ISIS in Iraq and Syria

Syria destroys two warplanes used by ISIS to train fighter pilots for terrorist 'air force'
The Syrian Air Force has destroyed two fighter jets belonging to the Islamic State just days after observers claimed to have witnessed the terror group training fighters to use them.

Monitoring groups in the war-ravaged country last week claimed to have seen the fanatics flying three captured warplanes over short distances from an airbase in Aleppo - understood to be the first time ISIS has taken to the sky.

This morning Syria's Information Minister Omran Zoabi told state news agency SANA that the air force had already destroyed two of the planes and is continuing to search for the third jet.
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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-train-fighter-pilots-terrorist-airforce.html
 
American fighting with Kurds in Syria: Civilians burned in chemical attack
DERIK, Syria, Oct. 21 (UPI) -- A former American soldier from Wisconsin who has become the face of the YPG Kurdish military force in Syria, told UPI Wednesday in an exclusive interview that civilians have been burned in an Islamic State attack, with injuries consistent with chemical weapons.
Jordan Matson, 28, a former U.S. Army soldier speaking from Derik, Syria, said his information comes from Walat Omar, the head field doctor in the embattled border town of Kobane, which is encircled by IS militants. Matson and others in the area said the injuries were caused by chemical weapons.

"Since I got the phone calls here in the location... I looked into it myself and after I'd seen pictures from fighters... from Kobane, I contacted the local field doctor on the ground in Kobane and he had sent me many pictures from the hospital," Matson said in his first video interview with U.S. media.

"We're trying to get a video camera to Kobane because they don't have one right now to record the injured and show the world proof of what's going on over there. ... We're making more attempts to have more solidified proof for the rest of the world."

Omar posted photos to Facebook of visible burns that were reportedly sustained in the overnight attack.
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http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-N...ians-burned-in-chemical-attack/4481413902242/

http://launch.newsinc.com/share.html?trackingGroup=91585&siteSection=unitedpress&videoId=27909231
 
Suli said:
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ISIS brought heavy reinforcements to the West, in an attempt to retake the hill. YPG withdrew, gave ISIS false hope and then this happened...

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Nice coordination between YPG and America. YPG now back in control of the hill.
 
Thanks @Suli. Following this thread even if I don't talk about it. Good luck to the Kurds and the people in the city.
 
What's the latest ? Surely the ISIS fighters should be either mostly killed or pushed out of the city by now given the US strikes and re-arming and supplying of Kurds in the city.
 
Happy Diwali all!



Raoul said:
What's the latest ? Surely the ISIS fighters should be either mostly killed or pushed out of the city by now given the US strikes and re-arming and supplying of Kurds in the city.
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ISIS bring reinforcements every day, reportedly 200 just from one front this morning. They can't give up this battle and will do everything it takes.
 
Tomahawks hitting ISIS in eastern neighbourhoods of Kobane now.
 
Why is no one bombing the bejesus out of the Iraq-Syria border? The place is exclusively infested with ISIS, not only will air strikes kill scores of them but it'll disrupt one of their key supply routes.
 
Actually there have been reports of airstrikes around the border area. The border with Iraq is around what 600 and some kilometers long. Kind of difficult to bomb the entire border area. Of course I would assume there are lots of towns and such along the border also, so if the US and its allies were just bombing the heck out of the border area we would probably have posts here complaining about the indescriminate use of the bombing killing innocent people along the border. There may yet be an unwillingness to bomb everything that moves in the area, which is about what it would take to close off a border via airstrikes.
Not to mention that increased number of aircraft it would take to even attempt that. History shows sealing off a border is quite a difficult operation even in Vietnam and Korea the US and it's allies were unable to stem the flow of supplies via air campaigns.
 
Suli said:
Happy Diwali all!




ISIS bring reinforcements every day, reportedly 200 just from one front this morning. They can't give up this battle and will do everything it takes.
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if they are bringing more men into the fight surely that's weakening their forces elsehwere, we can't we have some airstrikes and some offensives against those? They are stretching themselves.
 
The Mitcher said:
if they are bringing more men into the fight surely that's weakening their forces elsehwere, we can't we have some airstrikes and some offensives against those? They are stretching themselves.
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they are gaining land really fast on the other fronts, they're not being weakened, god knows how many new recruits they get every day.
 
Relevated said:
they are gaining land really fast on the other fronts, they're not being weakened, god knows how many new recruits they get every day.
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Damn :( Hopefully the Kurdish can win at Kobane and it'll be a huge psychological boost for them and a morale crusher for ISIS.
 
