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Regional geopolitics

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  • Re: Regional geopolitics

    Yemen conflict: Al-Qaeda joins coalition battle for Taiz
    22 February 2016
    BBC

    The BBC has found evidence in Yemen that troops from a Saudi-led coalition force and al-Qaeda militants are both fighting Houthi rebels in a key battle.
    On a visit to the frontline near the city of Taiz, a documentary maker filmed jihadists as well as UAE-supported pro-government militiamen.

    The coalition of 10 mostly Sunni Arab states is backing Yemen's government in its war against the Shia rebels.
    But it denies co-operating with Sunni extremists also opposed to the Houthis.

    The coalition's member states consider al-Qaeda a terrorist organisation, and the jihadist network's local affiliates have attacked coalition forces and Yemeni government personnel.

    At least 6,000 people have been killed in Yemen since March 2015, when the coalition launched a military campaign to defeat the Houthis and allied army units loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh and restore the government.

    'Spreading the message'

    Pro-government forces have been battling the rebels for control of Taiz, about 205km (123 miles) south of the rebel-held capital Sanaa, for months.
    The Houthis control all routes into and out of the city, and are besieging a Sunni Islamist-dominated alliance of local forces holding the city centre, while coalition-led forces are attacking the rebels on several fronts to the south and west.

    Taiz has suffered huge destruction as a result, and the UN says some 200,000 civilians are trapped inside the city without critical medical supplies or food.

    During a visit to the frontline outside Taiz late last year, documentary maker Safa AlAhmad spoke to pro-government militiamen attacking Houthi fighters on a key hilltop with the support of troops from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), who were providing tactical advice.

    While there, Ms AlAhmad was warned by one group participating in the battle not to film them.
    She was told they were members of Ansar al-Sharia, an affiliate of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), and that they were angered by the presence of a woman.

    Ms AlAhmad said it appeared that AQAP - which has exploited the chaos and seized parts of southern Yemen, including the port city of Mukalla - had sent fighters to Taiz to increase the group's influence and spread its message.

    Several reports of coalition forces and AQAP militants battling the Houthis in the same areas in southern Yemen
    have emerged over the past 11 months, despite the jihadists' long-standing violent opposition to governments of coalition-member states, who are allied with the US.

    Some have alleged that the Yemeni government is avoiding direct confrontation with AQAP, which in turn has avoided attacks on government targets.
    The Houthis have claimed that Saudi Arabia and its Sunni allies are more concerned with checking the influence of Shia power Iran, which has denied providing military support to the rebels, than combating al-Qaeda.

    Comment


    • Re: Regional geopolitics



      Lessons from the latest turkish reply capturing Khanasser, only supply road to Haleb:
      1- Evident cooperation between "Al Qaeda moderates"(green) and ISIL. (black)
      2- Never underesimate enemy...
      3- Result of shortage in manpower in Syrian Army and allies camp.
      4- One small , well planed swift move can nullify all latest victories of last months, and turn situation upside down.
      5- In desperate situations, Best defense is attack. (all best troops of the regime, Hizbolla, Tiger forces, etc.. advancing in Safira or towards Idleb are forced to rush back on Khanaser, taking out pressure from Meskene and Jarablous, Manbij...)
      Last edited by Vrej1915; 02-23-2016, 05:39 AM.

      Comment


      • Re: Regional geopolitics

        Originally posted by Vrej1915 View Post


        Lessons from the latest turkish reply capturing Khanasser, only supply road to Haleb:
        1- Evident cooperation between "Al Qaeda moderates"(green) and ISIL. (black)
        2- Never underesimate enemy...
        3- Result of shortage in manpower in Syrian Army and allies camp.
        4- One small , well planed swift move can nullify all latest victories of last months, and turn situation upside down.
        5- In desperate situations, Best defense is attack. (all best troops of the regime, Hizbolla, Tiger forces, etc.. advancing in Safira or towards Idleb are forced to rush back on Khanaser, taking out pressure from Meskene and Jarablous, Manbij...)
        Lol please, the situation has not been turned upside down... If you think the governmnet and allied malitias havent stockpiled ammo food and other supplies in Aleppo you're a fool.they could fight for weeks if not months with the supplies they've already stockpiled.

        IMO this is going to be a temporary move by ISIL and the "moderates". There no way they can hold that small strip for too long. Manpower is not an issue i would say the issue is more ego on the government side for not taking this attack seriously and commiting a large amount of troops for the first counter attack.

