Middle East Thread "khalifas 2 year anniversary EDITION"

>/k/ is a board devoted to weapons and military equipment.

>Discussions about politics or current events belong on /pol/.

it's fucking stickied.

>>30435569
And you're summer as fuck. What's your point?

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>>30435569
>a war
>where military tactics are being used
>where military equipment is being used
>making a thread about developments in the war
>and talking about military tactics
>on MY /k/!?

Anyways updates:
Seems like the second Latakia offensive amounted to fucking nothing, FSA just threw bodies into the meat grinder for a couple hilltops they lost earlier this month.

So what is this news I've been getting about the NSyA advancing towards Al-Bukamal?

>>30436121
It's all a bunch of desert there, so there's really no measurement to how far they own, nor can anybody truly "own" it. There's nothing to really defend until you actually get to the Euphrates.

>>30436217
They are apparently attempting to cripple IS' ability to operate cross-border to and from Iraq at least. There were reports a couple hours back that the SOHR claimed three American helicopters dropped FSA NSyA on the outskirts of the town, and an NSyA affiliate has claimed to have sabotaged an arms depot north of Al-Bukamal. IS is also on edge in that town after one of their higher-ups was killed there.

I've just wondering how bad NSyA will fumble trying to take that town proper. They look like they specialize more in guerrilla tactics behind enemy lines and not proper combat which they're inevitably have to deal with to take this place.

>>30436409
>SOHR claimed three American helicopters dropped FSA NSyA on the outskirts of the town, and an NSyA
Nothing you say will convince me that the US military allowed a bunch of Jihadi Johnny's to take a cruise in a million dollar helicopter, nor that they were able to succesfully sabotage an arms depot. I personally think the NSA is propped up by NATO to allow SF operations from across the border from Jordan without the SAA being in the area to confirm. *tips tinfoil*

I guess it's that Republican hate on another killing spree.

>>30436534
Fuck off Phil, >>>/pol/

>>30436502
Not sure how this point is relevant. What is clear is that one IS Emir in that town is dead, a curfew was quickly imposed there as a result, and a bunch of people were executed by IS in retaliation. Something is happening there, that's for sure. Whether or not IS will lose this town is more important than if "America is supporting 'moderate rebels'".

>>30436606
Also, I have to note that most of the information about Al-Bukamal came from one Twitter account, and the user is apparently an FSA fanboy, so I do take their "successes" with a pinch of salt until IS' reaction verify that they have happened.

>>30436534
Go fuck a shota in the ass

>>30436606
It's important, just doubt it was strictly the NSA that did it.

>>30436952
The SOHR's detail about who transported them there is a claim, not a fact, and so it can be taken as a moot point. What really matters is there are now counter-IS cells shaking things up in Al-Bukamal.

>>30436952
this

NSA always tags along with another agency if they want some wet/physical done as they don't have the jurisdiction nor the structure/training/experience to carry out something like this. NSA are just desk jockeys that crunch data and feed it to other agencies.

I was going to write a places to watch today post in Syria to bump the thread but instead I am seeing some shit happening in eastern Homs right now. Not sure if the SAA just took a area or IS did but it looks like one of the sides just took something.

Will follow up on if I can.

>>30438080
They mean "New Syrian Army" not the National security agency anyways new "NSA" vedio fo them fighting in Al-Bukamal vs IS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQ-h6mGFa8c

>>30436534
You are literally cancer. Fuck off back to /pol/

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>>30439242
......that explains it a lot better. I forgot to read the previous posts.

>>30438080
>>30439242
probably easier to use the acronym NSyA

>>30435531
The religion of peace strikes yet again......

>>30439242
Man they're operating with ease at night.

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Map by pro rebel source of the section of Al-Bukamal the NSyA (new acronym accepted) has moved on since last night.(not sure how true this is)

Al-Bukamal is the same Syrian town US SF conducted a raid in during the Iraq war in a rare cross border attack. The city was a hub for foreign fighters to enter into Iraq to fight the Americans.

Lastly a very clear video from Step of a ZU-23 technical being used in Latakia. Good time to talk about the ZU-23 and it's widespread use. The anti aircraft gun mounted countless technicals shoots a HE round which fragments like a grenade. They use these guns like light artillery as seen in the video being use to shell the mountain side. It can also be used to chew up buildings or anything a 23mm cannon would be useful taking out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdsc9v3MIcw&feature=youtu.be

>>30440268
do they use spotters to sight their targets?

>>30440281
They would most likely use spotters if they found a specific target to shoot at. others do, but if you see in the video, he doesn't stop to get feedback from a spotter and subtly/quickly changes the direction he's shooting at. This unit is trying to just pepper the hill. I can only assume that it is meant to keep their enemies on edge more than anything else because it appeared that no attack was occurring at the time the video was shot.

>>30440184
apparently NSyA is gonna coordinate with Iraqi militias in order to take over the Iraqi town of Al Q'aim (don't know if coordination means syncing up their attacks or NSyA entering Iraq), which is across the border from Al-Bukamal. It'll be interesting how the Iraqi government reacts should Syrian rebels enter their territory, let alone who will control the town after (if) it is recaptured. Still if they do they'll be dealing a pretty big blow to ISIL's logistic lines.

My money is on NSyA just syncing their times of assault with the Iraqi militias to put more pressure on ISIL, but honestly with how the war is going over there I wouldn't be surprised if NSyA does indeed cross the border into Iraq.

>>30435569
how the fuck new are you? wrap your umbilical cord around your neck and preemptively rid the world of your stupidity.

Breaking of fighting AT the village of Kinsabba plus heavy Ruaf airstrikes ongoing. Rebels are attacking their main objective of this offensive. This should be a slugfest.

>>30440457
they weren't able to progress very far, their second offensive was a joke.

>>30435531
You guys see the video of the security at the airport pop a guy a bunch of times and then take off because the guy had a deadman switch?

>>30440583
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=dba_1467149722

>>30440559
So far things are looking up for the SAA there , pro SAA claim they recaptured al-Qantara which is next to Kinsabba, killing 30 Jaf. Rebels are still on the other side of Kinsabba. I'll follow up next time.

>>30440743
It seems the rebels are leaving a lot of men on this offensive. K/D ratio for the SAA seems unusually good.

The Syrian Army seems to be doing a nice job in the east of Homs city.
In a year and a half they've been steadily advancing against ISIS, taking what seems a third of the total territory/towns of interest. Comparing with a year or two before, when Saburah and Salamyiah were under threat of occupation by ISIS forces, it seems good.

The only problem is that the advance has beens so slow, soooooo slow.

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Aamaq: Islamic State claims to kill 40 New Syrian Army fighters and capture 15 at Hamdan airport in Deir Ezzor.

>>30441068
it was all an elaborate attempt to gift ISIS some Tows and other such weaponry

t. tinfoiler

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US Airstrikes on vehicles & ammo left - behind by NSyA in desert west of Abu Kamal.

>>30441068
The empire strikes back

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>>30439242
Welp NSyA meet their end quickly. IS has released a video showing killed NSyA and seized weapons after their less than 8 hour old offensive was repelled in Al-Bukamal.

