So Turkey is basically attacking all the rebel groups besides whatever the green is?
[editline]28th August 2016[/editline]
Totally fucking called it.
[QUOTE=Megadave;50721292]All I can say is when he starts his reign of conquest the tone is going to go to shit extremely fast. I mean he practically has a clear path to the northern Levant areas with them under non-state control.[/QUOTE]
Yay... More expensive equipment being thrown into a fucking meatgrinding orgy.
Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if this becomes MGS-tier storyline in the coming months. This is perfect breeding grounds for PMC Militias.
[QUOTE=JoeSkylynx;50963209]Yay... More expensive equipment being thrown into a fucking meatgrinding orgy.
Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if this becomes MGS-tier storyline in the coming months. This is perfect breeding grounds for PMC Militias.[/QUOTE]
PMC's are completely useless in modern warfare. They're alright for security, defending fortified position and being death squads, but actual offensive units? You might as well throw that money in fire.
[QUOTE=CroGamer002;50963254]PMC's are completely useless in modern warfare. They're alright for security, defending fortified position and being death squads, but actual offensive units? You might as well throw that money in fire.[/QUOTE]
They'd be fine as offensive units, the problem is that most of them are forced to act on the UN's merc rules. If they weren't tied down to that, they'd probably wipe the floor with all of the current groups in the Middle East simply because most of them are ex-military.
I mean take a look at Africa for an example here - Biafra Babies, Executive Outcomes, and several other groups proved their worth because they would simply overwhelm the military forces of Africa, and keep kicking them while they were down. Most of these groups were either paid in land, blood diamonds, or just simple hardcash.
[QUOTE=CroGamer002;50963254]PMC's are completely useless in modern warfare. They're alright for security, defending fortified position and being death squads, but actual offensive units? You might as well throw that money in fire.[/QUOTE]
They did pretty well as offensive units in Nigeria against Boko Haram. Nigeria is one of the most powerful countries in Western Africa, and yet the PMCs did what their military struggled to do in a matter of weeks
[url]http://www.vice.com/read/nigeria-pmcs-boko-harem[/url]
[url]https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/apr/14/south-africas-ageing-white-mercenaries-who-helped-turn-tide-on-boko-haram[/url]
I won't be online for big part of today and there's probably gonna be big pushes today still.
So here's this map that illustrates how far are FSA-Turkey from connecting with Azaz pocket, to Manjib and their primary goal Al-Bab.
[img_thumb]http://i.imgur.com/mRV4moz.png[/img_thumb]
I expect they will be much closer to connecting with Azaz pocket today, if not they actually connecting.
[QUOTE=CroGamer002;50966355]I won't be online for big part of today and there's probably gonna be big pushes today still.
So here's this map that illustrates how far are FSA-Turkey from connecting with Azaz pocket, to Manjib and their primary goal Al-Bab.
[img_thumb]http://i.imgur.com/mRV4moz.png[/img_thumb]
I expect they will be much closer to connecting with Azaz pocket today, if not they actually connecting.[/QUOTE]
Are the FSA guys in A'zaz Turkmen rebels? If not, they probably have no interest in doing so. Turkey would probably bomb the shit out of other factions of FSA if they actually met, just like they do SDF.
[QUOTE=Riller;50967849]Are the FSA guys in A'zaz Turkmen rebels? If not, they probably have no interest in doing so. Turkey would probably bomb the shit out of other factions of FSA if they actually met, just like they do SDF.[/QUOTE]
Partially.
Most of them are Arabs in Azaz pocket, but there are Turkmen rebels. Mainly those who escaped ISIS advances. Though significant portion of Jarabulus offensive force are Turkmen rebels, so it's safe to say Turkmen are allowing Arab rebels to move into their territory with blessing.
[editline]29th August 2016[/editline]
While I was away, FSA-Turkish forces had expelled SDF back south of Sinjar river completely.
As well some gains against ISIS.
[img_thumb]https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CrBwo8CWEAAu1uf.jpg:large[/img_thumb]
[URL="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-37212256"]USA has also warned Turkey to no longer attack SDF forces[/URL], while still telling [URL="https://twitter.com/BarzanSadiq/status/770221491636019200"]YPG to retreat east of Euphrates river[/URL].
[QUOTE=JoeSkylynx;50963283]They'd be fine as offensive units, the problem is that most of them are forced to act on the UN's merc rules. If they weren't tied down to that, they'd probably wipe the floor with all of the current groups in the Middle East simply because most of them are ex-military.
I mean take a look at Africa for an example here - Biafra Babies, Executive Outcomes, and several other groups proved their worth because they would simply overwhelm the military forces of Africa, and keep kicking them while they were down. Most of these groups were either paid in land, blood diamonds, or just simple hardcash.[/QUOTE]
But this is Syria we are talking about, not Central Africa.
The rebels, ISIS, Syrian Forces, Kurds are all armed with heavy weapons ranging from recoiless rifles to T-55 tanks
Any PMC is fucked against these people. They do not have the firepower to deal with these well armed groups.
Breaking!
[URL="https://twitter.com/ragipsoylu/status/770326149608120320"]White House says SDF should also retreat east of Euphrates river![/URL]
Unless it's misspoken, this is a huge deal.
As day ends in Syria, this is current situation in North Aleppo:
[img_thumb]https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CrDVWqtUAAAxE3m.jpg:large[/img_thumb]
FSA-Turkey fully take north coast side of Sanjar river and control small part of south side of coast since yesterday.
