Syrian War update -- Assad is on a roll.

Looks like the US/Allied airstrikes were all sound & fury, signifying nothing. Alex Jones and half of this board freaked out over nothing.

For those interested in following the war, this is my favorite website to track recent developments.

In recent days, several small Rebel-held pockets around Damascus have surrendered to government control, including Duma and Dumayr. It's being reported that Qalamoun (the large pocket NE of Damascus) is surrendering now.

Recent days have seen an uptick in ISIS strikes against the government. It looks like that just bit them on the ass, because since last night the Syrian army has been pounding the crap out of the small ISIS-held pocket south of Damascus. I imagine that pocket will collapse soon. That and the small Rebel-held area bordering it have only survived this long because the Syrian army had bigger fish to fry.

The situation up north (Idlib, Kurdistan) has been mostly quiet in recent weeks.

a reply to: AndyFromMichigan

I like the "freaking out over nothing" part.

While I'll agree, the US, French, and UK's role is trivial in this situation, I wouldn't downplay Syria as a whole.

Israel made its first direct strike against Iranian assets in the recent weeks. Those two have been in a tit for tat for about two months.

Should that tension escalate, I can promise you it won't be trivial.

There are many angles to that powder keg. While ours may not garner any concern for now, that does not mean we can't be pulled in.

originally posted by: [post=23334765]CriticalStinkerIsrael made its first direct strike against Iranian assets in the recent weeks. Those two have been in a tit for tat for about two months.

Should that tension escalate, I can promise you it won't be trivial.

Iran is going to hit back at Israel any time now in revenge. They have to if they don't want to look like wimps to the other ME states. Maybe it will be Hamas or Hezbollah who carry out the order from Tehran, maybe it will be an internal terror strike in Israel itself, maybe it will be an Iranian funded terror strike outside like Argentinan or Lockerbie strike all paid for by Iran. Or even a direct strike on Israel by Iranian forces. But it's coming for sure.

a reply to: ufoorbhunter

Agreed.

While many may think that Syria is a non story.... That's probably because the "media" likes pushing tabloid pieces as news. The distraction will ensure no kickback from the public should this gas soaked powder keg sees a spark.

Nothing to see over there.... Look over hear, Trump dicked down a porn star.

Next gas attack of "Assads troops" in 3...2...1...

a reply to: CriticalStinker

The 'Syrians' are cleaning up right now but they are gonna mean Iranians on another Israeli border. No way on Planet earth is Netanyahu going to accept that. He'll attack the Iranians relentlessly until they bite back and & Rev Guards dead in the last attack is going to get reprisals. Israel going to be surrounded if they don't go in soon. Waitng for that spark or as Der Beckenbauer says above the Syrian Army 'gas attack'

originally posted by: ufoorbhunter
a reply to: CriticalStinker

The 'Syrians' are cleaning up right now but they are gonna mean Iranians on another Israeli border. No way on Planet earth is Netanyahu going to accept that. He'll attack the Iranians relentlessly until they bite back and & Rev Guards dead in the last attack is going to get reprisals. Israel going to be surrounded if they don't go in soon. Waitng for that spark or as Der Beckenbauer says above the Syrian Army 'gas attack'

"Surrounded" is not really accurate, from what I can see. Egypt has had enough of radical Islam and booted them out. Jordan has been relatively passive in regards to Israel. Saudi Arabia is now firmly allied with Israel against Iran. That leaves Syria.

New coalitions have developed.

As far as Syria goes, I'd be surrendering if I was a rebel, as well. The alternative is being gassed. Assad would rather have the rebels dead than surrendered, being fed, imprisoned and having to worry about revenge down the road from their families and allies.

originally posted by: DerBeobachter
Next gas attack of "Assads troops" in 3...2...1...

That will happen right after Iran strikes Israel and Israel unleashes all hell on Syria and southern Lebanon.

a reply to: nwtrucker

Surrounded in the north for sure and that's the best bit of Israel worth having. Egypt is borderline desert country good for bedoooins and camels. Jordan is still a colony of the UK behind the backdoor and the bloodlines have been infiltrated while the officer corp are British educated, plus they have a much bigger Palestinian problem than even Israel itself. Up north IDF faces off Hezbollahwith 120,000 missiles ready to take out galille and Haifa, now they gonna get Iran Rev Gs on the Syrian front too. Plus Syrian Arabs Armies ready to take on IDF too in full knowledge that Jerusalem is one of the factors behind the terrorism affecting the state. No good can come of Israel becoming surrounded up north. The ghetto fighter will have to take the encroaching Shia alliance out if it's going to avoid deporation to hell on Earth. One spark...........

originally posted by: nightbringr

originally posted by: DerBeobachter
Next gas attack of "Assads troops" in 3...2...1...