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>>30441607

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>>30441628
There are some dead but I have not found any screen shots of them yet. All they had were technicals there

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>>30441648
Two more screen shots and i'm done.

>>30441607
>>30441628
>>30441648
I really thought for a moment, reading about all this operation of the NSyA backed by US air support and gear, that they would finally become a more important actor in this war, and not just "those desert border guys" anymore.

Then, they jobbed hard and ISIS kick their ass.

They are truly the new Syrian Army.

Bonsjo it is probably mad as hell, right now.

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>>30441721
Notice the packing box people. These guys were definitely US or western backed. It's their own mini "Tabqa" offensive.

Who was the idiot that thought bum rushing a main IS hub hundreds of miles away from any sort of back up was a good idea because he is a piece of shit.

Breaking of heavy fighting at Mallah farms as rebels are trying to counter attack there. The SAA holds about 90% of Mallah save for a few spots in the southern section.
>>30440743
Turns out the early reports were right Jaf/Jan attack was repelled at Kinsabba today.

>>30441745
The air insertion would indicate that the op was at least US approved. Probably bad intel.

>>30441773
At least Manbij is going better, they encircled the area first realizing it would be a bad idea to attack the city first. I described that as being a smart approach. IS won't let go of Manbij without mauling the YPG/SDF though.

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>>30441745

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wew they also captured technicals armed with M2's.

>>30441800
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2016/06/29/the-islamic-state-just-took-a-page-from-the-battle-of-stalingrad/

Wapo story on the IS vs YPG Manbij gain silo battle. IS still fucking holds the southern grain silos. I noticed in the last thread that IS possibly still held the grain silos. From the story.

>And despite various reports of their seizure by the U.S-backed forces, they still appear either to be partially held by ISIS fighters or so laden with mines and booby traps that advancing troops are unable to enter.

>>30441607
Just as I thought. It's too good to be true to think the NSyA was able to take that town, but damn, they really fucked up harder than the SAA could, not only failing within 12 hours after some overhyping, but also basically handing IS their equipment on a silver platter.

Never seen anything this embarrassing since the various early blunders by the US-trained New Syrian Forces.

>>30441745
>>30441773
So the earlier SOHR claim that the offensive was backed by the US may be partially true.

>>30441849
It was bound to happen.
As soon as that guy died in Bukamal, I'm sure ISIS picked a group of fighters from Deyr-ez-Zor to reinforce.

>>30441849
I really have no idea what they where thinking, they announced their attack upfront allowing IS to reinforce, they attacked with light vehicles only and AFAIK no artillery and they had only around 600 fighters where they tought they could hold an entire new front with. They also had no heavy vehicles to reinforce.

>>30441879
Its surprising that US allowed the attack to proceed, one would think that after Mogadishu they would have learned that air assault/light infantry assault is useless against an entrenched enemy. I can't imagine anyone in military chain of command could have thought that the attack would succeed unless they were working with some seriously large pieces of information we don't know about and which failed to materialize, like a major tribal revolt or something.

>>30441970
There are the reports of some days ago that the NSyA was preparing something with the aid of the Iraqi tribal forces.

Maybe they thought using the tribal fighters to make havoc in the other side of the border could make ISIS split forces and send fighters from Bukamal to the Iraqi side.

>>30441840
Why can't the US airstrike that place back to a pile of dust?

Which are the restrictions of the US regarding airstrikes?

What are the assets of the US in the Mediterranean that are providing support to the Syrian war?

>>30435531

Are you telling me that the religion of peace killed 50 people?

Islamophobia did this

>>30442073
Good question, I didn't know gain silos were bomb proof either.
>>30441770
Early reports from Mallah farms as pro rebel sources claim Jaf took most of Mallah farms back with the SAA still holding Al Asamiyat.

>>30442158
but the answer the question I think when the SDF/YPG take the grain silos IS uses tunnels to bring guys in the fight so they have to back up and call in a airstrike which if IS fighters are smart would clear out before the strike and ready for the next YPG/SDF assault.

>>30442158
but wait there's more...... reports of rebel attacks on other fronts in Aleppo , mainly at Dhahiyat Al Assad but other places as well.

Aleppo is lighting up like a Christmas tree. A Christmas tree that is on fire.

>>30441607
wew

>>30442251
Lastly wild pro SAA source claims no points were lost meanwhile a pro rebel source claims basically most of Mallah farms have now been captured.

In the claim/counter claim game looking at the pro SAA side I notice some now say the SAA only controled 60% of Mallah pre tonight's fighting. Less than the 90% they claimed the other day. In hotly contested battles like Mallah farms even a clear winner takes full liberties with the truth. This goes for both sides.....as I was typing this one of the major rebel factions just claimed capturing parts of Mallah too. That's it for now unless I get pics of vid.

>>30442716
Going off the big faction(Islamic front) they say they captured Al Asamiyat in Mallah and seized a Shilka.

>>30436534
Kek

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>>30442765
This is the area they are referring too

TOW video from today. Those things flying post explosion are indeed body parts. The wall blowing up turned them into swiss cheese.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGNO_iiG8zU

>>30443135
christ

>>30441607
>>30441628

It's like the US doesn't even care any more about supplying ISIS with weapons;...

>>30442856
>>30442874
>>30443135

lol

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Massive battle ongoing around Mallah at the northern farms and nearby Handarat. Many factions involved. JAN drove a VBIED into Handarat. That's where most of the action is right now. Pic is the VBIED

Can't wait to check on this later. They are throwing in all their mables.

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>>30443394
Pic isn't recent. John on twitter fugged up, the VBIED news is true though. Pro rebel map of Mallah farms, continued Ruaf airstrikes on the entire area and more fighting at Handarat.

>>30442856
>>30442874
>>30443135
All that zabiha training on animals has paid off I suppose.

>>30444011
It blows my mind that kosher/halal slaughter is even allowed in Western countries.

>>30443254
>It's like the US doesn't even care any more about supplying ISIS with weapons;...
Keep up with the news honey. The US Gov't is divided into factions right now. CIA, State, and a variety of elected and appointed neocons are the ones trying to supply ISIS. The military along with a variety of elected and appointed non-neocons are trying to bomb those exact supplies, even if it means direct conflict with the other faction's goals.

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>>30443394
Can you comment on the recently seen 2-man SVBIEDs? Do IS and JAN have enough manpower to throw it away 2 at a time like that? I have an easier time accepting the usual 1-man thing because it's an individual suicide done by a suicidal person(regardless of their stated reasons). Is having onboard defense suppression capability really worth it when the thing is going to be covered by friendly defense suppression from technicals/tanks/etc in 9 out of 10 scenarios? That's an entire extra human who must have had some training.

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>>30443504
Ivan just came with a tweet from a soldier at the front line. Hes said the tigers never retreated but the VBIEDS are true. Truth is probably somewhere in the middle.

Who'd fought a fucking farmland with a few dozens houses would be the most important battlefield of syria?

