Posted on 05/31/2015 11:54:39 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper
Russia is gradually turning its back on Syrian President Bashar Assad, evacuating some 100 expert advisers and their families from Syria and refusing to repair regime fighter jets, an Arab daily reported on Sunday.
“Senior sources in the Gulf” told pro-opposition London-based daily a-Sharq al-Awsat that the change in Russia’s position toward the Assad regime stems from diplomatic pressure exerted by Arab Gulf states. It also comes as part of Moscow’s efforts to shake international sanctions imposed on it following a military confrontation with Ukraine, the sources said.
Meanwhile, Syrian opposition sources told the newspaper that 100 of Russia’s top specialists have recently left the country through the Latakiya airport in northwestern Syria, and were not replaced. Russia has also downsized its embassy staff in Moscow over the past three months, manning its delegation with “essential staff” only.
(Excerpt) Read more at timesofisrael.com ...
It’s not ISIS.
Free Syrian Army
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_Syrian_Army
Allies
Islamic Front[6]
People’s Protection Units[7]
Syriac Military Council[8]
Opponents
Syrian Armed Forces
National Defense Force
al-Nusra Front[9][10][11][12]
Jund al-Aqsa[13]
Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant[14]
...the change in Russia's position toward the Assad regime stems from diplomatic pressure exerted by Arab Gulf states. It also comes as part of Moscow's efforts to shake international sanctions imposed on it following [its invasion of] Ukraine, the sources said. Meanwhile, Syrian opposition sources told the newspaper that 100 of Russia's top specialists have recently left the country through the Latakiya airport in northwestern Syria...Pooty's Russia has been behind the anti-fracking astroturf in this country; the Saudis were purported upset by the prospect, but at some point they realized, hey, if it works in the US...
Putting a live grenade up the tank barrel to blow the shell the crew is loading or has just loaded but not fired would pretty much take care of most tanks. Takes cajones to try that move though.
Iran has been all-in for four years in Syria, it's gotten worse, and couldn't even pull off Ramadi a second time with all the Iraqi armed forces and Shiite jihadist militias it could herd into the kill zone. Just a couple weeks back the meme was that ISIS was in retreat and Iran and its proxies were kicking its ass. Then Assad's Aleppo offensive failed, Ramadi fell, Palmyra fell, and a dozen or so jihadist militias were beating Assad and Iranian proxies all over Syria. The towel-head in charge of the Hizzies has been ranting that everyone must try harder, even if it means HALF of them wind up martyrs.
A week ago the buzz was that the US and Iran would cooperate in the retaking of Ramadi, this week Zero and Co. stated that Iraq was not our problem. While hunting around I noticed that the Iraqi "government" (puppet of Iran) estimated that 2200 Humvees were lost when ISIS took Mosul. 2200! While attention is in Iraq and Syria, the US' move should be loading up the Kurds with everything they need -- but there's a Turkish election coming up and Erdogan appears to be losing. Anything we do to help the Kurds would give him a ramrod issue. Of course, this wouldn't be a problem if we'd just have his ass killed, but maybe that's a bit rash.
If it’s made to be effective on newer stuff, yes. Tanks are made differently now from those used during World War II, with much tougher armor against pressure and shrapnel. They can get hot inside, though, under some conditions.
Then, as now, the purpose was to disable mobility.
Tracks and road wheels are also improved, but there are other ways.
I used to drive a M113; losing a track would FU your whole day.
I decided to change my tagline...
Saw this thread last night, Russia has already distanced themselves from Assad in the past 18 months.
Syria was a good Soviet-aligned state in the old days with Hafez Assad.
If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me.
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Yes. Bad driving in mud messed training days up for some drivers, unless the poor motor pool platoon mechanics did all of the retracking for them. M113s weren’t made to go sideways in mud or soft soil.
;-)
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