That will happen right after Iran strikes Israel and Israel unleashes all hell on Syria and southern Lebanon.

Pulling out of South Lebanon was in hindsight one big mistake for Israel. They had a buffer zone but the moms didn't like their IDF sons coming home in body bas every couple of days so pressure mounted they got out, while dropping the SLA in it big time and ludicrously allowing Hezbollah buildup on its border. Maybe it's all part of the plan to go back in but they gave up land with no peace treaty which being honest and realistic was total madness. No peace treaty and giving up the buffer zone, strange

originally posted by: ufoorbhunter
a reply to: nwtrucker

Surrounded in the north for sure and that's the best bit of Israel worth having. Egypt is borderline desert country good for bedoooins and camels. Jordan is still a colony of the UK behind the backdoor and the bloodlines have been infiltrated while the officer corp are British educated, plus they have a much bigger Palestinian problem than even Israel itself. Up north IDF faces off Hezbollahwith 120,000 missiles ready to take out galille and Haifa, now they gonna get Iran Rev Gs on the Syrian front too. Plus Syrian Arabs Armies ready to take on IDF too in full knowledge that Jerusalem is one of the factors behind the terrorism affecting the state. No good can come of Israel becoming surrounded up north. The ghetto fighter will have to take the encroaching Shia alliance out if it's going to avoid deporation to hell on Earth. One spark...........

I'd like to know where you got that 120,000 number from. I'd guess Israel would never allow that sort of buildup unless they were completely confident of taking them out in one preemptive move.

I wouldn't lose any sleep regarding the Syrian army either. They'd be dealing with a very professional opponent, not rebels and ISIS.

That reported(?) Israeli flight right into Iran without detection, likely F-35s, gives those people pause, as well. Don't omit the Saudi factor, either.

I'd guess that if one spark sets this off, it would be Israel on a preemptive basis. Not Syria or Iran. The only thing holding it back is the PR aspect and degree Trump would back a major Israeli move.

originally posted by: DerBeobachter
Next gas attack of "Assads troops" in 3...2...1...

It hasn't worked the last 2 times they tried it. Hopefully they realize that pig ain't gonna fly.


The patently hollow response of Western leaders this time (not just Trump) leads me to believe they know it was a hoax or false flag, public statements notwithstanding.

a reply to: nwtrucker

The 120 thousand missiles was the estimate given by Israel defence establishment a couple o years ago. That figure is probably much greater now the Iranians are on the Lebabese border planning the advance into Galilee. Sure some will be if not most Katusha's but they are still dangerous if you get a direct hit. They got loads of modern stuff too and it's all coming in from Iran, loads of Iranians and then we have Syria with all the Israeli allies now pretty much defeated it's Iranians right on the Golan and they have another front. It's all go on taking back the Holy Land and Donald the Lion Heart is the only hope for saving Jerusalem from the Iranian Syrian Alywhites from taking it again Salahadin style for the Islamic world. The second coming needs to get in quik and keep them unmarked white 747s landing in Tel Aviv tgo secure the holy Land

originally posted by: nwtrucker

originally posted by: ufoorbhunter
a reply to: nwtrucker

Surrounded in the north for sure and that's the best bit of Israel worth having. Egypt is borderline desert country good for bedoooins and camels. Jordan is still a colony of the UK behind the backdoor and the bloodlines have been infiltrated while the officer corp are British educated, plus they have a much bigger Palestinian problem than even Israel itself. Up north IDF faces off Hezbollahwith 120,000 missiles ready to take out galille and Haifa, now they gonna get Iran Rev Gs on the Syrian front too. Plus Syrian Arabs Armies ready to take on IDF too in full knowledge that Jerusalem is one of the factors behind the terrorism affecting the state. No good can come of Israel becoming surrounded up north. The ghetto fighter will have to take the encroaching Shia alliance out if it's going to avoid deporation to hell on Earth. One spark...........

I'd like to know where you got that 120,000 number from. I'd guess Israel would never allow that sort of buildup unless they were completely confident of taking them out in one preemptive move.

I wouldn't lose any sleep regarding the Syrian army either. They'd be dealing with a very professional opponent, not rebels and ISIS.

That reported(?) Israeli flight right into Iran without detection, likely F-35s, gives those people pause, as well. Don't omit the Saudi factor, either.

I'd guess that if one spark sets this off, it would be Israel on a preemptive basis. Not Syria or Iran. The only thing holding it back is the PR aspect and degree Trump would back a major Israeli move.

