The Western hemisphere may be slowing down due to the Christmas season but the wars in the Middle East still rage on. It seems that the wars don’t take into consideration Georgian calendar holidays.
Syria, Russia:
• A Russian naval submarine operating in the Mediterranean fired Kalibr cruise missiles against ISIL command centers inside Syria. [Source][Source]
• The submarine was an improved version of the Kilo-class (Project 636-M) featuring improved operability in severe conditions, improved radar and sonar capability, the ability to strike land, air and sea targets, increased range, and a host of advanced stealth technologies. [Source]
• Since the beginning of the Russian involvement in the Syrian conflict the Russian military has used a series of weapon systems and military equipment that has rarely, and sometimes never, been used in the past including strategic bombers such as the Tu-160, the TOS-1 thermobaric ‘flamethrower’, Kalibr cruise missiles, and the Su-34 fighter-bomber to name a few. [Source]
• The Kweires air base launches its first air sorties on December 15. [Source]
• In Kobani US, UK and French military advisors have been spotted alongside the Kurdish forces stationed there (YPG) [Source]
• Syrian troops were killed and injured in an alleged US coalition air strike [Source][Source][Source]
• The biggest faction inside the Islamic Front (which is part of the Army of Conquest) is the Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham, which issued 10 demands as part of its negotiation posture. The Army of Conquest is a GCC-supported operation group. [Source]
• Translation:
1) All Iranian and Russian military personnel must leave Syria.
2) The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) should be disbanded, along with their Shabiha (Popular Front militias, etc.)
3) All of Syria shall be united – no partition.
4) Syria will become an Islamic state.
5) No negotiations with the Syrian Government.
6) Fighting ISIS is secondary because rebels have lost family members because of the war with the Syrian Army.
7) Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham asserts – once again – that Syria will be an Islamic state. (Just in case you didn’t believe them the first time)
8) A secular Syria will only empower ISIS. (Is this a demand?)
9) Any agreement without HarakatAhrar Al-Sham will be considered “unsuccessful” and “unofficial”.
• The line Assad Must Go™ is being echoed by Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the US.[Source]
• The US has been on and off about the Assad Must Go demand [Source]
• Assad doesn’t care. [Source]
• Assad and his wife feel safe in Damascus to make a surprise visit at the Lady of Damascus church in the capital. Crowds took selfies with the president and first lady. [Source]
• Syrian rebels have left another enclave of Homs under a truce deal allowing the government to exert control over the entire city. Now the northern outskirts of the city are in open contest. [Source][Source]
• Russian ships en-route with more TOS-1 rounds [Source]
• Syrian Arab Army forces launched operations closer to the Turkish-Syrian border in Latakia.
• The video showcases a drastic addition to Syrian Arab Army tactics which makes use of an artillery weapon system, the 2S1 Gvozdika, as an assault gun. Meaning that these self-propelled artillery units (SPA) are not kept kilometers away in the rear for indirect fire support but are used in direct fire situations at the front line point-blank fire at enemy positions, using the powerful howitzer as a sniper cannon. [Source][Source]
• Other visible and notable features is the explosive reactive armor seen on T-55AMs (potentially the upgraded T-55MVs), TOS-1 bombardments of hilltops as standard operating procedure, and the adoption of infantry and vehicle markings (such as white crosses) to help pilots identify friendly units in close-air support missions [Source] [Source] [Source]
• The T-90 has been debuted on video finally, seen in combat in a bid to retake Khan Touman and Qarassi near Aleppo. The second source not only shows a video of the T-90 in action but in the end shows a dead terrorist dawning a Saudi Arabian National Guard jacket (warning, graphic timestamp 5:26). [Source] [Source] [Source]
• Syrian Arab Army forces, supported by Hezbollah and local Russian Air Force assets, have initiated new offensives in Palmyra against the Islamic State for control over the city. [Source]
Iraq:
• The Turkish invasion of Iraq highlighted that lack of military capability the Iraqi military currently has at its disposal (a mere shadow of the Saddam-era Iraqi military) [Source]
• Militias openly threatened the Turkish force [Source]
• Ramadi is still an ongoing battle between the Iraqi military and Shia militias against forces of the Islamic State [Source] [Source] [Source]
• The offensive in Ramadi has seen the deployment of Iraqi Special Forces as well as the use of coordinated US air strikes.
• A US airstrike has killed Iraqi soldiers fighting near Fallujah [Source]
The Islamic State:
• ISIL has a sophisticated supply chain which operates on the backs of black market weapon merchants, government intelligence agencies, and other facilitators. Although bomb making materials (such as agriculture-grade fertilizers) may come from Lebanon and Iraq, the majority of military-grade weapons flow from Turkey. [Source]
• Even without oil the Islamic State enjoys sizeable monthly revenue from taxes levied on the population under its administration [Source]
• ISIL looks towards Afghanistan for recruitment, launching messages throughout the airwaves (probably by having pre-recorded messages attached to a transmitter powered by a generator as to avoid being bombed by US air forces once triangulated). [Source]
• Islamic State territory has shrunk by roughly 14% over 2015. [Source]
• It can most drastically be seen in Iraq in where territory held by the Islamic State in May, 2015 (first source) has decreased compared to November (second source) of the same year [Source] [Source]
• The Islamic State has made the car bomb into a science [Source]
• The Islamic State seems to be suffering from a culture and societal issue much like the Peoples Republic of China in which its subjects do not respect public queues, steal each other’s shoes, and carry themselves in a despicable manner. [Source]
• Al-Shabab wants nothing to do with the Islamic State and has chased away anyone who pledges allegiance to the Islamic State. Al-Shabab is firmly in Al-Qaeda’s camp.[Source]
Turkey:
• Turkey has withdrawn SOME troops from the Iraqi expedition after facing a moderate level of pressure from the US and NATO for its rash decision [Source]
• The Turkish base in Mosul was very modest at best [Source]
• In various media outlets the idea of Erdogan’s son (Necmettin Bilal Erdogan) directly connected to the illegal Islamic State oil trade is being highlighted more and more, with some presenting a picture of his son associated with Islamists as proof [Source]
• Turkey has declared it has captured two ISIL agents inside Turkey with 148 original passports, the majority being European of nature. [Source] [Source]
• Turkey has deployed troops into Iraq in the past, such as in 2008 as part of an anti-PKK operation. [Source]
• It has been revealed by a Turkish MP, Eren Erdem, that Turkey has been directly involved in supply the Islamic State with chemicals for use in chemical warfare. [Source]
• Turkish troops inside Iraq have been attacked by the Islamic State, wounding 4 Turkish soldiers and killing 7 Kurdish fighters. [Source]
• It is unclear if any Shia militias in Iraq have committed any attacks against the Turkish forces that are stationed near Mosul.
