Posted on 02/07/2019 9:15:19 AM PST by caww
blew up bridges on the Euphrates river held by Iranian militias several days ago, according to a report. This is the first time the Russians attacked Iranian targets in Syria.
The information came from a senior Syrian official who refused to be identified, and was reported in Bas News, a Kurdish news website.
(Excerpt) Read more at jpost.com ...
I agree, but am not shocked in the least. The idea now is to clean things up and it looks like Russia’s a big part of that equation......since Assad invited them into the country in the first place when things got out of hand. Iran has become a thorn in everyones side.
I don’t think Putin gives a hoot at this juncture who he offends....he wants Assad and his troops back in control of the country and what was agreed to in their summits. Erdogan is the other thorn they have to contend with...
WOW! Progress!!!
super duper!!
maybe Putin has finally realized how dangerous (and just plain troublesome) having Iranian army in Syria... really is.
From a purely Russian perspective, it will be FAR better to have the Russian bases on the coast and friendly-Assad in Damascus, WITHOUT any other strong foreign armies there (and especially not aggressively-oriented foreign forces like the Iranian dictatorship’s troops...they just create more and more troubles, problems..for Russia)
Sure....that’s been pretty obvious since Russia became the lead in their Summits awhile back. Putins not exactly crazy for Assad nor Erdogan as leaders of their countries but like our President you have to deal with leaders you don’t like.
.....”You can bet there is a lot of ‘back-channel’ talking going on from the Sauds, US, Israel, Russia and the Syrians”.....
Indeed!
Not regarding Syria...never were....but they are all players there and it was always who was going to come out on top. Once Russia was invited in by Assad it was game on. ..and once Obama was on his way out they all knew the dealing could finally begin and it did.
I think the Russians and Israelis have an understanding about the threat from Iran.
Nah.....Iran is trouble for the entire middle east and Putin knows this all to well....same with Erdogan’s wild plays. But they ride the russian border and Putin wants those borders stable....he will protect his borders whatever means he needs to do including continual conflict zones until negotiations are set and done as with Ukraine’s north.
Iran supports ISIS and plays all terrorists groups.....that’s who they are.
Fog of war. I have a tough time believing this.
The ayatollahs ain’t gonna like this.
F’em.
5.56mm
FYI
It’s always significant who is meeting whom in these conflicts. Netanyahu at the Russian Military parade up front and very visible was a turning point....and the visual was very significant. Putin was speaking to the middle east leaders at that time by that visual.
Look deeper then....when in doubt find it out I say.
“Might be anti-Mullah Iranian militias.”
It is reaching the point that we need Cray super computers and a cloud to keep track of the various killer Mullah groups in the middle east.
.... however Iran is known not to take things lying down. No doubt there is a price to pay one way or another.
There are no corroborating reports, at this point....but I am looking further.
I posted a while back that it would make sense to basically just let Russia & Assad have Syria (and Syria’s myriad problems).
Spelled out a bit further: In return Russia & Assad would offer some protection in the form of air defense for Christians, Kurds, and some others, and Russia would essentially guarantee the Iranians not be allowed to seriously threaten Israel.
The Iranians are (at least for now) still the Iranians, and likely to try to pull some stuff: This attack may (may) just be a slap on the wrist to tell them to behave.
Of course it could also just be friendly fire.
Around one week ago clashes erupted between a group of Syrian military forces associated to Iran and commanded by Maher Assad, the brother of Syrian dictator Bashar Assad, and the al-Nemr group, commanded by Suheil al-Hassan, a Syrian military commander affiliated to Russia.
“Russia and Iran are distancing from one another in Syria. Taking its place is strengthening relations and increasing tires between Russia and Israel, aiming to decrease Iran’s influence in Syria to the point of forcing Tehran out of this country,” according to the Deutsche Welle website.
Russia considers Iran’s presence and influence in Syria as an element undermining its efforts to establish cease-fire across the Levant, and of course, its future interests in this strategic country.
RBC, a Russian economic newspaper, published an article two months ago reiterating the threat of Iran-backed groups gradually gaining strength in Syria, and this issue will become an obstacle before Russia’s goal of uniting the Syrian military under a unified leader.
“No honor among thieves.”
That’s pretty much it. Russia and Syria are both defending Syria in exchange for a share of Syrian oil booty. They are squabbling over whos getting what.
Russia uses Syrian refineries for processing prior to shipment whereas the Iranians have the option of shipping crude to Iraq for processing or direct sale. Add to it there are many Iranian irregulars and Iraqi Shia militas and it makes it a veritable hive of villany.
Destroying the bridges is a two-fer for Russia. It reduces Iranian oil sale profits and also cuts down on suppy and re-inforcement. The two are directly linked so the end result is a larger cut for Russia.
Patience.
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