        I cant believe you think this small gain has "turned the situation upside down".... This attack is very superficial. It might relieve pressure elsewhere but again its is very superficial

        Comment


        • Re: Regional geopolitics

          Originally posted by gokorik View Post
          Lol please, the situation has not been turned upside down... If you think the governmnet and allied malitias havent stockpiled ammo food and other supplies in Aleppo you're a fool.they could fight for weeks if not months with the supplies they've already stockpiled.

          IMO this is going to be a temporary move by ISIL and the "moderates". There no way they can hold that small strip for too long. Manpower is not an issue i would say the issue is more ego on the government side for not taking this attack seriously and commiting a large amount of troops for the first counter attack.

          I cant believe you think this small gain has "turned the situation upside down".... This attack is very superficial. It might relieve pressure elsewhere but again its is very superficial
          Reed well.
          It was clear enough said: CAN, (and not did).....
          Last edited by Vrej1915; 02-23-2016, 03:15 PM.

          Comment


          • Re: Regional geopolitics

            Ankara blast: DNA tests suggest bomber born in Turkey
            BBC

            The bomber behind a deadly blast in the Turkish capital Ankara was Turkish-born, security officials say, not from Syria as the government initially said.

            However, the government has insisted there is a link between the attack and Syrian Kurdish fighters.

            Prosecutors and security officials said DNA tests had identified the bomber as Abdulbaki Somer, born in the eastern Turkish city of Van.

            Last week's bombing killed 29 people, at least 20 of them military personnel.

            "The bomber's DNA matches that of Abdulbaki's father," a senior Turkish security official told Reuters news agency.

            The bomber struck a military convoy in the capital
            Turkey's state-run Anadolu news agency quoted prosecutors confirming the report.
            It said that Abdulbaki Somer was believed to have joined the Kurdish militant PKK group in 2005 at the age of 16 and was based in the Qandil mountains in northern Iraq until 2014.

            The agency said that Somer's father had told police that his son was behind the attack.

            Following the blast in Ankara, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu named the bomber as Salih Necar, a Syrian national and member of the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG).


            "Whatever the judicial inquiry concludes over the identity of the bomber, it is clear that the bomber came from Rojava, the area of the PYD," Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus told reporters on Tuesday, referring to another Syrian Kurd-controlled northern Syria.

            He said the bomber had entered Turkey from the region in the summer of 2014.

            Turkish newspaper the Hurriyet suggested that Abdulbaki Somer may have re-entered Turkey with false papers under the name Salih Necar.

            The PKK, which has been fighting for Kurdish self-determination since 1984, is considered a terrorist organisation by Turkey and its Western allies.
            Turkey has also designated the YPG a terrorist group, but its allies, including the United States, back the YPG in its fight against so-called Islamic State (IS).

            Comment


            • Re: Regional geopolitics

              Breaking: Tiger Forces capture strategic village from ISIS in southeast Aleppo
              By Leith Fadel -
              23/02/2016

              Minutes ago in the Aleppo Governorate’s southeastern countryside, the Syrian Arab Army’s “Tiger Forces” – backed by the pro-government Palestinian militia “Liwaa Al-Quds” (Jerusalem Brigade) and the Cheetah Forces “Team 3” – imposed full control over the strategic village of Rasm Al-Nafal after a violent battle with the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS).

              According to the media coordinator for Liwaa Al-Quds, the Syrian Armed Forces captured the village of Rasm Al-Nafal after killing several ISIS terrorists and destroying 4 of their vehicles with heavy artillery and superior tanks. Rasm Al-Nafal was the first village captured by ISIS on Sunday night; and it set the stage for their imperative advance along the Khanasser-Aleppo Road, which has now been completely cutoff by ISIS and their allies from 2 different parts of the roadway.

              Currently, the Syrian Armed Forces are working vigorously to restore the points captured by ISIS 48 hours ago; however, this will likely take longer than expected, given the fact that the terrorist group has laid several roadside bombs and mines to slow down the government forces. At the earliest, the Khanasser-Aleppo Road can be reopened by the end of this week; however, the supply route will still be cutoff from another point along the Sheikh Hilal-Ithriyah Road

              https://www.almasdarnews.com/article...theast-aleppo/ | Al-Masdar News

              Comment


              • Re: Regional geopolitics

                ISIS and Syrian rebels halt hostilities in Aleppo and engage in joint offensive vs. SAA
                By Chris Tomson -
                23/02/2016

                Since the summer of 2014, Islamist rebels and ISIS fighters have clashed in northern Aleppo with the front line moving back and forth. However, with the Syrian Government and Kurdish militants advancing all across Aleppo governorate, this has gradually caused Islamist fighters on both sides to halt their hostilities with each other.

