Posted on 10/01/2015 10:56:45 AM PDT by Enlightened1
BEIRUT/MOSCOW (Reuters) - Hundreds of Iranian troops have arrived in Syria to join a major ground offensive in support of President Bashar al-Assad's government, Lebanese sources said on Thursday, a further sign of the rapid internationalization of a civil war in which every major country in the region has a stake.
Russian warplanes, in a second day of strikes, bombed a camp run by rebels trained by the CIA, the group's commander said, putting Moscow and Washington on opposing sides in a Middle East conflict for the first time since the Cold War.
The U.S. and Russian militaries were due to hold talks via video link to seek ways to keep their militaries apart as they wage parallel campaigns of air strikes in Syria, a U.S. defense official said.
Russian jets struck targets near the cities of Hama and Homs in western Syria on the second day of their air campaign.
Moscow said it had hit Islamic State positions, but the areas it struck are mostly held by a rival insurgent alliance, which unlike Islamic State is supported by U.S. allies including Arab states and Turkey.
Hassan Haj Ali, head of the Liwa Suqour al-Jabal rebel group which is part of the Free Syrian Army, told Reuters one of the targets was his group's base in Idlib province, struck by around 20 missiles in two separate raids. His fighters had been trained by the CIA in Qatar and Saudi Arabia, part of a program Washington says is aimed at supporting groups that oppose both Islamic State and Assad.
"Russia is challenging everyone and saying there is no alternative to Bashar," Haj Ali said. He said the Russian jets had been identified by members of his group who once served as Syrian air force pilots.
(Excerpt) Read more at ca.news.yahoo.com ...
Not ISIS or Nusra (i.e. Al Qaeda), but Islamist:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suqour_al-Sham_Brigade
All 5 of them?
I wonder if the English term “Sham” originated from these groups. Speaking of shams, it’s amazing that the commies disguised as journalists in this country never identify the true nature of Christian hating terrorists, wherever they are, but fall all over themselves and create terms like “white Hispanic” if they are talking about someone who they think is white, Christian, or conservative. The real story is how the U.S. is backing terrorist groups that would kill Americans en masse if given half the chance.
That's not true and can easily be refuted. The Russians said according to international law, the opposition forces to Assed are technically terrorists. They are technically correct. Now the fact that Assad is also a terrorist is another matter and has to be dealt with by leaders, which are in short supply.
OK , update , Many poorly trained Russian and Iranians are about to die
The ironically named “al sham” brigade.
LOL, you cant make this stuff up. So those are the followers of Madison and Jefferson, right?
ROFLMAO
Sorry, excuse me if I distrust the “al Sham” brigade.
This made my day. I hope a Sukhoi drops a full load on them just for general principles.
China is also on the way...
http://www.ibtimes.co.in/chinese-troops-join-russian-marines-syria-soon-says-report-648246
The ground offensive is in part to secure the area around the Latakia bases. They are using Iranian and Hezbollah troops before Syrian and Russian. It will not go well for any of them. The opposition will fight to maintain artillery positions within range of the Russian bases.
Russia’s attacks have made them a priority target and due to the desperation of Assad’s forces Russia and Iran have been forced to commit.
..... So this is what the start of a World War looks like ....
The GOPe and the Democrats have been coopted by Sunni Islam. Israeli myopia about the long term threat from Sunni Islam plays a big part in its support for anyone who'll topple Assad. I'd say long term, they'd be better off if the Sunni-Shiite conflict continued for the rest of eternity. While I don't agree with Obama's decision to help the Iranians get the bomb, a conventionally-armed Iran that is as strong as its neighboring Sunni Muslim states is necessary to counterbalance Sunni Islam in the region.
If Russia stabilizes Syria, how will the news media explain the end of the current intercontinental refugee crisis?!
Al Sham was a province of the Abbasid Empire (which ended in the 13th century) that included Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Israel. I'm guessing that the name, and Israel's historical inclusion are not accidents.
Looks like the whole world got sick of the Saudis children running around decapitating, raping, and crucifying people.
Except for Obama and McCain that is.
How come there’s never any mention of the role of Saudi Arabia in the rise of terrorism?
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