>>30445314
>most important
nahh just most dramatic

>>30443135
"ak bayonets are made of pot metal they can't cut shit" ~/k/

>>30445120
>>30445120
Hey. I was with the YPG for 7/8 months and was in the Tishrin and Al Shaddadi op. The 2 man SVBIEDs are a new thing, that at least known to me, first came around the battle of shaddadi in february 2016. We got attacked by one, a BMP of some sort, with a gunner, shooting at us, trying to keep us pinned so RPG/23mm/Javelin gunners could not get a good aim at the vehicle. This sort of works as its difficult enough to stop a SVBIED, and very much more so, when someone is shooting at you with a PKM.

Other westerners and me also discussed the value of using two guys and an armoured vehicle, especially since SVBIEDs are a gamble. The one that hit us took out 3 trucks and wounded 4 guys, some get stopped, and then again, some hit the jackpot and kills dozens. I have heard of more 2manned, armoured suicide attacks after this, so I guess its so effective that its worth the materials and manpower. Though I guess the majority (at least from what I have seen live, and on the internet) are still the old fashioned one manned, civilian vehicle loaded with explosives.

Also, anyone know, besides twitter, where you can access Amaq films, reports etc?

>>30445120
Also, due to the intense coalition air strikes, all vehicles, armoured or not, do not have the same value or lifetime as they previously had. And I guess sending two, instead of one village idiot into certain death is not a big drain on isis manpower. In that region its not very difficult to find people willing to reach paradise.

Also, just spoke to a friend of mine thats down there. Manbij is a shit show, not much movement, and loads of casulaties. The YPG have probably not taken this many losses since Kobane (though that needs to be verified).

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EU is falling apart because of this shitty war. it better end fast.

>>30442856
>>30442874
>>30443135
Cool, mind giving sauce

>>30445045
>The US Gov't is divided into factions right now

This has more or less always been the case. The difference is that this infighting is being made more public through leaks and the internet in a way it wasnt in the past, during vietnam for instance.

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>>30441068
>Aamaq

>>30441840
There are videos from the SDF from the silos m8

>>30445439
Literally the Amaq website...or wait it's down. It was up as of recently. Who cares FBI, just let ISIS have their website.

http://amaqagency.ch

>>30446813
It is true yes you should take ISIS' literal news distributors with a grain of salt, but as far as I can remember they rarely full out lie. Potential to stretch and inflate numbers , sure.

>>30445439
On a further note there is Amaq/ISIS telegram channels you can join where they hot off the presses put reports, pictures, video. I've been meaning to do it. Would feel slightly eerie being in a channel with actual ISIS members gloating.

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>>30447659
Example. Any of you ever join these channels?

>>30447659
How secure is Telegram's encryption anyway?

>>30445586
I don't really know if EU member states could had done anything to prevent the decay as a result of the immigrant inflow.

The Middle East is at Europe's doorstep and so is a magnet for Mideast immigrants. And with a preexisting Muslim population within the Eurozone well before the Arab Spring, EU governments simply lack any decisiveness on who best to pick in the wars or how to tighten borders around the Eurozone out of "respect" of the Sunnis who make up the biggest bulk of Muslim migrants.

They had a window from 2013 to 2014 to brace themselves or act militarily/politically in the Mideast, but reeling from their intervention in Libya resulting in a less stable Libyan state, the EU and the media ignorantly focused on Greece fucking up the Eurozone instead (Who even talk about Grexit in 2016 anymore?) while allowing chunks of Syria and Iraq to go to hell on a breadbasket. By 2015 it was already too late when the sea of people spilled everywhere into Europe.

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Can anyone identify these vehicles?
There from Kata'ib Hezbollah.

>>30449675
Some kind of Iranian made car?

>>30449686
yeah, looks like the typical Iranian "mash-two-US-vehicles-together" clusterfuck they usually roll with when designing shit

>>30449708
That's an apt simile, all right.

>>30449686
Ah, I think you're right, it appears to be this:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safir_(vehicle)

>>30449675
Sand Rovers

>>30449675
Probably a Safir Jeep, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safir_(vehicle). A Iranian copycat of well, the Jeep.

>>30449675
I kinda like it. It looks like a cheap Sci-fi jeep.
Now if I got one, I would probably just use the body and slap it on a custom frame with a reliable drive train but thats just me.

>>30449731
It actually look more like a Russian GAZ vehicle than a Jeep desu

>>30442819
Some good news for the SAA here ...relatively. From what it sounds like from pro SAA sources (not Ivan) say they have moved back into Al Asamiyat after heavy shelling/bombing so they still have parts of Mallah farms.
>>30445314
>Truth is probably somewhere in the middle
It always is. When I last posted all pro rebel accounts claimed they took all of Mallah farms while I left open the possibility they had not because I don't believe their reports without weighting them with pro SAA reports. It's ongoing.

I will say it looks like rebels had pushed the SAA out of most of Mallah to me but I will follow up with whatever the case is.

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>>30435569
Everyone knows this board is for talking about qt anime guns

>>30447567
>rarely full out lie
They reported one of their suicide bombers was saved when the explosion propelled him out of the VBIED he was riding in, everything they say is inflated or made up, NSyA have claimed 5 killed, clearly they may be lying to and the real number lies somewhere in the middle.

>>30449819
Those damned animals girls always bothered me. If they have animal ears over their heads, doesn't this mean they don't have human ears under all that hair?

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250 ISIS Fighters in a convoy were killed by US Airstrikes on the southern outskirts of Fallujah
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2016/06/29/us-airstrikes-kill-at-least-250-isis-fighters-in-convoy-outside-fallujah-official-says.html

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>>30450933
>HWY OF DEATH PART 2

the 90s are back!

Anyone else got any decent footage on the mini-highway of death the US & Iraqi's did near fallujah?
https://twitter.com/ABC/status/748357595358863361
Look at all those fucking trucks, looks like ISIS isn't getting anyone back from Iraq if it goes like this every time

>>30450933
their are some reports that the USAF declined to help in the strikes so it was all the work of the Iraqi Air Force

>>30451005
I wouldn't even be mad if it was the Iraqi's 100%, it's about time they spread their wings and learn to do shit on their own. Hopefully after this war is over they'll have experienced fighters to train new troops and the US can stop doing that as well.

>>30451194
They've had lots of experienced fighters after being at war for over a decade. Problem is they get complacent as soon as things die down because they're lazy and their leadership still sucks. One would hope that this is a real wake up call for them, but the next generation will probably forget

>>30449734
underrated

>>30451234
I mean really the US had done everything for them after we destroyed their leadership, of course they've been at war for a while but the haven't had competent leadership in a while and this is forcing them to do just that.

Syrian soldiers saying they recaptured almost everything in Mallah, wouldn't doubt that this would turn into some ping-pong match like northern Aleppo

>>30451863
https://twitter.com/IvanSidorenko1/status/748431780173185024
https://twitter.com/IvanSidorenko1/status/748432015838556160

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With no available official figures, estimates of how many Afghans are fighting in Syria vary wildly. Iranian state media, while not acknowledging direct Iranian involvement, say 20,000 Afghans are fighting in Syria.