• There have been several official and unofficial reasons for Turkey’s incursion into Iraq. Turkey sent forces into Iraq to do one or more of the following:
o To resupply the Islamic State
o To use Turkish forces as meat shields for the oil infrastructure inside Iraq used by the Islamic State to sell illegal oil
o Turkey has handed a series of game-changing weapon to militants (the rumors range from chemical weapons to anti-air MANPADS)
o The official reason; to train Kurdish forces (or Turkmen militias) to fight the Islamic State
o To retrieve Turkish nationals that were a part of the Islamic State before its imminent collapse.
o To execute several high-position Islamic State leaders who may have intimate knowledge of Turkish involvement.
o A cover for the insertion of US and NATO forces of varying levels (Special Forces, etc.)
Jordan, Qatar, UAE, and other Arab Countries:
• Jordan has published a list of known terrorist groups operating inside Syria, so far the list includes the right names [Source]
• Qatar is attempting to buy Soviet-era OFAB 250-270 bombs from the Ukraine (same bombs dropped by Tu-22s in Syria). Undoubtable the bombs can be detonated on ground in a civilian area inside Syria and be pinned on Russian air forces. Experts called to the scene will quickly issue statements how the bomb that was set off was Russian in origin and only Russia operates airplanes capable of carrying such bombs. In terms of false-flags this is very plausible and quiet easy to accomplish. [Source]
Yemen and Saudi Arabia (including Coalition Members):
• Islamic State attacks on Aden have increased, with the killing of Aden’s governor and his five body guards in a bomb attack. [Source]
• The UAE has deployed its French-manufactured AMX LeClerc tanks since the onset of the conflict. The LeClerc was the world’s most EXPENSIVE tank during the time the UAE purchased it (the recent devaluation of the Euro has put it behind the South Korean K2 Black Panther tank). Only the UAE and France, the original manufacturer, can afford to deploy the LeClerc. [Source] [Source] [Source] [Source]
• Yemen Houthi-aligned forces fire more ballistic missiles at Saudi Arabia with KSA air defense intercepting one of the two missiles. Most probably the Yemen-based KSA patriot missile batteries were the interception platform described in the source. [Source] [Source]
• The UAE is stepping down its national forces and placing BlackWater mercenaries in their place. The first Blackwater causalities were recorded from December 8th to 11th which included a Mexican mercenary who was commander-in-chief of UAE Blackwater forces, a retired British officer, one other Briton contractor, an Australian commander, a Frenchman, and six to ten Columbians (depending on sources) [Source] [Source] [Source] [Source] [Source] [Source]
• The fact that so many died in such a short while might indicate an attack on a leadership unit or command facility/vehicle which may have had many private military foreigners within its vicinity. Generally mercenaries (private military contractors) are working for the money and are placed in areas where their expertise can be utilized (such as UAE hiring Western military personnel to man advanced weapon systems that locals are untrained in handling). Rarely do they ever do front line fighting.
• Much like the Soldiers of Fortune in Africa during the 60s, 70s, and 80s. Mercenaries generally kept their head down and would primarily set up impressive fireworks, do a couple of maneuvers and then sit comfortably in a local bar for the whole thing to blow over. (In the case of Africa those minor maneuvers proved intimidating enough to bring opposition factions to the negotiation table with the hiring government).
• Blackwater has lost 3 Apaches, 40+ military vehicles along with 7 regular cars & 5 armored vehicles during this operation [Source]
• Video of a downed American-built AH-64 helicopter gunship [Source]
• Yemen and Saudi Arabia held peace talks but the ceasefire broke down when Saudi Arabia violated the truce by launching airstrikes on Houthi targets inside Yemen (signature strikes). [Source]
• Video of Houthis going through Saudi Arabian positions after they’ve been overrun. Take note of timestamp 27:58 and 40:05 which highlights the pampered lifestyle of the Saudi Arabian military compared to their skeleton-thin Houthi counterparts. Yes I think that might be a Saker in 40:05 [Source]
• The KSA finally takes the Hanish Islands from Houthi forces displaying a strategic victory in this entire debacle [Source]
• Houthi forces are converting older SA-2 surface-to-air missiles into makeshift surface-to-surface rockets. [Source]
• Two senior Gulf commanders, Sultan Mohammed Ali al-Kitbi of the UAE and Abdullah al-Sahian head of Saudi Special Forces, were killed in an OTR-21 Tochka missile attack committed by Yemeni Republican Guard forces aligned with the Houthis. [Source] [Source]
• A Tochka missile was used in the past against a coalition ammo depot which killed 52 UAE, 10 Saudi, 5 Bahraini, and unspecified number of Yemeni troops loyal to the exiled prime minister. Another was used to strike a Saudi Arabian naval base. [Source] [Source]
• Tochka is another type of “short” range ballistic missile produced by the Soviet Union/Russia but augmented and modified by North Korea as well. [Source]
• KSA paratroopers are conducting a massive infantry airborne drop near Sana, some are rumoring this is a big bid to recapture the capital from Houthis. [Source]
• Saudi Arabia has been targeting infrastructure and civilians since the inception of the conflict, now focusing on fishing boats, assuming they are the primary source of smuggling weapons for the Houthis (which would sail through the Omani coast as Oman has been a silent partner in the Arab Coalition against Yemen. Oman shares a border with Yemen but has yet to send troops to support the Yemen operation). [Source]
• Saudi Arabia buying the silence of Western media now covered by wikileaks. [Source]
United States and Israel and friends (EU, NATO, etc.):
• If anyone wanted proof that Israel will fight to save the lives of Islamists then look no further as IDF troops risk their lives to provide medical treatment to this terrorist (video inside) [Source]
• Israel air strikes continue to kill Hezbollah members, this time a well-known commander by the name of Samir Kuntar who has a notorious past. [Source] [Source]
• Samir Kuntar was a Lebanese Druze who at the age of 16 snuck into Israel along with four other infiltrators. These infiltrators killed a police officer before breaking into an apartment building and taking a father and his 4-year old daughter hostage. Israel claims, with evidence, that Kuntar shot the father point blame and smashed the girls’ skull into the rocks while Kuntar claimed that it was the botched Israeli rescue attempt that got them killed in the crossfire.
