Posted on 01/14/2016 9:29:00 AM PST by Trumpinator
Russian airstrikes help Syrian army gain major victory in strategic coastal region
Most significant military win for Syrian troops since Russia began airstrikes in September
The Associated Press Posted: Jan 13, 2016 1:17 PM ET Last Updated: Jan 13, 2016 1:17 PM ET
Backed by relentless Russian airstrikes, Syrian troops and allied militiamen on Wednesday pushed deeper into a major rebel stronghold in the northwestern province of Latakia, a day after seizing a key rebel-held town in the strategic region overlooking the coast, the government and opposition activists said.
The insurgents in the opposition-held area near the Turkish border were collapsing after the town of Salma fell to government loyalists late Tuesday. Salma's fall marked one of the most significant military victories by the Syrian military since Russia began airstrikes in the country last September to shore up President Bashar al-Assad's forces.
On Wednesday, government troops seized the villages of Mrouniyah and Marj Kawkah near Salma as they continued their advances in the region, aided by immense Russian firepower.
Salma, part of mountainous chains near the border with Turkey known as Jabal al-Akrad and Jabal al-Turkmen, has been under rebel control for the past three years. 'It was hell on earth'
He said the town fell after 93 days of fighting and daily barrel bombs and airstrikes. He said activists in the region had reported 92 airstrikes believed to be Russian on Salma in the last 24 hours before it was fully seized by government troops.
"It was hell on earth," he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at cbc.ca ...
I wonder if they crossed Obama’s red line.
Fawaz Gerges, a Middle East expert at the London School of Economics, said Russia was trying to send a powerful message to Turkey following the downing of their plane in November in the area, showing that they can exact revenge.
“Salma is really a major breakthrough, not just for the Syrian army, for Russia as well,” he said, adding that losing the town was a significant loss for the opposition.
“The rebels thought they could turn it into a spearhead to deal a mortal blow against the regime” into its Alawite heartland, he added.
Assad is fighting the Jihadists. I’m on his side.
What has happened to this world? It's Russia defending Christians and other minorities against US/NATO?EU forces that support radical Islamic terrorism.
What I hate is that the Russians are gaining battle field experince.
Syrian rebel = Al Qaeda
I remember how the Nazis did that in Spain.
Indeed, the Russians still know that war is about breaking things and killing people. The US PC rules prevent victories and drag out conflicts which probably get even more people killed.
Russia seems to understand that they are fighting Turkish surrogates. And they are fighting them to win. The large Turkish (Turkmen) minority in that region will face ethnic cleansing if they don’t get a peace deal in the next few months.
With the Kurds advancing across the last 50 miles of the Northern border with Turkey, only about ten miles of Turkish border (the Southern end of the North/South dogleg near the coast) will remain to the rebels for resupply. There are no main roads through there, and it is mountainous. The Syrian Army will likely further press from the South, and the Kurdish mountain people from the North - perhaps leaving it open for a while to drive a refugee flood through it.
It seems that soon Turkey and its surrogates will be facing a dire strategic situation - negotiate a peace or run out of ammo and be killed.
Once the Turkish surrogates are defeated, al Nusra (al Queda local) and ISIS will also have to cut a deal with the regime, or be driven out.
U.S. military is learning how to surrender and then apologize for any mistakes made.
Present day Russia is a Christian nation.
If you told me 5 years ago I would be rooting for Putin and Syria ...and that a presidential candidate (Bush) would be rooting for the head hunters...
JAG core is the most destructive enemy the US military faces..
Your right they did not, as Putin aka Mr Frugality, is hard pressed for funds and the pennies saved by not printing bough some extra munitions for said oil trucks, fighting positions, and bunkers.
“They probably forgot to drop these beforehand.”
Funny, the leaflet airdrop systems on the Russian jets just aren’t as reliable as those of the US.
Oh well, better luck next time.
I don’t hate the Russians. So what’s the problem?
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