Once in Syria, Afghans are often in the first line of offensive action. One fighter, Mohammad, 19, remembered entering a hospital occupied by enemy combatants.

“To scare us, they threw human heads at us. The head of a small child fell on my foot. My shoes got bloodied, and I really got scared,” he said over the phone from Tehran where he had recently returned. “I entered a building and my foot touched a wire and triggered an explosion. 12 pieces of shrapnel hit my legs and my hand.”

In return for fighting, Afghans are offered a residence permit in Iran and about $500 monthly salary.

In a Kabul teahouse, Mohsen – who was recruited in Iran – showed phone photos of himself in Syria, wearing fatigues and painted with kohl around the eyes. During his third and most recent trip to Syria, in February, he was injured three times. One bullet was still lodged in his thigh. He carried the other one as a necklace.

“I’m not doing anything wrong. The holy places belong to us. We’re going to defend them,” he said.

>>30452069
>To scare us, they threw human heads at us. The head of a small child fell on my foot

this war is madness

>>30452225
Reminder that Obama and Hillary are responsible for the Arab spring and ISIS.

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>>30452225
madness...?

THIS IS SYRIA

>>30450933
guess this is it
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITo1ddOrY34
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iL8rfAj1fdY

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>poor alCiada
>poor sunni jihadists
>poor unfortunate souls

Abandoned by Obongo finally?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/global-opinions/obama-proposes-new-military-partnership-with-russia-in-syria/2016/06/29/8e8b2e2a-3e3f-11e6-80bc-d06711fd2125_story.html

>>30452488
they got btfo
I wonder why it doesn't happen more often though

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is it inhabited? Have they been affected by the war whatsoever?

>>30452614
Go to the bottom left, click "satellite" it's just a sand bar, would probably be a bitch to move anything worth-while through it, and you'd be prime target for IDF with nothing really for cover, with no real strategic advantage.

>>30435531
Wow id love to just have a chance at politics. But black people will just start asking me for liberation of their dogs

>>30452614
there's a secret base under the island researching mind control technology. There's also a biotechnology division staffed by aliens taken captive from crashed spaceships in the Syrian desert. Every now and then one of the captive aliens Assad has stored there breaks loose and tries to swim to safety which is why the lake is filled with deadly piranhas.

>>30449804
https://twitter.com/sayed_ridha/status/748481906451177472
Update from Mallah is the SAA retook either most or all of northern Mallah farms with 100 killed Jaf.

In my last post I was saying the SAA was able to retake parts of Mallah. Still a ongoing battle.
Moving on to other fronts.

The rebel Latakia offensive has completely stalled as they have lost most of their initial gains and are barely holding on to a few villages they got in the beginning.

-IS has killed about 20 SAA in the outskrits of Palmyra by Al Talila reserve.

-YPG/SDF made advances in a neighborhood in Manbij, last I read IS still held the gain silo.

-large battle ongoing in Dayyra

>>30452669
ISIS never retook the grain silo, it was a meme that arose from a video that was taken days before the silos fell.

>>30452709
I thought they never lost the silo to begin with? Just some guys held up in their waiting to die.

>>30452979
got bombed to shit, SDF controls it.

>>30442856
>>30442874
>>30443135
>tfw you surrender to ISIS

>>30442874
He's the first one I've ever seen showing a face of fear infront of the camera. Most ISIS victims usually look completely apathic and broken.

I bet this guy provided ISIS with the best propaganda possible, just for that expression alone.

>>30441036
With so many different factions of varying strengths and motivation I bet planning any offensive anywhere is a nightmare. Take too much and lose ground elsewhere because you've ran out of manpower. As the SAA retake ground they have to make sure they kill enough of the enemy, if they just run away they will counter attack and the back and forth of the last 4 years will carry on.

>>30449254
Europe did throw money at Turkey to keep their borders shut from refugees, although there's only so much of that you could before the flood of people finally breaks the levees.

Regardless, this is still only a quick fix for a deeply entrenched problem. It is surprising how half-assed Europe's response to the civil wars were.

>>30453429
> It is surprising how half-assed Europe's response to the civil wars were.

I think the reason for EU's lack of response has something to do with the shittest of proxy wars and interested involved in Syria.

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FSA technical captured in Aleppo by kurdish forces.
>These chucklefucks are managing their own and SAA can't keep a grip on a farm

>>30452511

The Russians are being setup for another double cross.

>>30445486
>Manbij is a shit show, not much movement, and loads of casulaties. The YPG have probably not taken this many losses since Kobane (though that needs to be verified).

It is some well-needed exposure to urban combat against a large IS garrison though. The last city of similar size that the Kurds fought hard for was also Kobani, and that was a year and a half ago, in a defensive position.

If they're going to have a shot at Bab, which is larger and probably more heavily defended, and hypothetically Raqqa, which is 5 times the size of Manbij, they're going to need every shred of experience along the way.

>>30453595
At the end of the day the YPG/SDF are getting mauled at Manbij not because they suck at urban warfare (that's the one thing they are good at) it's because they simply don't have enough people to take a large city. They are advancing slowly using US airpower to do the work.

>>30453595
Al-Bab will probably be bi-passed first to connect the cantons. Also Al-bab is smaller than manbij, but very strategically important now as it's their last hub for supplies from the north and their only real chance of ever mounting an offensive on Aleppo city, since ISIS's aim is to conquer the entire country. Also this is pretty much the same thing ISF saw in fallujah, they just retreat into civilian areas that can't be bombed and leave behind IED's like they're hansel and gretel, rarely any actual extended fighting since they're cut off from supplies and reinforcements.

>>30453699
To compare how a small guerrilla force operates against a heavily garrison city just look at IS around Palmyra. They got ousted in a large Russian/SAA show of force but they didn't panic. They broke up into small teams to harass the SAA at checkpoints. Today they took 7 checkpoints 10km from Palmyra. A small force sticks and moves to fight a big force.

YPG/SDF appear stronger than they are with largest air force in the world plus western SF giving them the ability to roll over IS in the countryside but they are not a conventional army, they can't go blow for blow with IS without additional reinforcements.

>>30453699
I don't think they don't have enough people to take a city, they just don't have enough people to take VBIED's all day and night. They need the SDF to shill hard to get the freed Arabs to join.

Video is SAA forces shelling around Mallah as they have advanced further. I would guess they control about 50% of Mallah more or less. About where they were a few days ago before taking most of Mallah. What a epic battle.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rT4k2SbiHAo&feature=youtu.be

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>>30453474

>SAA can't keep a grip on a farm

to be fair, this farm is located at one of the most important places (for both SAA and FSA/Nusra) in Aleppo, because of the castello road (one and only supplyline to Aleppo city for FSA/Nusra.
To this comes that it seems to be mainly flat terrain being surrounded by large urban areas (Handarath camp ect) which makes it even harder to capture
i really wonder why they dont try to (sure, more slowly, but most likely a bit saver) take and advance though the handerath camp....
however, its hard for me to believe they regained the farms (already)

>i-want-to-believe.jpg

>>30454036
No pro SAA source is saying they regained all of Mallah farms other than Ivan's "insiders" (and he is usually their voice of reason)

They are saying they regained the northeast part, Al Asamiyat and the middle part which will have reversed most rebel gains in the counter attack but not all of them.

