/QalaatAlMudiq/status/1162784664249098240
>ISIS ambush kills several Syrian soldiers near Palmyra BEIRUT, LEBANON (9:35 P.M.) – The Islamic State (ISIS) carried out a new ambush along the Palmyra-Deir Ezzor Highway this week, targeting a Syrian military convoy as it was traveling east from the ancient city.
According to a local report, the Syrian convoy, which was comprised of mostly military personnel from the National Defense Forces (NDF), were traveling along this roadway when a group of Islamic State terrorists ambushed their troops.
The report added that a number of soldiers were killed or wounded as a result of this Islamic State ambush.
Since the start of 2019, the Islamic State has carried out several attacks against the Syrian military and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in eastern and central Syria.
>A Russian soldier was injured in Tal Rifat after a Russian military point was targeted by three shells by the Turkish occupation and his armed /mercenary factions. The arrival of Russian military reinforcements to Tal Rifaat after the bombing of the point Afrin act network https://twitter.com/nm79797979/status/1162800943538298880
>#Syria: after Eastern factions from #Afrin/#EuphratesShield areas sent reinforcements to counter pro-Assad Offensive, National Army also started to send heavy weaponry to Greater #Idlib (a 1st). https://twitter.com/QalaatAlMudiq/status/1162798866988769280
Iraq Closes Airspace Even To US Coalition Flights After Suspected Israeli Raid
In what is a severely under reported but perhaps the most alarming development out of the Middle East this week, Iraq's government has said it's ready to down any aircraft violating its airspace amid a blanket ban on 'unauthorized' flights not specifically approved by the prime minister's office. Military Times reported the day after Iraq closed its airspace on Thursday:
U.S. military officials in Iraq will now seek out Iraqi approval before launching any air operations, a move made a day after that nation’s prime minister announced a ban of unauthorized flights, including those involving coalition forces fighting ISIS.
Prime Minister Abdul-Mahdi called for an end to all “unauthorized flights” including US drones, spy planes, jets, or helicopters on Thursday. The directive demanded that all aerial vehicles comply with Iraqi law and operations must be under Iraqi government authorization.
The US Coalition on Friday issued a statement saying that it is ready to comply with the order: https://mobile.twitter.com/airwars/status/1162444635828101122 >The US-led Coalition says it is complying with an order by Iraq's Prime Minister banning airspace access to international aircraft [following a recent claimed US or Israeli strike on an arms dump near Baghdad, which killed a civilian and destroyed c$100m of munitions]
The drastic Baghdad decision came after on Monday a massive blast ripped through a neighborhood in the city, which Iraqi officials believe was the result of an Israeli strike on a pro-Iranian militia ammunition depot.
The resulting fire had raged throughout the day not far from the 'Green Zone' and sent mortars and exploding munitions across the city, resulting in the death of at least one civilian and wounding of nearly 40 others, many of them children. The weapons base reportedly belonged to the pro-Iran Kataib Sayyid Al-Shuhada militia, and an estimated $110 million worth of munitions were wiped out.
“The prime minister ordered to revoke all special flight permits in Iraqi airspace for reconnaissance aircraft, reconnaissance aircraft with weapons, fighters, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles of all kinds available to the Iraqi and non-Iraqi sides”, an official Iraq government statement said after an Iraqi National Security Council meeting this week.
“All authorities are required to comply with this order. Any flights that violate this regulation will be considered an aggression, which our air defense will immediately respond to,” the statement added.
While there's been no official government statement out of Baghdad confirming an Israeli jet or drone was behind the attack amid an ongoing investigation, Iraqi militia commanders and military leaders were quick to name Israel, and not for the first time (prior recent 'mystery' explosions at Iran-backed militia bases have also been blamed on Israeli). “We believe that the US and Israel were behind these explosions,” one Shiite commander told Arab News.
Indeed even Israeli media has been source of widespread speculation that Israeli planes have been conducting raids in Iraqi airspace of late. All of this also comes as Iraq's parliament has increasingly voiced anger and frustration at the continued US troop presence even after the Islamic State has been defeated.
>Iraqi Air Defense Command plans to upgrade their platforms in 2019 and 2020 with new radars and missile batteries. Also expressed that the defense budget is enough to purchase S-400 if any negotiation for Patriot falls through. https://twitter.com/TomtheBasedCat/status/1080234483595517957
>>238658 This area and road was used to fire at Madaya with technicals during the SVBIED attack, visible in the Images and updates from Northern Hama Idlib Front video at the 3:23 minute mark here: >>238596
>Message from our field correspondents: The Syrian army and allied forces occupies the strategically important height of the Naar, located in the vicinity of the M-5 "Hama - Aleppo" highway and Kafr Sejena https://twitter.com/annanews_info/status/1162840447515004929 Even ANNA news reporting it, muy bueno.
