Syrian government forces are developing an advance against ISIS in the Yarmouk refugee camp area in southern Damascus. The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and its allies have liberated the al-Mujahedeen mosque reaching the Taqadom district and captured a major part of the Zain district.
This area is the last militant-held pocket near Damascus. If it’s liberated, the Syrian capital will be fully secured.
According to pro-government sources, the sides are still negotiating on a possible deal that would allow ISIS members to withdraw to the Homs desert. However, the deal has not been reached yet. So, government forces are developing their military operation in the area.
Damascus and the local negotiations committee of the Rastan pocket have once again failed to reach a reconciliation agreement. Pro-government sources say that little success of the recent SAA advance in the area was one of the reasons behind the local negotiations committee’s decision to not go forward with the deal.
On April 22, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra, the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda) and its allies shelled the villages of Ghawr al-Assi and Qubaybat to show their unwillingness to accept any kind of the deal.
On the same day, ISIS ambushed an SAA unit west of the city of al-Mayadeen in the province of Deir Ezzor. According to the ISIS-linked news agency Amaq, ISIS members destroyed a bulldozer, an ammo truck and a battle tank of the SAA.
In March, the SAA and other pro-government factions conducted a limited security operation in the desert near al-Mayadin. However, this was not enough to re—establish security in the area. A number of ISIS units still operate in the Homs desert. They are capable of conducting hit and run attacks on government positions in the provinces of Homs and Deir Ezzor. According to local security sources, ISIS cells are even plotting terrorist attacks in urban areas.
ISIS’ self-proclaimed Caliphate was defeated. However, it is still a dangerous terrorist group, which keeps a large presence in the Syrian-Iraqi border area and has a large number of cells across the region.
The Iraqi government also understands the threat. On April 19, the Iraqi Air Force carried out airstrikes against ISIS in the Syrian province of Deir Ezzor. The strikes were coordinated with the Syrian government. The Iraqi government said that more strikes will come if needed. A joint Iraqi-Syrian-Iranian-Russian intelligence-sharing center operates in Baghdad.
The evidence is overwhelming the USA is only capable of bullying the weak. A little strength by the other side and the USA crumbles. So much for the strongest military ever in the history of mankind. All bark and no bite!
This is very true, despite all the noise Americans make about their great military, their historic military achievements have been little to nothing.They’ve proved they can kill lots of civilians unable to shoot back, but against those who can shoot back they haven’t fared very well, in many such cases they simply run away.
well so far Putin has shown he will NOT do anything if the FAUKUS attack Syria.
Maybe next time he could send FUKUS the coordinates of some old buildings slated for demolishing in Syria?Perhaps the powerful Russian military didn’t see a reason to get involved in a battle between smaller military powers?After all there’s no need for VVP/Russia to get involved if the Syrians can handle matters themselves.
Lavrov: US Has No Plans to Leave Syria, Positioning Itself on Euphrates Bank
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201804241063846731-lavrov-us-syria-euphrates/
“”As for economic reconstruction, this will take time and I am convinced that we should all act in the interests of the Syrian people and out of total respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria,” he said, talking about the rebuilding of Syria.
Lavrov underscored that he said this because “a whole host of nations are deliberately aiming to disintegrate Syria.”
“The US pledged that their only aim was to repel terrorists from Syria, to defeat the so-called ‘Islamic State,’ but, despite all their claims, despite President Trump’s claims, the US is actually positioning itself on the Eastern bank of the Euphrates and have no intention of leaving,” Lavrov said.”
Mr Lavrov is telling us what we already know,we want to know what is Russia going to do about it?
Embassies Moving Back to Damascus.
“ Have mentioned since the beginning of the battle of East Ghouta that as soon as the battle was over and terrorist free, Embassies would return to Damascus in large numbers, it has started.
Syrian President Assad accepts, today, the credentials from Rachid Kamal, the Pakistani ambassador to Syria.
Many more to come in the next 1-2 months, this is very important move to bring the world to Syria and to re connect Syria to the world thru trade missions and investments.
The more Embassies in Damascus, the less impact the US/UK/France MSM fake news will have around the world, the Embassies will have real info from locals and from their connection to the Syrian Gov’t. This can clearly set a new stage for the recovery of all Syria, any foreign occupation will be largely that, an illegal foreign occupation. Very important development for Syria.” (Canthama)
Russian Military Gear Flowing into Syria at Unprecedented Pace.
“…Mentioned few times that the Resistance would retaliate for the Israel (T4) & US/UK/French in a asymmetrical way, the S300 is just a sample of it, but it coming more weapons, the air bridge and sea bridge between Syria-Russia-Iran have been extremely busy for the past 2 weeks, some sources say it is busier than Sept 2015 when Russia prepped its presence in Syria in less than a month… The amount of heavy lifters flying daily to and from Syria to Russia and Iran is staggering, plus the large cargo vessels arriving, one arrived today with water almost by the deck with such heavy cargo.
