Islamic State claims gains in Aleppo province during chaotic fight

Long War Journal ^ | October 9, 2015 | By Thomas Joscelyn

[Brad from Tennessee]

The Islamic State has issued a statement claiming that its fighters have seized key several towns north of the city of Aleppo. In addition, the group’s propaganda arm has released a series of photos documenting its newly-gained territory.

Abu Bakr al Baghdadi’s organization made few gains in the Aleppo province over the preceding months, as a complex multi-sided fight had prevented the “caliphate” from claiming any definitive victories. But Russia’s intervention has changed the balance of power, even if only temporarily.

It remains to be seen if the Islamic State’s surge in the province results in long-lasting territorial gains. However, the group is clearly taking advantage of the Russian-led bombing campaign in the short run. Russia has mainly focused on the insurgents opposed to both the Islamic State and the Assad regime.

“Greater than 90 percent of the strikes that we’ve seen them take to date have not been against [the Islamic State] or al Qaeda-affiliated terrorists,” State Department spokesman John Kirby said earlier this week. “They’ve been largely against opposition groups that want a better future for Syria and don’t want to see the Assad regime stay in power.”

On Oct. 7, a Free Syrian Army (FSA) brigade named Suqour al Jabal uploaded a video to YouTube documenting the effects of Russia’s targeting. Suqour al Jabal has reportedly received assistance from the CIA, including American-made TOW missiles. But along with other FSA units it was targeted early on in Russia’s aerial assault. Russia and the Assad regime aren’t the only ones opposed to Suqour al Jabal. The Islamic State is as well.

“Russian jets are bombing the depots of Suqour al Jabal in Aleppo while ISIS simultaneously targets the headquarters with car bombs,” a man in the Suqour al Jabal video says. . .

[MUDDOG]

the group’s propaganda arm has released a series of photos documenting its newly-gained territory.

Thanks for the targets.

[patro]

Russia will have to deploy ground forces to make a difference. History teaches us that solely relying on air campaigns to defeat an enemy just doesn’t work.

[2banana]

Russia is using ISIS to kill the obama backed FSA and “moderate” rebels.

What can obama do? What are his options?

Bomb ISIS and cry to the press.

Checkmate by Putin.

[A CA Guy]

Part of the plan?

[batterycommander]

In an effort to control the TOW missiles given to these thugs, the CIA installed GPS emitters in them. The Rooskies were aware of this because of some hacked State Dept emails.

[SunkenCiv]

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-22798391

http://ichef-1.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/6A83/production/_84176272_syria_control_976map_v10.png

[gtx960]

Gosh, I thought Macho Man Putin, the man who even scares Chuck Norris, was making short work of ISIS. That’ll disappoint a lot of self-styled conservatives who have a bromance with this guy.