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Turkish forces continue to face hard times near al-Bab. After their withdrawal from the al-Bab hospital on December 22, ISIS used at least one suicide bomber against the Turkish army and pro-Turkey militants and continued attacks in the area.
As a result of the clashes, ISIS captured two Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks, one ACV-15 vehicle, a buldozer and various munitions from Turkish forces. Photos confirm that Turkish forces suffered a major defeat. The ISIS-linked Amaq news agency claimed that the Turkish Army and pro-Turkey militant groups had lost over 70 fighters. The Turkish military confirmed that 16 its soldiers were killed and claimed that it had destroyed 90 ISIS targets in al-Bab killing 67 terrorists.
Later that day, the terrorist group released a video of burning alive 2 Turkish soldiers – Fathi Shahin and Saftar Tash. The soldiers were captured by ISIS near al-Dana in the end of November.
By December 23, most of the pro-Turkey militants had fled in the direction of Azraq from western al-Bab. The Turkish army’s personnel are now trying to gather the so-called “opposition fighters” and to force them to prepare for a new offensive attempt. Photo-evidence still show a high number of Turkish troops among militant infantry. Turkish artillery units and warplanes once again launched massive strikes on targets inside and outside al-Bab.
Late on December 22, ISIS units launched an offensive near Jubb al-Jarah in eastern Homs, engaging the National Defense Forces (NDF) in the outskirts of Khattab. By December 23, ISIS terrorists have taken control of Khattab and launched a fresh push in the direction of Jubb al-Jarah. Clashes are ongoing in the area.
Fighting between ISIS and government forces continued in the area of the Tyas Airbase and the Tyas Pumping Station. Since December 22, the terrorist group have made two failed attempts to advance on the army and its allies in the area, suffering losses in manpower. The situation remains tense.
Trying to goad those useless FSA military refuse goblins onto ISIS positions must be similar to goading a jackal to attack a tiger…
Ok, so what do you say about SAA and NDF on the run from IS as well?
SAA and NDF have some good forces but most is rabble. They rely heavily on support of RuAF, Hezbollah and foreign militia.
the corruption is really high in the SAA administration, I belive many (not all) regiments only fight for personal interests, so they only participate in offensives or resistances when they can have some personal benefits, like food, sheltter or money
It shows.
In my personal opinion only the YPG, YPJ, SDF in general, are forces that are both disciplined, trained, dedicated and well led.
The only thing they lack is heavy weapons.
if you were the liutenant would you have ordered to stay? really, this is not age of empires, this men have family and hopes, they are defending their homes, would you have ordered to keep the line in a battle of 1000 SAA troopers in front of more than 5000 daesh fighters?
“As result of the clashes, ISIS captured two Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks, one ACV-15 vehicle, a buldozer and lots of various munition from Turkish forces. Photos confirm that Turkish forces suffered a major defeat”…Wow! what an ingenious way to resupply the INTERNATIONAL MERCENARY TERRORISTS without been accused of arming the TERRORISTS, just like the US did in Mosul, Iraq.
ISIS may/probably has Communications trained Special Forces from Gulf States who Recieve SAT real time info from US/Saudi operations in Jordan.
ISIS teams in Stay behind ….are able to catch Turks in small action contact with ATGM where Turk not expect them. Over run the Leopard tank lager.
“Wow! what an ingenious way to resupply the INTERNATIONAL MERCENARY TERRORISTS without been accused of arming the TERRORISTS” I agree, and that video of Turks allegedly being burned alive looks very very staged for the camera to me. Similar to the ones of the “humanitarians” decapitated (with a Martian-type background (no doubt a greenscreen)) who all happened to have heavy military/agent/spy backgrounds, including the guy who was busy in Libya pushing for that war (James Foley I think his name might have been). And they had two different sets of crisis actors posing as his parents.
The Turkish military seems quite hapless. The only reason they would abandon those tanks is because they are fairly defenceless against the TOW missiles supplied by Turkey to Isis. They have probably lost a few Leopards and M60’s to missile ambushes since August. The fact that the troops and FSA are running shows that the Turkish soldiers are ill motivated to be in this war. Erdogan’s double standards and the Turkish Intelligence’s double dealings with Isis in the past are coming back to haunt them.
PaybAck Bitches!!!