Syrian Civil War (Graphic Photos/Vid Not Allowed)

[Dr.Thrax]

As the article says, the rebels had the chance to oust Bashar's forces out but they were too disorganized and ineffective to do it. If they're that disorganized then even if they do take Daraa it will fall Isis within a month or so, thus it's not wise to support the fall of Daraa at all costs.

The rebels are playing nice with the MOC because that's where crucial aid comes from and there's no need to create new enemies, but I'm sure they hate their guts lol.

Fall to ISIS? You couldn't have been more wrong. ISIS are far far away from Dara'a.

 

[Ahmed Jo]

Fall to ISIS? You couldn't have been more wrong. ISIS are far far away from Dara'a.

They are close enough, no? If they see an opportunity when both regime and rebels are worn out they will take that chance to strike.

 

[Dr.Thrax]

View attachment 260476
They are close enough, no? If they see an opportunity when both regime and rebels are worn out they will take that chance to strike.

It's a good map but you have to realize that most of the territory ISIS controls is desert, they barely control any towns. Which = non-sustainable offensive.

 

[Hindustani78]

Syria commander gives equipment to al-Qaida affiliate

By Lolita C. Baldor, The Associated Press 10:06 a.m. EDT September 26, 2015

WASHINGTON — A Syrian rebel commander who recently completed a U.S. training program has told the U.S. military that he surrendered six coalition-provided trucks and ammunition to an intermediary linked to the al-Qaida affiliate in Syria, known as the Nusra Front.

U.S. Central Command said late Friday that roughly 25 percent of the equipment assigned to that unit was apparently turned over earlier this week in exchange for safe passage within the region. U.S. officials said the Syrians continue to insist that they have not relinquished any actual weapons to the Nusra Front and that all of their personnel are still accounted for.

Air Force Col. Pat Ryder, a U.S. Central Command spokesman, said the command is looking into the incident. But the report contradicts information the Defense Department provided earlier in the day, which said reports of U.S.-trained Syrian rebels defecting and missing equipment going to the Nusra Front were incorrect.

The report underscores persistent problems with the U.S.-led coalition's effort to train and equip Syrian rebels to fight the Islamic State.

Ryder said the Syrians had told the U.S. earlier Friday that no equipment or people were missing, but the U.S. found out later on that some of those assertions were wrong. He said providing equipment to the Nusra Front is a violation of the training and equipping program.

"In light of this new information, we wanted to ensure the public was informed as quickly as possible about the facts as we know them at this time," Ryder said. "We are using all means at our disposal to look into what exactly happened and determine the appropriate response."

The commander who turned the equipment over to the Nusra Front was one of about 70 rebel fighters who were in the second U.S. training course. He had only recently returned to Syria to fight the Islamic State militants.

The training program has been criticized as offering too little too late and failing to provide enough protection for those trained rebels once back inside Syria. The selected rebels are said to undergo a thorough vetting process to ensure they focus on the fight against the IS.

U.S. officials have begun an overhaul of the effort, including suggesting that the newly trained fighters operate as the New Syrian Forces, or NSF, alongside Syrian Kurds, Sunni Arab and other anti-Islamic State forces.

The first batch of about 54 trainees has largely disbanded. Of the 54, one was killed; one is being held captive; nine are back in the fight; 11 are available but not in Syria; 14 returned to Syria but quit the U.S. program; and 18 are unaccounted for.

 

[jamahir]

Syria commander gives equipment to al-Qaida affiliate

By Lolita C. Baldor, The Associated Press 10:06 a.m. EDT September 26, 2015

WASHINGTON — A Syrian rebel commander who recently completed a U.S. training program has told the U.S. military that he surrendered six coalition-provided trucks and ammunition to an intermediary linked to the al-Qaida affiliate in Syria, known as the Nusra Front.

U.S. Central Command said late Friday that roughly 25 percent of the equipment assigned to that unit was apparently turned over earlier this week in exchange for safe passage within the region. U.S. officials said the Syrians continue to insist that they have not relinquished any actual weapons to the Nusra Front and that all of their personnel are still accounted for.

Air Force Col. Pat Ryder, a U.S. Central Command spokesman, said the command is looking into the incident. But the report contradicts information the Defense Department provided earlier in the day, which said reports of U.S.-trained Syrian rebels defecting and missing equipment going to the Nusra Front were incorrect.

The report underscores persistent problems with the U.S.-led coalition's effort to train and equip Syrian rebels to fight the Islamic State.

