Posted on 10/14/2015 8:50:03 AM PDT by mojito
The Syrian army and allied Iranian and Hezbollah forces are preparing for a ground offensive against insurgents in the Aleppo area backed by Russian air strikes, two senior regional officials familiar with the plans said on Tuesday.
The offensive would expand on a ground attack launched by the same alliance last week that is targeting rebels in Hama province further west. The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said thousands of Iranian troops had arrived to take part in the ground offensives in support of President Bashar al-Assad.
A big government offensive in the area near the Turkish border is likely to further anger NATO member Ankara, which has backed insurgents fighting Assad and has already expressed deep concern over Russian air strikes that have targeted them.
Control of Aleppo city and the surrounding province is divided among the Syrian government, a range of insurgent groups fighting Assad, and the Islamic State group that controls some rural areas near the city.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
It will also tell a lot about the capabilities of the US and Turkey to support their anti-Assad allies. Notice that ISIS is not the primary target for the Russians and Iranians.
You're absolutely right. Aleppo is not an ISIS stronghold, but is a strategically important city to Assad. The Ruskies and the Iranians are going to test and see how much of a stomach Prince Barry of Sodom has for a real fight. My guess: not much. He'll cut and run and abandon his Sunni "moderate" allies. In two weeks or so, the Pentagon will announce the end of the Syrian "training" mission, and Prince Barry's humiliation will be complete.
That ship already sailed.
Pentagon Ends Program to Train Syrian Rebels, Starts Revamped Initiative
“Notice that ISIS is not the primary target for the Russians and Iranians.”
Actually, those anti-Syrian forces are ISIS. They are the front group who are the prime recipients of American hardware.
Disagree.
“Disagree.”
I think this is great topic of conversation. Please explain your point of view.
I disagree with your disagree. All the rebels are jihadi turds. Even the ones who are US government sponsored.
How do you define Anti-Syrian forces? Do you discount that there are any anti-Assad forces that are not ISIS or jihadists?
You don’t know very much about Syria and the various factions involved. The Free Syrian Army is not jihadist.
I guess that’s why they keep yelling alluh akbar. Real sons of Jefferson and Madison they are
Hope a frogfoot finds them in the open.
Allahu akbar means God is the Greatest. If you consider all Muslims jihadists, then you are correct. The problem lies in how some Muslims (radical, militant fundamentalists) define and apply the religious term.
“How do you define Anti-Syrian forces? Do you discount that there are any anti-Assad forces that are not ISIS or jihadists?”
I don’t discount it. Anti-Syrian forces have been actively operating. I just think it is a coincidence that each one of these forces identified seem to have their weapons taken from them from ISIS. Then they join ISIS<
The other thing I would look at is why would Assad attack Shiites? They support Iran who is supporting Assad.
Could you be more specific? Also, I don't understand your term Anti-Syrian. Do you mean those fighting against the government or against the people of Syria? Some those fighting against Assad consider themselves to be Syrian patriots.
The other thing I would look at is why would Assad attack Shiites? They support Iran who is supporting Assad.
There are not many Shi'a in Syria--15% of the population comprised of Nusairi and Druze sects. If they happen to be trying to take down Assad, then they are the enemy regardless. Not all Shi'a support Iran. Bahrain is 61% Shi'a. Iraq is 63% Shi'a. They don't support Iran. In fact, Iraq had an 8 year war against Iran. And Bahrain lives in mortal fear of Iran. Shi'a make up only 10% of Islam.
Yeah. ... they are the enemy. No rebel group is worthy of anything more than a bomb or a sukhoi strafing run.
They are all the same. And even if there were a few Madison and Jefferson enlightened jihadis (snicker) what happens if they won? Think they’d be able to stand against isis?
Assad protects Christians.
This is an Obama scheme to do Libya again. No thanks. They are all sunni killers.
Well, you have about 1.3 billion of them so have it. Why don’t you start with the 3 million Muslims who are already here, tough guy.
Let ‘em all kill each other and let Allah sort it out.
I’ve done my share a-hole. And I don’t want any American over there in this Obama/McCain/hillary mess now. I don’t care about them and I’m quite content to let the Russians blast them and expose our duplicity of claiming to be anti isis, when we are actually using isis and the sunni resistance to remove Assad, and then install a Saudi puppet state.
Go love em all you want. Most Americans don’t want that 3 million here either. A shiite sunni intramural game doesn’t bother me at all. And sunnis are the ones who brought us 9/11. Beslan, Boston, boco haram, London subway, London soldier beheading, madrid, fort hood, the shoe bomber, uss Cole, osama, KSM, etc. .. and bought off 2 presidents.
It’s unamerican to support sunni goals. Shiites are no better, but sunnis have no place as America’s friends.
I find that most supporters of it have their mouth clamped firmly to a moslem or us government nipple. Autosuck engaged.
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