>>238673 >military source to me: guy is spreading misinformation right He has no reason to but he has done similar denials before things are officially announced in the past...
Many Khan Sheikhoun farms captured, east of Madaya, MLRS&arty working non stop, mainly north. Tell Nar is enemy. Under heavy shelling. From a source in Idleb CS.
>Syrian Army (is) Storming Tal Al-Nar https://twitter.com/MIG29_/status/1162861618423877632 >tfw fake news leads to the army actually doing it to not get humiliated on faceberg or it was preliminary reports of SAA preparing to capture it getting misunderstood ooor fake news again
>>238688 Here's what probably happened: >fuckhuge shelling as always >SAA assault group storms the hill and capture it >Twatter is spreading news it's captured wow amazing no way cool nice >12 guys that captured the hill got killed by jihadis >military source to me : Tell Nar is enemy
Yusha made a fair point: >controlling Tell Nar means jihadis have to evacuate from Rakaya, fire control over some of the supply routes to Khan Sheikhoun from the NW and direct fire control over Kafr Sajnah.
>>238693 They need to capture at least Rakaya tonight and Kafr Sejena in the morning since the hill has no height superiority over Kafr Sejena and barely any buildings to cover in. They won't be able to fire control anything if their heavy weaponry are out in the open when the sun rises.
>>238697 >since the hill has no height superiority over Kafr Sejena and barely any buildings to cover in. Right, I've been just checking satellite and topo maps. True. >They won't be able to fire control anything if their heavy weaponry are out in the open when the sun rises. 100% agreed buddy.
>1.5 KMs around the hill are now secured >And some ‘reliable sources’ just announced the hill as captured >And we’ve been fortifying the hill since two hours >I mean dude are you using internet explorer or what? https://twitter.com/Syrian_MC/status/1162872427912802310
>>238700 Huh. Really weird. I doubt it's from the hill really. It's quiet, nothing's going on maybe the hill didn't witness heavy fights after all and rather skirmishes? Dunno what to think about it.
This breach at Kafr Sajnah is a massive development. Tal al-Nar exposes Jabal Shahshabo, Jabal al-Zawiya, and Ma’arrat al-Nu’man’s western countryside. Looks like the party is about to start.
>>238801 If all stays quiet into the night they might launch an assault on Khan Sheikhoun maybe. Tal al-Nar situation is weird. Either they didn't secure the hill, or army wants to perform a large operation without jihadis knowing. In the area of the hill of course.
>Syrian Arab Army units took control of the farms of Kfaridoun and Al-Sabaghiya in the area between Mudaya and Kafarsejneh in the southern Idlib countryside and were able to monitor the road of Khan Sheikhoun -Kafarsejneh amid continued fighting with armed gangs on the axes north https://twitter.com/nm79797979
BEIRUT, LEBANON (12:35 A.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) is within one kilometer of the strategic city of Khan Sheikhoun in southern Idlib, a military source told Al-Masdar News this evening.
According to the source, the Syrian Arab Army’s advance this evening has put them in position for a potential attack on Khan Sheikhoun.
Led by the Tiger Forces, the Syrian Arab Army was able to capture the Khan Sheikhoun Farms this evening after resuming their offensive in the southern countryside of the Idlib Governorate.
At the same time, the Syrian Army has begun storming the nearby town of Rakaya and the hilltop of Tal Nar, which are both located northwest of Khan Sheikhoun.
If the Syrian Army does storm Khan Sheikhoun, it will be from the city’s western axis, as their advance to the eastern flank of the city has currently been forestalled by the jihadist rebels near Sukayk.
The jihadist rebels of Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham and Rouse the Believers launched a big counter-offensive on Saturday morning to retake Sukayk.
While they were unable to retake Sukayk, they did manage to retake some points north of the town.
>>238802 >If all stays quiet into the night they might launch an assault on Khan Sheikhoun maybe An assault on Khan Sheikhoun wouldn't make sense if they haven't secured the surroundings of Tal al-Nar We'll see tonight i guess. >>238803 This guy is not a good source, he makes up alot of shit based on unconfirmed reports by literal who sources.
Supposedly a SVBIED that went off on Kafr Dun. Topographically it looks like it is Kafr Dun (it's on a hill) but the silhouette in the background makes no sense.
I read unconfirmed reports of SAA trying to advance to Tell Al-Ter'i on the Sukayk axis today after a hiatus but no reported gains. Perhaps SAA has brought in additional reinforcements and are making another push to take Tamanah. Haven't seen any reports of airstrikes in the area but the radicals seldom report airstrikes outside of towns. Busy night for reporters i hope.