The Mitcher said:
if they are bringing more men into the fight surely that's weakening their forces elsehwere, we can't we have some airstrikes and some offensives against those? They are stretching themselves.
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This is why, if they lose the battle in this town, they'll be running with their tails between their legs all the way to the strongest city they hold. The FSA need to open fronts to relieve pressure but they don't seem to be doing it.
 
Silva said:
What is happening on other fronts? It seems like all the coverage is centered on Kobane at the moment.
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As far as the Peshmerga are concerned, ongoing clashes across all fronts. They're inching forward slowly due to loads of car bombs but advancements are being made.

The biggest issue is still Shingal mountain where several thousand civilians are stuck and surrounded by ISIS. All Kurdish groups are fighting together there.
 
Suli said:
This is why, if they lose the battle in this town, they'll be running with their tails between their legs all the way to the strongest city they hold. The FSA need to open fronts to relieve pressure but they don't seem to be doing it.
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It seems everyone wants Kobane (for obvious reasons) but other places are getting neglected, both sides future largely depends on how KObane goes. Has the tide turned properly yet Suli?
 
The Mitcher said:
if they are bringing more men into the fight surely that's weakening their forces elsehwere, we can't we have some airstrikes and some offensives against those? They are stretching themselves.
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And who exactly will provide the ground troops for that?

The Iraqi army will protect what's theirs, and so will the Syrian army. They aren't going to attack just yet.
 
NM said:
And who exactly will provide the ground troops for that?

The Iraqi army will protect what's theirs, and so will the Syrian army. They aren't going to attack just yet.
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I'm not a military strategist, I play total war games :lol:

I don't know, I was asking questions that's all.
 
The Mitcher said:
It seems everyone wants Kobane (for obvious reasons) but other places are getting neglected, both sides future largely depends on how KObane goes. Has the tide turned properly yet Suli?
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ISIS advance has definitely stopped. They'll be on the back foot as soon as the Peshmerga bring in the heavy weaponry. :drool:
 
Huge push to take Kobane today, and it will continue until the reinforcements arrive. ISIS know the game is up once they arrive so it's a matter of trying as hard as they can now.
 
How is it that they're dealing with the iraqi army, and to an extent the syrian army, really well but the Kurds aren't surrendering? Is it really courage, guts and determination or what?
 
Suli said:
ISIS advance has definitely stopped. They'll be on the back foot as soon as the Peshmerga bring in the heavy weaponry. :drool:
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What heavy weapons do they have?

Suli said:
Huge push to take Kobane today, and it will continue until the reinforcements arrive. ISIS know the game is up once they arrive so it's a matter of trying as hard as they can now.
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Also, how long until the pershmerga arrive? Will the defenders be able to hold off the big push?
 
The Mitcher said:
What heavy weapons do they have?


Also, how long until the pershmerga arrive? Will the defenders be able to hold off the big push?
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They're preparing themselves to leave for Kobane atm. They are expected to arrive within 5 days I think. Heavy weaponry supplies isn't really that clear, but it'll be the stuff that they were trained on in Germany, plus artillery, armoured vehicles etc.
Relevated said:
How is it that they're dealing with the iraqi army, and to an extent the syrian army, really well but the Kurds aren't surrendering? Is it really courage, guts and determination or what?
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Peshmerga literally means "Those who face death" so there's that. :p
 
Suli said:
They're preparing themselves to leave for Kobane atm. They are expected to arrive within 5 days I think. Heavy weaponry supplies isn't really that clear, but it'll be the stuff that they were trained on in Germany, plus artillery, armoured vehicles etc.

Peshmerga literally means "Those who face death" so there's that. :p
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I see! They have serious fire power! As if the name could not get more badass though!

Relevated said:
The guns alone weight like 15kg apparently
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I have held an assault rifle (a British one though) they were incredibly light.
 
Silva said:
What is happening on other fronts? It seems like all the coverage is centered on Kobane at the moment.
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In Iraq it seems like ISIS are making advances in Anbar (they are getting the upper hand over the Sunni tribe Albu-Nimr who are fighting there to defend their areas), but they seem to be on the back foot in Saladdin (especially in the area between Tikrit and Biji) and North West Babil (where the Iraqi army regained control over a few towns and is inching closer towards Jurf Al-Sakhr).

I think Anbar could fall pretty much completely in the hands of ISIS in the next few weeks (they're controlling about 80% of it right now), but I don't expect big news coming from the other parts of Iraq.
 
