The Syrian government forces have launched an attack in the Ramouseh Neighborhood in southern Aleppo. The Syrian army, Hezbollah and Iraqi militias are advancing towards the Gas Plant and along the highway to the Ramouseh Roundabout.
This move poses a significant threat to the jihadists’ logistics in the area. If the pro-government forces are able to seize the Gas Plant, they will be able to increase the pressure on the newly opened jihadi corridor to the Alramousa Neighborhood.
We remind, recently, some 2000 Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba fighters arrived the Aleppo city in order to strengthen the Syrian government forces there.
Click to see the full-size map
It would be adequate for RU to send some of its own (additional) special ops. men in Aleppo as well. They could coordinate air sorties from the ground. They could also advise SAA allies on tactical matters.
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The important thing would be if at today’s meeting in Sankt-Petersburg, Putin would let Erdogan know – informally and subtly – that Turkey should stop fueling jihadists in Syria – at least as long as RU is involved there….
Russia has been providing air support and spending a lot of money. TBH, Iran has much at at stake here. Iran should throw in 20,000 regular infrantry into the mix to turn the tide. I don’t know why they haven’t stepped up to the plate. Russia cannot be expected to do everything.
First off, Russia is NOT providing air cover to the guys on the front line in Aleppo. Only the Syrian air force flying close air support (Russians have a deal with Israel not to fly cover for Hezbollah). That is why they are making so much noise about hitting “supply lines” but providing no photos or maps of the targets. It’s all bullsh!t IMO.
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Second, Russia has had spec ops and advisors in Syria for several years now.
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Third, Iran is not going to send Persian soldiers into Syria. That would go over very poorly since this is an Arab region. Iran is training and arming local pro-Assad forces. The two biggest groups are Palestinian and Afghan refugees. As far as I know the only Iranians in Syria are the officers commanding these units and a few spec ops.
I read your other posts and articles. Thank you. I realize Russia is being too trusting of the neocons and should have pushed on without reducing their forces. I read about Iran’s complaints in that article you posted. However, Iran has the most to lose here. If it takes a propaganda campaign to make the Iranian public realize Syria will be a safe haven for suicidal terrorists to attack Iran, then they need to do what is necessary. However, it appears Erdogan and Turkey, at least in the short term (as I don’t trust him as anything but a would be Sunni Sultan) may help end the conflict. The article made the interesting point that Erdogan may actually begin supporting Assad in return for pushing back against a Kurdish state. Very interesting. Thanks again.
Sorry I woke up this morning and saw the Russians were still bombing Homs and Idlib…old George was in a rather cranky mood.
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Hopefully I’m full of sh!t and there is some devious master plan at work…
Read this article, it explains why Russia and Iran don’t see eye-to-eye.
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TL:DR = Putin only wants Damascus and Lattakia, Iran wants to save all of Syria.
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http://thesaker.is/the-syrian-conflict-an-iranian-perspective-on-the-russian-involvement-and-a-potential-turkish-cooperation/
Thank you! That article really explained everything very concisely. IMO, Russia should have never believed in the ceasefire being anything other than giving the terrorists a break and time to resupply (thought this allowed the SAA to take Palmyra) Maybe the “Turkish Factor” will play a major role. At any rate, if Syria falls to radicals, Russia and Iran will be sitting ducks for terrorists operating out of a safe haven in Syria (if Erdogan is lying). We’ll see. Thanks again for that excellent article.
You’re welcome :)
Iran put together a 100% Iranian-born, elite, special forces, etc. group and deployed them onto the front line at a place called Khan Thouman (spelling?).
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It was a disaster, they lost a vital hilltop and took major casualties. Rumor has it their defeat was caused by poor logistics and lack of cooperation with Arab units.
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After this debacle Iranian public opinion turned sharply against direct intervention.
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TL:DR = Iran tried this approach already and it was an embarrassing, bloody failure.
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No nation on earth is about to send their own sons into the meatgrinder that is Syria.
Thanks for the info. I was wondering if public opinion was behind this decision. It’s too bad. Saudi Arabia and the Sunni states are sending in tens of thousands of radicals to fight. Iran should train some Pakistani, Bahrain, or Yemeni fighters to counter the Salafists. The Assad side needs manpower. They are too stretched out. Also, believing the deception about the US backed SDF attacking Raqqa drew them into that failed offensive. Those troops would have been better served in Aleppo.
“The important thing would be if at today’s meeting in Sankt-Petersburg, Putin would let Erdogan know – informally and subtly – that Turkey should stop fueling jihadists in Syria – at least as long as RU is involved there….”
Why “informally and subtly” – and why just “as long as RU is involved there”?