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Russian Tanks, Artillery Massing Near Syrian Airfield, US Officials Tell Reuters
While the build up of Russian military forces in Syria has hardly been unexpected or a surprise, as it is a repeat of what happened in the summer of 2013 when in response to foreign provocations the Assad regime was once again on the edge of collapse and only Russian intervention prevented the fall of Syria to 'western' forces, the question has emerged in the past week: just how much of the military build up is real and verifiable, and how much is a function of the western media euphoria now intent on scapegoating the upcoming land invasion into Syria by US-supported al Nusra (and ISIS) forces as a retaliation for Russian military build up which in itself is a reaction to the now-confirmed western strategy to oust Assad.
In many this is a mirror image of the recent debate: is Russia retaliation to the NATO build up on its borders, or is NATO amassing forces on the Russian border to deter Russian expansion. The answer naturally depends on one's bias and no amount of proof or factual evidence can sway opinion one way or another.
The latest report from Reuters is precisely such an example: in it we read that "Russia has positioned about a half dozen tanks at a Syrian airfield where it has been steadily building up defenses." The sources of this material escalation: two U.S. officials... speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the matter. Just like the "sources" on all Greek developments over the past 5 years.
Reuters also notes that "one of the U.S. officials said seven Russian T-90 tanks were seen at the airfield near Latakia, a stronghold of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The two U.S. officials said Russia had also positioned artillery there" adding that "the two U.S. officials said Russia had also positioned artillery, which they said appeared."
T-90 stock photo
We can only hope the "anonymous" US officials will soon provide photographic evidence of their claims.
One irony is that both Moscow and Washington say their enemy is Islamic State, whose Islamist fighters control large parts of Syria and Iraq. But Russia supports the government of Assad in Syria, while the United States says his presence makes the situation worse, which promptly eliminates ISIS as the proximal cause for any military action in the middle east and confirms that the only fulcrum issue is the political future of Syria with the latest conflict merely yet another proxy war waged on behalf of commodities.
The second irony is that the events of the summer/fall of 2015 in Syria are a replica not only of the Syrian showdown of 2013 when nobody was hiding their military intentions, or inventory for that matter, in the Syrian region but also of the summer of 2014 when the US was accusing Russia, and Russia was correspondingly denying, that Russian troops/equipment were present in east Ukraine.
That particular escalation point fizzled out, however since it was all a grand rehearsal for the Syrian Showdown 2.0, this time we expect that the tit-for-tat build up, both in the press and on the battlefield to continue as both sides play coy for media purposes, until finally it becomes clear that an armed showdown over the future of the Qatar gas pipeline is virtually inevitable.
Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of mostly innocent Syrian refugees continue to flow out of the country to avoid becoming collateral damage in what is almost assured to become a shooting war, and after receiving a warm welcome in Europe if only for a few months, have now found themselves non grata in the German promised land which has shut its borders to the Syrians. This happens as they have also found their "closest and richest neighbors" namely Saudi Arabia, want nothing to do with them.
Which now leaves the "noble" US as the last and only willing recipient of hundreds of thousands of Syrian migrants. Perhaps they can all find shelter at the White House?
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And even if they did build up an army there, it still a good thing.
Well, I imagine that Western "supportive/defense" airstrikes will become alot less common. They'll have to think twice when "defending" ISIS as it attacks Syrian forces.
Latakia has a major military airfield. The double parallel runways are already over 9000ft long, its improvements look to be some widening and taxiways. The main upgrades going on are seriously expanded aprons, to hold more static aircraft, plus more dispersal points, a new control tower and many buildings. As well as fixed wing there is a big helicopter handling area, also being expanded.
There is no problem getting tanks in, but by sea not air. A regular procession of tank landing and other merchant ships trek from Russia to Syria. The 5th convoy this month has just left Russia. Their largest landing ship has done 7 trips this year so the traffic this month indicates a big increase in all kinds of heavy stuff. As JB says, there is a strong probability that most of the new stuff is Syria's with the rest being for local defence of Russian forces and the coastal strip.
Up to this month everything has been carried internally, now every inch of deck space is used as well. On deck have been trucks (probably full of something), APC, IFV, we have no idea what's in the RO-RO hold but if reports of a Pantsir SAM/gun system is correct that could be one item.
Potentially the biggest impact that Russian aircraft could have is all weather and 24 hour operation, which the Syrians apparently don't do much of. This would impact the nightime IS supply convoys which seem to be invisible to US/NATO planes.