Relevated said:
How is it that they're dealing with the iraqi army, and to an extent the syrian army, really well but the Kurds aren't surrendering? Is it really courage, guts and determination or what?
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ISIS are mainly getting the upper hand over split areas (enemies) where they can take advantage of the split and can infiltrate the enemy. It happened in Mosul and it's happening now in Anbar. Albu-Nimr tribe (a Sunni tribe) is now losing the fight against ISIS mainly because there are some people helping ISIS inside their towns.

On the other hand, ISIS didn't have big successes when they didn't have that advantage, like in their 3 month long fight to take the the besieged town of Amirli (in Saladdin). This town was completely surrounded by ISIS from all directions since June this year, and they tried many many times to take it, but the people of the town kept defending it until the Iraqi army broke the siege when the people inside were seriously running short of food and water, let alone weapons and ammo (the US also helped with a total of 4 airstrikes).

Against the Syrian army ISIS didn't enjoy much success apart from the small besieged areas that were far far from any possible reinforcements, after many months of fierce fighting.

Another important factor is the US airstrikes.

- In Kobane alone, in less than a month, the US (and its allies) launched a total of 155 airstrikes till now.

- In the Mosul Dam alone the US launched a total of 124 airstrikes.

- In contrast, in the rest of Iraq during a period of 2 and a half months the US launched only a total of 248 airstrikes (for example 41 in Irbil, a total of 11 in South West of Baghdad, 9 in Ramadi, 6 in Hit (which fell recently to ISIS), and 1 in Tel Afer)

Source

You can also clearly see on the battleground that the US airstrikes did have an important role in turning the battle upside down in both Kobane and the battle for the Mosul Dam (which ISIS seized before the US strikes started).

Having said that, the Kurdish forces really showed some great resilience defending Kobane. Hopefully their sacrifices won't go in vain, and things look pretty positive now especially if Turkey allows more Peshmerga fighters to join the fight.
 
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Suli said:
Happy Diwali all!




ISIS bring reinforcements every day, reportedly 200 just from one front this morning. They can't give up this battle and will do everything it takes.
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The guy running down the hill as it's being bombed. :lol:
 
Big news today as the Iraqi army with the help of the militias seem to be on the verge of having complete control over Jurf Al-Sakhr (South West of Baghdad). The Iraqi forces already entered the center of the city and they're now clearing the remaining parts and solidifying their positions in it.

Jurf Al-Sakhr has always been one of ISIS' (and before 2014 Al-Qaeda's) main strongholds. It's also strategically located between Anbar, Babil and Baghdad. This will be a big blow to ISIS if the Iraqi forces manage to control the city completely.
 
Peshmerga have retaken the town of Zummar, West of Mosul Dam and near Shingal. The town has changed hands frequently over the past few months but this latest offensive means ISIS have been ousted from all surroundings villages.
 
Video from inside Kobane, with English subtitles.

 
That video of the bombing of the hill is incredible. It serves as further blow to their morale and propaganda. There was another video of the YPG on the hill afterwards showing the dead bodies.

Despite all of the pessimistic statements early on, the coalition forces appear to have woken up to the importance of Kobane and will do a whole lot more to ensure it isn't lost. I think both the coalition and IS sorely underestimated what kind of opponent awaited them in Kobane, probably assuming it would fall like many other places they rolled through.
 
Suli said:
ISIS bring reinforcements every day, reportedly 200 just from one front this morning. They can't give up this battle and will do everything it takes.
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I find this quite interesting, do you think that tactically speaking, we are holding the position as it is allowing them to send fresh reinforcements on an almost daily basis knowing we have the upper hand and can take each wave as they come? It sounds like we are (very) slowly depleting their numbers while Kobane stands strong and if they get a bit too strong, a bigger air strike cleans them out.

It sound like an almost controlled execution of them as we know they will keep sending in more.
 
Pexbo said:
I find this quite interesting, do you think that tactically speaking, we are holding the position as it is allowing them to send fresh reinforcements on an almost daily basis knowing we have the upper hand and can take each wave as they come? It sounds like we are (very) slowly depleting their numbers while Kobane stands strong and if they get a bit too strong, a bigger air strike cleans them out.

It sound like an almost controlled execution of them as we know they will keep sending in more.
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Holding the position and waiting for reinforcements. This has been the aim for the past few days, repelling every wave of attack that comes at them.

They keep on sending reinforcements because they are desperate. Once our reinforcements are in the town, an actual offensive will begin. That means it will no longer be a defensive position where attacks are repelled, but where we push to seize complete control of the town. Hopefully this leads to bigger things, like taking other towns which are weaker as a result of sending their forces and weapons to Kobane.
 
Saw a video of a smaller airstrike directly into a part of the city, which means there must be very good coordination between the Kurds in the city and US forces in the air.
 
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