Liwa Suqur al-Raqqah, an Arabian group which is a part of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), announced that its members are storming the strategic Tabqa Air Base located west of the ISIS-stronghold of Raqqah.
According to other sources clashes between the SDF and ISIS are ongoing around and inside the air base. US Apache helicopters are providing a close air support to the SDF by targeting ISIS vehicles in the area. Meanwhile, US collation warplanes targeted ISIS command centers and weapon depots in the Raqqah countryside.
This storm of the Tabqa Air Base came after the SDF, backed by the US Special Forces, successfuly crossed the Euphrates River few days ago and reached the Tabqa dam.
The Tabqa Air Base has a strategic value. If the SDF captures it, it will surrender ISIS units in the town of Tapqah from 3 directions. There are also reports that the US-led collation could plan to use the base to provide supplies for SDF units in the upcoming storm of Raqqah.
SDF captured the Tabqa AB . Now moving to Tabqa city
GREAT! What a surprise for ISUS. An SDF air/anphib invasion! Daeshbags got caught with their pants down. No doubt that 82nd air transport was involved in this operation. But US is trying to downplay the news of their Kurd support.
Hardly a surprise – over three months ago I posted (SF 17DEC2016) the obvious upcoming operation as follows : … Do not be surprised if US pulls a stunt, airborne battle group (101 or 82 airb now in country Iraq) seizing Syrian territory right bank of Euphrates maybe Tabqa dam ? in “support “of SDF advance on Raqqa – so far mysteriously stalled for weeks 25 km north. Trump is an opportunist, he is no friend of the A-rabs, let alone Syria. He loves Israel, Bibi is happy. The war will go on. And further : ..seizing an airhead at Tabqa dam would be a huge propaganda success for Trump (USARM really needs a “win “right now). So my guess is some op along right (south) bank of Euphrates, or maybe to create Trumps “safe haven ” between Raqqa and”Deir az-Zour ..” and then on SF 20DEC2016 : …Perfect opportunity for an amphibious assault group to effect a nightime crossing to the south bank, turn east and take Airbase Tabqa but will the US and French come to the party.. ” Just stated the bleeding obvious, working out exactly as forecast.
Taking a bridgehead across the Lake and expanding it is no small task. Vehicles must also be ferried across for support. I was hoping the tigers would get there first, but they are tied up in N Hama. ISUS must be attacked one way or the other. This will take pressure off of Deir Ezzor and other SAA fronts..
Very good news. there is no force in Syria on par with the SDF you guys are amazing. After raqqa Deir ezzor will be next.
FYI Deir az-Zour has been held by Syrian forces since forever !
Not for long.
A small part of Deir ezzor has been valiantly held by the SAA. Most of the city is under ISIS control.
This base is garbage, and will need months of repair to get it in somewhat decent shape. Despite the picture showing two airstrips, those strips have been torn up and concrete barricaded by the terrorists long ago, to prevent just the sort of scenario mentioned in the article.
Don’t be so glum. With a few covered hangers for Apaches and C130 supplied fuel, C130 gunship, plus other air cover, and perimeter defense: and don’t forget nearby Marine artillery; whats not to love about Tabqa Air base!
the fact that the US and French are sticking their nose into Syria
Just like Germany after WWII
And the legitimate syrian government is just gonna roll over and let us have it forever and ever and ever right?
I mean, its not like assad is GOING ANYWHERE ANYTIME soon…
US engineers will have that airbase fixed, expanded, and up and running in no time.
It’s one of the largest bases in the country able to take large AC130’s and C17 Globemaster’s the base is in no way insignificant.
All while ignoring the fact that that base is STILL syrian government property right?
see… Told ya the place was trashed: https://southfront.org/photos-from-tabqa-airbase-recently-captured-by-sdf/
Locals had reported months ago that the air base was long ago abandoned by ISIS after they looted it. Curious about all these supposed battles to reach it. Then there were the obviously faked aerial photos of a cratered Tabqa Air Base when it seems ISIS simply piled some sand berms and junk vehicles on the runways. Why would ISIS preserve the runways? And who would bother publishing photo-shopped images of a supposedly destroyed Tabqa Air Base runway when it can probably be made fully functional in a few hours with a bulldozer?
And ISIS doesn’t drive around in technicals getting blown away if they know attack helicopters are around – that goes for anywhere in Syria, And exactly what the hell kind of ‘command posts’ and ‘ammunition depots’ would ISIS have anywhere there but inside Tabqa? What an odd thing to claim to have attacked with aircraft. Some kind of small guard outposts, sure. But ammo dumps? ISIS uses small arms, heavy machine guns and shoulder-fired rockets. They don’t have a brigade of armor that needs a couple square miles of bunkers full of ammunition. They have always just used houses in the past.
