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Russian airstrikes in Syria
Posted:
Wed Sep 30, 2015 9:40 amby Conserative Morality
BBC wrote:Russia has begun carrying out air strikes in Syria against opponents of President Bashar al-Assad.
The strikes reportedly hit rebel-controlled areas of Homs and Hama provinces, causing casualties.
The US says it was informed an hour before they took place.
Russian defence officials say aircraft targeted the Islamic State group, but an unnamed US official told Reuters that so far they did not appear to be targeting IS-held territory.
The upper house of the Russian parliament granted President Vladimir Putin permission to deploy the Russian air force in Syria.
The Russian defence ministry said the country's air force had targeted IS military equipment, communication facilities, arms depots, ammunition and fuel supplies.
Syrian opposition activists said Russian warplanes had hit towns including Zafaraneh, Rastan ands Talbiseh, resulting in the deaths of 36 people, a number of them children.
None of the areas targeted were controlled by IS, activists said.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-34399164So, what implications does this have?
Not surprised in the least. Russia clearly is desperate to hold onto their last ally in the region. I wouldn't be surprised if they intervene on the ground in the near future.
Not that they'd admit to it when they did.
Posted:
Wed Sep 30, 2015 9:44 amby Zorbae
At this point the Vatican could start bombing Syria, and I still wouldn't even raise an eyebrow.
Posted:
Wed Sep 30, 2015 9:44 amby Eastern Equestria
Have fun with that, Ruskies.
Posted:
Wed Sep 30, 2015 9:44 amby The Wolven League
Russia only wants its only ally in the east to remain standing.
Posted:
Wed Sep 30, 2015 9:45 amby The Wolven League
Zorbae wrote:At this point
the Vatican could start bombing Syria, and I still wouldn't even raise an eyebrow.
Wouldn't be surprised if they did. It's a growing bandwagon.
Posted:
Wed Sep 30, 2015 9:47 amby Renewed Imperial Germany
The Wolven League wrote:Zorbae wrote:At this point
the Vatican could start bombing Syria, and I still wouldn't even raise an eyebrow.
Wouldn't be surprised if they did. It's a growing bandwagon.
Breaking News: Switzerland is now dropping bombs on Syria.
We're gonna need a bigger wagon.
Posted:
Wed Sep 30, 2015 9:47 amby Turkiistan
Zorbae wrote:At this point
the Vatican could start bombing Syria, and I still wouldn't even raise an eyebrow.
Lulz.
Posted:
Wed Sep 30, 2015 9:47 amby Lusai
[clusterfuck intensifies]
But no really I mean Russia does have a legit reason (allies) but like holy shit the situation in Syria getting out of control.
Posted:
Wed Sep 30, 2015 9:56 amby Cresenthia
And yet, they promised that their increased military presence was for the sole purpose of combating ISIS.
Posted:
Wed Sep 30, 2015 9:56 amby Mefpan
To be frank, Assad's a fucking asshole and I used to hope he'd be deposed, but considering the identities of the other major contenders for control over Syria...more power to Russia in this instance. Provided of course they ignore the Kurds, who aren't so much interested in overthrowing Assad as they are interested in everyone else stopping with the sacking of their fucking homeland.
Like, sorry. But I don't really see a credible alternative in the Syrian opposition anymore; unless I'm wrong and they've not been completely drowned out in the mass of other would-be demagogues and other assorted power-hungry factions.
Lusai wrote:[clusterfuck intensifies]But no really I mean Russia does have a legit reason (allies) but like holy shit the situation in Syria getting out of control.
Look, if this is getting out of control then I don't know what your standard for "has never been in control for the last couple of years" is.
Posted:
Wed Sep 30, 2015 10:02 amby Conserative Morality
Mefpan wrote:To be frank, Assad's a fucking asshole and I used to hope he'd be deposed, but considering the identities of the other major contenders for control over Syria...more power to Russia in this instance. Provided of course they ignore the Kurds, who aren't so much interested in overthrowing Assad as they are interested in everyone else stopping with the sacking of their fucking homeland.
Like, sorry. But I don't really see a credible alternative in the Syrian opposition anymore; unless I'm wrong and they've not been completely drowned out in the mass of other would-be demagogues and other assorted power-hungry factions.
The FSA is still together, as are a number of other credible opposition forces. We generally only hear about Al-Nusra and ISIS. God only knows if the non-radical opposition could cobble something out of the ashes of Syria after this mess, though.
Posted:
Wed Sep 30, 2015 10:02 amby The Qeiiam Star Cluster
The only thing that's missing now is some Best Korean troops.
Posted:
Wed Sep 30, 2015 10:09 amby Baltenstein
The Qeiiam Star Cluster wrote:The only thing that's missing now is some Best Korean troops.
I think Best Korea actually did some cooperation with Syria on nuclear energy a couple of years ago.
Posted:
Wed Sep 30, 2015 10:12 amby Tekeristan
The situation is Syria is fucked. Assad falls, and a theocracy will likely replace it. More infighting about this theocracy as other groups put their claims in and so on.
