If you’re able, and if you like our content and approach, please support the project. Our work wouldn’t be possible without your help: PayPal: southfront@list.ru or via: http://southfront.org/donate/ or via: https://www.patreon.com/southfront
Early on Friday, the Israeli Air Force struck a target in the Damascus International Airport, according to pro-opposition sources and the Israeli media. There are no details about the damage caused by airstrikes. Pro-Israeli sources claim that the Israeli Air Force targeted a part of the airport used for providing supplies to Hezbollah.
At the same time, reports appeared that the Syrian Air Defense Forces downed “hostile aircraft”, most likely an Israeli reconnaissance drone, over the Damascus countryside.
Late on Thursday, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), supported by the US-led coalition’s airpower and military advisers, seized Tabiyeh and al-Isba oil and gas fields northeast of Deir Ezzor city, according to pro-Kurdish sources.
With this advance, the SDF at least partly blocked an advance of Syrian government forces on the eastern bank of the Euphrates. This and future possible SDF successes in seizing oil and gas infrastructure will directly affect the negotiations between the sides after the defeat of ISIS.
In the city of Raqqah, the SDF, supported by coalition aircraft and artillery, killed 63 ISIS fighters and destroyed 3 VBIEDs as well as further advanced inside the ISIS-held area. Pro-SDF sources claim that the ISIS is on the run and the city will be freed soon.
ISIS fighters in the eastern Hama pocket and the Syrian government have reportedly reached a withdrawal agreement. The agreement will allow ISIS members to withdraw to Idlib or Deir Ezzor provinces, according to different sources. The agreement will allow the Syrian military to free additional forces for operations across Syria. On Wednesday, the Syrian government allowed 1,500 civilians and ISIS family members to withdraw to an area controlled by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham in Idlib.
Turkey will deploy troops in Syria’s Idlib province under as part of a “de-escalation” agreement reached by Ankara, Tehran and Moscow within the Astana format of talks on the Syrian conflict, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Reuters in an interview.
Meanwhile, reports appeared that Turkey deployed more forces additionally to on the border with Syria’s Idlib province. The reinforcements strengthened a grouping of 80 armoured vehicles and 18 MRAPs that had been deployed earlier.
So, withe the HTS massive failure, is it safe to say that the war is within 6 months of being over if not already finished? What do you all think? Yes i see the colors on the map but i check thIs sight about 5 times a day and its about momentum in the war. Since 2015 i think its safe to say RuAF and aeroforce have helped shift the overal momemtum in this war. Pmu and saa will continue to chip at that pocket.. overcoming the US command centers will b diffilcult but when they approach and the US bails the same thing will happen…. turkey, spetnaz, syrian spec op, saa will chip away at idlip, saudi will stop dumping money into idlip, easy syria will be interesting but when saa threaten sdf after the war they will negoiate with land gained from the war. The little pockets near damascus are so destroyed, the videos on r&u videos the war diary show why those pockets exist in western syria, completely destroyed towns no way of advancing, constant stalemate. Theyre cut off and surrounded by SAA. The past 5 months on here have been, the saa and its ALLIES advanced against…. unless f***ing ironman and superman and probably the hulk join the rebels side, this one is over folks. I will still checkin multiple times a day because the small details interest me like how the us command base in southern syria will be overrun,and how the SAA will manuever so close to sdf, alot of backdoor usa and russia communications going on to avoid conflict between the two. Theres so much we civilans and GIs dont know. Plz comment tho im interested in others POVs. Im just a piece of shit personal trainer westerner my opinion doesnt mean squat. LOL
Hardly. There’s yet a change in Kurds leadership policy (which is occupy and steal oil). SDF and IS by now have merged amidst smokescreens add that with US military advisor both from Pentagon or hired contractors make a dangerous muddy mess potentially escalating conflict. The HTS failure sent a messages to US backed forces that their general tactics is no longer effective in mounting a strategic offensive while also inform the Russian that US intel assets would be aggressively used to mount a strike directly to their own forces (until now they limited it to SAA coalition forces). It’s yet another line crossed by US towards direct full confrontation against Russian armed forces.