• Although Israeli news outlets claim that a “youtube video by the FSA” has taken credit for the killing of Kuntar with an artillery rocket I can’t find the actual confession of the video. Israel maintains its ambiguous stance on the subject and denied to comment.
• Hassan Nasrallah, the secretary general of the Party of God (Hezbollah), has decreed that Hezbollah will retaliate at a time and place of its choosing. Even the Israelis have noted that Nasrallah does not lie, taking his threats serious (including ones where he openly claims Hezbollah has missiles capable of reaching Tel Aviv). [Source]
• Hezbollah will even target Israeli politicians abroad as witnessed in 2012 when Iranian scientists were being bombed left and right. [Source]
• The first US commando mission into Syria is considered a success as units made contact with potential Syrian rebels to formulate new Western-centric strategies for Syria as well as help organize them to put pressure on Raqqa by harassing supply lines and assassinating ISIL fighters. [Source]
• American AC-130 Spectre gunships have been assisting the YPG for some time inside Syria flying under Russian radars. Take note of American YPG fighter Jordan Matson video of an AC-130 attack [Source]
• Compared to other Kurdish initiatives such as the Mutasim Brigade which captures the rounds from the Spectre howitzer as it assists them alongside the Sultan al-Murad Brigade against ISIL before the recapture of Harjalah, Aleppo on November 21st (timestamp of strikes 2:04-3:50) [Source]
• Another video of the same Spectre firing its 40mm Bofors cannon at ISIS in Harjalah. Impacts at the bottom right of the screen between timestamp 1:35-2:20
• The AC-130 Spectre gunship is a unique piece of military aviation only found in the US arsenal and has proven itself to be a very capable and robust close-air support weapon platform [Source]
• US withdraws a series of fighter jets from Turkey, stating the rotation is merely routine, but its timing right after the Su-24 downing may indicate otherwise. [Source][Source]
• It seems in the West two things will drive military recruitment campaigns, war-centric recruitment movies (ie Top Gun) and terrorist attacks. France has seen a wave of new recruits signing up to defend the republic. [Source]
Libya:
• After a lot of manhandling, threats, incentives, and posturing Libyan factions are finally unifying to end years of chaos and perhaps finally unite against ISIL, even though its grip in Libya is quite strong [Source][Source]
A bit off topic here?, although it should be on topic today, Russell Bentley in Donetsk, Donbass, sends wishs to friends around the world: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GXZw4C_s10
@Ralph on December 25, 2015 · at 6:48 pm UTC
Absolutely beautiful, thank you for posting
You’re very welcome. :)
I’ve met Russell in Donetsk, and he is the ‘genuine article’, the same face-to-face as in his videos.
The bin laden of terrorists.. Actually bin laden was not that bad compared to these guys.. Bin laden had principles..
Merry Christmas from Putin to Syrians
https://twitter.com/Ibra_Joudeh/status/680433581651542017
Damascus confirmed it possessed intel about the meeting 48 h before and planned to hit the gathering when all were spotted coming in to the farm.
Syrian Air Force hit…Not Russian… There are around 12000 Jaish al-Islam around,.
The base was targeted by 10 laser guided missiles
https://twitter.com/KhaledgAlkhateb/status/680425465845297154
The Meeting was held in the air defense base north of #Utaya in E.#Ghouta
https://twitter.com/KhaledgAlkhateb/status/680426812980244481
Faylaq al-Rahman Leader AbdelNaser Shme’yer was killed in the Syria/n Air Force hit today where Allouch was killed.
Hamza Bayrakdar Spokesman of Jaish al-Islam is also killed in the airstrike
https://twitter.com/KhaledgAlkhateb/status/680428908098011137
Zahran Alloush’s Hello Kitty survived the airstrike and is now very pissed. Russia is in trouble now.
https://twitter.com/IraqiSecurity/status/680437890694922241
Ariel footage of the attack against Jaish al-Islam, Ahrar al-Sham and other meeting where Allouch was killed.
https://twitter.com/Syria_Protector/status/680451145643458560
Allouch was killed along w/ 12 of Jaish al-Islam and 7 of Salafists Jihadists Ahrar-al-Sham and other of Failaq a;Rahman
https://t.co/hIBvVM41QP
The First official announcement of the Killing of Zahran Allounch and many other leaders,
https://t.co/0Dza2lDJPA
The life and times of a foreign backed and born jihadi.. his twisted beliefs and ruminations.. Not even bothering to go through the trash to find any tidbits.. but those who want to know more about insane rantings and what makes them tick…
http://www.joshualandis.com/blog/zahran-alloush/
10,000 Sunni fighters are currently taking part in the Ramadi op, alongside Iraq’s armed forces, acc. to an Anbar provincial official.
More than half (5,200 Sunni fighters) are being paid salaries by Iraq’s Hashd Al-Sha’abi. (shia)
Heroes’ welcome given to #Iraq’s CT forces as they enter an area in Ramadi. https://t.co/qj2QpL8Vny
Jordan put Hezbollah and IRGC as terrorist organizations on their list..
Syria has 15 T90’s.. some old models some new..
Notice how 3 buildings were bombed at the same time.. RuAF denied they were responsible.. But I highly doubt Syria has the capability.. This was a fully loaded SU34 job using precision weapons that targeted multiple locations.. I bet nato would analyze the footage closely.. Hence the 10 missiles theory.. But it was a single SU34 hit..
Syrian air force says 8 Missiles were fired on several buildings… I don’t believe them. This was a Russian job to send a message to his sponsor.. Su34 can carry 8 bombs.. syria source says undercover agent among islamists provided co-ordinates of rebel leaders meet near damascus.