Yay instability!
Posted:
Wed Sep 30, 2015 10:17 amby Rio Cana
The other day they reported on CNN that too many of the US trained fighters were not reliable. Some were even handing there weapons to groups that did not like the US. So far the US has spent 500 Million trying to train and arm these people. Seems like the US has painted itself into a corner.
Story on this -
http://thehill.com/policy/defense/25505 ... gon-admits
Posted:
Wed Sep 30, 2015 10:25 amby Russo-Byzantine Empire
Good. The Free Syrian Army recently gave weapons to Al-Quaeda (heres the link:http://www.mintpressnews.com/new-us-trained-rebels-in-syria-gave-their-weapons-to-al-qaeda/209806/) so it has become apparent that we cannot trust them. What we need is for everyone to unite behind Assad to defeat ISIS, like the leaders of the free world did with Stalin against Hitler.
Posted:
Wed Sep 30, 2015 10:40 amby Fartsniffage
Russian and American forces operating weapons hot in the same airspace.....what could possibly go wrong?
Posted:
Wed Sep 30, 2015 10:41 amby Occupied Deutschland
Did hear that the strikes were supposedly against US-backed Syrian rebel forces (I assumed FSA, but they weren't mentioned by name) and not ISIS, but I heard that from Rush Limbaugh, so take it with a grain of salt.
Not really a surprising move either way. Russia wants to hold on to the buddy-boy in the Mideast and not see him toppled, whether it's by ISIS or by slightly-less-radical-than-ISIS-or-maybe-not-but-still-rather-clusterfucked-either-way rebels.
Edit: Quelle Surprise,
there do seem to be claims/reports by the FSA they were hit by Russian airstrikes.
Posted:
Wed Sep 30, 2015 10:45 amby Rangila
The Qeiiam Star Cluster wrote:The only thing that's missing now is some Best Korean troops.
Don't worry, Kim Jong Un himself will march in on his own and defeat every single member of every group opposed to Assad single handedly. Ah, yes, and then a double rainbow would appear.
Posted:
Wed Sep 30, 2015 10:50 amby Paddy O Fernature
Occupied Deutschland wrote:Did hear that the strikes were supposedly against US-backed Syrian rebel forces (I assumed FSA, but they weren't mentioned by name) and not ISIS, but I heard that from Rush Limbaugh, so take it with a grain of salt.
Not really a surprising move either way. Russia wants to hold on to the buddy-boy in the Mideast and not see him toppled, whether it's by ISIS or by slightly-less-radical-than-ISIS-or-maybe-not-but-still-rather-clusterfucked-either-way rebels.
Edit: Quelle Surprise,
there do seem to be claims/reports by the FSA they were hit by Russian airstrikes.
Time to drop of a truckload of FIM-92 Stinger's off and let nature take it's course.
Posted:
Wed Sep 30, 2015 10:53 amby Tekeristan
Paddy O Fernature wrote:Occupied Deutschland wrote:Did hear that the strikes were supposedly against US-backed Syrian rebel forces (I assumed FSA, but they weren't mentioned by name) and not ISIS, but I heard that from Rush Limbaugh, so take it with a grain of salt.
Not really a surprising move either way. Russia wants to hold on to the buddy-boy in the Mideast and not see him toppled, whether it's by ISIS or by slightly-less-radical-than-ISIS-or-maybe-not-but-still-rather-clusterfucked-either-way rebels.
Edit: Quelle Surprise,
there do seem to be claims/reports by the FSA they were hit by Russian airstrikes.
Time to drop of a truckload of FIM-92 Stinger's off and let nature take it's course.
Until a U.S airman is shot down and executed because of one.
Posted:
Wed Sep 30, 2015 10:55 amby Paddy O Fernature
Tekeristan wrote:Paddy O Fernature wrote:Time to drop of a truckload of FIM-92 Stinger's off and let nature take it's course.
Until a U.S airman is shot down and executed because of one.
Yes, cause that's a likely scenario.
Posted:
Wed Sep 30, 2015 10:55 amby Geilinor
Cresenthia wrote:And yet, they promised that their increased military presence was for the sole purpose of combating ISIS.
And the other Syrian rebels, but it's becoming clear that Assad isn't going anywhere.
Posted:
Wed Sep 30, 2015 10:57 amby The New Byzantine II
Syria has just turned into a fucked up place. First it was just a peaceful revolution and then civil war and then ISIS rises in the middle of no where, Hezbollah has presence in western Syria including Israeli Army and now the Russians? This civil war is even much much worse than any other civil wars all around the world since the Syrian Civil War is a spillover.
Posted:
Wed Sep 30, 2015 10:59 amby The Qeiiam Star Cluster
Rangila wrote:The Qeiiam Star Cluster wrote:The only thing that's missing now is some Best Korean troops.
Don't worry, Kim Jong Un himself will march in on his own and defeat every single member of every group opposed to Assad single handedly. Ah, yes, and then a double rainbow would appear.
You mean he will enter the country while riding on a unicorn?