Click to see the full-size map
On September 20, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA), the Syrian Republican Guard (SRG), the National Defense Forces (NDF) and other pro-government factions seized Masrab, Turayf, Buwaytiyah and Tibni villages and the Salim Mount from ISIS on the western bank of the Euphrates River.
At the same day, the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) launched a military operation against ISIS vowing to reach the border with Iraq. The SDF advanced towards the ISIS-held town of al-Suwar and captured 12km of a highway heading to it.
Reports also circulated that some side conducted an airdrop on the Conco Gas Plant north of Khusham. Initial reports suggested that the airdrop was made by government forces. Others argued that it was conducted by the US-led coalition. However, by September 21, no videos or photos had appeared confirming these reports.
On September 21, clashes continued between government forces and ISIS in Khusham town on the eastern bank of the Euphrates where the SAA and the SRG were attempting to break the ISIS defense and to expand its control zone in order to further encircle ISIS in Deir Ezzor city and to set a foothold for an advance towards al-Busayrah.
Government troops destroyed two ISIS vehicles in Deir Ezzor province:
Click to see the full-size image
Click to see the full-size image
Click to see the full-size image
The Russian Defense Ministry announced that Russian forces will strike any forces, including the US-backed SDF, that would attack Syrian government forces in the Deir Ezzor countryside.
Defense Ministry Spokesman Igor Konashenkov said that the Russian side warned the US command in Al Udeid, Qatar, that “any attempts of shelling from the areas where the militants of the Syrian Democratic Forces are based will be immediately curbed.”
“Firing points in these areas will be immediately suppressed by all means of destruction,” Konashenkov said.
The statement followed multiple claims by the SDF and the US-led coalition that they will “defend” themselves from alleged attacks of government forces. Earlier this month, the SDF even threatened to not allow government forces to cross the Euphrates River.
2/2 @CJTFOIR will defend itself and #SDF against threats; continue to defeat #ISIS in Syria.
— OIR Spokesman (@OIRSpox) 18 September 2017
Konashenkov added that “the Syrian governmental troops have been shelled twice from the areas on the western bank of the Euphrates controlled by the Syrian Democratoc Forces and the US military.” This likely was a reason why Russia announced its decision to bomb any side what would attack government troops and Russian special task forces.
The Russian military spokesman added that the SDF is redeploying forces from Raqqah to Deir Ezzor frontlines.
ISIS uses an armed DIY drone in order to stop government forces crossing the Euphrates River:
Islamic State released footage showing that they target the SAA with drones while they cross the Euphrates river in Deir Ezzor: pic.twitter.com/lbioqwXPPc
— TheMoroccanBaathist (@MorocanArab) 20 September 2017
An Iranian convoy delivered 1,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid to civilians in Deir Ezzor city:
Russian Special Operations Forces service members are in Deir Ezzor city:
Click to see the full-size image
I think one reason for the clear warning is also that Russia is absolutely pissed by the militant’s attack in Hama against Russian military police that was directed by US secret services. By promoting this attack in a de-escalation zone, the US have gone too far.
Yep looks like Russia is taking the gloves off finally.
Hopefully. Gloves with sand or quartz are now needed, fingertips free for precise roaring of all weaponries.
Good!
Now if only the SDF was foolish enough to try something big…
Agree. b sums it up nicely on his latest MoonofAlabama piece.
About time. I was wondering when Russia would get tired and simply hit the delete button on all these 2-timer backstabbers.
They are going to get Smerched :D https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/0dcddd174832c1b8932ff9f578fa43e5d84c12272a9f2a105a0c8431a7c07901.jpg
everything looks pretty positive for the russian led coalition to garner more inevitable victory
Despite the increasingly egregious immorality of my country’s actions in Syria, I’m really not buying the idea that the SDF or US would be so dumb as to actually shell units of SAA with embedded Russian forces. I believe Konashenkov’s statements that the SAA was shelled, but by ISIS and not by the US/SDF. Why?
The CENTCOM PR machine absolutely loves maps like the one at the top of this article. They know the SAA ‘side’ usually has to cough up proof that they have taken a village or advanced beyond some point. That’s just rational skepticism for the world audience.
The SDF, on the other hand, has a well-oiled US-financed PR machine. They make a lot of claims and announcements, but hide behind a shroud of censorship and secrecy. Someone in the SDF said that SDF controls the yellow area in the map (it’s ISIS-free), but what does that really mean? Did they just drive through/around an area and now claim it as controlled? Did the US make a deal with ISIS in some area that they would not be attacked by coalition aircraft or be disarmed if they left the SDF alone (but they could still attack SAA/Russia all they wanted)? Maybe the US sweetened the deal by leaving behind a few SF medics in a field clinic to treat wounded ISIS?
That would explain artillery/mortar fire FROM those areas against the SAA. The US considers an area ‘controlled’ when the head-choppers don’t attack THEM. That’s hardly ‘defeating’ ISIS. Sounds more like a chicken-shit way of being the first to claim territory on a map as war booty (thus a SAA/Russian ‘prohibited’ deconfliction zone) when the US/SDF really don’t have the troops or desire to clear it, hold it or secure it at all.
Konashenkov is merely calling out the US/SDF on this scheme and basically saying any SDF-claimed ‘yellow’ areas on the map are BS unless they’re really free of ISIS. The US/SDF can’t claim a hundred square km of war booty land if they simply drive through and leave a technical or two behind. The US WILL use that claim as an excuse for aerial attacks on SAA forces for invading ‘SDF-held’ territory (even if it’s still full of ISIS). F#cking sad that CENTCOM uses SF medics as human shield placeholders and outright treasonous if CENTCOM has them actually treating ISIS there.