The hard work still needs to be done. In all the four biggest cities rebel enclaves are only a couple of kilometers from the city center. As a consequence there have been very few refugee returns. Only Aleppo saw a significant number of returnees but I assume that many of them were just staying in the West side of the city. We also know that the Syrian government is actively blocking returns to Homs and other former rebel hotspots.
SF should perhaps do a break down analysis of how/why RF failed to help secure dz oil fields and how it would impact all of the involved, in both short and long term.
My estimate is that the crossing of the Euphrates near Jaffrah was not a smart move. It would have been much better to continue towards Mayadeen and only cross the river near the Omar oil fields. Crossing near Jaffrah was a defiant move that energized the SDF and the Americans. And now the SAA is in a position where advancing East of the river costs a lot more resources than advancing West of it.
You cannot have everything so cede with grace what you cannot have. There will be a second chance when ISIS is beaten and there are negotiations. For now just talk about the SDF and the Americans as allies in the battle against ISIS and keep the conflicting interests on the background as long as possible. There is nothing to win with hostility.
SAA didn’t think there would be no resistance towards SDF advance to the city occupied by IS. SDF started their advance later than SAA and if IS is hostile they won’t overtaken SAA advance.
and id isis will not remove ftom aleppo, still is sitting saa before deir hafer.
RF simply failed because it limited it’s support using airstrikes. A full brigade of mechanized infantry can make such progress very quick but it also mean an increased military campaign cost and casualties inflicted. Ground units offensive still heavily taxed at Syrians and Hezbollah with limited additional heavy equipment added. It may also baffled by the way the IS suddenly US friendly. Probably those unmarked helicopter ops connection.
The Russians should have taken Syria’s side and drove the insurgents off in 2011. That happened under Medvedev’s watch as President of Russia, and he should be held accountable for his condct…
… Still, Russia should have initiated a ground operation. Before this woefully costly war, Syria was a resourceful Russian ally, and had great influence over the economy, and balance of power, in the Middle East.
The SDF are terrorists, there should be no negotiation with them on Syria sovereignty. Syria oïl belongs to the Syria’s people and not to the SDF. By the way, SDF in french means people without fixed home: “sans domicile fixe”. This what they are no more entitled to this country than the jews to Palestine.
France sucks. A nation of alcoholics just like Russia.
and you, irishmen :)))
Yes, and USA is a nation of drug people.
In every culture people use drugs. Alcohol is one of them.
Are you justifying the use of drug ? or, its legalization ? what is the point ? is it the point to point out the defect of any nation ? I means, the point here is Syria war, the creation of terrorists by USA-NATO-Israel with the collaboration of Saudis, Qatar, Jordan, and Turkey. Now, the support of USA to kurds (puppets) to continue making problems in Syria.
The point was that it is silly to say that some countries are alcoholists and/or drug users. It is part of human behaviour and has nothing to do with nationality.
you mean the oil belongs to the assad clan?
It belongs to Siria people.
But the corrupted Assad clan takes most of it. Syria is not excactly Norway….
Correct. The main reason for the uprising was that the elite in Syria were stealing from the people.
Both banks of the Euphrates, and Syria’s oil, belong to Syrians. Syria has some old Kurdish communities, like Kobani, but many other Kurds arrived as refugees from Turkey, and never held Syrian citizenship. Even in SDF held territory, they are a minority, and other ethnic communities maintain their allegiance to Damascus.
If refugees move to another place they should be granted citizenship, at least in civilized countries. The main reasons the minorities support assad is that he uses them to keep in power. The assad clan is a minority as well…. A classic example of a minority ruling over a mayority, wich in many cases is a legacy from the colonial time.
SDF’s are terrorists. They have been helping terrorists..true. They are many times friendly with terrorists…true. Terrorists and SDF are supported by USA-Israel… true. They are opportunists..true. They are thieves…true. They collaborated with Turkey with the Armenian genocide…true. You see, SDF (kurds, USA-puppets) have wonderful qualities, but … they are not terrorists.
seized Tabiyeh and al-Isba oil and gas fields northeast of Deir Ezzor city,
Hang on a bit. Surely an act of war against Syria by a foreign occupying power. Flatten them – they are stealing Syrian resources and land.