Not only weapons will compromise the Resistance asymmetrical retaliation, it will be in new offensives (Daraa/Quneytra is coming) and on regional geopolitics tougher stance, both Russia and China will not tolerate any “fix” on the Iranian nuke deal, both voiced up the deal stands (clear message to EU that is trying accommodate its master wishes) and that they would bail out Iran in all aspects of trade, commerce, weapons and finance, in other words, Iran will join the SCO and Eurasian Economic Union in a heart beat.” (Canthama)
Well those heavy lift planes Russia refuses to let usa continue to use will come in handy.
Fingerprints of Israeli-Saudi alliance in Syria
https://www.veteranstoday.com/2018/04/20/fingerprints-of-israeli-saudi-alliance-in-syria/
Multi-Layered Air Defense: Russia May “Soon” Deliver S-300 “Favorite” Systems to Syria – Sources
https://www.veteranstoday.com/2018/04/23/multi-layered-air-defense-russia-may-soon-deliver-s-300-favorite-systems-to-syria-sources/
We must face the truth: Even now, Russia is afraid to sell S300 to Syria.
https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/russia-says-no-decision-yet-delivery-300-missiles-111726219–finance.html
The Wets feels that fear, it allows more aggressive posture and actions.
Even now, Russia is afraid to sell S300 to Syria.
Perhaps that’s why US Centcom Commander made a quiet visit to Israel.
https://russia-insider.com/en/us-centcom-chief-makes-secret-and-unprecedented-visit-israel-russia-mulls-arming-syria/ri23273
At first glance it’s a bit odd why the US and her master Israel are huffing and puffing over the delivery of what is essentially a defensive system. After all Russia is not supplying Iskanders or Kalibers…..Ah I see, … Israel/FUKUS/Nato want the ability to bomb Syria at will and doesn’t like the idea of Syria being able to defend herself.
The article I linked to quotes several sources. Here’s an interesting snippet:
“Russian military sources said parts of the S-300 will be delivered soon to Syria via cargo planes or Russian navy ships. Until Syrian officers will be trained to operate the system it will be operated by Russian military experts in coordination with the Syrian army.
According to Kommersant Russia believes that delivering the system will stabilize the situation in Syria and deter Israel and the U.S. from continuing its airstrikes in Syria. Russian sources said that if Israel attacks the missiles the results would be catastrophic.” (italics mine).
If the reports are accurate, then certain events may have nudged RF to supply the S-300s. And it’s not as if the Russians have not have it up to here with the behaviour of their ‘partners’ in the West.
(1) The Israeli regime made a strategic mistake by attacking the T4 airbase and killing Iranians. It’ll be very hard for RF to fend off demands by two of its allies, Syria and Iran, to supply the S-300 systems.
(2) Syria needs clear skies when it decides to attack the area south of Damascus. It doesn’t a repeat of the Deir-ez-Zor incident.
(3) Events in Armenia are putting RF in a difficult position in that country. If Armenia falls into chaos ala Maidan then it’ll be much easier for terrorists to make camp there and move closer to Russia — exactly what RF wanted to avoid when it came to Syria’s assistance. Moving S-300 to Syria will signal that RF is hardening her approach.
basil
A Terrorist Free Greater Damascus Only Weeks Away.
“… The battle for southern Damascus had to be postponed for a long time due to its dense urban configuration, the neighbourhoods there are packed with buildings and narrow streets.
Since April 19th when the real offensive began, scenes of bulldozers open streets for tanks to pass were a daily thing. After few days of heavy shelling and air attacks, the 1st breakthrough came from the south at Azeh district, basically flanking from the eastern side the key area of Hajar al Aswad. Meanwhile very few progress was detected elsewhere in the pocket, until today, where the Liwa al Quds and SAA soldiers broke through 5 year old terrorist’s defensive lines full of trenches in al Joura district, liberating it all and exposing ISIS at al Qadam from the north, with very little to no defenses available.
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=pt&lat=33.469254&lon=36.293592&z=15&m=b
The two above combined moves pave the way for the following events:
1) ISIS in Al Qadam will have to retreat sooner or later before getting trapped inside a small pocket.
2) When al Qadam is liberated, the southern part of Hajar al Aswad western will also be flanked from the western side and a tight cauldron will be formed that will lead to a small pocket or ISIS retreat toward further north to Taqadom district.
The moves above would have cut ISIS larger pocket by 2/3, basically trapping them all in Taqadom and southern Yarmouk camp, then the Tiger Forces, that will be in action in 2 days will take the lead on finishing off ISIS and watch al Qaeda from Yalda district to get into the green buses.
Few weeks are all the separate Damascus greater area from terrorist’s free, a dream coming true after 7 years.” (Canthama)
Russia’s mission to OPCW will bring people who took part in the fabricated Douma
video as witnesses
https://sana.sy/en/?p=135400
Shoygu: Tripartite aggression on Syria illegitimate, based of fabricated allegations
https://sana.sy/en/?p=135340
Al-Jaafari: Washington coalition completely destroyed Raqqa city, committed horrific
massacres against the Syrians
https://sana.sy/en/?p=134683