Ryder said the Syrians had told the U.S. earlier Friday that no equipment or people were missing, but the U.S. found out later on that some of those assertions were wrong. He said providing equipment to the Nusra Front is a violation of the training and equipping program.

"In light of this new information, we wanted to ensure the public was informed as quickly as possible about the facts as we know them at this time," Ryder said. "We are using all means at our disposal to look into what exactly happened and determine the appropriate response."

The commander who turned the equipment over to the Nusra Front was one of about 70 rebel fighters who were in the second U.S. training course. He had only recently returned to Syria to fight the Islamic State militants.

The training program has been criticized as offering too little too late and failing to provide enough protection for those trained rebels once back inside Syria. The selected rebels are said to undergo a thorough vetting process to ensure they focus on the fight against the IS.

U.S. officials have begun an overhaul of the effort, including suggesting that the newly trained fighters operate as the New Syrian Forces, or NSF, alongside Syrian Kurds, Sunni Arab and other anti-Islamic State forces.

The first batch of about 54 trainees has largely disbanded. Of the 54, one was killed; one is being held captive; nine are back in the fight; 11 are available but not in Syria; 14 returned to Syria but quit the U.S. program; and 18 are unaccounted for.

only the officers affiliated to the real syrian army, under leadership of president bashar al-assad, can be called "syrian commander".

the rest are nato-created puppet terrorist reactionary criminals, whether isil or qaeda or the "moderate" ones.

russia should expand in syria.

 

[Madali]

Cookies must be enabled. | The Australian

 

[Ahmed Jo]

It's a good map but you have to realize that most of the territory ISIS controls is desert, they barely control any towns. Which = non-sustainable offensive.

Good point, but I know that in late 2014 there were real concerns about Isis entering Daraa and activating its possible cells there as well as sympathizers there, similar to the Deir Ezzor situation, the difference is Daraa is very close to Jordan and Israel. A very strategic position which Isis would love to have control over.

 

[500]

View attachment 260476
They are close enough, no? If they see an opportunity when both regime and rebels are worn out they will take that chance to strike.

This map needs corrections.

Now much better.

 

[Dr.Thrax]

This map needs corrections.

Now much better.

@Ahmed Jo This map makes more sense. Desert warfare relies on force projection, you only control wherever your forces currently are. Not to mention, for IS to get to Dara'a, they'd have to go through Suweida, and then through Busra al Sham and those areas all the way to Dara'a. Considering rebels will most likely take Dara'a within the next 6 months, or at least advance more within Dara'a, rebel defences would have already been much improved if IS ever decided to attack.

 

[SipahSalar]

@Dr.Thrax Why is Russia suddenly sending troops and planes to Syria? What do you think is their end game? Sending military equipment is one thing, but military deployment is something else entirely.

 

[Dr.Thrax]

@Dr.Thrax Why is Russia suddenly sending troops and planes to Syria? What do you think is their end game? Sending military equipment is one thing, but military deployment is something else entirely.

Trying to save Assad.

View attachment 260484
This one is almost two months old but I think it's better. Remember that palmyra is more than a smal blip.

Map is actually worse, shows factions controlling roads in the desert. One does not simply control a road. In VICE News' documentary on Dara'a (released earlier this September) rebels drove the reporters on a supposed government controlled road and nothing happened to them.

 

[Ahmed Jo]

This map needs corrections.

Now much better.

This one is almost two months old but I think it's better. Remember that palmyra is more than a smal blip.

@Ahmed Jo This map makes more sense. Desert warfare relies on force projection, you only control wherever your forces currently are. Not to mention, for IS to get to Dara'a, they'd have to go through Suweida, and then through Busra al Sham and those areas all the way to Dara'a. Considering rebels will most likely take Dara'a within the next 6 months, or at least advance more within Dara'a, rebel defences would have already been much improved if IS ever decided to attack.

Yes, you're right actually.

 

[Ahmed Jo]

This map needs corrections.

Now much better.

It's interesting that you erased the blue color from Golan heights. Not part of Syria anymore?

 

[ArdaTuran]

I support Erdogan in all of his foreign policies, because syria supported pkk in the past. Iran supported pkk in the past.

Erdogan will use Nato and turkish army to challenge Russia in Syria.

Erdogan waiting for Ukraine and Japan taking serious actions against china and Russia.

On the long term Ukraine will build up a big army. That is logical and economical step. Investing in weapon production and creating jobs.

Russia and china will be isolated like davutoglu claimed.

 

[500]

It's interesting that you erased the blue color from Golan heights. Not part of Syria anymore?

Its map of Syria civil war and Golan is not part of Syria civil war.