Then there was the flurry of fake reports of the SDF ‘taking’ the Tabqa Dam when they just took the little guard post on the north end. And that was after the marine artillery leveled everything in the area. Not much of a battle, and probably few ISIS there anyway. That’s not the business end of the dam – there’s nothing there except the guard post and some unmanned flood gates and a crane for an irrigation canal. It’s part of the dam, but like 10% of it and nothing important. They are still two miles away from the power house and switch yards.
This is starting to sound more and more like some desperate hype of the SDF with an imaginary enemy and made-up battles. I’m sure ISIS is in Raqqa and will defend it, but why the coalition theatrics about Tabqa? I have no idea why they would do this. What’s the message suppose to be? I’m sure the SDF is competent enough, but why all this cheerleading (or whatever the message is suppose to be)?
These ‘Tabqa’ reports are even more unusual after coming on the heels of reports of ISIS clearing out the peninsula last month of civilians and military. Why would ISIS do that? Even CENTCOM said there was little opposition in their ‘air assault’. So the U.S. and SDF forces have a cakewalk right outside of Tabqa City and the dam supplying Raqqa with electricity and water, yet the SAA, Hezbollah and Russia have to fight like hell every time they go after ISIS in the middle of nowhere?
See why I’m confused? It’s almost like the U.S. and cronies are still able to steer ISIS to certain places and get them to leave other places. All ahead of time and without much of a fight. A skeptical mind might say that is precisely what has been happening all along.
Sources please. Otherwise everything you said may or may not be true. Just pure speculation.
Everything I have ever written is either speculation or hearsay – take it for what its worth. How would links to tweets, blogs and obscure foreign news sites ‘prove’ that anything is true? Or are you talking about links to legitimate media organizations and .gov who either ignore or spin everything about Syria? I’m mostly skeptical of the suspicious claims of those sites. It’s the credibility of the usual sources and the sources’ claims themselves that I am questioning.
Years later…Learned that US bribed Iraq Military to stand down, ….run away, Leave arsenals unguarded ( Future IEDs for AL qeada in Iraq). How both Sunni and Shia in Iraq attacked each other’s Mosques and holy parades. Drilled kneecaps and dumped bodies as Negroponte/Central America death squad 2.0 raged in Bugdud and elsewhere.
As you point out about ISIS magically serve and then disappear on Que. Russia see’s and knows what’s going on.. I’m wondering why they bother to play the game with Empire?. Maybe for Russia it is opportunity to obtain some bases,…display weapons for Foreign Export, ..Continue military duty cycle R&D on weapons systems in Syria/Iraq. Iran probably doing same in Yemen.
In a jaded sense…it’s not Win a war….so much…as just have a War. Sun Tzu would be impressed with the show.
Sure that Kurds have released some propaganda news. But I don’t think Daesh will give up Tabqa city without a fight. Some ISUS personnel where probably pulled from the peninsula because they are short on manpower. I think they did not expect this assault. Neither did I think SDF had many landing ferries grouped up on the north shore.
I agree, PZIVJ, but then why would ISIS boot civilians (supposedly refugees) off the peninsula too? And if they were short on personnel, then why defend a supposedly useless air base right across the highway from it? There’s a possibility that all these separate questions can be explained independently by circumstances we don’t know about – I’m just calling attention to the unusual string of coincidences and deceptions here that suggest something else is happening. At least something much different than CENTCOM and the SDF are trying to portray. Why is ISIS acting so different here in their supposed capitol where their most important leaders live rather than the way their acting in, say, Deir EzZor?
We know both cities are eventually going to be taken from ISIS. I’m not questioning the inevitable outcome, I’m asking why are they acting different here.
I am hoping that ISUS is in complete disarray. Their lines of communication have been cut in two at the river (all bridges). And then again at Al Tabka. Next SDF will make a crossing east of Raqqa I think. This is good for SSA at Deir Ezzor!
The Septics and their local collaborators do seem to be taking their time with Raqqa and poncing about everywhere else don’t they?
Remember when Zionist/Empire media taunted Putin that Russia is not Fighting ISIS?
ISUS is. …US,Saudi, Turkey,Israhell. Is Russia Fighting US,Saudi, Turkey,Israel? Answer is No!……Terror creators get a pass.
Until Russia squares off against these @k’rs,…..it’s just Kabuki theatre. Cheering for Russia = Disappointment. Russia is still Rothschild Central Bank,….Jewish Oligarchs everywhere Putin Periphery.
Only ones winning in these wars are the MIC and Bankers,…which includes Russia.
Because it is a movie made for us to make us think there is a war going on.