Posted on 02/10/2016 6:58:19 AM PST by Trumpinator
Kurds Attack Syrian Air Base Held by Insurgents
By bassem mroue, associated press
BEIRUT — Feb 10, 2016, 8:33 AM ET
Kurdish fighters backed by Russian airstrikes launched an attack in northern Syria on Wednesday in an attempt to capture a military air base held by Syrian insurgents, activists and a rebel commander said.
Syria's Kurds have been among the most effective forces battling the Islamic State group, but have remained largely neutral in the conflict between President Bashar Assad and the rebels fighting to overthrow him.
But with Syrian troops backed by Russian warplanes waging a major offensive between the northern city of Aleppo and the Turkish border, the Kurds appeared to be exploiting the chaos to expand their nearby Afrin enclave.
Maj. Yasser Abdul-Rahim, a rebel commander in the northern province of Aleppo, told The Associated Press that fighters from the Kurdish People's Protection Units, known as the YPG, are clashing with rebels near Mannagh air base. He accused the YPG of trying to take Arab villages near Afrin.
"We are fighting on three fronts," he said via Skype, referring to the YPG, Syrian troops and the Islamic State group, which also controls parts of Aleppo province. He warned that Mannagh air base could fall to Kurdish fighters because of the Russian air cover and the intensity of the attack.
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Barack Obama & Juan MeCain hardest hit.
If the US won’t support the Kurds, good opportunity for the Russians.
Shouldn’t it be Kurds backed by US? Oh I forget we have a loser as CIC!
The Russians want that air base, as an overflight, refuel and rearming base, to make their overflights of the ISIS and the anti-Assad insurgents doubly effective.
A pincer movement all within the boundaries of the Syrian territory. Iraq and Turkey need not be involved.
Still waiting to see if Obama double-crosses the Kurds coming from Kobane (East side of the gap).
The twitter account #Manbij seems to have stopped getting posts for the last day - no sign of an American-supported launch from the East. Erdogan had a high level National Security meeting last night, and the Saudis continue to talk about sending troops into Syria. Neither wants to stick their neck out without having US backing though (and who can really rely on US backing these days?). But can they bribe and/or blackmail Obama into supporting a relief force for the jihadis in Syria?
It is coming down to decisive crunch time for the US. Unfortunately, we have John F.Kerry, Obama and Valerie Jarrett in charge.
ISIS was involved in taking the airbase, and executed some of the prisoners. It’s disinformation by the media to suggest that the folks being attacked by the Kurds and Russians aren’t tied to ISIS.
I see a humiliating defeat for Obama coming his way.
The Russians will restore Urban Meyer (Assad’s) rule over all of Syria, crush ISIS, the Turks and the Obama backed rebels. Assad will take back all the refugees in Europe. There will be no joy in Mudville.
Urban Meyer?
ISIS held this airbase (Menagh) for a while, but it was long since pushed out by other rebel groups, including the local al Queda team, the Nusra Front. The Kurds coming from the West have been fighting these other groups so far.
There is a whole witches brew of militias in that 10 mile wide corridor from Turkey, through Azaz, to Aleppo - many of them are jihaids who commit atrocities, and adhere to same interpretation of islam as ISIS, but they disagree on who is in charge. East of that corridor, is ISIS proper, which has sworn their oath of obedience to Abu Bakr al Baghdadi.
There has been conflicting reports about the state of the battle around Menagh air base, but at least one rebel group, Jaish al Thuwar, seems to have switched sides and joined the Kurdish coalition (SDF). The Nusra Front (al Queda) has taken pretty significant casualties, lost positions, and has a bunch of its members and their families in the refugee crowd at the Turkish border.
Menagh air base is an important goal in this operation, as is the nearby city of Azaz.
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