Out of the 16 commanders killed, 7 belonged to AhrarSham, the other 9 belonged to JaishIslam and FaylaqSham
https://twitter.com/Syria_Protector/status/680451145643458560
Ex-Nusra leader Saleh al-Hamawi says He has never been so impressed w anyone’s hatred of Shia & Alawites as Alloush
At least 30 opposition leaders and fighters killed in airstrikes in the last 48 hours that targeted Eastern Ghouta near #Damascus – SOHR
Syria must be taking credit because some of the commanders were Syrian.
Moment when warplanes targeted Jaysh Al-Islam and Failaq Al-Rahman (#RahmanCorps) leaders.
Real RuAF drone footage, not the video cap of a screen of the footage..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1MjdK8B3IA
Geolocated reported position of Zahran Alloush & other leaders targeted today.
https://t.co/oKVWsG3Z5L
@aron_ld on Zahran Alloush and what his death means for the Damascus-area rebellion:
https://t.co/ysNYQeOth5
Movements and gatherings. That’s what’s helping #SAA assassinate Rebel leaders. They’re infiltrated. #Sy
Hosein Mortada says that there are people inside Rebel groups in East Ghouta who are giving #SAA information about Rebel groups leaders
Ahrar Al-Sham military commander, Ahmad Abu Al-Barah killed in South Aleppo countryside battles. Aleppo
Dead bodies from Rebel/JN fighters after failed attempt. #Sy #Damascus
https://twitter.com/F1ea1337/status/680495545425739776
Syria #Damascus One of the most important Militant Leader’s in #Qudsaya #قدسيا Assassinated tonight
Top Rebel commander “Abu Zaid” assassinated in Qudsaya which currently has a truce with #SAA.
https://twitter.com/IvanSidorenko1/status/680593264446160898
SAA artillery positions around Abtin village in Southern #Aleppo Loc: https://t.co/SauMIzzTWv
https://twitter.com/Ald_Aba/status/680551259934425088
Aamaq (IS media) release drone footage showing convoy of trucks destroyed by Russian bombers yesterday Syria
https://twitter.com/HK2307/status/680366863235219456
Palestinians running scared now that all their supporters are backstabbing and leaving them.
Photo’s from tonight’s #Palestine National Youth #Palestinians Candle/Torch Solidarity with #SAA
https://twitter.com/IvanSidorenko1/status/680508423004368896
Photo’s from tonight’s #Palestine National Youth #Palestinians Candle/Torch Solidarity with #SAA
https://twitter.com/IvanSidorenko1/status/680508297384964096
Syria #Aleppo Photo’s from tonight’s #Palestine National Youth #Palestinians Candle/Torch Solidarity with #SAA
https://twitter.com/IvanSidorenko1/status/680508253378330624
It’s Syrian Naval unit as showed by Stratfor in September 2015 https://www.stratfor.com/sample/analysis/explaining-russias-true-presence-syria
Syrian Navy new helicopter base at Istamo Army Base, near Latakia Base still under construction
https://twitter.com/Ald_Aba/status/680513803746971648
Russia #RuAF helicopter base at Istamo Army Base, near #Latakia https://t.co/TKHUirARXm
Russia built completely new base instead gardens(?)
http://syria.liveuamap.com/en/2015/25-december-russia-ruaf-helicopter-base-at-istamo-army-base
Result of bombardment on transport trucks near #Aleppo by #RuAF, lot of secondary explosions. https://t.co/5gaGmXhLsw
Drone footage of M5 highway, Southern #Aleppo Location:https://t.co/F0JOYjyvaj … https://t.co/VJRLV9Prz9
To stop them celebrating Christmas, terrorist “moderate” rebels she’ll Christian areas in #Aleppo
https://twitter.com/mcmounes/status/680514257147027457
Israel has evidence?
Please note the statements of Zvi Sela — former Chief Intel officer for Israeli prisons!
A Psychologist, Zvi Sela, served as Chief Intelligence Officer of the Israel Prison Service and met al-Kuntar in prison in this capacity. In an interview with Haaretz he claimed that he believed Kuntar’s version:
“We turned Kuntar into God-knows-what – the murderer of Danny Haran and his daughter, Einat. The man who smashed in the girl’s head. That’s nonsense. A story. A fairy tale. He told me he didn’t do it and I believe him. I investigated the event… and in my opinion there is support for the fact that they were killed by fire from the Israeli rescue forces. You can accuse him all you like, but it was obviously the
rescue forces that opened fire.”[30]
When Zionist wikipedia (not to mention an Israeli intel officer) says Kuntar is innocent then he is definitely innocent.
I’ll tell ya who’s notorious —
Sayanim are notorious, John Rambo.
I have no idea why you’re allowed to push your disinfo here at Saker blog John Rambo — but you are and it reminds me that Zionists can profit from anything.
Same thoughts.
That is true, but it doesn’t help that Kuntar was infiltrating INTO Israel and his team had already killed a police officer. It’s not like he wasn’t coming in to do harm.
I know that’s the usual Israeli stance but I’m saying the burden of evidence really doesn’t go in Kuntars favor.
Could the Israeli rescue be botched? Sure. The fact Kuntar was captured alive and wasn’t summarily executed for his “barbaric aggression towards a 4-yo girl” may suggest that the Israeli rescue team already acknowledged they were the ones whom may have accidentally killed them. Considering today they’re just blasting Palestinians (and fellow Israelis) over “knife-wielding” it is plausible.
Hezbollahs retaliation for Kuntar is going to indicate how much they believed in his story considering their intelligence collecting capabilities are significantly substantial compared to the public sources I have.
@JR
1. Some infiltrator – he was only seventeen years old at the time.
2. ‘Israel’ is a colony based on the theft of other people’s lands. You think those who’ve been robbed and displaced were going to take it lying down?
3. He was incarcerated for a killing professionals appointed by the enemy doubt he was was actually guilt of – nevertheless he served the time.
4. He was released as part of a prisoner exchange programme with HZB. Yet the Israelis still went and murdered him after the agreement. On foreign soil.
The reason he was killed is because he was a charismatic resistance figure for occupied Golan Heights. Had he been allowed to live, he could have lead a unified Druze resistance to the Israeli Occupation.
