War against ISIS - December/Jan battle reports and victories
An update on the war against ISIS. December was a good month for the coalition. It is estimated that around 2,500 terrorists were killed in Western airstrikes. In addition, the coalition targeted key ISIS leadership and command and control nodes. Ten ISIS deputy emirs, cyber and financial specialists and commanders were killed in airstrikes.
The vital Sunni city of Ramadi has been mostly retaken after ISIS stormed in mid-last year during a sandstorm (the only time they don't have to worry about airstrikes). More importantly, Ramadi was retaken by non-sectarian Iraqi special forces units, with around 10,000 sunni tribal fighters ready to police the city once it has been retaken.
Also very vital is that the fighting force known as Syrian Democratic Forces, which is a coalition of Kurds and FSA fighters, have retaken the Tishrin dam upstream from Raqqa, with substantial assistance from US special forces and airpower. The Turks have blustered and threatened that they will not allow the Kurds to advance west of the Euphrates, but it looks like they haven't dared to act on those threats and that the Americans have the Syrian Democratic Forces fully under their protection
Liveuamap is an excellent website to follow the battles
http://isis.liveuamap.com/en/2016/7-january-usa-army-advisers-formed-a-joint-operation-room (just click to close that particular notification and you will go back to the battle map)
http://isis.liveuamap.com/
[video="youtube;Ml9BnDYuwnY"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ml9BnDYuwnY[/video]
The vital Sunni city of Ramadi has been mostly retaken after ISIS stormed in mid-last year during a sandstorm (the only time they don't have to worry about airstrikes). More importantly, Ramadi was retaken by non-sectarian Iraqi special forces units, with around 10,000 sunni tribal fighters ready to police the city once it has been retaken.
Also very vital is that the fighting force known as Syrian Democratic Forces, which is a coalition of Kurds and FSA fighters, have retaken the Tishrin dam upstream from Raqqa, with substantial assistance from US special forces and airpower. The Turks have blustered and threatened that they will not allow the Kurds to advance west of the Euphrates, but it looks like they haven't dared to act on those threats and that the Americans have the Syrian Democratic Forces fully under their protection
Liveuamap is an excellent website to follow the battles
http://isis.liveuamap.com/en/2016/7-january-usa-army-advisers-formed-a-joint-operation-room (just click to close that particular notification and you will go back to the battle map)
http://isis.liveuamap.com/
[video="youtube;Ml9BnDYuwnY"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ml9BnDYuwnY[/video]
(edited 8 years ago)
Scroll to see replies
Also see this video of a US airstrike targeting ISIS terrorists, filmed by YPG heroes
https://twitter.com/AfarinMamosta/status/685033834161803264
If the far left had their way, the YPG Kurdish heroes would have had to fight an extremely bloody battle to take that fortified hill. As it is, a US airstrike flattens the terrorists who were encamped there
https://twitter.com/AfarinMamosta/status/685033834161803264
If the far left had their way, the YPG Kurdish heroes would have had to fight an extremely bloody battle to take that fortified hill. As it is, a US airstrike flattens the terrorists who were encamped there
(edited 8 years ago)
Thanks for the Update Wolife informative as usual
Original post by woIfie
Also see this video of a US airstrike targeting ISIS terrorists, filmed by YPG heroes
https://twitter.com/AfarinMamosta/status/685033834161803264
If the far left had their way, the YPG Kurdish heroes would have had to fight an extremely bloody battle to take that fortified hill. As it is, a US airstrike flattens the terrorists who were encamped there
https://twitter.com/AfarinMamosta/status/685033834161803264
If the far left had their way, the YPG Kurdish heroes would have had to fight an extremely bloody battle to take that fortified hill. As it is, a US airstrike flattens the terrorists who were encamped there
When Stop the War was trying to muster support against air strikes they contacted a group of Kurds. They realized they had little to no Syrian support for a rally so thought they would get the Kurds on board. Naturally the Kurds explained they supported the airstrikes. Stop the War at that pointed claimed they were a bunch of imperialist apologists. Ignoring the fact that these are the people fighting and dying on the ground to liberate their region.