Small push toward west against ISIS.
No changes in Azaz pocket.
Personally, unsatisfied with very little advances against ISIS. Hopefully after today's US condemnation of FSA-Turkey clashes with SDF, they'll re-focus against ISIS tomorrow. Connecting with Azaz pocket should be first priority.
Also [URL="https://southfront.org/syrian-interim-government-moving-to-jarabulus-reports/"]Syrian rebel intern government that is based in Ankara( formed by Syrian political oposition exiled to Turkey) will be moved to Jarabulus[/URL]. This intern government has very few connection to armed groups, being moved to Jarabulus will greatly help them gain relevancy in Syria.
[B][URL="https://twitter.com/AhmadAlkhtiib/status/770559569747701760"]Finally![/URL][/B]
FSA rebels and Turkish forces began their offensive to exclusively attack ISIS west of Jarabulus and east of Al-Rai!
[QUOTE=Megadave;50963193]So Turkey is basically attacking all the rebel groups besides whatever the green is?
[editline]28th August 2016[/editline]
Totally fucking called it.[/QUOTE]Well it's been fairly obvious that Turkey cares more about killing Kurds than anything else, this is just hard confirmation.
What a shitshow.
[QUOTE=CroGamer002;50972401][B][URL="https://twitter.com/AhmadAlkhtiib/status/770559569747701760"]Finally![/URL][/B]
FSA rebels and Turkish forces began their offensive to exclusively attack ISIS west of Jarabulus and east of Al-Rai![/QUOTE]
Calling it; it's a total lie. They're gonna keep focusing on attacking SDF because Turkey don't give a shit about ISIS, they just want the kurds off their border.
Turkey and Syrian Kurdish forces agree to ceasefire, [URL="https://twitter.com/AlArabiya_Eng/status/770625068938498048"]according to US official[/URL].
That has to be the biggest bullshit I've heard in my lifetime
Turkish governments responds that ceasefire with SDF is [URL="https://www.yahoo.com/news/ceasefire-between-turkey-kurdish-backed-fighters-syria-sdf-154244073.html"]only temporarily[/URL].
Also [URL="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-turkey-idUSKCN1150LL"]another Turkish tank[/URL] was destroyed by rocket fire, all 3 crewmen wounded but survived. [URL="https://twitter.com/CNNTURK_ENG/status/770680076409180160"]Turkey also claims they killed the attackers[/URL]. Which group attacked isn't identified yet, but it's most likely ISIS troops who remained hiding and waiting for opportunity to attack. Earlier today FSA rebels had shown [URL="https://twitter.com/QalaatAlMudiq/status/770604430236520448"]many hideouts ISIS had dig up[/URL] before Turkish intervention, hinting that some ISIS fighters are underground.
FSA-Turkish forces had also [URL="https://twitter.com/VivaRevolt/status/770657586295078912"]liberated at least 3 villages[/URL] from ISIS today.
[img_thumb]https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CrL5NcuWcAAa7g7.jpg:large[/img_thumb]
ISIS had lanced counter attack and they had recaptured 4 villages from FSA-Turkish forces.
[URL="https://twitter.com/Paradoxy13/status/770933887447031808"]FSA and Turkish forces are still advancing[/URL] however and are [URL="https://twitter.com/AhmadAlkhtiib/status/770941888861962240"]shelling[/URL] those lost locations.
I cannot find any information of "Jarabulus MC Head Colonel Hijo" or any variations of it.
ISIS counter-attacks takes even more villages from FSA-Turkish forces.
[img_thumb]https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CrP3pPCUMAABX6F.png[/img_thumb]
Turkey is still [URL="https://twitter.com/anadoluagency/status/771321755453366277"]deploying more tanks[/URL] into Syria. FSA rebels also announced they had launched own counter-attack to regain lost villages. So far, no news of any advances.
What a god damn surprise. You kick out SDF who have done a decent job keeping shit stable, replace them with absolutely terrible Turkmen fighters, and you start losing shit. Whoda thunk it?
FSA rebels [URL="https://twitter.com/arabthomness/status/771333849544552450"]regain 2 villages[/URL] from ISIS, attacking from Turkish territory.
FSA-Turkey had now [URL="https://twitter.com/markito0171/status/771360759968391168"]started an offensive against ISIS West of Jarabulus[/URL]. [URL="https://twitter.com/VivaRevolt/status/771363650351140864"]They had recaptured some of villages[/URL] lost to ISIS counter-attack and [URL="https://twitter.com/markito0171/status/771361170498396160"]liberated other ones[/URL].
[img_thumb]https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CrR4foYWIAAfM8w.jpg:large[/img_thumb]
CNN visited Jarabulus recently, being first Western media outlet to have visited Jarabulus since liberation.
[video=youtube;Yz2o5gp3mvc]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yz2o5gp3mvc[/video]
[img_thumb]https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CrhaE4JWIAAVT7A.jpg[/img_thumb]
[URL="https://twitter.com/badly_xeroxed/status/772466397611958272"]Breaking news[/URL]! ISIS has been expelled from Syrian-Turkish border and Azaz pocket rebels have connected with Jarabulus!
All in just 12 days of Euphrates Shield offensive, even with a set-back of clashes with SDF at the beginning and ISIS's counter-attack few days ago.
Now the true challenge is coming to go after Al-Bab.
[img_thumb]https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CrhXCL-UMAAIN2L.jpg[/img_thumb]
Territory FSA-Turkish offensive recaptured and liberated in just 2 days.
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