Interview with Hezbollah-affiliated "Syrian Special Force" member says political matters restrict resistance axis factions from participating in the Idlib offensive. http://www.aymennjawad.org/2019/08/some-guy-in-the-special-force-interview >Iranians will not leave Syria in this state with the Russians (in charge), and they will assume responsibility for the entire Idlib operation with weapons, equipment and ammunition, and even the soldiers on the ground. And in this state of affairs Hezbollah will come down to the Idlib battle. This is just plain silly, even if Hezbollah & co aren't involved in the offensive, the Idlibeans still see SAA as shiites. The offensive could've been so damn dope if Iran AND Russia cooperated like in the good old days...
>>238844 >Tensions brewing between NLF and HTS. Supply trucks destined for NLF were stopped by HTS at Khan Sheikoun. Clashes therefore erupted between some factions over there. Meanwhile NLF has blamed HTS for recent defeats at Hama/Idlib axis. https://twitter.com/Elly_Ammar/status/1163171547038867456
>>238836 >making another push to take Tamanah. We can only wish for that. Sukayk front is almost as bad as Kabani. I hope if they do launch a large op in there, they'll put safety of our lads on top priority. I don't really want to see another video of decapitating SAA boys.
>>238861 Direct control of M5 means aviation can focus on other things, since arty can pound the wannabe reinforcements. With this development >>238854 assault on Khan Sheikhoun seems viable, yet risky. Booby traps, suicide bombers, tall buildings, prolly lots of tunnels/caves/basements. It's not Raqqa or Worst Ghouta, but it's not going to be quick and painless for the lads. Busy night for reporters?!
It's quite possible the assault will take place tommorow rather than today. Obvious eastern approach isn't so obvious. Striking from the north is possible as well, the farms and CS is captured.
>Militants are fiercely resisting the Syrian Army’s advance at the southeastern flank of Khan Sheikhoun. Tal Tari is still congested, but the army has yet to crack the militant lines.
>The reports are false, the Turkish military convoy still around Hesh town and is unable to move due to the Syrian army shelling on the area. >Sources said that Turkey is going to give up on Khan Shaykhun, instead, they want to establish a military post on the M5 highway just between Maart Numan and Khan Shaykhun to prevent the Syrian army from advancing north any further.
>I spoke to Idlib residents, incl rebels & opposition commanders to try to understand what's behind this collapse. >The main reason appears to be simply exhaustion: the rebels have been subjected to thousands of airstrikes. At least 2,000 rebels have been killed since late April. >2 weeks ago jihadist cleric Muhaysini said the opposition lost 1,600 fighters, probably an under-counting. Since then, the number of rebels killed has grown by the hundreds. Idlib is home to tens of thousands of rebels, but many of them have little recent fighting experience. >The fighting experience of some factions is lobbing rockets & manning checkpoints. The brunt of Idlib front-line fighting is being shouldered by Jaysh al-Izza, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and some sub-factions of the National Liberation Front. Attrition in their ranks is immense. >Only this week, "fresh" experienced fighters were dispatched to Idlib - jihadist factions moved forces from Lattakia to the Skayk-Tel Tar'i front-line, halting regime progress there. >Only this week HTS concluded a deal w/ the Turkish-backed National Army (SNA) to enter Idlib. >Some of the SNA factions recently underwent training in Turkey, but they have not fought without Turkish air cover for years. They're useful for fire support, tho. In short: the opposition does not have enough experienced fighters on the front-lines to make up for fast attrition >2 explanations to rebel losses commonly heard among Syrians are wrong, imo: >1) Iranian-backed forces joining the fight: no public evidence exists for this opposition claim (such as "martyrdom" notices) >2) A supposed deal between Turkey & Russia to hand over parts of Idlib in exchange for SDF areas: no evidence exists for this either & Russia doesn't get to decide the fate of SDF areas, the US does. Turkey also did not prevent SNA fighters from going to Idlib & provides ATGMs. >This theory is incredibly prevalent among Syrians residents incl rebels (I've heard it from all rebels with whom I spoke except HTS fighters). It possibly affects their morale and willingness to fight. Now that Turkey dispatched new convoys, this perception may change. >The rebels are much more reliant on the population now that support has been reduced/cut off by foreign backers. Weapons are still coming from Turkey, but salaries are laughable (NLF fighters get 50 Turkish Lira per month, $30), meaning families finance their sons' fighting https://twitter.com/Elizrael/status/1163437618136326144
#SAA crossed the M5 Damascus Aleppo highway from the west to the east, north of Khan Shaykhun
The effort now is to capture more high/ground on the eastern bank of the highway, the political pressure on #Turkey is increasing regarding their post in Morek in #Hama CS. https://twitter.com/Syrian_MC/status/1163480829470920704
>Just now. Rebels completely withdrew from Kafr Zita town. Also all non HTS units withdrew from Khan Sheikon city >FSA groups also starting to leave Lataminah HQ, the biggest base in north #Hama province. Airstrikes have stoped, except on HTS units in Khan Sheikoun >Government troops (#NDF, Syrian army & Hezbollah(yeah right lol)) completely captured Kafr Zita town & all barriers around it. FSA Rebels withdrew from Lataminah & all areas in north
Conflicting reports here, seems T*rkey controlled militias are leaving (hence why pro-NLF/TSK media is reporting it's all lost already) whilst HTS and other radicals remain.
