Killing of ISIS leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi

Signore Fancy Pants

Just to add to jmreire's comments.

Russia has primarily played a strategic role in Syria and less of a tactical one. This was mainly to achieve a strategic foothold in the MENA region, something they couldn't do with Libya.

They provided Assad with air assets as the Syrian airforce were unable to, and TBH, using the Russia aerospace forces meant that it was unlikely that Israel or coalition forces would target them, unlike Syrian air assets.

Of course, they assured their legitimacy in Syria by using faux diplomacy. Hosting, sponsoring and engaging in negotiations to "end the civil war", which just basically means they could shape the future of Syria and try to "keep the US out".

However, they did use senior military leaders and advisors on the ground (aswell as "PMC's), not only to upskill the Russian military but also because SAAF troops needed competent direction.

There was never a time when full Russian military units were fighting in Syria.

Gatling

For a number of years there was numerous map's showing where and when russian aircraft dropped bombs, they showed a ring of regular bombings around Damascus, nowhere else ,

They even released a video showing Russian aircraft bombing an empty field with cluster bombs , which made no sense

SafeSurfer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118586144#Comment_118586144

The Syrian army and ISIS have “come up against each other”. You make it sound like they accidentally bumped into each other. Many in the Free Syrian Army, funded, trained and equipped by the US among others joined ISIS.

You question if the Syrian army were “significantly” fighting ISIS, whatever that means, despite it suffering more casualties in the fight against ISIS than the latecomer SDF.

Your assertion that the Syrian army were not “up against” ISIS when they were a cohesive organization doesn’t reflect reality.

One must remember that the Syrian army was battling dozens of anti government groups as well as state actors.

SafeSurfer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118586328#Comment_118586328

The Russians are in Syria at the request of the internationally recognized Syrian government.

Russian Faux diplomacy? As opposed to the genuine diplomacy of the US, recognising the Syrian opposition as the legitimate government in December 2012 and Insisting there could be no talks until Assad was removed thus making it a zero sum game and prolonging the civil war.

Signore Fancy Pants

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118586627#Comment_118586627

I'm not "making it sound like" anything, you just think so because you don't know as much as you think you know. Your big problem here is you are just working with surface level media/open source information. Not knowledge or experience.

The FSA were made up of over 350 entities, less than 20 were trained/funded by US in Turkey/Jordan. And it was well after 2011. Now they are primarily aided by Turkey.

Once the FSA lost traction and indeed funding, some of the anti-Assad moderates switched to more Jihadi factions such as ISIS/AQ. That's quite normal, especially when it came to opposing the coalition due to treatment of Muslims, rather than support for ISIS. They traded their opposition of Assad to opposition of the US.

Like it or not, ISIS was NOT Assad's main effort. Believe it or not, without ISIS acting the bollox, coalition efforts would be focused on Assad. Sure Assad used to buy oil from ISIS.

Just to annoy you further, these attacks you are seeing in Homs/Deir ez-Zeir and Damascus, are normally instigated by ISIS cells, rather than a SAAF CT effort.

To blow your mind even further, the "SAAF" units that are taking on ISIS is normally the Russian backed (trained/funded/controlled) 8th Brigade, 5th Corps. These are NOT traditional SAAF troops. They are former FSA/Jihadists who are controlled by Russia and Hezbollah.

Either way, you are proving my point. Assad was far more focused on the FSA, rather than combating ISIS, because thats where the threat was from.

You are not at the races here at all man, you have some cheek pretending that you are.

SafeSurfer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118586222#Comment_118586222

I’m specifically interested in when this was

“….I was in Damascus when the Syrian Free Army and isis came out of the manholes in the streets inside the Damascus security perimeter. The fall of Damascus was expected within days”

and also

”This constant shelling went on until the Russians cleared the areas around Damascus, and that was when a deal was struck between the Regime and opposition forces that allowed the opposition to move to Idlib”

“ I remember the convoys of busses escorted by regime force's travelling to Idlib, where they remain to this day, with their agreement. The Russians then moved to Tartous and Latakia where they set up bases.”

Are you saying these things happened when you were in Damascus between 2013-2016?