                Effectively, the front line situation in northern Aleppo has reached a stalemate with both sides de-escalating and gradually pulling out their fighters as to cover other fragile front lines. Rebels and the Islamic State have somewhat common enemies (the Syrian Army and YPG/SDF) and largely similar interests (implementing religious laws). As such, they have put aside their differences for their greater concerns and as to strengthen other areas.

                Less than 3 years ago, ISIS was considered part of the opposition to the Syrian government. From mid-2012 until the end of 2013 they had both shoulder-by-shoulder succeeded in seizing Managh Airbase from hopelessly entrenched government troops during a joint offensive which included ISIS, Jabhat al-Nusra, Jaish al-Islam and the Free Syrian Army.

                In November of 2015, rebel forces and ISIS carried out simultaneous offensives from each flank on the Syrian Arab Army near Ithriya village along the government supply line to Aleppo city but were later repelled. Once again, just two days ago, rebel forces and ISIS carried out another joint offensive and even managed to capture and hold the strategic village of Khanasser during the process.

                In the summer of 2014, ISIS became too powerful and left the opposition to pursue its own ambitions and proclaim a regional caliphate. For now, it appears that both sides (ISIS and rebels forces) have been weakened inside Aleppo province and as such must seek to shift the balance of power by putting an end to their war with each other

                https://www.almasdarnews.com/article...ensive-vs-saa/ | Al-Masdar News

                Comment


                • Re: Regional geopolitics

                  I'm not sure about this guy's mental condition.
                  Erdogan: (referring to the pilots of the downed Russian jet by Turkey) Russia lost a friend like us for the 2 pilots.

                  Comment


                  • Re: Regional geopolitics

                    Ադրբեջանին վախեցրել է Հայաստանի զենքի ցանկը

                    ՀԱԿՈԲ ԲԱԴԱԼՅԱՆ, Մեկնաբան
                    Մեկնաբանություն - 24 Փետրվարի 2016,

                    Ադրբեջանը բողոքի նոտա է հղել Ռուսաստանին, դժգոհելով Հայաստանին սպառազինության վաճառքի վերաբերյալ: Բաքուն կարծում է, որ դա չի նպաստում Արցախի հակամարտության խաղաղ կարգավորմանն ու տարածաշրջանային անվտանգությանը: Ադրբեջանը երաշխիք է ուզում, որ այդ սպառազինությունը չի գործադրվի Ադրբեջանի դեմ:

                    Պաշտոնական Բաքվի այս քայլն իհարկե առավել քան ծիծաղելի է: Հայաստանին 200 միլիոն դոլարի սպառազինության վաճառքի համար մեղադրում է մեկը, ով նույն Ռուսաստանից ձեռք է բերել 5 միլիարդ դոլարի տարատեսակ, այդ թվում հարձակողական սպառազինություն: Այդ իմաստով, Արցախի հակամարտության խաղաղ կարգավորումն ու տարածաշրջանային անվտանգությունը վտանգված է վաղուց, եւ դա Ռուսաստանը վտանգել է ոչ թե Հայաստանին, այլ Ադրբեջանին վաճառած սպառազինությամբ: Ընդ որում, այդ վտանգը եղել է ոչ թե հիպոթետիկ, տեսական, այլ միանգամայն առարկայական եւ արտահայտվել Բաքվի ագրեսիվության գործնական աճով:

                    Հայաստանին վաճառվող սպառազինությամբ, Մոսկվան փոքր ինչ վերականգնում է իր իսկ խախտած հավասարակշռությունը: Ընդ որում, հատկանշական է, որ դա անում է այն բանից հետո, երբ գժտվեց Թուրքիայի հետ՝ ռուսական ռազմական օդանավին հասցված թուրքական հարվածից հետո:

                    Դրանով ռուս-թուրք-ադրբեջանական եռյակի «շատ հեռուն տանող» գործակցությունը, ինչպես խոստովանել էր Պուտինը, ընդհատվեց: Դրանից հետո Մոսկվան ստիպված էր Կովկասում անել մարտավարական քայլեր, որոնք տրամագծորեն հակառակ էին մինչ այդ գործադրված ռազմավարությանը: Ահա այդ քայլերի շրջանակում Ռուսաստանը հրապարակեց այն սպառազինության ցանկը, որ վարկով տրամադրվում է Հայաստանին:

