US-Led Coalition Jets Strike Syrian Government Forces
Stars and Stripes | |
WASHINGTON – U.S.-led coalition jets struck a gathering of Syrian government forces deemed a threat to partnered forces on the ground near the Jordanian border, U.S. defense officials confirmed Thursday.
The airstrikes took place Thursday and hit a tank and possibly other targets in southern Syria that appeared to be an advancing Shia militant group that the coalition deemed a threat to its allies on the ground, according to the defense official who spoke on the condition of anonymity. A second defense official said the strike also hit a bulldozer.
"They were building a fighting position" about 55 kilometers from a U.S.-coalition base close to At Tanf, where advisers train members of the Syrian Democratic Forces and Syrian Arab Coalition, the second official said. There were U.S. advisers operating at the base at the time of the airstrikes.
The official said an earlier communication agreement between the United States and Russia in Syria had included ways to avoid mishaps between ground forces, such as establishing a 55-kilometer border around known areas of operation. Either side would then notify the other if their forces would be inside those areas.
"Anyone who goes inside the 55 kilometers or needs to do a strike, we have areas that are set up," the official said. "You let us know through deconfliction channels."
The official said the United States reached out to Russia to notify them that Syrian government forces were within the zone, giving them the opportunity to withdraw. Russia tried multiple times to contact the Syrian forces, the official said.
It was at that point that U.S. and coalition jets escalated their warnings.
"We conducted a show of force. We conducted warning shots. All to no avail," the official said.".......
Our old friend Lefty Robert Fisk, an Iranian stooge like Obama:
"According to the Syrians, the US destroyed not one but four T-62 tanks and a Shilka ZSU-23-4 Soviet-made radar-guided anti-aircraft vehicle manned by both Shia Iraqi militiamen loyal to Damascus and a unit of armed Iranians who were travelling in pick-up trucks to establish positions – on the instructions of the Syrian army – in the desert west of al-Tanf. Their intention – to set up strongpoints in the vast and largely empty land in advance of the American-trained forces – was an attempt by the Syrian government to keep open the route between Iraq and Syria now that the ISIS-held Syrian city of Raqqa far to the north has been almost surrounded by largely Kurdish fighters loyal to Washington.
Six of the pro-Syrian militiamen were killed in the American air strike and 25 wounded – it is unclear whether the casualties were Iraqi or Iranian – but forces under the command of the Syrian army intend to continue their reconnaissance missions towards al-Tanf. Anti-aircraft gunners aboard one of the pick-up trucks accompanying the pro-Syrian units that were attacked, opened fire on the US jets and, according to the Syrians, forced the American aircraft to fly higher.
Nonetheless, the brief action in the Syrian desert was of great importance. The Syrians were obviously trying to test America’s resolve to move its anti-Assad militia forces deeper into the south-east of the country – and the US was prepared, albeit on a small scale, to show that it was prepared to press on. But the Syrian-Iraqi frontier town of al-Tanf may turn out to be a key strategic point in the struggle of the Assad government to regain its national territory and keep open its border to Iraq and, by extension, to Iran. It lies only 30 miles from Iraq – but because the Jordanian-Syrian-Iraqi borders join immediately to the south – al-Tanf also lies the same distance from Jordan – where the American-trained militia are based. ...For the Pentagon to suggest that this was a sideshow to Washington’s battle against Isis was to stretch the truth beyond credibility in the Middle East. Cutting Syria off from Iraq – and thus from Iran – appears to be a far more immediate operational aim of US forces in Syria than the elimination of the Sunni “Caliphate” cult [ISIS] that Washington claims to be its principal enemy in the Middle East.".......
The airstrikes took place Thursday and hit a tank and possibly other targets in southern Syria that appeared to be an advancing Shia militant group that the coalition deemed a threat to its allies on the ground, according to the defense official who spoke on the condition of anonymity. A second defense official said the strike also hit a bulldozer.
"They were building a fighting position" about 55 kilometers from a U.S.-coalition base close to At Tanf, where advisers train members of the Syrian Democratic Forces and Syrian Arab Coalition, the second official said. There were U.S. advisers operating at the base at the time of the airstrikes.