ISIS reversed their gains on those oil fields.
Its clear ISIS=SDF. The same lot. Mere semantics. All in it together with the USA. Unfortunately it means further fighting but Syria must take the whole of its country back or it has lost.
yes, I am not questioning that. Syria has won, even if SDF takes the rest of DeZ, it won’t last, local population won’t let them. Assad has Tribal Forces on his side, they were chased of DeZ by ISIS and they are taking it back, they know the area more than anyone.
If SDF takes Deir Ezzor, they will purge arabs and claim that the majority is composed of kurds “legitimizing” the annex, like they do in Raqqa.
Yes, that they will do, but for how long do you think they will hold it? Taking an area is different to holding it. After the dust is settled, you will see ‘SDF’ held territory shrink, without a single shot fired.
No Syria will not have won without that province and with the Kurds in occupation of Syrian land and oil. An equivalent of Israel – dispossessing many Syrians – filled with US bases – and you say Syria has won. The Kurds will need a bit of cleansing out – I would suggest.
You misunderstood me.
the battle in kobani never happened?
Could you elaborate please.
Why? Somebody that believes the SDF and ISIS work together is insane
Someone who believes they don’t work together after the past few days is in total denial and beyond rational thought. You for instance it sppears. The USA is arming, training and financing both. Acting as advisers to both. It is logical to believe that with the US direction – the SDF and ISIS are clearly in collusion – connected by the greatest sponsor of terror and war – the USA.
The Assad regime made deals with ISIS many times. It doesn’t mean They are working together . Do you understand the dirty principles of POLITRICS?
So please document your claim that Assad and ISIS worked together. Put up your evidence. If you can’t, stop spouting US propaganda. I am waiting.
Before the civil war he released a lot of islamic extremists that went to fight in Iraq first and came back after. The regime has been bying oil from them for years. They made several deals after victories with fighters so they could move with busses to Idlib or Deir Ezzor. These are just some obvious examples
Thats not evidence. Its complete undocumented waffle. Where is your evidence?
It is documented. You do not follow the news? And i do not mean only the western news. Where is your evidence to say SDF=ISIS???? That statement is a disgrace for all the volunteers that died to free Rojava!!
This is the ISIS connection – today’s Southfront/ ISIS/USA/SDF https://southfront.org/russian-mod-us-stronghols-located-in-isis-held-regions-near-deir-ezzor/
the russisns use propaganda just like the usa, these so called satelite images could be anything
Another ‘Russians did it’ fanatic. I am sure if the were fakes – the USA and MSM would have called them out by now – in mass hysteria. How did you get so brainwashed matt?. Tell us about it.
Mayebe you need to go back to elementary school, and learn how to read again
You really think they woul bother to react on all the bullshit that is published on SF??
Well do us a favour and don’t bother yourself.
And if this is real, wich is possible, it does not make SDF and ISIS the same. It is one of the dirty POLITCRIC deals that ALL sides make ALL the time.
ISIS and SDF are clearly in collusion through their joint financiers, armers, trainers and handlers. You are in a serious state of denial Matt.
If you read my words carefully, you would not say that…
I do not deny deals being made. This is part of warfare and have always been… But to simply say that SDF=ISIS would mayebe satisfy your elementary school level of understanding world politrics, but not mine..
you obviously don’t understand the oil bussiness. EVERYBODY bought oil from isis. I have a friend in oil trade, believe me it is like drug trafficking. The Iran boycott? FAKE. The oil for food programme? a huge SCAM. Everything is alowed when it comes to oil.