Been looking at Latakia on Google Maps can't find an airport. nice beaches around there though
Interesting John, if the west won't go in on the ground and the Russians want t, then good luck to them, they'll need it. They know how nasty the fight could become. I suppose for Israel this is a worry as well as if the combo of Russia, Iran and Syrians plus Hezbollah become a highly effective force it changes the regional complexion. They'll then be facing a very battle-hardened set of combined forces. The Saudis also will not be too happy about that.
re night time detection of IS movement, I'm taking that as sarcasm, as the West has E7-A M-AESA multirole AEW&C from Australia and Turkey working in the area with high-res ground mapping and extraordinary GMTI filtering logging and tracking of anything moving on the ground, they can track hundreds of ground moving targets simutaneously, all night too, and precision log everything. And similar systems from US and Europe. Plus scores of advanced EOTS and satellites to follow up with. So don't doubt the West knows the night movements of IS in forensic detail. The question is when they're going to use it, but that will come, they are putting forces in place right now.
The west has no intention of destroying ISIS as its their asset. They have the tech to take them out anytime they want. so does Russia.
Look what happened in Libya? a few hundred cruise missiles
Its allk a big LIE, America tells the dumbass people they are fighting ISIS, MY ASS, they are arming and supplying them
Our Peace Prize winning President is Abu ISIS
Could you see the break down of Pro-Assad foreign forces being Russian logistical and air support. Hezbollah and Iranian Marines?
Will the Voentorg Russian weapons "7-11" be opened to Syrians as they have been to the Donetzkians in EAstern Ukraine?
Will we see Daesh targets softened up by actual bombing of their positoins and movements. No more film footage of their victory laps in brand new Toyotas flying the black flag?
Hopefully the Aussies with their slimy Turk friends will all be eaten by a Dingo dog.
The hook has been firmly set in the Russian jaw, as was told by Ezekiel. The Iran deal was a move that shortened time just as Jesus said. I believe Psalm 83 and Ezekiel 38 are two versions of the same war. Ezekiel 37 is fulfilled, with more Jewish people coming home today than at any time over the past 67 years.
Something big, something good and something bad is about to happen, look up, lift up your eyes and see what the Lord is about to do.
-quote from the thread
http://www.israeltoday.co.il/NewsItem/tabid/178/nid/27365/Default.aspx
Jayzus is coming and going to start gay bar in Tel Aviv..
I looked up and saw ;The lord;; yelling and screaming ''Everyone are my children, not just thoses sodomizing money grubbing Jews, who I am going to teach a lesson AGAIN''. Last time I used Germans, this time I am going to use someone else""
This time, they will learn their lesson.
Hopefully none will survive to learn the lesson.
Which is why they are so vicious.
Religion is simple tribalism that uses of demagogues/prophets, superstition and metaphysics as its guide. Any time I hear the religious noise which claims gods omniscience or omnipotent capacity, this reaffirms my secular and scientific view of the world. Don't get me wrong, believe whatever you want, thank god I am Atheist. :-)
F Off! Russia has been Christian for 1,000+ years. Israel does not represent me. Jesus did not like those vile money changers.
Stop peddling your Bibi loving evangelical Johnath Pollard twisted version of chri$tianity. Christianity is not about bombing innocent men, women and children in Gaza. Stop treat those innocent people like they are subhumans.
http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20150914/1026990443/US-Bullies-Iraq-Ai...
This is what it is all about these days: who is deceived and who is not. Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear.
Gibberish
Saker's take:
So What Are The Russians Really Doing In Syria?http://thenewsdoctors.com/so-what-are-the-russians-really-doing-in-syria/
I thought the Saker said Russia wasn't involved in Syria. Why should I believe him now?
News Doctors?
Doctored news is all we get from any "side". To announce it so openly? Amusing.
The Russians 'massed' 800 tanks at Kursk. A half dozen is not much more than a perimeter defense for the air field.
you're short a few thousand
In a nutshell, the Syrian conflict is all about money, Wall St wants to exclude Russian gas from Europe by building a pipeline from Qatar to Turkey, Assad stands in the way, he must go, and Wall Streets puppet politicians are being bribed and blackmailed into removing him, their latest tool armed by the CIA, trained by Academia and financed by Saudi Arabia to provide an excuse to invade Syria is ISIS; Russia knows this, hence their military build up to counter an inavsion and also destroy ISIS.
Kerry speak,
I`m very concerned = I`m goddamn angry.
It`s unhelpful = you`re spoiling my plans.
It`s destabalising = I don`t want you hurting my pet Demon ISIS.
I am so sick and tired of "speaking on condition of anonymity". If the person will not go on record, the reporting is baseless and useless. There is NO transparency and no one is held accountable for nonfactual statements. I can't research 'anonymity' to confirm the accuracy or the reporting and it could just be propaganda. If they won't go on record, find another source.
Does anyone remember "the highway of death" from the first Gulf War? How was ISIS, totally lacking in air cover, able to move their ragtag army across open desert roads in Syria and Iraq to conquer major cities?
That's my question also. Seems they can go anywhere at will. Perhaps because US/Israel gives them cover??