Original post by mkap
How many civilians were killed due to the air strikes? How many children left as orphans? How many civilian homes destroyed? No one seems to notice the numbers there.
Far, far less than if we simply left ISIS to rampage and rape their way across Iraq and Syria.
Original post by mkap
How many civilians were killed due to the air strikes? How many children left as orphans? How many civilian homes destroyed? No one seems to notice the numbers there.
Actually I'm very interested in those numbers, it's the "anti-war" far left who seems uninterested.
The best numbers we have are that in the first year of airstrikes (August 2014 to August 2015) approximately 17,000 terrorists were killed and around 450 civilians were killed. That's around 1 civilian for every 50 terrorists. And those numbers are entirely consistent with what we know about the type of airstrikes that are occurring (they are primarily tactical airstrikes against ISIL battlefield units, which means they are in areas where civilians have usually already fled. Hitting an ISIL mortar position or gun truck is obviously not going to put civilians in a great deal of risk)
To the extent the coalition is carrying out strategic airstrikes (against ISIL commanders and propaganda figures like Jihadi John), the coalition has been exceptionally careful and has called many airstrikes off to avoid civilian casualties. In fact, in half of the sorties the aircraft return to base still carrying their bombs as the pilot called off the strike to avoid civilian casualties.
Look at those numbers; 17,000 ISIL terrorists to 450 civilians. If those 17k terrorists had lived, how many civilians would they have killed over that year? The answer is a hell of a lot more than 450. Ethically speaking, these strikes are more than justified and are undoubtedly saving civilian lives, the lives of those who would be murdered by ISIL.
My experience is that it is people like you who don't care about civilian deaths; if they occur at the hands of ISIL, you are happy for that to occur and for us to sit on our hands even where we could have acted to save them. And it is people like you who shriek about civilian deaths but seemingly never actually bother doing the research to find out what the numbers are. The ethical and moral contrast between us could not be clearer.
(edited 8 years ago)
Original post by BaconandSauce
Thanks for the Update Wolife informative as usual
Thank you, sir.
I think it's important we have detailed information about the ongoing battles. The far left relies on people's ignorance of the ongoing war, they simply shriek about evil Western imperialism and how we're bloodthirsty and so on.
But in fact, anyone who actually follows the battles in detail can't help but be struck by just how pivotal Western close air support is in assisting Kurdish and Iraqi forces, and how much Western training support and tactical/strategic advice is helping them to take back their country. When an ordinary non-political person sees this information, I believe they will see how they have been lied to by the "anti-war" far left
Original post by woIfie
The best numbers we have are that in the first year of airstrikes (August 2014 to August 2015) approximately 17,000 civilians terrorists were killed and around 450 civilians were killed.
Better make that correction before some semi-educated Islamic apologist sees it.
Original post by Hydeman
X
Cheers, all fixed up.
Original post by woIfie
Thank you, sir.
I think it's important we have detailed information about the ongoing battles. The far left relies on people's ignorance of the ongoing war, they simply shriek about evil Western imperialism and how we're bloodthirsty and so on.
But in fact, anyone who actually follows the battles in detail can't help but be struck by just how pivotal Western close air support is in assisting Kurdish and Iraqi forces, and how much Western training support and tactical/strategic advice is helping them to take back their country. When an ordinary non-political person sees this information, I believe they will see how they have been lied to by the "anti-war" far left
I think it's important we have detailed information about the ongoing battles. The far left relies on people's ignorance of the ongoing war, they simply shriek about evil Western imperialism and how we're bloodthirsty and so on.
