Meanwhile, In Syria

[BlackLabel]

The Iranians sure do love their “death to .........” slogans.

article said:

Iran has fired missiles at militants in Syria it blamed for an attack in south west Iran on September 22nd, the Revolutionary Guards said on Monday, in what it called a sign of Tehran’s readiness to punish its enemies’ “wickedness”

article said:

“Death to the family of Saud,” “Death to America,” and “Death to Israel” were written on one of the missiles shown on the Fars News site.

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/middle-east/iran-fires-missiles-at-militants-in-syria-over-parade-attack-1.3647453?mode=amp

[MikeT66]

BlackLabel said:

The Iranians sure do love their “death to .........” slogans.

article said:

Iran has fired missiles at militants in Syria it blamed for an attack in south west Iran on September 22nd, the Revolutionary Guards said on Monday, in what it called a sign of Tehran’s readiness to punish its enemies’ “wickedness”

article said:

“Death to the family of Saud,” “Death to America,” and “Death to Israel” were written on one of the missiles shown on the Fars News site.

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/middle-east/iran-fires-missiles-at-militants-in-syria-over-parade-attack-1.3647453?mode=amp

It's all a bit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iS-0Az7dgRY, really.

[mko9]

QuantumTokoloshi said:

Developments In Syria, Russian Il-20 plane shot down by Syrian S-200, during an Israeli air raid. Russians not happy that Israel did not inform te about raid, as this as an agreed process. Russia now supplying Syrian AD with S300. I hope this does not lead to escalation.

Idlib looks to be assaulted by Syrian Army troops, the US / European nations are none too keen, which is odd, considering the bunch of "moderately radical Islamist there. I suspect part of this is once Idlib goes, all these battle hardened and experienced "moderates" will star burst all over the Middle East and probably Europe, also it will largely put an end to the US dissection of Syria.

Not sure if these developments have de-escalated the conflict or not.

So now the Syrians will be able to frat up to 6 Russian aircraft simultaneously?

[Driller]

My take on the new s300 stuff being “integrated into the current Russian system on the ground” is that the Russians will now be taking an active role in defending Syrian territory from air strikes. Who makes the next move?

[LoonyTunes]

Driller said:

My take on the new s300 stuff being “integrated into the current Russian system on the ground” is that the Russians will now be taking an active role in defending Syrian territory from air strikes. Who makes the next move?

The more Russia hitches it's cart to Syria's horses then the Golan Heights - an occupied part of Syria - could become a real flashpoint at sometime in the near future.

[QuantumTokoloshi]

LoonyTunes said:

Driller said:

My take on the new s300 stuff being “integrated into the current Russian system on the ground” is that the Russians will now be taking an active role in defending Syrian territory from air strikes. Who makes the next move?

The more Russia hitches it's cart to Syria's horses then the Golan Heights - an occupied part of Syria - could become a real flashpoint at sometime in the near future.

Israel is not going to stop hitting Iranian or Hezbollah targets in Syria or Lebanon, they may use more stand off weapons, and not manned aircraft penetrating Syria airspace, after the loss of the IAF F-16.

I suspect the Russian were somewhat peeved that the Israelis did not give them any warning of the raid, as they had agreed to deconflict. I doubt Israel will go head to head with Russia here, not in their interest to do, but will find a way to continue trimming Iranian and associated proxies operations and materiel.

Will the long awaited Idlib assault happen ?

[Biker 1]

QuantumTokoloshi said:

I doubt Israel will go head to head with Russia here, not in their interest to do, but will find a way to continue trimming Iranian and associated proxies operations and materiel.

Yep - pretty much right. The main worry is the feared existential threat of a nuclear armed Iran, with bases on Israel's doorstep, & the arming of hezballah with accurate, longer range missiles capable of hitting central Israel. To this end, it appears there is are covert deals going on with the Saudis - there are even rumours of the Iron Dome system being licensed to KSA, although that does seem a little far fetched....

[QuantumTokoloshi]

New book out about the Russian intervention in Syria. Operation Aleppo: Russia's War in Syria by Tim Ripley.

The Inside Story of Putin’s Military Intervention in the Syrian War

Russia’s intervention in Syria in September 2015 caught the world by surprise. Since then Russian bombers, fighter jets, drones, warships and special forces troops have helped turn the tide of the brutal Syria civil war in favour Bashar al-Assad’s government in Damascus.
As the war enters its endgame, this book looks at how the Russian intervention unfolded, and its implications in the Middle East and further afield.
Drawing on a wide array of sources - including satellite imagery of Russian forces in Syria, as well as live online monitoring of Russian, Syrian and Iranian aircraft and ship movements – Operation Aleppo gives an unprecedented insight into the most ambitious Russian military campaign since the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan in the 1980s

The reviews have been good, so may well invest in it.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07CNTRX67/ref=dp-kind...

[mko9]

QuantumTokoloshi said:

New book out about the Russian intervention in Syria. Operation Aleppo: Russia's War in Syria by Tim Ripley.

The Inside Story of Putin’s Military Intervention in the Syrian War

Russia’s intervention in Syria in September 2015 caught the world by surprise. Since then Russian bombers, fighter jets, drones, warships and special forces troops have helped turn the tide of the brutal Syria civil war in favour Bashar al-Assad’s government in Damascus.
As the war enters its endgame, this book looks at how the Russian intervention unfolded, and its implications in the Middle East and further afield.
Drawing on a wide array of sources - including satellite imagery of Russian forces in Syria, as well as live online monitoring of Russian, Syrian and Iranian aircraft and ship movements – Operation Aleppo gives an unprecedented insight into the most ambitious Russian military campaign since the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan in the 1980s

The reviews have been good, so may well invest in it.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07CNTRX67/ref=dp-kind...