                    Մինչ այդ, ՌԴ ԱԳՆ-ն հայտարարել էր, թե ոչինչ չի կարող խոչընդոտել եւ սեպ խրել ռուս-ադրբեջանական հարաբերության մեջ: ՌԴ ԱԳՆ ներկայացուցիչը այդպես էր պատասխանել Թուրքիայի վարչապետի հայտարարությանը, որը Ռուսաստանին մեղադրել էր Ադրբեջանի տարածքային ամբողջությունը ոտնահարելու հարցում Հայաստանին աջակցելու համար: Դա տեղի էր ունեցել մինչեւ Հայաստանին վաճառվող սպառազինության ցանկի հրապարակումը:

                    Ի պատասխան Դավութօղլուի հայտարարության, Ռուսաստանը նշել էր, որ չի լինի խախտել Բաքվի եւ Մոսկվայի բարեկամությունը: Ներկայում հարց է առաջանում՝ Բաքվի եւ Մոսկվայի բարեկամությունը կարո՞ղ է կասկածի տակ դրվել Հայաստանին մատակարարվող սպառազինության ցանկի հրապարակումով:

                    Բաքվի բողոքի նոտան կարող է թողնել տպավորություն, որ բարեկամությունը խախտվել կարող է: Մյուս կողմից, արդյոք ՌԴ ԱԳՆ հայտարարությունը այդ բարեկամության անխախտելիության մասին հենց երաշխիք չէր Բաքվին, որ Հայաստանին սպառազինության մատակարարումը Բաքվի դեմ չէ: Գուցե Բաքուն չի՞ վստահել այդ անուղղակի երաշխիքին եւ պահանջում է հրապարակային երաշխիք:
                    Հետաքրքիր է, ի՞նչ կպատասխանի Մոսկվան այդ բողոքին: Օրինակ, կասի՞ նույնը, ինչ ասում էր Հայաստանի դժգոհությանն ի պատասխան՝ թե Ադրբեջանին մատակարարվող սպառազինությունը բիզնես է:

                    Համենայն դեպս, հատկանշական է, որ Մոսկվան Բաքվի բողոքի նոտային օրինակ այդքան արագ չի արձագանքում, որքան արագ արձագանքեց Դավութօղլուի հայտարարությանն ու շտապեց Բաքվին հավաստիացնել, որ բարեկամությունն անխախտ է:
                    Այժմ Մոսկվայի համար իհարկե բավական բարդ է հրապարակավ հավաստիացնել Բաքվին, որ Հայաստանին վաճառված սպառազինությունը չի կիրառվի Բաքվի դեմ:

                    Մեծ հաշվով, Բաքվի համար խնդիրը իհարկե դա չէ: Ադրբեջանը բողոքի նոտայով փորձում է հասկանալ, թե արդյոք Ռուսաստանը շարունակում է աջակցել լոկալ բախումների, դիվերսիոն հարձակումների Բաքվի մարտավարությանը եւ այդպիսով նաեւ Արցախի հակամարտության գոտում հրադադարի խախտման հետաքննության մեխանիզմի ամերիկյան նախաձեռնության տորպեդահարմանը:

                    Բաքվին իհարկե դա է հետաքրքրում, ոչ թե Հայաստանին վաճառված սպառազինությունը: Եվ Ռուսաստանի պատասխանը պետք է լինի պատասխան հենց այդ մասով: Որովհետեւ, եթե Մոսկվան չի աջակցում Բաքվին այդ հարցում, ապա Ադրբեջանը մնալով մեծ հաշվով մենակ՝ ստիպված է լինելու վաղ թե ուշ ընդունել հրադադարի պահպանման միջազգային մեխանիզմի, այն է հակամարտության սառեցման նախաձեռնությունը:

                    Բաքվի մոտ առավել տագնապ առաջացրած կլինի այն, որ ԱՄՆ ու Ռուսաստանը պայմանավորվել են Սիրիայում հրադադարի հաստատման շուրջ: Ինչ խոսք, դեռ անորոշ է, թե արդյոք այդ պայմանավորվածությունը կմտնի ուժի մեջ, կամ կպահպանվի ուժի մեջ մտնելուց հետո, բայց ինքնին պայմանավորվածության փաստը եւ այն, որ Ռուսաստանը դրա մասին հայտարարություն է արել Պուտինի մակարդակով, իհարկե անհանգստացնող է Բաքվի համար: Բանն այն է, որ այդ պայմանավորվածությունն ամենայն հավանականությամբ ընդգրկում է ոչ միայն Սիրիան, այլ նաեւ հարակից տարածաշրջանները, այդ թվում Արցախը:

                    - See more at: http://www.lragir.am/index/arm/0/com....ZYtjFpLH.dpuf

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                    • Re: Regional geopolitics

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