They have succeeded only in making a martyr out of him.
I am certain we will be hearing more about the Druze in the near future.
BBC calling! BBC calling!
The Hegemon’s vassal British Bloviator Corp is keeping the Putin vilification theme up with crude insults.
Hands up all those that would like to punch this pompous toffee-nosed malodorous twit on the nose:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-35176770
The stupidity of people in the West knows no bounds. I see all the time Westerners making fun of Putin’s “supposed” tough guy image. Putin grew up as a poor kid in Leningrad fighting. He spent 16 years as a field officer in the rough World of the intelligence service. He is a high level Judo player. His “tough guy” image isn’t “supposed” its very real. He doesn’t need to fake that “image”. Now on the other hand. Could you see “any” Western leader able to say that about themselves. The thought of Obama,Cameron,Hollande,or Merkel,able to kill an enemy attacker with their bare hands to protect their people, is totally laughable. I think Westerners have lived ruled by weak-kneed stooges for so long they don’t know what having a “real” mans-man for a leader is like.
Imagine nato generals fighting with their men..
Both Iran and Syria had a lot of generals die in battle leading their men from the front lines and not in a safe house far away.. US would say the role of generals is not to fight but lead.. Yea lead from behind and send your men to die…
SAA Maj. Gen. Zahereddine during clashes with #IS in Al-Sina’a #DeirEzzor
https://twitter.com/sayed_ridha/status/680462428690235392
I think I’d rather kick him in the groin – more effective and prevents the thing reproducing after. ;D
“• American AC-130 Spectre gunships have been assisting the YPG for some time inside Syria flying under Russian radars. Take note of American YPG fighter Jordan Matson video of an AC-130 attack [Source]”
Highly doubtful, that claim about flying under their radar. BTW, Matson’s narration is typical pindo high skool nonsense.
Also the claims about ac-130 aircraft in that fas article are the usual overblown propaganda found in mic sales pitches. The aircraft wouldn’t survive against forces with adequate air defense or given air cover. It’s another one those American tools for attacking those unable to strike back.
On the other hand, this sitrep is packed full of useful info. Thanks JR.
If you thought the Western MainStream Media couldn’t get any more vile, or sink to lower depths, the British Daily Mail – SH!T – ‘newspaper’ has just published a lead article titled: ‘Did Putin plant the holiday jet bomb that killed 224 Russians?…’
The saving grace – not for that pile of sh!t newspaper – is the reader comments who aren’t taken in by it.
The US is still up to no-good over the holidays. A Russian citizen was arrested in Israel on a US warrant. This is several in a row arrested in foreign countries on US charges. Russia every time has protested and said this is “unacceptable”. But the problem with that seems to mean that that is all that’s being done. The common English meaning of the word “unacceptable”, is it won’t be accepted. So that is the tact to take,don’t accept it. The first step should be to announce that any country doing that in league with the US has automatically voided any Extradition Treaties with Russia they might have. Meaning anyone committing a crime in those states wouldn’t be arrested or extradited from Russia back to them. Second,start arresting and/or seizing US citizens,and/or Russians resident in the US who are wanted in Russia,in other states . And bringing them to Russia for trial. A few object lessons would very quickly convince the US and other countries the policy of seizing Russians was a terrible idea for them. Unless your name is Jesus Christ,”turning the other cheek” in this World only gets you a sore face. Time for Russia to see that.
On another note the US military has “once again” refused to cooperate with Russia on fighting ISIS in Syria. Unless Russia “changes it’s attitude about supporting the Syrian government (i.e. dumps Assad)”. So isn’t it past time for Russia to forget about the US “helping” them fight terrorism. Usually the criminal won’t help the police against themselves. So give up that failed policy and never even think of it again. It would help Russia to stop wasting their time on that.
Lastly,anyone maybe not getting the message about how revolting the zionists can be should watch this current video. A video BTW posted on an Israeli newspaper site. It show’s zionist settlers dancing wildly with weapons at a wedding. Holding pictures of the Palestinian baby that they burned alive. And stabbing the picture with knives. Some high Israeli government people were among the guests at the wedding. I think Roger’s posting on another thread,concerns people like this in particular:
http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.693778?v=9E349458EDC5EA40738FF1F940772F86
Pentagon refuses to share intel on ISIS until Moscow’s stance on Assad changes
https://www.rt.com/news/327120-pentagon-moscow-isis-intelligence/
“Washington will not share intelligence data on Islamic State positions in Syria and will not accept Moscow’s offer to cooperate on rooting out terrorism until Moscow changes its position on Syrian President Bashar Assad’s future, the Pentagon said.”
Now how is that not gay?
Russian intel spots 12,000 oil tankers & trucks on Turkey-Iraq border – General Staff
https://www.rt.com/news/327063-russian-intelligence-oil-tankers-turkey/
“The [aerial] imagery was made in the vicinity of Zakho (a city in Iraqi Kurdistan), there were 11,775 tankers and trucks on both sides of the Turkish-Iraqi border,” Lieutenant-General Sergey Rudskoy told journalists on Friday.
“It must be noted that oil from both Iraq and Syria come through this [Zakho] checkpoint,” General Rudskoy said.
The Russian Air Force’s effective strikes in Syria have forced the terrorists to look for new routes for crude oil transportation. Today, tankers loaded with oil in Syria’s Deir ez-Zor province, under Islamic State control, are moving towards the Iraqi border in the direction of Zakho and Mosul.
“However, despite a considerable diversion, the finishing point of the trafficking route remains Turkey,” Rudskoy said.”
Too bad the Russian forces in Syria are not authorized to operate in Iraq, eliminating that 12k massing would be a heavy blow against Israel-america’s terrorist forces. Not to mention what such a loss would do to the Erdogan family oil laundering business.
Talk about ‘colonel panic’. We see ‘an internal fatal error from which it cannot safely recover’ in Washington where none of them can get their acts together — and of course, then, none of them can be believed from Obama on down. Just ignore what they say and assume the worst from them.
https://www.rt.com/news/327120-pentagon-moscow-isis-intelligence/
Pentagon refuses to share intel on ISIS until Moscow’s stance on Assad changes
Published time: 26 Dec, 2015 01:30Edited time: 26 Dec, 2015 03:06
Washington will not share intelligence data on Islamic State positions in Syria and will not accept Moscow’s offer to cooperate on rooting out terrorism until Moscow changes its position on Syrian President Bashar Assad’s future, the Pentagon said.