The official said an earlier communication agreement between the United States and Russia in Syria had included ways to avoid mishaps between ground forces, such as establishing a 55-kilometer border around known areas of operation. Either side would then notify the other if their forces would be inside those areas.
"Anyone who goes inside the 55 kilometers or needs to do a strike, we have areas that are set up," the official said. "You let us know through deconfliction channels."
The official said the United States reached out to Russia to notify them that Syrian government forces were within the zone, giving them the opportunity to withdraw. Russia tried multiple times to contact the Syrian forces, the official said.
It was at that point that U.S. and coalition jets escalated their warnings.
"We conducted a show of force. We conducted warning shots. All to no avail," the official said.".......
Our old friend Lefty Robert Fisk, an Iranian stooge like Obama:
"According to the Syrians, the US destroyed not one but four T-62 tanks and a Shilka ZSU-23-4 Soviet-made radar-guided anti-aircraft vehicle manned by both Shia Iraqi militiamen loyal to Damascus and a unit of armed Iranians who were travelling in pick-up trucks to establish positions – on the instructions of the Syrian army – in the desert west of al-Tanf. Their intention – to set up strongpoints in the vast and largely empty land in advance of the American-trained forces – was an attempt by the Syrian government to keep open the route between Iraq and Syria now that the ISIS-held Syrian city of Raqqa far to the north has been almost surrounded by largely Kurdish fighters loyal to Washington.
Six of the pro-Syrian militiamen were killed in the American air strike and 25 wounded – it is unclear whether the casualties were Iraqi or Iranian – but forces under the command of the Syrian army intend to continue their reconnaissance missions towards al-Tanf. Anti-aircraft gunners aboard one of the pick-up trucks accompanying the pro-Syrian units that were attacked, opened fire on the US jets and, according to the Syrians, forced the American aircraft to fly higher.
Nonetheless, the brief action in the Syrian desert was of great importance. The Syrians were obviously trying to test America’s resolve to move its anti-Assad militia forces deeper into the south-east of the country – and the US was prepared, albeit on a small scale, to show that it was prepared to press on. But the Syrian-Iraqi frontier town of al-Tanf may turn out to be a key strategic point in the struggle of the Assad government to regain its national territory and keep open its border to Iraq and, by extension, to Iran. It lies only 30 miles from Iraq – but because the Jordanian-Syrian-Iraqi borders join immediately to the south – al-Tanf also lies the same distance from Jordan – where the American-trained militia are based. ...For the Pentagon to suggest that this was a sideshow to Washington’s battle against Isis was to stretch the truth beyond credibility in the Middle East. Cutting Syria off from Iraq – and thus from Iran – appears to be a far more immediate operational aim of US forces in Syria than the elimination of the Sunni “Caliphate” cult [ISIS] that Washington claims to be its principal enemy in the Middle East.".......
So we took out 4 tanks, an anti-aircraft vehicle, trucks full of Iranian Guards and we're cutting Iran's lines...it's all good, Bobby!
Elsewhere over Iraq and Syria: Air Force Bombed ISIS at Record Level in March, Numbers Show
"The U.S. Air Force bombed the Islamic State at a record level in March and the most since the air campaign began in 2014, figures show. The service dropped nearly 4,000 munitions during that period, according to the latest Air Forces Central Command statistics." 
Elsewhere over Iraq and Syria: Air Force Bombed ISIS at Record Level in March, Numbers Show
BBC: Syria and Russia condemn US-led attack on pro-Assad forces
"Syria and its ally Russia have condemned air strikes by the US-led coalition on pro-Syrian government forces near the Jordan border.
Syria said the strikes were a "blatant attack on forces fighting terrorism", while Russia said they breached the country's sovereignty.The convoy was hit on Thursday as it neared a group of US-backed rebels and a Western special forces unit in Tanf.
The US said Russia was told in advance and that warning shots were ignored.
Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said the strikes were "completely unacceptable", according to state-run news agency Ria Novosti.
He was quoted as saying in Geneva that any military action leading to an escalation of the conflict would have an impact on the political process.
