The Syria Analysis Thread

Niccolo and Donkey Saturday 17 Oct 2015

nuclear launch detected Saturday 17 Oct 2015

Assad, Russia, Iran and their allies are engaged in a massive offensive in Aleppo right now as I type this. There are reports about Cuban, Russian and Iranian special forces operating in the area backing the Syrian National Army. Looking at the most recent map look like Assad forces are going for a decapitation strike against the rebels as Aleppo is a major supply route for the rebels from Turkey and the FSA HQ is also located there. God bless Assad.

SweetLeftFoot Sunday 18 Oct 2015

The crimson tide of human suffering niotwithstanding, this truly is an awesome war.

Kind of like the Congo War of the 2000s, but more ... relatable.

Niccolo and Donkey Sunday 18 Oct 2015

nuclear launch detected

Please note that Kuweyres Air Base on the far east of the map that you posted has been under siege for over 3 years now.

Niccolo and Donkey Monday 19 Oct 2015

Russian drone footage from Syria:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/embed/1Q60yBQG8XI

Niccolo and Donkey Monday 19 Oct 2015

Niccolo and Donkey Thursday 22 Oct 2015

Niccolo and Donkey Thursday 22 Oct 2015

The best part of this clip is at the end. Attaqing rebels with MLRS in the Latakia Mountains.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/embed/3SrKZd5tpNo

Vuk Saturday 24 Oct 2015

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/embed/YRrnYUqZfFQ

Fitz Saturday 24 Oct 2015

in less than a week i've probably seen like 40 videos of assadist tanks and other vehicles being destroyed by TOWs and russian 9k111s, they've been released daily since the offensive began. Assad can't afford to continue taking casualties at this rate, this offensive is quickly turning into a meat-grinding disaster.

putin and assad are considering reconciling with some FSA. I'd wager they both know victory is impossible and the only chance for the regime is to somehow get some of the rebels back into the fold. It seems extremely unlikely though this will happen.

World | Thu Oct 22, 2015 11:43pm EDT
Related: World, Russia, Syria

Putin says Syria's Assad is open to working with some rebels

SOCHI, Russia/MOSCOW | By Denis Dyomkin and Maria Tsvetkova

Russian President Vladimir Putin said his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad had told him he was ready to talk to armed opposition groups if they are genuinely committed to dialogue and to combating Islamic State.

Speaking a day after Assad made a surprise visit to Moscow for talks with Putin -- underlining Moscow's new role as a central player in Syria's conflict -- Putin said the two men had talked about the need for a political solution.

Some Western governments have portrayed Russia as an obstacle to a political deal, especially since it started air strikes on Islamist groups in Syria opposed to Assad, including some backed by the United States and its allies.

But Putin said he believed that the military operation in Syria could create the right conditions for progress in talks on the future of the country.

"I will pull open the curtain a little on my talks with President Assad," Putin said at a forum in the Russian resort of Sochi on Thursday evening.

"I asked him: 'What view would you take if we found, now in Syria, an armed opposition which nonetheless was ready to oppose and really fight against terrorists, against Islamic State? What would be your view if we were to support their efforts in fighting Islamic State in the same way we are supporting the Syrian army'," Putin said.

"He answered: 'I would view that positively'," Putin said of Assad.

The Russian president went on: "We are now thinking about this and are trying, if it works out, to reach these agreements."

Putin also said that, at the root of the Syrian conflict was not just Islamist militancy but also internal tensions -- a recognition that at least some of the people who rebelled against Assad's rule had a legitimate grievance.

Russia has rejected Western calls for Assad to step down. On Thursday, Putin repeated his view that Syria's leadership could only be decided by the Syrian people, not outside powers, via transparent elections.

However, some observers believe Putin could use his enhanced influence over Damascus to pressure Assad into making concessions to the opposition, unblocking a peace process that has been at a virtual standstill for years.

(Writing by Christian Lowe ; Editing by Alison Williams )

Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) shakes hands with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during a meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, October 20, 2015.

The Syria Analysis Thread

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