First of…the damn war is not over at all and won´t be any time soon. It has calmed down on some fronts, that´s all. Major obstacles remain and they won´t just solve themselves magically. The battle in Ayn Tarma and Yobar, for instance, is far, far from over and it´s not an easy battle at all. In the last years, the allies have changed their strategy from the regime-change approach towards a divide-and conquer approach. Idlib is full of terrorists now, northern Aleppo is also in the hands of terrorists, and the YPG is going crazy. One can picture the war as going in favour of the SAA since major territorial gains have been made in the last year. Yet, the USA has managed to accomplish many of its strategic goals, including the de-facto division of Syria along the Euphrates river. The future will tell what will happen next, but one thing is for sure: With US bases all around the country and half of the country´s oil reserves taken by foreign powers NOTHING has been achieved yet that can be described as a VICTORY (which for me and president Assad means the liberation of the ENTIRE COUNTRY and the expulsion of ALL DJIHADISTS and FOREIGN POWERS). The oil fields gone means a major setback and let´s call things by their real name. A piece of dogshit won´t become actual beatgold just because we call it “beautiful”
500 million dollars on its way to fund the next war against Syria
The Süddeustche Zeitung has shed light on the fact that arms are being transferred from the headquarters of the US Air Forces in Europe, based in Ramstein (Germany) and are making their way to the Syrian “rebels”.
The weapons, (mainly Kalashnikovs and mortars with their ammunition), have been transferred from the Navy’s arsenal in Crane (Indiana) to the U.S. land army’s arsenal based in Miesau (Germany).
This trafficking is really an extension of Operation Timber Sycamore, conceived by General David Petraeus when he was head of the CIA. It began in 2013, well before Daesh was created. In December 2015, the Serbian newspaper Večernje Novosti made public the role that the Ramstein base was playing in this operation.
On the eve of the German Federal elections, the Süddeutsche Zeitung is focussing its attention on the legal aspect of this discovery.
The US Commander of Special Operations asked the four companies that had been sub contracted, not to declare the nature of the cargo transported, knowing that the German Government could well be opposed to such an operation occurring on its territory. The German Attorney General launched a preliminary inquiry to determine if the Pentagon and the Merkel government had actually complied with German law.
The fact is that German law prohibits arms being transferred to countries at war. Yet, the Merkel government has already authorized weapons being transferred to Saudi Arabia in the context of the trafficking operation carried out by Azerbaïdjan and its airline company, Silk Way. It was unable to ascertain if the jihadists in Syria were the end consumers.
The base at Ramstein has already sparked controversy for its involvement in CIA kidnappings (renditions) and their secret prisons, as well as targeted assassinations by drone in the expanded Middle East. Neither magistrates nor parliamentarians have been authorized access to this base due to an agreement declaring that US forces do not fall within Germany’s territorial jurisdiction.
But what really seizes our attention is the incidental discovery by the Germany daily newspaper, a discovery beyond measure: according to documents of the U.S. Army, the Pentagon launched a tender to buy 500 million dollars of weapons belonging to the former Soviet Union. This contract was awarded in August 2017. Some loads of weapons were then redirected to Croatia.
Following the “Arab Spring”, Al-Nusra and Daesh, the Pentagon is planning a new war against Syria. This time the Pentagon proxy will be Kurdish troops to which these 500 millions dollar worth of arms are allocated. This new conflict should kick off within the next few weeks, once the Iraqi Kurdistan has been declared independent.
“Heikle Fracht aus Ramstein”, “Millionen Schuss Munition für Kalaschnikows”, Frederik Obermaier & Paul-Anton Krüger, Süddeutsche Zeitung, 12. & 20. September 2017.
http://www.voltairenet.org/article197997.html
Thanks for the info. Very worrying but clearly factual as the last 24 hours or so have shown. SDF has now clearly itself an enemy to Syria and in league with ISIS and backed by the USA. Your interesting post confirms this assumption.
His post is bullshit. So are your brains.
sorry, this is true article and also officially was presented last week by balkan group
Perfect. Then the greedy turds are fair game. Hunting season.
It is hard to say where this is going, inasmuch as the evil Washington regime engineers many botches, and tries to get what it wants by bluffing. If the Kurds will not cede what rightfully belongs to Syria, the Syrians should compromise with the Turks, allowing them to employ their massive air power against Kurdish separatists.
Both banks of the Euphrates, and Syria’s oil, belong to Syrians. Syria has some old Kurdish communities, like Kobani, but many other Kurds arrived as refugees from Turkey, and never held Syrian citizenship. Even in SDF held territory, they are not the majority population, and other ethnic communities there maintain their allegiance to Damascus.