…
We are not going to cooperate with Russia on Syria until they change their strategy of supporting Assad and instead focus on ISIL,” US Defense Department Spokesperson Lt. Col. Michelle Baldanza told Sputnik on Friday.
…
Syrian Authorities Seize Equipment for Use of Chemical Weapons
Read more: http://sputniknews.com/military/20151225/1032322678/syria-chemical-weapons.html
“Following a special operation, authorities in Latakia province seized equipment for using chemical weapons, as well as medical supplies and equipment of Turkish, Saudi, and Qatari origins which had been in the possession of terrorist organizations in Latakia’s northern countryside,” SANA reported on Friday citing a field commander in charge of the operation.”
Seemed like they were preparing for another attack, look at the amount of precursors.. Mixed in with hospital supplies as an excuse for a field hospital.
http://albaathmedia.sy/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/1918805_972591419487181_1307381130611064386_n.jpg
This is a view of the massive chemical weapons stash the American-supported Alqaeda murderers warehoused at the Daghdaghaan Farm on the road between the villages of Al-Kabeer and Al-Durra. The cache was uncovered by security services after monitoring the area for a few days. When the storage facility was raided, our security agents found mostly Turkish-supplied precursor chemicals, centrifuges, gas masks and a cornucopia of Saudi, Qatari and American-supplied drugs and medical merchandise.
Daesh, Nusra Fighters Begin Turning in Heavy Arms Outside Syrian Capital
Read more: http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20151225/1032319486/daesh-nusra-heavy-arms.html
Good news for the Palestinian refugee camp.
Don’t Hate
http://sputniknews.com/cartoons/20151210/1031553977/US-Neenah-police-kill-hostage.html
http://cdn3.img.sputniknews.com/images/103155/73/1031557339.jpg
“On Sunday afternoon police in Wisconsin shot and killed a man who was allegedly being held hostage at a motorcycle shop — he just so happened to be suing the city, their police, and the sheriff’s department for $50 million.
Following a standoff at Eagle Nation Cycles in Neenah, Wisconsin, 60-year-old Vietnam War veteran Michael Funk was shot and killed by police after he was permitted to leave the building after allegedly being held hostage there.
Notably, Funk was in the midst of a $50 million lawsuit against those same police over a previous drug raid at the motorcycle shop, in which he was charged with 26 felonies that were all later dropped, other than a misdemeanor charge for marijuana. The hostage taker was arrested.
Coincidence? We think not.”
The obscenity of American foreign policy is also a long standing aspect of American domestic policy.
The United States of America as a nation is an obscenity.
The very existence of American entity is a moral stain on humanity.
Hell, the self-styled Land of the Free is a nation founded upon the genocide of Native Indian peoples and the enslavement of Africans.
Such is the Orwellian nature of traditional American “values.”
What this shows is capital punishment NKVD style is the way to save huge number of lives…. Never ever let them go free. Notice how their masters make scribbles with a pen to whitewash their deeds.. Their actions still follow their twisted insanity. To even think of giving these people any kind of power is beyond belief. Whats even more twisted are the people feeling sympathetic.. The very same people who would be prime candidates for organ donations to the sham cause..
Dont forget all the massacres this one was involved in.. Including the sarin gas attacks that killed hundreds of civilians.
Zahran_Alloush is the “moderate rebel” who paraded women around in cages & used them as human shields. #Syria
https://twitter.com/ikhras/status/680505448257073152
He hit Damascus with hundreds of shells,wanted to kick out all Non-Sunni from it. Bye Turkish puppet.
Irony. “rebel” leader Zahran Alloush message to Alawites & Shia: You will taste evil of torture.
For posterity: Alloush is the guy who ordered Syria women, pensioners to be caged on rooftops to ward of airstrikes
https://twitter.com/MuradoRT/status/680509116364812288
Released by the Assad regime from prison soon after the start of the uprising in 2011, Alloush was a Salafist supported by Saudi Arabia who provoked disputes over his views. In 2013, in a Jaish al-Islam publicity video, he called for a sectarian campaign against Shia Muslims and Alawites, the group to which President Assad belongs.
However, other opposition groups maintained their distance. The President of the Syrian National Coalition, Khaled Khoja, soon withdrew a message of condolence posted on Twitter.
http://www.enduringamerica.com/home/2015/12/26/syria-daily-rebel-leader-alloush-is-killed-by-airstrike.html
The 44-year-old American mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter Jeff Monson fought his first fight under the Russian flag on Christmas Day, losing to Cameroon’s Donald Njatah in the town of Khimki near Moscow. In an exclusive interview with RBTH, the fighter, who has been granted Russian citizenship and has plans to settle permanently in the country, talked about his connection to Russian people, Russian literature and traffic jams in Moscow.
http://rbth.com/sport/2015/12/26/mma-fighter-jeff-monson-i-feel-deep-down-that-russia-is-my-home_554965
.
Turkish ‘traitor’ MP’s revelations on sarin transfers must be probed, reported to UNSC – Moscow
https://www.rt.com/news/327122-syria-sarin-isis-investigation/
“This specialized mechanism should thoroughly investigate the information provided by the Turkish parliamentarian in accordance with its mandate, and report back to the UN Security Council,” Ministry’s spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement.
The parliamentarian in question – Eren Erdem of the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) – was accused of “betrayal” by Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, after telling the media that the Islamic State terrorists in Syria received all necessary materials to produce deadly sarin gas via Turkey.
Erdem revived concerns regarding a possible cover-up following the sudden termination of a local criminal case in Adana into the illegal shipments. Furthermore, Erdem argued that the West purposefully blamed the government of Bashar Assad for the August 2013 chemical attack in Ghouta that was used as part of the pretext to make US military intervention in Syria possible.”