>>30454036
the problem is the geography of the handarat camp. Its a town in a small valley, you cant go around, or flank it. You can on come in from one way. Every gun in handarat camp is pointed at the end where the SAA and allies are behind. When they move in the rebels just concentrate fire and the SAA is forced to move out, its one big tunnel of death

It could work, but only in conjuction with a mallah assault. I have a feeling the tiger foces know the rebels are throwing everything at them, i think they are trying concentrate as many rebels in one area and kill as fucking many as they can (which is going pretty well i would say). Maybe after a few weeks of fighting a handarat push will come.

Also: the SAA wants to clear out the neighbourhoods (recent assaults) next to sheiks Masqoud to be able to pincer from mallah and allepo city aswell and cut the suppyline. Only problem is urban fighting is slow and deadly and the front has been unchanged for years. So lets see if theyl make.

Im pretty impressed by the SAA so far and yes they are causing real panic under nusra and friends.

>>30452488
So it looks like it was actually an Iraqi Air Force strike with Hinds

>>30435569
People say this board isn't being hijacked.

Just look at this faggot here.

>>30436534
Phil "I've activated a Trap Card!" Stone

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>>30454296

>Phil

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-Large battle ongoing in Latakia as rebels offensive has stalled and the SAA is trying to take back all of their loses.

I'll leave with some pics released by IS of the checkpoints they seized near Palmyra today.

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>>30454640

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>>30454651
That's it, the others are just them standing around and shit around the area.

>>30454665
One more thing. Step reporting heavy combat right where these pictures are at 20 mins ago. IS is annoying the shit out of the SAA here and to top it off they are actually getting close to Palmyra city from several directions.

>>30452332
Underrated post. Have a YOU.

>>30441745
http://www.unicorr.com/

This aspect of warfare peaks my interest to no end

Somewhere within this company, this average, everyday packing company, there's a department with Top Secret security clearances working clandestine operations.

Minus well have a CIA-linked milkman

Why is this world so awesome?

>>30442874
Whose the white guy? US personnel?

>>30454036
That's a pretty huge bodycount in pic related.

Who are the stiffs?

>>30455671
no idea, he looks eastern european imo, but i could very well be wrong. i watched the video, and he gets beheaded in the very end, he doesnt say a word and i dont speak arabic so idk what the executioners were saying.

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>Ruskis Palmyra

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FQzJcigtkU

>>30440268
These jihadis were beat back by the SAA.

Arabs tend to spend their talents in making 60 FPS 1080P PR videos instead of learning how to fight.

>>30450933
It wasn't the US airforce. Mostly Iraqi operated Hinds.

>>30453699
I sort of have to disagree with you on that one. Even though many in the YPG/PKK have experienced urban combat both in Syria and Turkey, their problem is that they never fucking learn. Not from experiences, nor from any experienced people. Especially not from foreigners, many of them with vast experience. They are so stubborn, and keep going with their 30 year old retarded ass tactics. Also, having a major shehid (martyr) culture does not help. They are just as happy to throw their lives away in front of enemy fire as daesh is.

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ISOF M-ATV with a rare minigun CROWS

>>30458381
How the fuck did they get their hands on that? I know the answer is the US, but I'm surprised the US would even hand that out to folks who lost MBTs and whatnot

>>30458685
ISOF is the most successful unit of the Iraqi Armed Forces. They're not perfect and they do take losses, but they've been spearheading a lot of the Iraqis' offensives

>>30458381
>tfw the US government will never give you the good stuff

>>30458381
Lucky bastards

>>30458381

So when does this thing get abandoned, reclaimed by ISIS and used as a suicide battering ram?

>>30458685
Nah, ISOF is actually competent.

>>30450990
http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/06/30/484186665/video-airstrikes-hit-isis-convoy-fleeing-fallujah

has the video embeded in it from the Iraq MOD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITo1ddOrY34

>>30458069
That's fine, I admit I am not a YPG/PKK expert. Despite the PKKs ideology which I don't agree with, they remind me of FARC with their ability to stick around for years on end and I respect this part about them. As far as their tactics I don't know them well.
>>30454640
>Large battle ongoing in Latakia as rebels offensive has stalled and the SAA is trying to take back all of their loses.
Ho..... they had me fooled and I was following them closely. With the capture of Kinsabba the rebels completely turned table around and now their offensive has been successful.

With Kinsabba being their main target done they are now after secondary targets with the SAA's sudden collapse in this area. Impressive turn around or they lured the SAA into a trap. One of the two. I bet TIP played a large role.

>>30454665
>Thumb over bore
Look at this nerd.

>>30460519
The number of light trucks lend some credence of this being an IS convoy, but where are the cache of weapons and vehicle-mounted guns?

>>30462109
>but where are the cache of weapons and vehicle-mounted guns

I am guessing that it took many hours for the Iraqi lazy asses to secure the site after the strike. Anything with value was taken by the locals/the people who just booked it out on foot once the first truck blew up.

This convoy was spotted and tracked from the air on the side of the city that still has some resistance to Iraqi forces.

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>>30462109
>>30462245
https://twitter.com/green_lemonnn/status/748570930511773697

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>>30462245
>>30462109

its in the vid posted earlier in the thread guys:

>>30452488
>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITo1ddOrY34 [Embed]

also:
>opening the MEG
>not immediately skipping straight to the shoot em up videos

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>>30462785
>life preservers
>crutches

obs raiding the same weapons caches as the UK police

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>>30461512
New map of the Latakia post Kinsabba take over. This gives rebels their buffer for Jisr/Idlib back and reverses months of Latakia loses.

Video is of weapons sezized with a SAA going out of business sale on M79 Osa rockets.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b553xNippto

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>>30464358
A picture of one of the killed at Kinsabba. I read about 20 NDF/SAA bodies were found.

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>>30464410
One of the POWs , yes the person that made it is a smartass.

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>>30464416
More loot ,a pick up mounted grad launcher(that's very useful in the mountains), they also captured 4 tanks.

>>30464358
These advances are nothing. The SAA pulled out from their forward outposts allowing jihadists to pour in. This will allow SAA to kill the jihadists and open the road to Jisr. With fall of Jisr and Aleppo SAA will crush the Turkish jihadists.

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http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-36653775

>>30464582
>this defeat was actually a victory somehow
uh huh...

>>30464446
Are they close enough to shell Latakia again?

>>30464582
>These advances are nothing
Sounds like damage control to me. Just a few months ago the Syrian government allowed international media in the city to show off their Latakia progress. That's how proud they were to have taken it.

>>30464635
No but they could hit Salma, which is their next target.

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>>30464358
How many russians died?

Reports that a Syaaf aircraft (some says that was a Su-22M-3 and other say it was a Mig-23) crashed in eastern Qalamoun.