But in fact, anyone who actually follows the battles in detail can't help but be struck by just how pivotal Western close air support is in assisting Kurdish and Iraqi forces, and how much Western training support and tactical/strategic advice is helping them to take back their country. When an ordinary non-political person sees this information, I believe they will see how they have been lied to by the "anti-war" far left
It is important I agree and thank you for taking the time to do this.
Original post by mkap
How many civilians were killed due to the air strikes? How many children left as orphans? How many civilian homes destroyed? No one seems to notice the numbers there.
Very few - possibly none. The UK hasn't the ability to carpet bomb Syria. There haven't been many UK airstrikes in Syria since the vote.
(edited 8 years ago)
Interesting, thanks!
Good to see ISIS on the back foot given the airstrikes and ground attack combination.
Good to see ISIS on the back foot given the airstrikes and ground attack combination.
Original post by AlwaysWatching
Interesting, thanks!
Good to see ISIS on the back foot given the airstrikes and ground attack combination.
Good to see ISIS on the back foot given the airstrikes and ground attack combination.
Thank you sir. That's very much appreciated. And they are indeed on the back foot.
ISIL hasn't mounted any successful large-scale offensive for over six months now. In early december they tried to mount an offensive west and north of Mosul into Kurdish territory, presumably as the first step in trying to retake the vital Highway 47 linking Mosul and Raqqa which the Kurds cut when they retook Sinjar (that is a huge step as it means ISIL convoys have to go through backroads through the desert, adding many hours to their trip and travelling over roads with few civilians, which means they can easily be picked up by coalition surveillance).
ISIL mounted this offensive, but had to call it off in the face of a withering barrage of Western airstrikes. Canadian special forces embedded with Kurdish forces used laser designators to guide bombs dropped by Canadian CF-18s. Several hundred ISIL fighters were killed.
From here on in, it really will mostly be ISIL being reactive, sitting in static positions trying to defend them as the Kurds and Iraqis retake more and more land.
Additionally, on the Syrian front the Americans basically forced the Turks to build a border fence along their border areas which ISIL controls (around Jarabulus, Manbij and Al Bab). Eventually we will reach a point of no return and ISIL will start unravelling very quickly. In fact, there are already many defections happening from ISIL ranks.
One ISIL financial emir made off with about $100,000 in cash, and left a note for his jihadi friends, "What state? You idiots"
Original post by woIfie
Thank you sir. That's very much appreciated. And they are indeed on the back foot.
ISIL hasn't mounted any successful large-scale offensive for over six months now. In early december they tried to mount an offensive west and north of Mosul into Kurdish territory, presumably as the first step in trying to retake the vital Highway 47 linking Mosul and Raqqa which the Kurds cut when they retook Sinjar (that is a huge step as it means ISIL convoys have to go through backroads through the desert, adding many hours to their trip and travelling over roads with few civilians, which means they can easily be picked up by coalition surveillance).
ISIL mounted this offensive, but had to call it off in the face of a withering barrage of Western airstrikes. Canadian special forces embedded with Kurdish forces used laser designators to guide bombs dropped by Canadian CF-18s. Several hundred ISIL fighters were killed.
From here on in, it really will mostly be ISIL being reactive, sitting in static positions trying to defend them as the Kurds and Iraqis retake more and more land.
Additionally, on the Syrian front the Americans basically forced the Turks to build a border fence along their border areas which ISIL controls (around Jarabulus, Manbij and Al Bab). Eventually we will reach a point of no return and ISIL will start unravelling very quickly. In fact, there are already many defections happening from ISIL ranks.
One ISIL financial emir made off with about $100,000 in cash, and left a note for his jihadi friends, "What state? You idiots"
ISIL hasn't mounted any successful large-scale offensive for over six months now. In early december they tried to mount an offensive west and north of Mosul into Kurdish territory, presumably as the first step in trying to retake the vital Highway 47 linking Mosul and Raqqa which the Kurds cut when they retook Sinjar (that is a huge step as it means ISIL convoys have to go through backroads through the desert, adding many hours to their trip and travelling over roads with few civilians, which means they can easily be picked up by coalition surveillance).