SafeSurfer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118586981#Comment_118586981

I don’t know how you can be so pompous and dismissive and come out with claims that the US only funded and trained a tiny percentage of the FSA. Those weapons and funds ended up in the hands of all types of extremists not just the “less than 20” groups you claim.

The FSA were even selling US provided weapons to Al-Nusra.

I never claimed ISIS were “Assad’s main effort”. Quite the contrary in fact.

What I did object to is posters claiming Syrian and Russian forces were not and have never engaged ISIS.

jmreire

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118586029#Comment_118586029

Damascus Military Situation May 2018..pdf

This pic shows the Damascus military situation in May 2018. This was the same situation when I arrived in 2013, and had been so for a long time before I came. While I was there, each side shelled and bombed each other on a daily basis. So at that stage there was much contact between Assad forces and the opposition, with the opposition forces slowly getting the upper hand But it was 2015 I think, that rebels from the opposition area, using the water system, come up in the street's inside the Damascus security perimeter, and rumor's were rife that the City was about to fall into opposition hands. On this occasion, the attack was repulsed, but it did not stop the rumors. It was not until the Russians arrived that the tide changed in favor of Assad. But even after that, and despite the Russians bombing, they still held out, and according to the Map, held out for quite a while after the Russian arrival. So it seems that the Russians were content to sit back, bomb when needed, and use the opposition as a knife to hold at Assads throat, should the need arise. For sure, there was definitely no ground assault by Assad / Russian military to clear out all the opposition from that part of Damascus, and for Assad to regain full control of the city again, like what happened in Raqqa, Deir-el-Zour and Baghus when the US supported Yazidis and Free Syrian Army cleaned out isis.

jmreire

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118587003#Comment_118587003

Are you for real SS? Is that what you do? Make up story's and throw them into the discussion? That's not and never has been my style, believe it or not... my comments are based on personal experience, can you say the same???

SafeSurfer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118587200#Comment_118587200

Why get so touchy?

I have never been to Syria, Afghanistan or Libya, unlike you.

Im just curious about the events that occurred during your time in Damascus. You know, the imminent fall of the city and the escorted busing of rebels to Idlib.

jmreire

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118587282#Comment_118587282

OK then. I was expecting to get grilled on what I had posted, because in the first sentence, I had " Believe it or not" and many chose to disbelieve or try an pick holes in my comment. ( which of course, they are entitled to, but at times, it gets a bit annoying, especially when I'm making a post in all sincerity and honesty, and to the best of my ability )

Yes, these events took place while I was there. You should be able to pick up pics on the net, showing the bus convoys heading for Idlib. The opposition getting through security perimeter around Damascus, did happen. But for understandable reasons, was not reported much, especially by the regime, or by the international press as they did not know because they were tightly controlled. There were many such incidents that never saw the light of day publicity wise.

Here's a link for you to follow, and see what was going on, it mentions movements of opposition forces to Gouta and Deraa, but also safe passage for isis to Idlib. The isis part is very interesting..... talk about "My enemies enemy, is my Friend" and strange bed fellows..

Assad's Secret Transfer of ISIS Fighters to Idlib May Sabotage the Ceasefire

Published October 1st, 2018 - 11:32 GMT

Signore Fancy Pants

Sigh.

This is what you posted earlier in the thread, and this is why people have been calling you out on it.

"The fighting and dying in the war against Islamic State has largely been done by the Syrian army".

It's false. The SAAF have not largely been doing the fighting against ISIS. You have been corrected numerous times and also been given reasons why they haven't.

"The Russians are in Syria at the request of the internationally recognized Syrian government".

I know, now how about you tell us why and what concessions Syria had to make and how have Russia benefitted? Then tell us what Russia's intentions have been? Then tell us how their strategic control has affected the US/Israel/Turkey relationship?

"Russian Faux diplomacy? As opposed to the genuine diplomacy of the US"

Again with your anti-US rhetoric. How about you now tell us what diplomatic efforts Russia has been involved in and with who? Then tell us how they usurped the UN led negotiations so they could control the syrian civl war. Then tell us why you disagree with the "faux diplomacy" comment.

"I don’t know how you can be so pompous and dismissive"

Because you are not at the races with your information and your heavy anti-US bias is misrepresenting the reality.

