ISIS Now Has A Navy, Launches Gunboat Attack Near Baghdad

Zero Hedge ^ | 09/08/2014 | Tyler Durden

[SeekAndFind]

First it was UN and US military hardware and artillery, second it was hijacked Syrian fighter jets, and now ISIS has 'commandeered' a Navy. As Reuters reports, Islamic State fighters attacked a riverside town north of Baghdad on Monday with gunboats and a car bomb, killing 17 people and wounding 54, a security source said.

 

By land...

 

AlQaeda affiliated Nusra Front driving around with a UN vehicle. Thats their flag on the car (v @BSyria @akhbar) Pic pic.twitter.com/pExYuz5dVO

— Jenan Moussa (@jenanmoussa) August 31, 2014

 

 

And air....

 

URGENT Video: ISIS threatens Russian President Putin with seized Russian fighter jets http://t.co/ydl06PQSob pic.twitter.com/PePdXSARkl

— Iraqi News - Iraq (@IraqiNews_com) September 5, 2014

 

 

And now water...

 

As Reuters reports,

The source said the attack on Dhuluiya, around 70 km (45 miles) from the capital, was carried out before dawn and continued for two hours before the militants were pushed back.

 

Among the dead in the attack, the largest of its kind in the area, were civilians and Iraqi forces. Most of the casualties were caused by the car bomb, which struck a market, the source said.

 

Dhuluiya is part of a belt of Sunni Muslim towns north of Baghdad where the hardline Sunni Muslim Islamic State has managed to wrestle some control, often aligning with local militia who distrust the Shi'ite-led government.

*  *  *

We anxiously await President Obama's Wednesday unveiling of the strategy to 'defeat' The Islamic State on land, and air, and now water...

[Mogger]

We anxiously await President Obama's Wednesday unveiling of the strategy to 'defeat' The Islamic State

Perhaps zero hope to be the caliph of the world Islamic caliphate, all 57 states of it.

[skinkinthegrass]

Hang 'em All...Pirates.

[rey]

Having arty, missiles, jets, and a boats (not a navy) is vastly different than knowing how to use them. I think it cosst around $30-$40K for one hour in the air for the average fighter jet (Training, maintenance, fuel, etc.). There is a lot that goes into putting a round on target as well, hence the numerous hours of continual training. As we have seen recently with the Chinese, having an aircraft carrier and being able to operate it and fly aircraft on and off of it are two different things. Ask any service member about the primacy of logistics.

Certainly ISIS having these things is bad, but how much of a threat is it really? Their ability to organize and operate on a sizable scale is low. They can terrorize, certainly, they can slowly consume equally non-competent adversaries, they can harass us when we are shackled to ridiculous rules of engagement but they clearly lack a certain amount of professionalism. How long did it take Israel to dispose of the Egyptian Air Force?

[Marko413]

Are these like a "swift boat"?

I know someone that likes those...

[Chgogal]

Bush won the war. Obama lost the victory. Period.

[varyouga]

they have $billions and are stealing all in their wake. no match for a modern airforce but i think they are capable of sustaining some soviet planes

[IronJack]

I don’t think a jon boat with a trolling motor constitutes a navy any more than a Toyota with a .50-cal welded to a gimbal mount constitutes an armored cavalry.

[Constitution Day]

A number of commandeered gunboats does not a Navy make.

[Veto!]

I think it cosst around $30-$40K for one hour in the air for the average fighter jet (Training, maintenance, fuel, etc.).

They may not care, as they have money and they just want to fly into buildings anyway. They may practice on Baghdad buildings.

[jsanders2001]

The question is...who’s really funding all their high dollar toys? I’m not talking about generalities, I’m talking about specifically. We need to know our enemies by their name not just as a group.

[jagusafr]

Kill.
Them.
All.

[pierrem15]

Yup— imagine if Truman had pulled US troops out of Japan in 1946.

[bassmaner]

Yup— imagine if Truman had pulled US troops out of Japan in 1946.

One of GWB's biggest Iraq mistakes (IMO) was the premature handing over of sovereignty to the interim Iraqi government. IIRC, MacArthur ruled Japan like a dictator for almost 5 years until sovereignty was returned to the Japanese.

[Forward the Light Brigade]

Get in through your noggin—The Islamic State IS a state—unrecognized by most but a state in truth. Soon they will print their own money—have an airline—and a seat at the UN. They have many of the elements of a nation now—even allies,an army, a flag, and a ruler, and a capital. Deal with them as we delt with another hate state—Nazi Germany.

[xone]

but i think they are capable of sustaining some soviet planes

Think any Syrian pilots or any western nation would love to see them airborne? Free kills.