Syrian Forces, Helped by Russian Airstrikes, Seize Rebel Stronghold

The Wall Street Journal ^ | Jan. 24, 2016 | RAJA ABDULRAHIM

[MinorityRepublican]

Syrian regime forces backed by Russian airstrikes seized control of a rebel stronghold on Sunday, the latest in a series of gains in northwestern Latakia province aided by Moscow’s intervention in the conflict.

The advances in the heartland of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s Alawite minority put the regime within striking distance of neighboring Idlib, the only province almost entirely under rebel control. Just a few months ago, rebel fighters were advancing through the Idlib countryside toward Latakia and looked poised to deal more blows to the regime. But the Russian intervention in late September has given the regime’s military the upper hand there.

These gains have given the regime a stronger hand ahead of peace talks that had been set for this week in Geneva, if they go ahead as planned.

“All of the regime and Russian plan and all of the operations that the Russian officers are overseeing are with the goal of advancing before the talks,” said Fadi Ahmad, a spokesman with the U.S.-backed First Coastal Division, a faction of the Free Syrian Army rebel group, which has received training from the Central Intelligence Agency and American antitank missiles.

[Southack]

Good.

[Blood of Tyrants]

The Russians are dropping ordnance more effective than barrels of concrete.

[FatherofFive]

Great. Now lets start sending all the Syrian ‘refuges’ back home

[dsrtsage]

O’Bunghole is saddened

[manc]

Fairy boy is reaching for his drugs again as he hears this.

[SERKIT]

A sewer.

[stocksthatgoup]

Obama’s plan is working perfectly. /s

[DoughtyOne]

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