JaI claims had downed it, and captured the pilot.

>>30464767
Here's a video of the said captured pilot:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPNsqctYLqY

It was JaI that claimed early that the plane was a Mig-23, but they already corrected themselves, confirming that it was a Su22.

>>30464754
Thats a coded message, the picture, isnt it?

>>30464582
Not a victory but JAL lost way more than they should've trying to take it, took three separate offensives

>>30464845
they can get more men any time they need

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>>30464784
The name of the captured pilot is Maj. Noures Hassan.

Ivan is also reporting the death of Syaaf pilot Major General Mohammed Badr Hassan (photo), but he doesnt know where and how he died.

There is also reports of Rebels infight in Al Hara, Quneitra, between Al Hara Rebels and the Liwa Ahrar Inkhil brigade.

Is there a list with all the acronyms and what they mean?

>>30464894
Meh, not when you're fighting for Aleppo too and losing hundreds on each side

>>30464784
He would be lucky if they didn't beat the shit out of him. A captured pilot would not be treated well by the locals.

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>>30456543

dead FSA from northern "pingpong" aleppo
killed by kurds/YPG/SDF from afrin canton

>>30454132

thx for your accurate details about the situation/terrain. I really wish /ME/ threads would have more posts like yours, but at least we are far away from /SG/, even when they are most times more "entertaining"

BTW, im really IMPRESSED, it seems that Tiger Forces managed to regain the farms that fucking fast. Get hyped!

>>30464895
Breaking from Step.... Maj. Noures Hassan has been killed. I guess I should amend this post >>30465278 to he would be lucky if they didn't kill him. He wasn't so lucky.

>>30465333
And that's why you don't surrender.

>>30465282
I know what you mean about /sg/, i went there more than often when russians first started bombing but now /sg/ feels somewhat personal and full of turkish shitposters that want o kill the thread.
But then again there are more than enough nusrat worshipers here too that are welcome to shill here

>>30464795
blow it out your ass

Does anyone have a link to Orion's blogspot?

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>>30465333
This is the picture Maj. Noures Hassan. They executed him.

>>30465480
F

>>30465480
F

>>30465480
I guess he didn't fly so good

>>30465480
F

>>30465480
hope they'll leave it at that and not desecrate his body any further

F

>>30465526
Don't fret, I bet Saaf bombing kills 50 more civilians to retaliate.

>>30465480
Spend time drooping bombs on people and than one day you drop yourself.

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>>30465658
>>30465578

>>30465675
Pure coincidence

>>30464767
so 3 planes in a week, Russia better start shiping

>>30464924
That looks like a transformer

Latakia update as all day pro rebel sources have been claiming more ground past Kinsabba. They just claimed even more just now. I can only make out "hill 10" and it's near the m4 highway.

This offensive is deadly serious with increased SAA lines breaking. Rebels went from stalled to steamrolling in a day. At this point the SAA needs help. That's all for now.

>>30467170
How long will the Russians wait for the SAA to unfuck themselves before they swoop back in to save Assad?

>>30467170
weapons captured by rebels

https://twitter.com/Charles_Lister/status/748956654960422912

8 tanks, 4 bmp's, 1 130mm gun, 5 120mm mortars plus other shit
Because it wouldn't be an SAA defeat if they didn't leave an armored company behind

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>>30467637
Good question. See the problem for the Ruskies is they have a little issue with IS around Palmyra and of course at Mallah farms so they are going to have to split their air assets carefully.
I think this is what the rebels who planned the Latakia offensive were counting on. They knew the Ruaf would be tied up.
>>30468362
What a awesome amount of weaponry, especially during a offensive. Who need's a resupply when you got the SAA.

>>30468362
Holy shit, the SAA gave them everything they needed to shell Latakia again

>>30469032
Would the Russians accept the loss of face and publicly re-escalate if they couldn't contain the situation?

>>30469101
That's something Putin will have to think about. I doubt they made up their minds on "if the rebels past x red line here than we are going full red dawn on them". It will be exciting to find out.

>>30468362
I actually think the tank numbers are inflated ,looks like the same tanks just re-positioned and another picture taken.

So arguably only 4 tanks, but regardless yeah the rebels got some nice loot

Allegedly a regime fighter said at the moment he was captured by JaF in Kinsabba: "I love Baghdadi".

Shows you how potentially in the dark they are about what group they are even fighting. Thinking ISIS is there...

>>30470250
>Allegedly

>>30471646
Makes sense though. I'm sure the regime pounds in the "all Rebels are literally ISIS" narrative into their troops pretty hard.

>>30464967
Wikipedia?

>>30469101
I think they would rather drop chlorine on the rebels, isis, alnusra along with civilians instead of accepting the loss.

>>30472294
They arent isis for sure. But they are Al Nusra

Updates in the Early morning:
>reports that ISIS captured Awn-dadat north of Manbij, which would be huge but this is unconfirmed no kurdish sources confirming
>some reports that ISIS advanced out of Manbij to the east and captured a village, which may as well be bullshit since usually when ISIS actually does something they love to take pictures of it, but no proof as of yet.
>SAA continues their offensive in the mallah farms with reported gains in the south
>Reports that YPG captures the southern part of the Al-Hazwanah neighborhood of Manbij

Small updates, as Mallah farms and Latakia simmer the hot action is in northern Aleppo with the FSA taking Tal Battal and getting close to Al Rai while IS counter attacked around Manbij taking Awn Dadat, outside the encirclement and recapturing parts of Manbij city.

>>30476621
I see you saw the same things I did. I concur with your post. Of course IS may be bullshitting about gaining Awn Dadat but I wouldn't discount it either. IS might have moved in new forces for a counter attack. It sounds like a typical IS move to me.

>>30476628
Is there any proof that they actually took it, even Aamaq hasn't said anything about it. Could be just like the counterattack at tishreen dam that amounted to be nothing.

>>30476644
Not right now but the news broke about 30 minutes ago. Rarely does any side have solid proof this quick. That takes hours or could be a whole day if they have a media blackout.

It's a guessing game and right now I think it's possible IS retook Awn Dadat and it makes sense if their lines with the FSA just cracked a little. They think Manbij is more important and they'll deal with the FSA later.

>>30476329
Saying "I love Baghdadi" to Nusra is as likely to get you beheaded as saying "I love Assad". They have been cutting off each others heads with grate intensity. I understand the desire to paint everyone as ISIS for international audience but one would think that , at least in Latakia, the commanders would tell their men who they are facing. There are certainly significant operational differences between FSA, Nusra, TIP, and knowing who are you fighting is quite important. Also I would think that SAA would want to minimize exposing soldiers to "ISIS". In Latakia mountains, where SAA/NDF has space to run, telling soldiers that they are facing people who will certainly kill them if captured , in my opinion, makes the men far more likely to run when facing encirclement than stand and fight. Its on par with a soviet commissioner motivating his men by saying they are facing LSSAH.