Gilbert Doctorow is always a joy to read:
A Christmas Present to Russia-bashers from Johnson’s Russia List
“The US establishment writers on Russia are one and all “presstitutes” and when you put their writings together, back to back, in 40 pages or so as JRL has so kindly done in their Christmas eve issue, the result is an astounding propaganda barrage”
http://russia-insider.com/en/politics/christmas-present-russia-bashers-johnsons-russia-list/ri12019
Here is the list of ’14 Russia vilifiers, 0 against’ at the Soros funded site of ‘Johnson’s Russia list’
http://russialist.org/russia-ukraine-johnsons-russia-list-jrl-2015-250-thursday-24-december-2015/
Even the words ‘Johnson’s Russia’ part of ‘Johnson’s Russia list’ leans towards condescension and arrogance.
Artem Grishanov’s new music video: “The Russian Storm”
http://fortruss.blogspot.co.nz/2015/12/artem-grishanovs-new-music-video.html
Worth watching:
FRANCE 24 English
EXCLUSIVE – Bosnia and Herzegovina: radical islam and salafism at the core of Europe
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsmJWUXgqUY
WHY IS RUSSIA PLACING S-400 MISSILES IN THE ARCTIC?
Are the missiles there to protect the missile bases or the Eurasian landmass? RT writes on December 8th, 2015:
Do these anti-ship missile bases really need the S-400 for air defense? Wouldn’t these scarce missiles find better use in Syria or Armenia? Is the long range really needed to protect the tundra?
Cold War missile defenses built rings around Moscow, no more that 100 km from the city. Are these missiles protecting Russia from American strategic bombers? Or are they a missile shield against ICBMs? Is it possible to build a missile ring 10,000 km long around Eurasia? This has never been tried before.
A partial answer might be found in this second article from April:
There is a danger here: A system effective against Prompt Global Strike is also effective against a U.S. nuclear strike. Russian missile defenses would erode U.S. nuclear deterrence, possibly give Russia a first strike capability and cause global instability. The same can be said about U.S. anti-ballistic missile defenses, but Russian missile technology might be a bit ahead of the U.S.
PK
“There is a danger here: A system effective against Prompt Global Strike is also effective against a U.S. nuclear strike. Russian missile defenses would erode U.S. nuclear deterrence, possibly give Russia a first strike capability and cause global instability. The same can be said about U.S. anti-ballistic missile defenses, but Russian missile technology might be a bit ahead of the U.S.”
Removing the ability of the U.S. neutralizing Russian nuclear weapons is a good thing all round. Trust me. ;D
If the U.S. could succeed with their pgs strategy against russia, what’s to prevent them using that advantage in a first strike? The U.S. has already made it public they seek a first strike capability, both of nuclear and conventional nature.
A nuclear first strike would still involve massive radiation fallout with the current tech. A conventional first strike would not. The U.S. realized this decades ago and their serious research has been going into creating a conventional first strike capability.
The Russians are fully aware of this ZPC/NWO military strategy (the Americans merely being the colony tasked with the job). Hence the Russians blocking it with their best defensive weapons.
So contrary to your claim that Russia deploying S-400 to the arctic could be “dangerous” and potentially ” destabilizing”, it is actually the very opposite. This Russian deployment throws a monkey wrench into the very real danger represented by u.s. plans for a first strike capability against Russia and neutralizes that very unstable potential U.S. advantage back to the stability of no U.S. advantage.
One has to look at this from a historical perspective. The USA (really the ZPC/NWO) are extremely aggressive and seek total control (full spectrum dominance). Any advantage they get, they will use it towards this.
So the better Russia defends herself from these cowardly fascists, the safer we all are.
Iranian heavy crude is selling for under $30 now.. We can expect oil to trade from $20-$30 until someone blows up.. When oil fell below $70 is is very apparent that Putin wanted Russian companies to pump more oil to drop prices. Unlike before where slight drops in output would stabilize prices instead started pumping even more. The USSR’s financial system was collapsed by using low oil prices during a time of high expenditure.. Putin being smarter knew what was coming. The way to play the game is to see who is left standing in the end while doing little things to make the floor slippery to those wearing gouchi boots.. Both Russia and Iran plan to produce record amounts of oil.. and soon someone will blow up.. with financing wars at low oil prices, the natural outcome will be a reverse USSR fiasco.. Iran is preparing to dump another million barrels as soon as in a month.. With their man in Damascus blown up and replacements gets dismembered even before announcements, its a tough life for thug life..
A Saudi-Russian oil splash? Pepe ESCOBAR |
«I will tell you when Russian companies are for sure going to decrease production – when oil costs $0». Courtesy of Russian Deputy Energy Minister Kirill Molodtsov, this has got to be one of the top quotes of 2015.
Well, forget about oil costing $0 even as OPEC refuses to cut production to curb the global oversupply.
As for Russia, expect it to keep pumping like there’s no tomorrow.
Here’s the breakdown. Russia will keep its 2016 oil production level at a staggering 533 million tons – which will translate as an average of 4.76 million barrels a day in exports.
Profiting from a stream of more efficient refineries, domestic demand is down and exports are up. Russian oil companies, compared to Western majors, suffer less with low oil prices because of the ruble devaluation and because taxes go down as the oil price goes down. Igor Sechin, president of Rosneft, famously brags that Russian costs are «the lowest in the world» – especially from oil fields in West Siberia.
The choice for the House of Saud is stark; to bet on – and profit from – Eurasia integration; or to keep stirring/weaponizing a bunch of Wahhabi wackos who, in characteristic blowback fashion, will eventually turn against their ideological matrix and try to capture Mecca itself.
Yet don’t count on a fearful, paranoid House of Saud to come up with a rational decision.
http://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2015/12/25/a-saudi-russian-oil-splash.html
The Russian government budget for 2016 is based on an oil price of 50 dollar.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/kenrapoza/2015/12/23/market-brushes-off-russia-sanctions-extension-crimea-gets-whacked/
Chicago cop kills student & 55yo woman in response to domestic disturbance
https://www.rt.com/usa/327168-chicago-police-shooting-domestic-disturbance/
“The incident follows a round of protests against Chicago police brutality, with more and more demonstrators calling for Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s resignation and an investigation into his administration. Hundreds of people have been gathering on the streets of the city, claiming the police are killing civilians instead of protecting them.