"Claims that the US only funded and trained a tiny percentage of the FSA"

There was only 20 supported FSA factions around Damascus but up to 80 country wide. It makes absolutely zero difference either way, the US supported everyone bar Pro-Assad groups.

Maybe you can tell us about how Assad facilitated jihadist training in Syria in order to tackle the US in Iraq, prior to the Arab Spring. Do you think there may be a connection there at all?

"Those weapons and funds ended up in the hands of all types of extremists not just the “less than 20” groups you claim."

Of course they have, the same as Israeli weapons systems. Lets not forget that Irish made military componants have been used in various weapons systems in Syria. Why are you not crying about that?

"The FSA were even selling US provided weapons to Al-Nusra."

All groups were selling weapons and equipment to each other, all of them! Al Nusra Front/Jabhat al-Nusra/Jabhat Fatah al-Sham/Hayat Tahrir al-Sham were also supported by Israel. So too were Jaysh Khaleed ibn al-Waleed.

"I never claimed ISIS were “Assad’s main effort”. Quite the contrary in fact."

You inferred it by stating that SAAF did most of the fighting against ISIS. They didnt, the SDF did. The SAAF didnt have the capability to fight both ISIS and aaaallllll the other FSA and AQ alligned groups. 

SafeSurfer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118587759#Comment_118587759

Sigh

At least we have moved on from arguing whether the Syrian army ever fought ISIS to whether they did MOST of the fighting. More Syrian army soldiers were killed fighting ISIS than SDF were killed fighting ISIS.

Maybe your sycophantic pro American bias is misrepresenting reality.

The US was agitating for regime change in Syria long before the Russians ever got involved.

Comparing Irish made components being used in weapons systems to the US sending billions in weapons, aid and training to anyone willing to fight against Assad is just ridiculous as well you know.

Maybe, just maybe the Syrian army could have prioritised defeating ISIS if the US and others hadn’t spent billions of dollars and thousands of lives trying to destroy the Syrian government.

Be honest. American intervention in Syria has been a disaster. None of their aims were achieved. Assad is still in power. They cut and ran from their Kurdish allies, sowing future distrust.

Russia’s intervention on the other hand has been successful. Their goals have largely been achieved, Assad is still in power and Russian prestige has been increased throughout the region.

Of course some people will want to rewrite history and portray the usual narrative of Americans good Russians bad.

US motivations as only to spread peace, love and prosperity

The dastardly Russians motivated by self interest.

And you lecture about nuance and complexity!

Gatling

@SafeSurfer American intervention in Syria has been a disaster. None of their aims were achieved. Assad is still in power. They cut and ran from their Kurdish allies, sowing future distrust.

And yet here we are Americans getting the job done against isis .....

Seems like another oh nobody told me moment

SafeSurfer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118588215#Comment_118588215

Go ahead Gatling. If you want to argue US intervention in Syria was a success be my guest.

Gatling

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118588252#Comment_118588252

Case in point the first post in this thread

SafeSurfer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118588262#Comment_118588262

Jesus

Gatling

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118588295#Comment_118588295

Unfortunately you've shown nothing but a lack of even basic knowledge on the whole situation on Syria , you made multiple denials and several others completely made it more than obvious ,

I may not post as elequently like several others have but I do know what I'm talking about

SafeSurfer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118588311#Comment_118588311

Sure.

You were explaining what a success US intervention in Syria was…..

Gatling

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118588331#Comment_118588331

Vs not even knowing the basics...

Murica did and murica did that

jmreire

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118585879#Comment_118585879

I've just read the wiki report for 2021. And I can see a bit where you are coming from..aside from the fact there is still killing going on, the 2021 situation is as far apart as chalk and cheese from when I was there. In 2013-2015. the war was still raging. Battles were still being fought, lines were drawn, with few grey areas, heavy fighting going on. There were frequent incursions from the opposition controlled areas of Damascus ( and further out) into the city itself. But not so much the other way by the Assad Army, they confined their efforts to bombing. At that particular time, the Assad army were seriously short of manpower, and not just in Damascus, but everywhere. Hundreds of thousands of military age men left Syria, rather than fight for Assad,.The army nrs had been bled down to the extent that they were city wide checkpoints , and patrols scouring the city streets stopping people, especially military age men, and checking their document's. Anybody they found, straight into the paddy wagon with them, and next day they were in the army. Non critical checkpoints were manned by old men and in some cases, women. Not so surprising then that the regime were not committing their soldiers to attacks on isis/ FSA/ other positions. They were needed too much for defense. They did however use barrel bombs, lots of them dropped from helicopters in areas around and outside the City. Which also of course showed how deficient they were in Airpower.

