Click to see the full-size map
On September 19, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra, the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda) and its allies launched a large-scale military operation against the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and the National Defense Forces (NDF) in northern Hama. The main Hayat Tahrir al-Sham(HTS)-led attack took place in Ma’an. However, fierce clashes also took place near al-Tulaysian.
By September 19 evening, the SAA and the NDF, supported by the Tiger Forces and the Russian Aerospace Forces, had repelled the attack on Ma’an. However, militants entered Tulaysiyah, Ash Shata, Tel Al-Aswad and Al-Qahira. In total, about 40 militants were killed.
Militants also lost 2 battle tanks, including a Russian-made T-90 battle tank operated by HTS. This tank was seized by government forces during an active phase of the anti-HTS campaign in northern Syria.
HTS T-90 tank was destroyed yesterday in the northern Hama countryside by the SAA pic.twitter.com/LM7STGp4Ng
— Within Syria (@WithinSyriaBlog) 20 September 2017
Pro-HTS media blamed Russian attack helicopters and warplanes as well as a lack of support from the moderate opposition explaining casualties. According to pro-HTS sources, government forces had lost up to 30 fighters.
On September 20, an intense fighting continued in the villages of Tulaysiyah, Ash Shata, Tel Al-Aswad and Al-Qahira where government forces were attempting to re-gain the initiative.
In general, HTS failed to achieve its main goal – to seize the government strong point of Ma’an during its operation. Without this, the militants will likely not be able to develop momentum in the area.
Mil Mi-24 attack helicopters purge militants in nrothern Hama:
A look at the clashes in northern Hama:
Syrian Arab Army (Qomhana Force) today @ the North Hamah countryside clashing rebels after attacks of the new rebel offensive: pic.twitter.com/hJk0TenoFA
— TheMoroccanBaathist (@MorocanArab) 20 September 2017
The Russian Aerospace Forces operate both Mi-24 and Mi-35 helicopters in Syria. A Mi-35M is an upgrated version of the Mi-24.
Click to see the full-size image
The Russians are involved in some heavy combat, doing a bang up job….
Glad to hear Ahrar is not involved in the attack.
great tactic for the russian led coalition
So the captured T-90, gold plated chariot of Doom for Al Qaida’s leadership has finally been accounted for?
If I recall it correctly it has been captured last year in Khan Touman west of Aleppo by Nour Al-Dine Al-Zinki group who in turn handed it to Al-Nusra. The tank was operated by an SAA crew that abandoned it after it got damaged in combat ; the crew professionalism was then questioned because they claimed to have scuttled the tank with explosives from the inside before abandoning it so it doesn’t fall into enemy hands but it reappeared only few hours later in possession of Al-Zinki fighters with just minor damage.
exactly. we are here (and elsewhere) discussing about ONE single tank , with the moderates basically claiming victory in the war after capturing it. If at any time I should get the feeling that I’m a fool while others are not, I need no more than going back reading those discussion, about that single, unique vehicle, during that single unique engagement.
Yeah, but it was fun. I mean they captured one T-90 and it just kept appearing at all sorts of engagements. Like some Jihadi Robin Hood who keeps on defying the SAA sherif of Nottingham. Or the Jihadi Pimpernel.
They seek it here, they seek it there, Those damn Russians and Syrians seek that T-90 Pimpernel everywhere!
The HTS were so happy when they got this…
The US head-chopping, heart-eating rapers took their time.
The SAA and Allies inflicted heavy losses on the HTS and allies , 187 terrorist targets hit by airstrikes and artillery fire about 850 dead terrorists, 11 tanks, 4 IFVs, 46 pick up trucks, 5 mortars, 38 weapons depots were destroyed. This is what happens when terrorists violate a ceasefire and de-escalation zone and this should be a warning to others , you will be obliterated.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/47845.htm
Military Defeat as a Financial Collapse Trigger
By Dmirty Orlov
Back in 2007 I wrote
Reinventing Collapse, in which I compared the collapse of the USSR to the forthcoming collapse of the USA. I wrote the following: “Let us imagine that collapsing a modern military-industrial superpower is like making soup: chop up some ingredients, apply heat and stir. The ingredients I like to put in my superpower collapse soup are: a severe and chronic shortfall in the production of crude oil (that magic addictive elixir of industrial economies), a severe and worsening foreign trade deficit, a runaway military budget and ballooning foreign debt. The heat and agitation can be provided most efficaciously by a humiliating military defeat and widespread fear of looming catastrophe.” (p. 2) ctd….
HTS are a complete joke now, they’re just a sideshow in the war. They still harbour delusions of defeating the SAA, however many of their former allies of the so-called FSA seem to have little interest in fighting anymore, thus leaving HTS to fight on it’s own.
When was the last time the FSA/HTS made any long-term gains? A few blocks in Daara… that’s about it.