Fierce Battles in Central Syria Amid Russian Air Strikes
Source: Associated Press
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) Syrian troops backed by Russian airstrikes seized control of a village in central Syria on Saturday amid fierce clashes with rebels in the area, part of a ground offensive launched earlier this week.
That offensive marked the first major air-and-ground assault since Moscow began its military campaign in the country on Sept. 30. Russian officials say their airstrikes are targeting mainly Islamic State militants, but most of the strikes are hitting areas where the extremist group is not present.
The fighting is concentrated in Hama and the northern Idlib provinces, where a consortium of mainstream rebels as well as al-Qaida's branch in Syria, the Nusra Front, are operating.
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Syrian troops have faced stiff resistance from the rebels, who have used advanced U.S.-made TOW missiles to attack Syrian tanks and armored vehicles.
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Heavy fighting was also taking place in the al-Ghab plain in Hama province a natural barrier between areas controlled by Sunni Muslims and the Alawite sect to which Assad and many of his loyalists belong.
Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2015/10/10/fierce-battles-in-central-syria-amid-russian-airstrikes/73725180/
They're hitting the "moderate rebels," who, oddly enough, are all mixed in with jihadis.
The Assad/Russia strategy is smart and cynical: Eliminate the "moderate rebels," leaving a choice between ISIS and Assad. Then wipe out ISIS.
another_liberal
(8,821 posts)What, exactly, can one call "Moderate" about the al-Nusra front? Just because the CIA has been covertly giving that al-Qaeda controlled terrorist group weapons and training does not make it in any way "Moderate."
Comrade Grumpy
(13,184 posts)To be fair, there are numerous rebel groups, not all of which are jihadis. But even the "moderate rebels" are in alliances that include jihadis.
another_liberal
(8,821 posts)If we really have, as claimed by the Pentagon, trained and armed those five "Moderates" in Syria, they have cost the American taxpayer about one hundred million dollars each. At that rate removing Assad will bankrupt everyone in America several times over!
Joe Chi Minh
(15,229 posts)another_liberal
(8,821 posts)A true humoroid if every there was one.
Joe Chi Minh
(15,229 posts)red dog 1
(27,817 posts)Putin is not going after ISIS; he's going after the rebels who are fighting Assad.
He still denies Russian soldiers are in eastern Ukraine.
He still denies Russian soldiers or Russian-backed fighters shot down the Malaysian Airliner, killing 298 innocent passengers
He denies the fact that 4 Russian missiles recently fell in Iran, on their way to Syria.
Putin is the world's most dangerous liar!
Joe Chi Minh
(15,229 posts)too much on propaganda.
Warren Stupidity
(48,181 posts)There are now just two functional factions in syria fighting the assad regime, al qaeda aligned groups and isis aligned groups. And the answer to DOD's curiosity about those toyota trucks is answered by "we gave them to isis via our 'moderate rebel' conduit."
IthinkThereforeIAM
(3,076 posts)..." And the answer to DOD's curiosity about those toyota trucks is answered by "we gave them to isis via our 'moderate rebel' conduit." "
Lots of CIA fronts here and there bought them and gave them to them, or some other nefarious group, perhap some of those securities money "missing" from the WTC destruction of brokerages.
uawchild
(2,208 posts)And even if there are "moderate rebels" as soon as Assad falls ISIS will eliminate our "moderate rebels".
daleo
(21,317 posts)The phrases the media can come up with never fail to amaze me.
bemildred
(90,061 posts)So, uh, mainstream.
daleo
(21,317 posts)nice to see you.