It wouldn't be that hard to believe that Hezbollah do have that many missiles, they get supplied via a number of ways and stockpile them gradually over many years. They did kick IDF ass at one point, so they aren't dumb enough to keep them all in one place.

About the F-35, there are no confirmed reports, but then again who would confirm... it is very likely that this did not happen at all given that the F-35 has an effective range of 600 miles, and making it all the way through to Iran would be to taxing for it to get back. The range can be increased with external fuel tanks but this greatly reduces the planes stealth capability so it's never really recommended especially if flying towards one of your top adversaries...

Another point .... the F-35 is stealthy not invisible... radar can see it, it just makes it hard to get an accurate lock onto it because of the stealth countermeasures against high frequency radar locking. If it flew over Iran, Iran would know.


So I'm calling bull*** on an F35 making it to Iran, especially so soon after purchase? Its a buggy as hell aircraft

a reply to: ISeekTruth101

Funny, but the last trip by the F-22s into England-sans the Luneberg lens, I presume- the British radar failed to detect them. Also reports of cancelled exercises inside the U.S. testing radar at various airfields using the F-35 as the local radars couldn't pick them up.

Only long wave radar is capable of picking up stealth- the range is in question- and fails to get a lock. Israel is more than capable of in-flight refueling, as well.

Having said all that, I'm 50-50 on it actually happening....but certainly not B.S.. Israel upgrades started as soon as the 35s arrived....beyond US levels apparently.

P.S. It certainly is within the Capabilities of an F-35 IF the EW suite was employed!! That would be a dumb move, one would think.....

a reply to: ISeekTruth101

Would the Yanks allow the Israeli's to fly an F35 into enemy territory? Maybe into Lebanon, even Syria, but Iran? Surely if thye bird went down the tech would end up in the hands of the Ruskies or Chinese? Would Israel be allowed to risk all the finance poured into the F35 just for a test run?

originally posted by: ufoorbhunter
a reply to: ISeekTruth101

Would the Yanks allow the Israeli's to fly an F35 into enemy territory? Maybe into Lebanon, even Syria, but Iran? Surely if thye bird went down the tech would end up in the hands of the Ruskies or Chinese? Would Israel be allowed to risk all the finance poured into the F35 just for a test run?

Look closley and you will see that is it the USA that is submissive to Israel.

a reply to: ufoorbhunter

That's another good point.

a reply to: nwtrucker

Okay dude, but where is the stealth refuel plane? Honestly... radar picks up stealth aircraft ...they aren't invisible like you might think, especially russian sams which no doubt iran posses.

The absolute shortest path I can see on google maps between israel and Iran is ~ 580 miles, and that's only border to border....

Let alone flying through Iran, and actually having an Airstrip a few meters behind the israeli border for an F-35 to take off.


Like I said it is highly unlikely for technical and political reasons. Refer to *ufoorbhunter* comment, and the fact that the F-35 is a effectively recent purchase by Israel... they still need training to get a feel for it, and iron out all the kinks and bugs. It's a buggy aircraft.

originally posted by: ISeekTruth101
a reply to: nwtrucker

Okay dude, but where is the stealth refuel plane? Honestly... radar picks up stealth aircraft ...they aren't invisible like you might think, especially russian sams which no doubt iran posses.

The absolute shortest path I can see on google maps between israel and Iran is ~ 580 miles, and that's only border to border....

Let alone flying through Iran, and actually having an Airstrip a few meters behind the israeli border for an F-35 to take off.


Like I said it is highly unlikely for technical and political reasons. Refer to *ufoorbhunter* comment, and the fact that the F-35 is a effectively recent purchase by Israel... they still need training to get a feel for it, and iron out all the kinks and bugs. It's a buggy aircraft.

I've followed the F-22, it's developments, set-backs and low-balled performance figures for over twenty years. I never said anything about invisible. I have seen direct quotes to the degree of it's capabilities, however. One EG is an Aussie exchange pilot flying an F-15 with repeated sorties against the F-22, BCM. He'd have visual on the Raptor and still couldn't achieve a lock, repeatedly.

The F-35 has a smaller RCS than the Raptor, at least frontal. ( the F-35 is smaller) You will note there is zero out there on the EW suite of either aircraft. Hints are very few and far between. The few that slip out are flat out mind warping.

580 is nothing...especially if USAF gas stations are available on-route......

Israel has been receiving F-35s for a number of months now. They are considered some of the best pilots in the world. Would the US do it under the same circumstances? No way. Israel? A whole different motivation level. Yes?