Then came the Russians, and of course the tide changed for Assad. The ring of opposition forces surrounding the city, were bombed into submission, large Nrs of opposition were transferred to Idlib. Only after this happened did Assad start to send his troops into the rebel held areas, and it was by agreement, as there was a truce. it was generally, to show that Assan was in control. So attacks on Assad forces were rare.

Now we fast forward to 2021 and your WIKI report for 2021. Its absolutely riddled with regime forces dying, so what has changed? The "War" is over, Assad won ( we leave Idlib out for now..its special case. ) But winning the war, and keeping the peace are two different things,, Its now developed into a kind of guerrilla warfare, just like the Afghans used to drive out the Russians, and the Taleban used to drive out the US,. So now you have Assad patrols, covering vast areas, and they are siting ducks for ambushes, And there are plenty of "incidents" . Lots of the promises made to the opposition to get them to go quietly, were never kept, and of course, at heart the opposition is still the opposition. Unless you are going to go for a scorched earth policy, heavy artillery and Air support is pretty useless against an enemy you cant even find, let alone see. So its "labor intensive" so to speak, And now, its quite possible that there are more Assad soldiers dying, then there were during the actual war in full assaults on isis / FSA/ Other.

Bottom line : The Syrian story is far from over. When will it end? Damascus City is 10'000 years old, its the oldest permanently occupied City on the planet. 10, 20, 50 or even 100 years is only blip in that part of the world. The coffee shop next to the great gate in the City wall, is 400 years old. But they make great coffee, and Shiska., as they should I suppose, with all the practice they have had.

Signore Fancy Pants

"At least we have moved on from arguing whether the Syrian army ever fought ISIS to whether they did MOST of the fighting. More Syrian army soldiers were killed fighting ISIS than SDF were killed fighting

Let me first state that it is entirely evident that you have very very very limited knowledge of what you are talking about. And that is perfectly fine, we dont know everything but just admit you dont know what you are taking about and we can help you understand.

You havent addressed any of the relevent statements I have made from geopolitical to tactical issues. You are clinging on to arguments over semantics as a way to undermine another poster due to your own ignorance. Just because you dont know what you are talking about, doesnt mean others dont.

"We" arent moving on from anything. The SAAF have fought ISIS but they didnt do the heavy lifting as you state they did. You are ignorantly equating the amount of Syrian military deaths attributed to ISIS as being some sort of barometer for who combatted ISIS the most.

Its a false equivilence, the SDF faired out better due to their western support. The SAAF lost more troops due to being a weaker conventional force. The bulk of the remaining traditional SAAF elements werd busy engaging their primary threat, which was the FSA etc. It was the Syrian National Defence Forces who were primarily killed by ISIS. These were basically local reserve troops, poorly equipped and reinforced. Located in isolated locations to "hold ground". Thats who ISIS were targeting, hence, more dead SAAF.......NOT because SAAF were fighting ISIS more than the SDF.

Maybe your sycophantic pro American bias is misrepresenting reality.

Im not pro-US, I think they have done more to destabilise the MENA region than anyone else. They provided radicals with a common entity to despise. They created the conditions for security vaccums for their own agendas, and it hasnt worked. You cant project western ideals to usurp Muslim ideals.

The US was agitating for regime change in Syria long before the Russians ever got involved.

Yes, I know. Whats your point, if you have one, please share it

Comparing Irish made components being used in weapons systems to the US sending billions in weapons, aid and training to anyone willing to fight against Assad is just ridiculous as well you know

Its very far from ridiculous, your brushing aside of it shows how little you know. You are just on an anti-US rant again. How about you counter my comments with credible and informed rebuttals....oh yeah, you cant.

Tell me about Irelands indirect role with assisting Hezbollah and Iran with their efforts in Syria. Tell me also about your knowledge of Irish people training the FSA. Dont be brushing aside Ireland complicity just because you again, have NO idea what you are talking about

Maybe, just maybe the Syrian army could have prioritised defeating ISIS if the US and others hadn’t spent billions of dollars and thousands of lives trying to destroy the Syrian government.