>>30476664
>>30476664
Yeah but ISIS is known for shouting"We have captured X and Y and Z" in the middle of their attack

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmV4YfwCA-w

Breaking from the latakia offensive where another village/ hill has been taken. All I can make out is elephant hill. Not sure which minor village was captured. They are calling this the "third phase" of the offensive. Also Ruaf has been bombing them although lightly.

>>30478511
Now they are saying their "make duas" large battle ongoing. Rebels are attacking.

>>30436013
Desert meat best meat

>>30476640
Attempts to pierce trough an encirclement are usually common in battle, so if the news is true, it's hardly surprising. Whether the besieged IS can hold that gain is another question. If the besieging party is well-reinforced on the ground and on the air, IS will be pushed back to the city eventually, like they had to around the Manbij silos to the south a week or so ago.

All things considered the Manbij offensive is containing the city much better than the ISF has during the Fallujah siege and IS during the DeZ siege. Whereas the besieged in both cases had been constantly slipping in and out of the frontlines, IS' defenses in Manbij hasn't been able to physically link up with surrounding IS forces and pry open the encirclement. The SDF's territorial buffer is working effectively so far.

>>30478575
Step is reporting heavy casualties on militia. I can't tell if it's NDF or rebel militias. As far as rebels they are saying they captured Burj al-Abyad just now.

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After 5 years of constant war, how are Syria's factions doing in terms of manpower?

I'm trying to googling some estimates but it is proving to be quite hard.

>>30478626
https://twitter.com/sayed_ridha/status/749312463900774400

Plot twist: YPG/SDF says they never controlled Awn Dadat in the first place. This admission would directly contradict all Manbij maps however.

>>30478792
lol, that is an epic picture

>>30478898
Its probably just a shitty attempt to make the "unstoppable" kurdish forces look better.

>>30478963
Yeah but imagine the potential ISIS video if you shot that thing with him up there

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>>30479146
Shooting for the stars I see.

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>>30477812
so apparently an DAESH commander was killed in that attack, idk who it really is, but they provided the name "Abu Kattab". anybody know who this is, or if its even true? i cant find anythign about it.

>>30480244
These guys only become important battlefield commanders after being killed. Noone has ever heard of them before

Several parting shots from me. It's hard to put this all together.

Multiple reports of infighting on both the rebel and SAA side.
-Starting with the SAA, the report was SAA shooting it out with NDF or whatever they call the Latakia security forces who are not not regular SAA in Saul over a refusal to go to the front.

-On the rebel side JAN arrested leaders of the FSAs Jaish al-Tahrir. Reasons or fallout unclear at this time.

Lastly IS affiliated group near Daraa killed 7 leaders of the southern front with a suicide bomber. Best believe I will be following up.

>>30479084
Or just assumptions, You can control the roads without controlling the town, especially with air support.

>>30435569
I was about to make a joke about how summer sure is here, or how you're hyper new to /k/ or the chan, but I wont, instead.
> WELCOME TO THE INTERNET!

>>30481187
How common are skirmishes between the SAA and NDF?

>>30482701
Less frequent than FSA components

>>30478963
>>30479146
So no one knows anything regarding manpower of the different factions involved.

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>>30484206
nobody has hard numbers anon, thats why the estimates are all over the place. I would hazard a guess that isis/nusra/et al dont even know how many fighters they have in their own ranks. The numbers ive seen are both all over the place AND outdated in most cases.

from the wiki:
>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_activity_of_ISIL
>In June 2014, ISIL had at least 4,000 fighters in Iraq,[47] and the CIA estimated in September 2014 that it had 20,000–31,500 fighters in Iraq and Syria.[48] The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights estimates that the force numbers around 80,000–100,000 total (up to 50,000 in Syria and 30,000 in Iraq).[49][50] Reuters quoted "jihadist ideologues" as claiming that ISIL has 40,000 fighters and 60,000 supporters,[19] while a Kurdish leader estimated in November 2014 that ISIL's military had 200,000 fighters.[17]

I dont see it quoted in the wiki but I think I remember dabiq or some other isis PR type source claiming they had 150k fighters. I also remember researching this question a year or two ago and nusra fronts numbers were similarly goofy, like anywhere from 3-20k depending on who you wanted to listen to.

The question gets complicated in part because there are hardcore fighters that actually represent something like a standing army, and then random hangers on and militias. Many fighters have no experience, but have an ak and will stand around at a checkpoint looking threatening as long as nobody is shooting their way. The SAA is in a similar condition.

I think the question is actually less relevant that it sounds though. When isis went into iraq in 2014 there was only an estimate 3-5 thousand fighters against 30 thousand+ iraqi army troops. The iraqis folded. The numbers game doesnt matter when the force that outnumbers you 10 to 1 is chickenshit conscripts.

>>30484796
>nobody has hard numbers anon, thats why the estimates are all over the place

I found too the huge discrepancy that goes from 10,000 militants to 200k. Just wanted to see if there was some source with more consistency and I haven't found it.

Thanks for confirming that there are none.

is mosul the next step for the iraqi army? How close are they from it?

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>>30484796
>tv remote
ahha what?

Posting early because I am going to leave early today. Starting with good news for the SAA. The SAA has advanced on three villages in eastern Homs at Msei’eed, al-Msheirfeh al-Shamaliyeh and al-Salehiyeh.

http://english.almanar.com.lb/adetails.php?eid=276681&cid=20&fromval=1&frid=21&seccatid=23&s1=1

I believe a IS stronghold is somewhere nearby so at least they are trying to put pressure on it even if I doubt they will be successful.

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During last nights Latakia offensive rebels took about 4 areas one being Citadel Hill. The front is quiet right now.

Picture is of Ajnad al-Kavkaz there. The last of the pure Chechen groups.

Videos from Handarat camp as a pro SAA force was repelled there today trying to attack.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-cBUjtSU4M
Pro SAA forces carrying their injured out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SesG0ZPkco
Pro SAA forces fleeing the battlefield while taking ATGM fire.

Lastly a video of rebels in Mallah farms as they still hold some of the area in a ongoing SAA onslaught to oust them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=er0vOfLlXxo

>>30486624
Pro rebel shrill claiming the SAA just took all of Mallah farms so will be checking on that later.

Lastly a large IS counter attack is ongoing around Manbij. Pro YPGers are in full damage control mode. IS fanboys getting hyped over what could be nothing. I am not about to argue about who controls what. I'll follow later.

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>>30486753

http://www.mediafire.com/convkey/5d58/t9q8q6is5q13pubzg.jpg

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>>30486753
here are some maps from manbij

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>>30487797

>>30487801
Is SDF actively trying to take the city or are they just trying to tighten the encirclement?

>>30487817
They're trying to take the city.
They've already lost more than 300 men. They'll eventually take it, but their losses will be high.

just saw something about the FSA taking control of Tell Safir west of al-Ra'i in north aleppo, dont know if its true or any details yet though.

>>30487849
ISIS took troops from that front to attack the Manbij encirclement from the north.

Two days from now the rebels will lose everything again when those same ISIS troops return.