Amid the protests, a Chicago police superintendent was forced to resign and the mayor created a special police accountability task force to review officers’ conduct.
The latest incident is another case of the police overstepping their boundaries, Carl Dix from the US Revolutionary Communist Party told RT.
“To say that they were confronted with an armed individual so they had to shoot…a bystander?! That makes no sense,” Dix says. He insist that in a normal society trained law enforcement personnel should know how to deal with a suspect armed with a baseball bat without killing him.
“But in this society police get to kill someone like that, and then they get the benefit of the doubt when the question gets raised,” he added.”
Dozens take part in fresh anti-Muslim protest in Corsica after attack on prayer hall (VIDEO)
https://www.rt.com/news/327164-anti-muslim-corsica-protest/
“Around 100 people marched in the Corsican capital of Ajaccio on Saturday, shouting anti-Muslim slogans. The protest happened in the same low-income neighborhood that violence erupted in earlier this week.
The Jardins de l’Empereur housing estate’s glass entrance doors were smashed, as protesters shouted “this is our home,” AFP reported. A heavy police presence accompanied the march.”
But apparently the cops didn’t feel like stopping the sod’s vandalism. Familiar?
“Saturday’s anti-Muslim demo on the French Mediterranean island followed earlier protests in the region, in which a Muslim prayer hall was vandalized and books including several copies of the Koran were set on fire.”
Houston mosque set ablaze in suspected arson attack
https://www.rt.com/usa/327130-houston-mosque-suspected-arson/
This is what zionism and zionist control of media and politicians does to people.
to Deploy Airborne Warning Aircraft in Turkey – Reports
Read more: http://sputniknews.com/military/20151227/1032354090/nato-turkey-warning-aircraft.html
“A temporary relocation of Boeing E-3 Sentry aircraft is planned from the Geilenkirchen base to the Konya airbase in Turkey,” the German Foreign Ministry and the German Defense Ministry said in a letter to the German parliament, as quoted by the Bild am Sonntag newspaper on Saturday.
The alliance agreed on December 18 to provide Ankara with an air defense package that will include AWACS surveillance planes, enhanced air policing, and increased naval presence.”
IE: the zionazis intend more cowardly provocations against Russian and Syrian forces as part of their support for their daesh terror forces.
Russia and the USA agreed on the new Syrian Prime Minster and to allow Assad to run for Presidency if he wishes too. Assad told Russia he is “confident to win in the next election”. My take via @AlraiMediaGroup
The Syrian Businessman is someone who lives in London. Next PM of Syria..
Agreement between Washington and Moscow on the lion’s right to run for presidency
Revealed high-American sources «opinion» that «the United States and Russia have agreed on the next stage concerning Syria and relating to the future of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the settlement of the military situation on the allies of the United States in the region and drag the largest number of funded by the countries in the region organizations to the negotiating table».
And it explains the sources said «Russia and the United States have agreed on the principle that it is entitled to President Assad himself the nomination if he wants in the upcoming elections, and Russia already required is to recognize the legitimacy of Assad from the international community and, consequently, ensure that no prosecution in the future or charge (war criminal) to him, and then it comes Assad himself if he wants to proceed with his candidacy or not, has taught us that Russia asked Assad if he wants to contest the election and if he is confident of victory he replied in the affirmative, and agree the Russian and American parties that the principle of elections and candidates respect the Syrian people alone will not be a source of attraction between us and countries in the region, what the international community should not be working hard to bring down Assad through the ballot box ».
Sources confirm that «it was agreed that a prime minister next to Syria, whatever the results of presidential elections to be a person approved by the parties, a businessman known represents the moderate opposition and will have two important two main drafting of a new constitution for the country, and to start reconstruction and national reconciliation, but we are well aware of the difficulty of the cease-fire and implementation of the takfiri organizations Salafi rejects reconciliation such as «the victory Front» and «Ahrar al-Sham» and others, but we have agreed to consider all those who reject the cease-fire, under UN auspices, an enemy and target of an important project was a source of funding or political regional referentiality ».
According to sources, «America confirmed for Russia it needs some time to integrate the different organizations working under different banners to persuade them to cease fire and to turn the gun toward each faction wants to continue to fight, it is possible to be a term agreed upon by 6 a few months to achieve this basic requirement to prepare for the elections. But Russia stressed that the military operations against the extremists and all those who are fighting in the ranks of al-Qaida or (Daash) is the goal of the project will remain even eliminate them all ».
https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alraimedia.com%2Far%2Farticle%2Fspecial-reports%2F2015%2F12%2F27%2F645546%2Fnr%2Fsyria&edit-text=
Eyewitness Accounts from Recent Defectors from Islamic State: Why They Joined, What They Saw, Why They Quit: a long read with some interesting information.
IS militants seized the industrial neighbourhood in the city of Deir Ezzor after a fierce offensive that began on Wednesday morning, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
Could it be that ISIS is hedging its bets and planning to use Deir Ez-zor as head quarters if Raqqa falls?
The first link is excellent, especially the breakdown of different foreign fighters and their specialty (Chechen/Kazaks as hardened elite special forces, Russian Muslims as strategic and battle planners, etc.).
Four points for an ISIL fighter defecting:
1) ISIL was focused on fighting against other Sunni groups instead of focusing on toppling Assad. ISIL leadership was too obsessed with ‘spies’ and ‘traitors’.
2) Disillusionment at the brutality and barbarity displayed towards civilians.
3) Special privilege groups (such as that given to Western foreign fighters) and corruption in ISIL governing apparatus. The evilness committed on an hourly basis.
4) Life in the Islamic State is disappointing and harsh.
Deir Ez-zor wont fall.. It is under the command of a druze…
They also have air power, only like 5 migs but that’s enough.. And if needed the Russians are only a hour away. Unlike kuwaris airport where the could not use heavy firepower due to large number of civilians around, this is mostly open country all around so supply lines are still open and easy to clear a path towards it. The desperation has been showing ever since Russia started bombing.. It is the one piece of Syria that is standing in the way of sunnistan. 6 Months ago it would have been far easier with US air cover.. But now any formation big enough to take the base would meet RuAF long range carpet bombing..
Now why did the Canadians bomb the SAA base there? Brain shriveled up due to the cold?