The US-backed Maghaweer al-Thawra rebel faction said that the convoy had been about 27km (17 miles) away and contained four tanks.
A US defence official said the convoy had not responded to numerous warnings that it was "getting too close to coalition forces".
The US-led coalition said the pro-regime forces consisted of Syrian and Iranian-backed militias and "posed a threat to US and partner forces".
But a statement on Syrian state news agency Sana said that the air strikes at 16:30 (13:30 GMT) on Thursday had targeted one of the "military points" of its army.
It said there had been "a number" of deaths and "some material losses" and that the army would not be intimidated by attempts to stop it performing its counter-terrorism duties.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group, reported that eight people were killed. It said most of them were not Syrian.
Mr Gatilov also condemned a US-led coalition strike on Wednesday that reportedly killed dozens of c
Rebel officials said earlier this week that hundreds of troops and militiamen were advancing into the sparsely-populated desert region near the Jordan border, in an apparent attempt to halt recent rebel gains against so-called Islamic State (IS).
The US-led coalition said that, ahead of the air strikes, a telephone call had been put into the Russian military, which backs President Bashar al-Assad. That was followed by a "show of force" by aircraft overhead and warning shots, the officials said.
"Then there was finally a strike against the lead portion of that movement."
A US defence official told the AFP news agency that the strike did not signal a strategic shift for the coalition, which has focused on battling IS and has tried to avoid intervening in Syria's civil war.
US-led troops helped repel a major IS attack on Tanf last month, while Russian warplanes bombed the base in June 2016.ivilians. The coalition has denied the attack occurred.
Rebel officials said earlier this week that hundreds of troops and militiamen were advancing into the sparsely-populated desert region near the Jordan border, in an apparent attempt to halt recent rebel gains against so-called Islamic State (IS).
The US-led coalition said that, ahead of the air strikes, a telephone call had been put into the Russian military, which backs President Bashar al-Assad. That was followed by a "show of force" by aircraft overhead and warning shots, the officials said.
"Then there was finally a strike against the lead portion of that movement."
A US defence official told the AFP news agency that the strike did not signal a strategic shift for the coalition, which has focused on battling IS and has tried to avoid intervening in Syria's civil war.
US-led troops helped repel a major IS attack on Tanf last month, while Russian warplanes bombed the base in June 2016.".......
The Iranians are also operating here, and not just out of the Obamas' spare bedroom, either:
Free Beacon: Iranian Regime Agents Operating Polling Stations Across United States
"The Iranian regime is believed to be operating polling stations across the United States ahead of the country’s election on Friday, an effort that appears to violate U.S. laws barring Iranian agents from operating on American soil in this manner, according to sources apprised of the situation.
There are nearly 50 such polling stations across the United States, including in major American cities such as New York City and Washington, D.C., according to a list of polling stations published online.
Iranian polling stations have already been shut down in Canada and calls are mounting for the Trump administration to take similar action, according to a White House petition created by Iranian dissident groups that call on President Donald Trump to "shut down illegal Iranian regime election sites in the U.S."...
"They have gotten away with it in previous elections because the Obama administration actually instructed the FBI not to do anything about this," said Timmerman, who first raised the issue in an article published by Front Page Magazine. "This time, the only way they’d get away with it is if the Justice Department and the administration is asleep at the switch."
Timmerman delivered to the White House last week a letter informing the president of the situation, but has yet to hear back.
In order to man the stations, there will be "hundreds of actual paid agents of the Islamic regime operating throughout this country," Timmerman said, raising concerns about violations of U.S. laws barring such activity.".......
It makes sense in a way; after all, Obama got his
BTW, I went to check the reporting of the Professional Liars at the Failing New York Times.
They had this headline: "U.S. Warplanes in Syria Hit Pro-Government Militia Convoy"
It was an Iranian Militia Convoy, boys--and Republican Guards, too. They also featured a picture of forlorn civilians walking among ruined buildings--even though the airstrike was on a tank column in the desert. And then they compared Trump to Iran's "populist hard-liner" mullah-presidential candidate--even though Trump is the one bombing Iranian hardliners and thwarting their empire.
As Chesterton said, "It's as easy as lying--because it is lying."
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