When the US JDAM’d the Euphrates bridges….from years ago….They/That signaled US endgame in Syria. Syria,Iran,Russia have had years to plan for endgame. IMO….there was years to develop rapid reaction forces and airpower to seize… ..behind the lines even,…..Key logistic assets which are major game changer leverage. Leave ISUS to have the last hold out cities on the Euphrates, Take the %$@#! Oil/Nat gas fields east of the Euphrates. PMU /Iraq Military pushing west to Syria’s border would have forced US to send their ISUS to block that,…along with the regional chaos forcing ISUS to move….thus becoming Hunting for Russia, Syria and Iraq Airforces. Again. …this is years ago signal of Intent by US after bridges were taken out. Russia would have to increase the number of Attack Helicopters,heavy lift …Co ordinate planning with Iran and Iraq. Missed opportunity….if not just plain FUBAR by all 3 nations vs Empire…Who is running the table on them with marginal force application.
Finally…..Russia has to strike US forces in Syria and Israeli incursion. The War is FUBAR….because Russia is Compromised. ..IE. …..has a Zionist money gun pointed at it.
LOL! The Syrian AF had been bombing those bridges so were half fucked up when Coalition forces finished them off with precision guided bombs. A few were historical iron pedestrian bridges that may be reconstructed. The rest were newer but outdated so needed to be replaced anyways with more traffic lanes and rail lines. I don’t know why you bozos think that the Al-‘Omar fields are prizes worth dying for. Those fields produce a very low grade very sour heavy crude that’s half waste asphalt when refined with little in lube oils and gasoline but a shitload of low grade kerosene and naptha (mineral spirits/paint thinner) with all containing lots of damaging sulfur that requires additional refining to remove. Syria exported it to three refineries in Western Europe who bought the mess after it was mixed with lighter Iraqi crude so it would yield more usable finished products that were exported back to Syria. Russia might build a refinery or two that’ll be able to remove the sulfur and crack the rest into more valuable finished products. Those aren’t cheap so I doubt if Putin will.
“US-BACKED FORCES PUSH FOR SYRIAN OIL”…TRANSLATION…UNITED STATES SIPOYS, PUSH FOR SYRIAN OIL FOR THEIR MASTERS.
These oil fields are essential to Syria’s post war recovery. There is only one way to secure them now, grant the Iraqi army access 100 km into Syria, have them drive 10-20 km north of and parallel to the Euphrates river, bypassing the fortified towns for later. Have them secure the Syrian oil fields. Meanwhile SAA must attack T2 airbase and advance up along the border.
Have the two forces converge on abukamal, attacking from both sides. This will divide Isis in two. When abukamal is taken, the Iraqi army attacks downstream Isis and the SAA attacks upstream Isis.
iraq is far from borders. and also would not do this.
Those oil fields are worthless unless Putin decides to spend big rubles on new modern refineries that can remove the sulfur and crack the rest of that low grade very sour heavy garbage into more usable finished products. Syria exported that junk to three refineries in Western Europe and imported their finished petroleum produucts.
You continue to repeat “those oil fields are worthless ” , and the bridges being bombed by the USAF in D/E were not anti – Syrian . Do remember , that those bridges , and the attack on Thadra mountain , were the first USAF actions in Syria , flown out of Iraq . The gas wells are the money in Omar . The US has done Syria no favors , only attacked a country that had not in any way threatened America , using Wahhabi jihadists , Al Qaeda and ISIS . When the American people find out the truth , look out .
there have been a lot of deaths over these ‘worthless’ oil fields…
Worthless ? Not way, most of the economy of Syria before war was based on this oil fields of Omar, just look up the number in the economy of Syria before the war. Daesh an ISIS trade oil with Europa and Japan with this worthless oil making them very happy to get it. USA has sent their troops (kurds) to get this worthless oil because they are worthless.
http://mobile.almasdarnews.com/article/breaking-satellite-images-reveal-us-forces-operating-freely-isis-areas/
Well fancy that!
SDF claiming to have taken the largest gas field in der ezzoir. oubt they recieved as much resistance as Russian and syrian troops have. Just having al qaeda join SDF ranks with the advance. nothing about captured prisoners or kills. US probably replacing the kurds with ISIS fighters since they got involved