Do you understand who's fighting and why in Syria?

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 11 Nov 2015 16:10:51 -0500

Anyone could get confused about what is going on in Syria, who is fighting who and why. Syria has four different groups with different backers each having it's own political and area agenda. The linked news report does help to clear things up on what is going on there. Don't pay attention to the headline it's not what the video is about, however if you are interested in the information that goes with the headline you may read it below the video. This is information the way I like: To the point and without bias.

CNN)The Syrian army has broken a two-year ISIS siege on the Kwairis military airport near Aleppo, which had been surrounded by the terror group since 2013.

Government forces killed "hundreds of ISIS terrorists and destroyed their dens and cells with all weapons inside," state news agency SANA reported. A major troop buildup has been in the works in the area since last month.

"The regime has been fighting since the end of September to break the siege," said Rami Abdurrahman, the head of London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. "Taking this airport back from siege means they can advance to ISIS areas. They can use it to shell areas around Aleppo."
Since breaking the ISIS siege at the airport, the Syrian army has made advances in Aleppo, according to SANA and an opposition military adviser familiar with the area.

"The army's air force destroyed positions and vehicles for ISIS terrorists in (a number of villages in) the eastern countryside of Aleppo province," SANA reported Wednesday, citing a military source.

Col. Abdelsalam Al-Hamidi, a Free Syrian Army adviser who's based in Turkey but remains in close contact with rebel forces in Aleppo, said Syrian government forces gained ground "under the cover of the Russians, with help from Iranian and Iraqi forces."

But the opposition forces were able to stop the advance in some areas, he said, retaking territory they had lost.

"They adapted to the situation (and) were able to minimize losses, (using) camouflage and excellent maneuvers," Al-Hamidi said.

The Syrian military has been backed by Russian air power in recent weeks.

Aleppo is one of three areas the Russians seem to be focusing on. The others are the northern province of Idlib and in Hama province, near the coast.

Iranian and Hezbollah militia also are coordinating with Syrian forces to take advantage of the air strikes in a bid to regain territory from ISIS and opposition groups.

Reports: Syrian forces break ISIS siege on airport - CNN.com

It may be more symbolic than anything, but the Syrian army has broken a two-year ISIS siege on the Kewairis military airport near Aleppo.

Response by Sgt Kelli Mays made Nov 11 at 2015 4:20 PM

Sgt Kelli Mays — Wed, 11 Nov 2015 16:20:46 -0500

Nope, not really......so there are good Syrians...but their numbers are dwindling and we should be in there helping them more..and then there are rebels or the underground if you will.then there are Bad Syrians who are supporting Isis...and then there are the Russians who say they are after ISIS, yet they are collaborating with the Bad Syrians...and the plot twists and keeps twisting.....yes, very confusing and now I'm sure Russia is going to really retaliate against ISIS after the bomb exploding their citizens on that plane...oh wait...has that been confirmed yet?

Response by LTC John Shaw made Nov 11 at 2015 4:25 PM

LTC John Shaw — Wed, 11 Nov 2015 16:25:40 -0500

CPT Private RallyPoint Member Excellent summary by this CNN reporter. Beyond our focus on the destruction of ISIS/ISIL, we should not be involved in this civil war.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 11 at 2015 5:14 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 11 Nov 2015 17:14:02 -0500

Where is Baghdad Bob to tell us?

Response by Maj Mike Sciales made Nov 11 at 2015 5:32 PM

Maj Mike Sciales — Wed, 11 Nov 2015 17:32:40 -0500

I think the first order of concern on every contestant's plate is to stabilize the region. Daesh want a chance to consolidate their gains and that's being denied. I think we need to kill them -- that kind of crazy doesn't do treaties very well (see: Swat Valley Pakistan circa 2010). To that end, there must be a government, like it or not because Syria needs to be stabilized. Pres Assad might not be the USA's first choice for "ruler of the Year" but that's not our concern, because his personality and management style is very much in our national interest. Our national interests concern stemming this human exodus from Syria, up to 9 million put to flight. We need to get people back to their homes. Syrians will go back to Assad. They've seen the alternative and they'll be fine with it. Let Assad work with Putin, much easier. Both are ruthless and that is what this situation needs. Think about it this way, all the citizens who can flee have fled. Those who remain are screwed. In the old days, in the West, pioneers knew full well that if dangerous things approached you either left or got swept up. Same holds true today. We just need to shut off the cameras because it will be very bad for a while.