Anyone who was surprised by Russia's intervention wasn't paying much attention. Syria is Russia's only beachhead in the Med. There was no way they were going to let the situation threaten their presence at Latakia.

[QuantumTokoloshi]

What has come as a surprise, is the effectiveness of the Russian campaign, both here and in Ukraine, alongside the unexpected resilience of ISIS and co. Once the reversals began.

Another surprise, was how strongly Putin responded, not just with supplying materiel to Syria, but Russian combat troops, cruise missiles strikes etc.

Edited by QuantumTokoloshi on Friday 19th October 10:01

[LoonyTunes]

What's more of a surprise is how weak the West has shown itself to be over Ukraine, Syria and even Salisbury.

This has not demonstrated any kind of resilience to Russian aggression and almost invites future transgressions where they think their interests are served.

[QuantumTokoloshi]

Andrew Neil made a good point on this week, that it seems to be the dictators are starting to flex their muscle, Xi Jingping, Putin, MBS in Saudi and Hassan Rouhani in Iran.

I suspect the ill fated actions in Iraq, Libya etc. have weakened the West's hand, Europe is weak and getting weaker and Donald Trump does not care (besides China) allowing these actions to be undertaken without to much fear of serious reprisals. The Saudi blatant killing of the Journalist, will show clearly, probably more so than Salisbury, how weak the West, Europe especially, is now perceived to be.

China is the new economic superpower, starting to expand into Military power, The sanctions against Russia have failed, and pushed China and Russia closer, creating a stronger alliance. Russia influence in Middle East, even North Africa has been bolstered by the actions in Syria.

The 21st century real politik in action.

Edited by QuantumTokoloshi on Friday 19th October 12:11

[Lucas Ayde]

QuantumTokoloshi said:

Andrew Neil made a good point on this week, that it seems to be the dictators are starting to flex their muscle, Xi Jingping, Putin, MBS in Saudi and Hassan Rouhani in Iran.

I suspect the ill fated actions in Iraq, Libya etc. have weakened the West's hand, Europe is weak and getting weaker and Donald Trump does not care (besides China) allowing these actions to be undertaken without to much fear of serious reprisals. The Saudi blatant killing of the Journalist, will show clearly, probably more so than Salisbury, how weak the West, Europe especially, is now perceived to be.

China is the new economic superpower, starting to expand into Military power, The sanctions against Russia have failed, and pushed China and Russia closer, creating a stronger alliance. Russia influence in Middle East, even North Africa has been bolstered by the actions in Syria.

The 21st century real politik in action.

Edited by QuantumTokoloshi on Friday 19th October 12:11

You have to laugh at the stupidity of the US in pushing Russia closer to China. With China on the rise, the last thing you want to do is encourage the other of the 'Big Three' powers to have closer ties with it.

[Cobnapint]

Anybody see Panorama on the 15th Oct?

Turns out Syria didn't declare all it's chemical weapon stocks back in 2013.

It's not on iPlayer to view unfortunately, but there's a piece on the BBC website.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-45586...

[QuantumTokoloshi]

Cobnapint said:

Anybody see Panorama on the 15th Oct?

Turns out Syria didn't declare all it's chemical weapon stocks back in 2013.

It's not on iPlayer to view unfortunately, but there's a piece on the BBC website.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-45586...

Pity would have liked to watch that.

The overriding issue with the report is "BBC could not visit the scenes of reported incidents, and therefore were not able to categorically verify the evidence."

The OPCW only confirm the type of weapon used, Sarin, Chlorine etc. not who used it. Likewise, the assumptions that the weapons were used in waves and only in strategically import places, is true for both sides of the conflict. Could Assad used NBC weapons ? Certainly possible, but then so did the "moderately Islamic fundamentalist" jihadi groups.like Al Qaeda and ISIS. They had, and have, a much greater incentive to use the chemical weapons, considering the situation with Assad government and threat of western intervention, and achieve much greater propaganda value with the terrible civilian aftermath, of both real and staged events.

This war should not have ever happened and destroyed a functioning, relatively prosperous secular country, handing a much greater power broker position to Iran than it had before, was a counter intuitive outcome for the West.

[Cobnapint]

It is a pity it's not available. Anybody who thinks any of that was staged needs to have a serious word with themselves.

[QuantumTokoloshi]

Cobnapint said:

It is a pity it's not available. Anybody who thinks any of that was staged needs to have a serious word with themselves.

Assad has a tactical use for chemical weapons, being effective non persistent chemical agents, against poorly protected opponents.The Islamic groups have a strong strategic value to the chemical weapons, especially if the SAA is successfully implicated in their use, considering the potential to draw in Western nations into conflict.

It is feasible to consider both sides have used these weapons, with ex-SAA & international insurgents having the chemical weapons expertise. Both sides have had access to nerve agents like Sarin & dual use types like Chlorine.

[Cobnapint]

Correct. Both sides have used it. Assad the majority of the time though.

[QuantumTokoloshi]

NATO supported groups fighting NATO member in Syria. Seems an odd strategy, but then, stranger things have happened in this conflict.

https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-10-29/nato-war...

[anonymous-user]

QuantumTokoloshi said:

NATO supported groups fighting NATO member in Syria. Seems an odd strategy, but then, stranger things have happened in this conflict.

https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-10-29/nato-war...

Don't take any notice of zerohedge.com or PressTV