Posted on 01/17/2017 4:25:56 PM PST by Texas Fossil
Syrian government forces clashed with Islamic State group fighters for a fourth day on Tuesday in an eastern city where a jihadist assault has left more than 100 dead, a monitor said. IS began a fierce attack Saturday on the remaining parts of Deir Ezzor under government control, and has managed to divide the city's eastern half from the west.
It has also cut the supply route running from the city's key military airport, limiting the government's ability to bring in supplies and military reinforcements. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said on Tuesday that Syria's military and allied Russian forces were carrying out air strikes against IS, as government troops battled the jihadists on the ground. IS already controlled more than half of Deir Ezzor city, and has laid siege to around 100,000 people inside since early 2015.
But the latest assault, which included waves of suicide bombers, is the "most violent" attack on the city in more than a year, according to the Observatory.
The monitor said that three days of fighting had killed at least 116 people, among them 21 civilians, 37 members of regime forces and 58 IS fighters.
It said the government was flying reinforcements into the military base and had called up local residents to fight on the front lines against IS, including some without military training. Since the siege began, the government has been able to fly limited supplies into the airport, and international aid has been intermittently dropped into the city.
But residents have nonetheless faced shortages and rising prices, as well as being unable to leave the city. Deir Ezzor sits in the oil-rich eastern province of the same name, most of which is controlled by IS. The extremist group has lost swathes of territory in northern Syria to Kurdish fighters as well as a Turkish-backed rebel alliance, but it remains on the offensive in other parts of the country.
More than 310,000 people have been killed in Syria since the conflict began in March 2011 with anti-government protests that were met with a regime crackdown.
The violence has drawn in international players, as well as attracting jihadist groups like IS.
Was told it was very fierce struggle. Tipped off that it was not being covered at all in the news so I dug a bit. Best I could do.
When the ask local citizens to help who have no military experience it is an extreme situation.
Too many combatant groups in Northern Syria for outsiders to really understand. Not sure the locals always do.
The City is about to fall and Obama caused it. The city’s defenses where quite stable for over a year. Then we bombed Syrian Army positions giving ISIS a hill that overlooks the airport preventing cargo planes from flying in (they’ve done nothing but drop supplies at night from choppers since then). Secondly Obama intentionally left the road from Iraq open to encourage ISIS to move into the area. A lot of people are about to be murdered and the US has blood on our hands.
http://www.moonofalabama.org/2017/01/how-the-us-enabled-isis-to-take-deir-ezzor.html#comments
Obama’s Fault!
I appreciate this posting. I am also trying to follow Mosul. Apparently it is a blood bath . Isis snipers are using subsonic rounds and flash suppressors. You cant see or hear anything. You just hear the splat. We gave that to the damned Iraqis and they were all captured when the cowards fled like women also leaving 2300 armored Humvees and artillery with thousand of rounds. Bombing has killed thousand of civilians ion Mosul ( population of 1.2 million) !! THOUSANDS! I don’t want to hear about bombing in Allepo any more. That deal is a quagmire. We go if and when we are invited by sovereign countries and we kill ISIS bastards without embedded press to watch us do it. Get ready, IT IS COMING.
Thank you for posting this. A crucial situation - I am very concerned about the outcome.
We accidentally bombed an Iraqi army unit that was blocking that road too
Ooops hundred allies dead
Does our Air Force have an ISIS expeditionary medal?
Our pilots are earning one
Are our guys buying the slop intelligence they are getting about what they are being ordered to do ?
And we let a big ISIS convoy leave Mosul in broad daylight, completely untouched. A true nation would give them safe passage, then when they were on the road..... hit them like the Stukas over Dunkirk.
More reason I hope Trump after Jan 20 will personally attend Astana meeting (Jan 23), and, in fact, will, additionally, have a one-on-one meeting with Putin about this mess. These will be critical initial meetings in relation to the incoming US admin’s inclination & resolve in & for that specific region.
It is important. It would be good if confirmation of Rex Tillerson was in place. He already knows Putin and the oil industry impact on this whole region. It is key to the whole ball of wax.
Don’t doubt you a bit. A Syrian friend told me this morning how dire the circumstances are.
It is probably intentional by Obama to put Saudi’s interest in place as much as possible before he is evicted from White Hut.
He does not care who or how many are killed by these butchers.
Pure Treason is what he has been from the beginning.
Absolutely Obama’s fault. The entire ME is in chaos because of he and Hillary.
I don’t know much about Tillerson, personally. But I’d like to see a Political solution in medium to long run for that region & hold him (them) to it. If Tillerson can advise practical, viable and positive steps toward it, then very cool.
About Obama admin and neocons like McCain, the US needs to follow a process of ‘due diligence’ as one would in the business world. Obama has brought nothing but chaos & blood rivers to that region, intentionally or through his inexperience & stupidity. Sorry, same can be said about Bush2. I see US admins, in foreign policy, a continuation of one another, not disparate entities.
At any rate, to pass the buck to another because the responsibility within the US gov’t is fragmented, is ineffective. In most countries, democratic or otherwise, the buck stops with the President, or the top leader.
Tillerson already has the relationship with Russia and the Kurds. He is totally know by the Iraqis.
Turkey? Not Sure.
Saudi’s? I’m sure he is connected with them already.
Syria? Not Sure.
Iran? I’m sure he understands it, not sure if he has connections. Doubt it.
Not a necessarily a connection, but I meant a sound knowledge/understanding, and a viable solution, for policy and practical advice to Trump, who is the ultimate decision-maker?
T-Rex is a good as it gets. Seasoned oil executive who has done business all over the world. No stripy pants State Dept. geek even has a clue what he knows about the real world and risks of doing business in it.
Alright. Let’s see what he does. Interesting he is Trump’s choice for Secretary of State.
Trump has chosen well. On a number he has chosen extremely well.
Let me remind you. Obama moved all our carriers to the US. None at sea.
By design?
Think about this, If Erdogan denies use of Incerlick, where is the nearest similar base to the middle east? Italy? Germany?
I’m not up on those, but this really stinks.
Looks like it is up to Ivan to put out ISIS’s eyes.
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