>#Syria #Hama #Idlib Utter confusion and chaos among jihadists at N Hama front after collapse of Khan Sheikoun, reports of abrupt withdrawal of jihadists from many areas including Kafr Zita. Russian Airforce meanwhile unleashing hell onto the jihadists from sky https://twitter.com/Elly_Ammar/status/1163552350704930816
With the Hama salient and Morek roach lair soon to be out of the game, some "Turkish News agency" reported earlier today that "A Turkish officer in the region said that two obs. points will be established between Morek & Shahshbo mountain". https://twitter.com/op_shield/status/1163371766082936832 The t*rks are stubborn donkeys so i don't doubt for a second that they'll keep this "observation" charade up, not to mention that the t*rks brought construction equipment to southern Idlib: https://twitter.com/MGhorab3/status/1163466390147403781 Any guess where they'd lay their next nest? My money is on Hish or Ma'arr Zita and Al-Tah.
>While all attention is focused on KhanSheikhun in Syria, Hizam alAmni(backed by UAE) surrounded the police&security forces headquarters in the Abyan province. >Conflicts are spreading in Abyan & more troops are being dispatched to Zinjibar city. >Southerners wants the South!
>We talked previously about HTS media known tactic: creating a fake battle then claiming a victory >So bout Khan Shaykhun, until now there’s no Ops. Inside the city, and we won’t say more than that regarding area >Khan Shaykhun became a virtual battle rather than a tangible one. https://twitter.com/Syrian_MC/status/1163599585534779393 I chose not to believe this.
>News about the ambush of regime forces inside Khan Sheikhoun is not true as well as the reports of the capture of three elements is also incorrect. >The battles rages on the northern axes of the city of Khan Sheikhoun under heavy aerial and missile shelling accompanied by air strikes of warplanes, helicopters and thermal reconnaissance https://twitter.com/ahmadert900/status/1163582076010082310 >One of the activists who published the news of the fall of Khan Sheikhoun talked to him in private and asked him if he was sure or not, unfortunately told me clashes are still going on in the city but about to fall https://twitter.com/ahmadert900/status/1163584802404163584 >The regime no longer need to control the entrances of villages and towns to cut off supplies, unfortunately spy planes are doing the job and this is what made the capabilities of the factions restricted https://twitter.com/ahmadert900/status/1163583669157732354
>>239048 >Any guess where they'd lay their next nest? I'd say somewhere south to Maarrat al-Numan. They must be aware everything else is lost. Other guess would be Kafr Nabel.
>>239164 Eh, with classical warfare goes the information warfare. Following the conflict from the comfiness of our comfy countries and sofas makes us obviously unable to check the shit on the ground. But with got the sofas. And the coffee.
>>239166 Yeah but fake news on frontline changes often get corrected in a day or so, there's been three days of "90%" captured and "0%" captured claims from both sides, incredibly tedious. Optimistic side of me says Tigers aren't entering because the t*rks want to leave and has forced Russia to hold off.
>>239171 >there's been three days of "90%" captured and "0%" captured claims from both sides I think it's confusing like this because there's pretty much 5 parties engaged in this battle. Ruskies, Turks, SAA, moderate jihadis, not-so-moderate jihadis. Ruskies stay pretty quiet other than recent Lavrov's statements. Turks go full propaganda&diplomacy. SAA is spreading misinformation with occassional information. Both types of jihadis are spreading missinformation with occassional information. It's confusing as fuck, I know. We can do literally 99% guesswork - which makes no sense. It's just kind of fun to speculate and be proven right later. In 2-3 days ANNA will release full documentation of the op and everything will be clear.
>>239170 For sure but the uighurs are on the mountains mostly and for some reason SAA are too cowardly to climb the mountains and clearing them out. The mountains are too entrenched for regular arty to clear out and Russia aren't dropping thermobarics.
BTW, a bit off-top. Anyone knows if we're getting season 2 of Chernobyl for real? 4 radiation stations in the Motherland went dark after that "nothing" happened.
>>239183 Rosatom issued a statement, it's somewhere on TASS. There's tons of technical details in the press conference on RIA too. I think it's only in Ruski though.