Despite the slick SDF propaganda otherwise (and always with the YPG ladies for western appeal), they have not cleared the areas of ISIS like they claim. The whole exercise is probably to justify future US aerial attacks on SAA and allied troops for invading the claimed ‘American Zone’ – or at least raise that possibility as a threat. They’ll get away with it as long as they aim very carefully between Russian troops. If CENTCOM f#cks up and accidentally kills a few Russian soldiers, it’s total war.
So, notice has been served. :P
One issue with medically treating ISIS wounded is that the rules of war give a rightfully responsibility to give medical aid to wounded PRISONERS . It does not give any responsibility to supply Medics to areas controlled by hostile forces to treat their wounded .
First of all there were no qualifiers as you seem to think, he was very clear on this: RUSSIA TO STRIKE IMMEDIATELY US-BACKED FORCES IF THEY TRY TO ATTACK GOVERNMENT FORCES NEAR DEIR EZZOR, General Konashenkov.
“Russia has officially informed the United States via a special communications channel that Russian forces will strike immediately US-backed forces if they attack or shell Syrian or Russian task forces operating near Deir Ezzor city, Russia Defense Ministry Spokesman Igor Konashenkov said on Thursday.
Konashenkov emphasized that “any attempts of shelling from the areas where the militants of the Syrian Democratic Forces are based will be immediately curbed.” Russian forces will suppress “firing points in these areas” using “all means of destruction”.
Not only did he call out the “SDF” as “militants” but did not say that ISIS had to be involved for any such suppression by all means of destruction. Sounds like there will be no more warnings and credibility is on the line here. I believe he would not have said this without prior approval of response.
Game on!
I think YOU are the one adding qualifiers to Konashenkov’s statement – he doesn’t give a damn who is firing at Ru/SAA – whether or not they are US-backed or not, or whether that fire is coming from SDF-claimed territory or not.
CJTF-OIR was trying to game their own interpretation of the deconfliction agreement by expecting Russia to coordinate with them first before engaging in any counter-battery fire. The US would undoubtedly object to ANY counter-battery fire into ‘SDF-held territory’, claiming US/SDF forces were in the area, there was no more ISIS presence and nobody was firing at Russian/SAA forces. But they still wanted the Russians to call them first. That is what Konashenkov was responding to.
And this is not a warning by Konashenkov of future intent. Syrian/Russian forces have already done this – twice – both times after they were attacked on the east bank. Konashenkov told CJTF-OIR commanders that he intended to keep doing this exact same thing in case they were too dim to understand that after the first two times.
Which direction is the priority? Maadan or Mayadin, make up your mind.
I found this video back in July of 2016 (after the 1st battle of Palmyra). It’s just the highlights of a much longer interview, but it’s really worth watching if you haven’t seen it before. Going to try and post it below: https://youtu.be/xo02KB2uB3M
WOW, saa has not moved at all in the last 48 hrs… That is not a good sign, especially as an operational AB is 10 kms away, and where massed support artillery and cas can be maintained around the clock. I forget, RuAF does not have attack UAV capabilities, which would be indispensable in these situations and keep svbied’s at bay. Oh well, perhaps RF will learn and change their old and inadequate policies.
Everyone’s waiting for the S-400 to be set up and calibrated. If you haven’t neutralized the ISIS Air Force, then you’re just throwing away your armor as sitting-duck targets.
I am taking it the same way Pave is stating. They seem to be getting their ducks lined up. When they go, it will be impressive. The SAA and Co. does not play by everybody else´s schedule. They have their own.
Perhaps the neurons in your brain have been inactive for the last 48 hours? Have you heard of the term radio silence or news blackout/news delay? :D
NO information will be released from this sector of the front. What you would know the enemies will know much earlier.
its a preparation of a big attack…. SAA will fight in 3 operation soon… wait and see… very big
First time ever Russia has given such stern warning and it’s welcome. SAA warriors require the kind of support. I think Russia has picked many cherrys with just one arrow ie intervention in Syria. It could reassert as a world power, got a fertile testing ground and targets for its weapons testing, train it’s forces for live combat in rugged conditions and most importantly it could stop the oil pipeline from Gulf to Europe to save it’s oil industry. The last reason seems to me the most important when it comes to Russian sacrifices in Syria. They really want saa to capture all the oil rich territory in syria since if it gets into West’s hands it will be direct loss of revenue to Russia.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqM8TagOCWk
“Yes Monty, abaht fuckin’ time an all!”
It will take SAA many years to fully recover from the ISIS drone strike.
But the SAA is sustaining serious casualties on the northern side of Euphrates River. That’s why they haven’t been moving forward. Enemy is attacking even where SAA already liberated. But I know the reason. According to a Kurdish source on the front line: The US is secretly paying the ISIS commanders serious money to hold SAA at bay as long as possible. This supports General Konashenkov’s statement that SAA is encountering much more fierce attack and counter attack especially from the areas closest to the Kurds. But the Kurd said that the bribe is worth it and that it’s now having good effect on the eastern front as well. He also said that the 12 – 15 Kilometers Kurdish advance was also part of this deal. As you know that huge territory was easily captured in just few hours. However, I also have information that there will be a breakthrough out there sooner for the SAA probably within the next 48 hours. So we will see how it goes.
Time for SAA and Russian air drops to secure all the oil fields.
The Russians are becoming pissed and I don’t think they are very happy at the games being played. Looks like when all the ducks are lined up and when that happens it’s going to be …….WHAM!!!
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/94373c436cdba5dbbde4c881f337c11303baf2f540ae4140fffc4c7546e6ed13.jpg They have been warned !
Time for air drops to secure all the oil fields.
The Jews are responsible for this and many other wars. Christians and Moslems should work together to create a Jew free world.