Posted on 07/17/2017 11:38:03 AM PDT by Texas Fossil
BEIRUT, LEBANON (5:40 P.M.) – Today, Turkey-led Free Syrian Army (FSA) militants launched a surprise attack in the northern countryside of Aleppo, striking at the defenses of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) around the town of ‘Ayn Daqqinah.
Following a heavy pre-assault bombardment with howitzers, mortars and improvised rocket systems (seen in the video below), FSA fighters broke through the front-lines of the SDF and seized ‘Ayn Daqqinah.
According to opposition sources, the specific FSA unit that attacked the SDF was comprised of several fighters who originate from the town of ‘Ayn Daqqinah. These individuals were expelled after Kurdish forces seized the town some time ago.
However, within in hours of retreating from ‘Ayn Daqqinah, the SDF counter-attacked and retook the town, also capturing one FSA fighter and seizing a Toyota pickup (see pictures below).
This most recent assault by the FSA against the SDF in northern Aleppo is an indication that the Ankara government still has hostile intentions towards what it sees as terrorist occupiers of the Afrin region.
FSA is an Arab Militia that is affiliated with the Turkish Military (Mercs).
FSA does nothing without being told to by Erdogan,
Erdogan will do all he can to kill defenseless people (especially Kurds) and to delay the effort to eliminate ISIS.
Syria Ping
Syria.....
It’s like watching a basketball game where there’s ten different teams out on the court.
FSA is Al Qaeda, reformed and put into uniforms.
And our strategic interests are?
If true, are we going to attack the Turkish allies — to mimic our attacks on Assad’s forces?
Oh, I have no doubt it is true. They have been doing this crap daily for weeks. Little lull during G-20.
Erdogan sucks big time.
Yes, are al Qaeda and Islamist just like Erdogan the Islamist.
Ending ISIS. The Kurds have done us great service for that end.
And a collateral effect, everyone now understands how miserable an ally Turkey is under Erdogan the Islamist.
My guess is that those FSA “rebels” will be even less combat effective under Turkish sponsorship, than they were under American.
It is a matter of how much the Turks are willing to throw their own assets into the fight. I think that they will definitely provide artillery, intelligence and command and control assets (as well as paying salaries and providing small arms and ammo) - but will they provide airstrikes and Turkish tanks with Turkish crews, even Turkish infantry? Erdogan could face strong pushback at home and abroad from doing that.
Turkey may be recruiting and re-purposing former ISIS fighters (like the al Bab garrison).
If so, those guys are pound for pound much tougher than the FSA types.
Agree.
An a direct Turk assault with tanks would be an indeterminate match. PKK presence might produce some very effective anti tank weapons.
Good experienced ground pounders in familiar terrain can be effective. And the area around Efrin (Afrin) is hilly. They are deeply dug in. Turks might get beat on the ground.
With a few effective shoulder launch weapons, the Turk AF could be hurt too.
Erdogan will not listen to advice from Turks, unless the Kemalist pull the flush lever. And they might.
You can see clearly that Kurds can handle ISIS, head to head. (with our air support, and probably without.)
It's like watching hardcore basket ball fans "celebrate" a victory.
It is the Middle East. Very few good guys. I consider the Kurds the good guys and gals.
I know about the warts too, but they are minor in comparison.
Besides, our “allies” Israel and Saudi Arabia have endorsed them. Imagine that?
But you are right you almost need a script to fathom what is happening. It would be hopeless, but I have some close friends there who totally understand it. But they don’t understand the US position. That is another riddle. I try to explain what I can of that.
The world is certainly complicated.
Erdogan will not listen to advice from Turks, unless the Kemalist pull the flush lever. And they might.
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I’ve been hoping for this for a long time and, inshallah, with a strong freedom loving US president, this might become a reality as well as a true secular Iranian uprising to throw off the theocracy.
Both would be a blessing.
I’m not holding my breath on Iran.
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