>>30487880
ISIS seems to be very skilled with the repositioning of their forces.
A few days ago they were fighting the SAA push towards Raqqa, now they are not letting Manbij go.
With everyone seemingly low on manpower, how can ISIS fight on two fronts in a very short time like that? Do they have more dudes than the SAA/rebels, or can they move them very fast?

>>30489057
It seems that they can move them rather fast.
The forces that attacked the SAA in Raqqa were not the same from Aleppo, though.
They came straight from Raqqa and were probably troops that were fighting the kurds north of the city.

It really does look like IS is attempting to pile pressure to the north to redirect SDF forces so that it's easier to pierce through the encirclement from the south. That's some tactical shit right there. It'll be interesting to see how the SDF reinforces the outer encirclement.

>>30489057
It's not that hard to figure out why they can easily and quickly shift troops between these fronts.

>Not a lot of distance to cover in IS' pocket in al-Shahba/northern Aleppo Province. Manbij is only 60 km from Mare. Al-Bab is only 40km away.
>Has plenty of (formerly civilian) light trucks that can travel at about 80-100 kmph and carry around 10 fighters each.
>Has uncontested control of roads connecting Mare, Al-Rai, Al-Bab, Jarabulus and Manbij because Turkey cockblocked most other airforces from bombing that open area.

>>30489324
Also, to add, the route from Manbij to Tabqa and Raqqa is also entirely free for IS to roam on. The southern force tasked to spearhead the breakthrough is probably composed of more experienced forces from fronts to the south, while the northern Aleppo Province forces, which had probably been building up around the encirclement, is responsible for suppressing the SDF's ability to beat back the south forces.

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>Operation Mountain Storm SOON

>>30487797
>>30487801
>kurdish propagana shit
NYET
Meanwhile, massive airstrikes seem to have stopped the ISIS offensives around Manbij. Makes you wonder where the Kurds will be once they are not saved every single time from the air.

>>30487849
>west of al-Ra'i
They took that ground and lost it again a dozen times already. Wake me up, when they took something east of Ra'i

>>30489768
Quick post than gone. First off that fatass with moobs doesn't belong anywhere close to a battlefield unless he is there to shield his troops with his own bodyfat.

Skipping over a ton of other happenings yes Mandic you were right. A large SAA counter attack seems to have started on the Latakia front with mainly heavy shelling and Ruaf air but rumored SAA reinforcements have entered the area.

Pro rebel source describes the SAA/Russian response as "mad" or "angry".

>>30490715
>Makes you wonder where the Kurds will be once they are not saved every single time from the air.
Well they seem to be a lot better off in that regard than the SAA.

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/527275/Vladimir-Putin-ISIS-Admiral-Kuznetsov-aircraft-carrier-syria-MiG-iraq-islamic-state-sukhoi

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/1384059/vladimir-putin-to-deploy-russias-largest-warship-to-decimate-isis-once-and-for-all/

>can´t find better sources for this

>>30492888
I could see it, the SAA is losing ground again and it would be a good opportunity for Russia to try and show off that they can do carrier ops too.

>>30486528
They're banking that it looks like a radio from afar.

>>30486493
Kek no, they have a long road ahead of themselves, they can and should continue to apply pressure on it from the Kurdish side, but first of all the Kurds won't allow a serious Shi'a militia force (which would be necessary for the siege of Mosul) through their territory, and second of all you can't take a city that size without completely surrounding it first, for which the Shi'a militias would pretty much have to take all of IS's territory in the Iraqi Euphrates before attempting a serious shot at Mosul.
I estimate 2 years, but you just never know when it comes to Arabs...

>>30465480
F

Sucks there won't be a badass HBO series about the Kuweires air base siege because they aren't western backed.

That is a story that needs to be told.

>>30497159
Yeah, there were some nice sieges in the war: Kwaires, Kindi Hospital, Tabqa Airbase, Menagh Airbase, Jisr al-Shugor, Qusayr, Darayya.

>The whole world may fall but Menagh will still stand tall

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Azaz Pocket

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State of Things in Iraq

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bump

That Baghdad suicide bomb yesterday got updated to 213 deaths.
Not bad even for iraqi standards; it should be in the Top3 or Top5 at least, especially if it keeps rising.

>>30497159
The independent made a article about it:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/isis-in-syria-inside-the-air-base-that-held-out-against-islamic-state-for-two-years-and-the-death-a7117431.html

There are news that the Asayîş and the NDF are fighting eachother, yet again, in Hassakah.

>>30497734
that's neat. i hope they would release more photos of the damages and wreckages around that place though

>>30497721
Massive VIBED in a busy shopping area. IS holds this card to use anytime. IS reverting back to muh gorilla warfare.

IS not to miss a opportunity either just announced they are attacking YPG near Shaddadi as the YPG vs NDF conflict continues in Hasakah city.

Update on Manbij is the same as yesterday. IS trying to counter attack as US air cover is taking them out.

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>>30492888
Wouldn't that represent a problem with the US ships, airstrikes and general airships deployment in the area by carrier?

>>30489057
The advantage of interior lines while on the defensive.

New info has been few and far between so I was looking at a well known pro rebel shrill twitter and he actually has a good lead.

IS has made a large advancement near Jub al Jarah , eastern Homs. I think IS is on the outskirts.

Jub has a SAA garrison and it opens up a lot of options for IS very close to Homs city. IS has wanted Jub for a while.

>>30498171
Fuck it imma bumpin this thread out. Breaking of a large explosion in the Khalidiya sector Aleppo. They think it could be a tunnel bomb.

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>>30498254
Pic of it

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>>30498272
Another pic , they also think it could be a VBIED

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>>30498287
More explosion pics, look at the scale of it

>>30498307
Holy shit.

>>30498313
Pro rebel sources say it was a VBIED that hit the Shabib factory. Clearly they packed that one with a lot of explosives.

>>30498357
Any news about West/East Ghouta?
I haven't seen much discussion about it, except that the rebels managed to connect two pockets in the west side and that the SAA is still slowly advancing on the east side.

>>30498363
Heavy fighting and a couple of SAA tanks were taken out today in eastern Ghouta. A T-72 and a T-55 were killed around Meidaa town. I don't have a new map but I think the SAA has made some recent advances in the area.

Dayyra, western Ghouta reports are daily barrel bombs plus clashes on the outskirts.

>>30498417
Correction the T-55 was blown up near Harasta. The heavy fighting and T-72 kill was near Maydaa and surrounding farms.

>>30484967
Pretty much, throw out an MEG militia acronyms, then some fingers and toes, add some zeros (maybe some question marks).

You now have the same troop level knowledge among factions in Syria as Western Intelligence Agencies.

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>>30498357
Some more info on the VBIED , JAN claims it with a pic of the bomber. Some guy in a wheelchair that decided he was going to do the 4th of July in style.

>>30497403
>The whole world may fall but Menagh will still stand tall

huh? they collapsed

some reports of a MiG-23 in Eastern Ghouta was shot down by AA missle and the pilot, Shawkat Suleiman, assumed dead

>>30499154
I saw that too from Ivan. If true than JAIs SA-8 gecko may have done it. They brought it out a less than a week ago and Migs have been raining down since.