Again, displaying your lack of knowledge or critical thinking. ISIS didnt show up until well after the Arab Spring. Have another read of Wkipedia again.

You have been very quiet in relation to Turkey and other Muslim states funding the FSA. Lets hear about that, and not just the US. You are the one who is biased here.

Be honest. American intervention in Syria has been a disaster. None of their aims were achieved. Assad is still in power. They cut and ran from their Kurdish allies, sowing future distrust.

No, US intervention has not worked, the Regime has not been toppled. You seem to think this was just a US plan and seem to think they directed the Arab Spring. Its also not the "Kurdish allies". The SDF is both Kurdish and Muslim.

Now please explain to me about how the US "cut and ran". Im very very interested to see your analysis on this, please respond.

Russia’s intervention on the other hand has been successful.

Yes, tell me all their goals please.

Of course some people will want to rewrite history and portray the usual narrative of Americans good Russians bad.

Well, I wont. I have an unbiased view of all actors engaged in the Syrian conflict. I'm not pro-anyone.

US motivations as only to spread peace, love and prosperityThe dastardly Russians motivated by self interest.

Yeah, neither of those sarcastic remarks can be directed at me. They have both used Syria fof their own agendas, but I already mentioned that.

And you lecture about nuance and complexity!

Yes, because you are in a heap here. You are very simplistic in your knowledge, yet reply incorrectly as if you know whats going on.

Dont bother replying to me unless your can meaningfully counter all my posts in this thread. Best of luck.

SafeSurfer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118590460#Comment_118590460

Wow you’re a regular Karl Hungus.

“That’s why they sent me, I am an expert.”

You start off by saying

“Let me first state that it is entirely evident that you have very very very limited knowledge of what you are talking about”

Then proceed to ask me a dozen questions and ask me to explain things to you.

“Tell me about Irelands indirect role with assisting Hezbollah and Iran with their efforts in Syria”

”Tell me also about …. Irish people training the FSA.”

”tell me all their goals please.”

“please explain to me about how the US "cut and ran". Im very very interested to see your analysis on this”

I am happy to help your understanding but am a little unsure if the sincerity of your quest for deeper understanding.

Its a Sunday and I really must spend some time with my family but if you are serious I would be happy to help your understanding and explain things to you as best I can.

In the meantime, as a little preparation, have a little read up on the Dunning-Kruger effect.

jmreire

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118588295#Comment_118588295

Safe Surfer,

I've never met either Gatling or Signore Fancypants, ( to the best of my knowledge, but its always a possibility ) the very name Gatling indicates military, but if I make a post / comment and if he adds to it or corrects it, ( and its always constructive) I take note of it. Same with Signore. There have been several times that I've posted about an incident or similar, and my take on it, purely because I happened to be in that place at that time, and had first hand knowledge of it. Signore has many times taken my comment, placed the context in which it occurred. For example, a large bomb lands near a building in the centre of Damascus, sending everyone to the ground, and I post about it. Signore then explains that particular bombing was carried out by SFA and they were targeting that particular building because it houses XXY, and its in retaliation for an attack by the Russian's in YYX. For sure, he knows his Syria. ( and both of them more than likely other wars too...

jmreire

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118587282#Comment_118587282

Part 2 Safe Surfer to the question you asked about opposition fighters moving to Idlib. Copy paste it and you will get the full story. And as a guide for you, especially with WIKI....check the dates... Are you commenting on events before or after the arrival of the Russians? Also before or after the opposition surrender, and "Peace / ceasefire " deal?? ( for want of a better word.) Then before or after the Yazidis / FSA / US / others regained control in Raqqa, Deir-El- Zour, Baghous etc. Because context and timeline is everything.

Syrian opposition gunmen leave the key town in eastern ...

https://voiceofpeopletoday.com/syrian-opposition-gunmen-leave-key-town...

23/03/2018 · SYRIA (VOP TODAY NEWS) – Buses carrying hundreds of opposition gunmen and their families began to leave the town of Harasta in eastern Juba al-Ghouta in Syria on Thursday and th