ISIL mounted this offensive, but had to call it off in the face of a withering barrage of Western airstrikes. Canadian special forces embedded with Kurdish forces used laser designators to guide bombs dropped by Canadian CF-18s. Several hundred ISIL fighters were killed.
From here on in, it really will mostly be ISIL being reactive, sitting in static positions trying to defend them as the Kurds and Iraqis retake more and more land.
Additionally, on the Syrian front the Americans basically forced the Turks to build a border fence along their border areas which ISIL controls (around Jarabulus, Manbij and Al Bab). Eventually we will reach a point of no return and ISIL will start unravelling very quickly. In fact, there are already many defections happening from ISIL ranks.
One ISIL financial emir made off with about $100,000 in cash, and left a note for his jihadi friends, "What state? You idiots"
Last sentence, source? That is amazing.
Posted from TSR Mobile
Original post by woIfie
Thank you sir. That's very much appreciated. And they are indeed on the back foot.
ISIL hasn't mounted any successful large-scale offensive for over six months now. In early december they tried to mount an offensive west and north of Mosul into Kurdish territory, presumably as the first step in trying to retake the vital Highway 47 linking Mosul and Raqqa which the Kurds cut when they retook Sinjar (that is a huge step as it means ISIL convoys have to go through backroads through the desert, adding many hours to their trip and travelling over roads with few civilians, which means they can easily be picked up by coalition surveillance).
ISIL mounted this offensive, but had to call it off in the face of a withering barrage of Western airstrikes. Canadian special forces embedded with Kurdish forces used laser designators to guide bombs dropped by Canadian CF-18s. Several hundred ISIL fighters were killed.
From here on in, it really will mostly be ISIL being reactive, sitting in static positions trying to defend them as the Kurds and Iraqis retake more and more land.
Additionally, on the Syrian front the Americans basically forced the Turks to build a border fence along their border areas which ISIL controls (around Jarabulus, Manbij and Al Bab). Eventually we will reach a point of no return and ISIL will start unravelling very quickly. In fact, there are already many defections happening from ISIL ranks.
One ISIL financial emir made off with about $100,000 in cash, and left a note for his jihadi friends, "What state? You idiots"
ISIL hasn't mounted any successful large-scale offensive for over six months now. In early december they tried to mount an offensive west and north of Mosul into Kurdish territory, presumably as the first step in trying to retake the vital Highway 47 linking Mosul and Raqqa which the Kurds cut when they retook Sinjar (that is a huge step as it means ISIL convoys have to go through backroads through the desert, adding many hours to their trip and travelling over roads with few civilians, which means they can easily be picked up by coalition surveillance).
ISIL mounted this offensive, but had to call it off in the face of a withering barrage of Western airstrikes. Canadian special forces embedded with Kurdish forces used laser designators to guide bombs dropped by Canadian CF-18s. Several hundred ISIL fighters were killed.
From here on in, it really will mostly be ISIL being reactive, sitting in static positions trying to defend them as the Kurds and Iraqis retake more and more land.
Additionally, on the Syrian front the Americans basically forced the Turks to build a border fence along their border areas which ISIL controls (around Jarabulus, Manbij and Al Bab). Eventually we will reach a point of no return and ISIL will start unravelling very quickly. In fact, there are already many defections happening from ISIL ranks.
One ISIL financial emir made off with about $100,000 in cash, and left a note for his jihadi friends, "What state? You idiots"
Do you think the next stage will be set in Libya?
Original post by Scrappy-coco
My bad, it was $25,000
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/fb86019e-a240-11e5-bc70-7ff6d4fd203a.html
The rebel commander who worked with Isis says that in his area of eastern Deir Ezzor province, an emir known as Abu Fatima al-Tunisi ran off with some $25,000 in zakat (a form of tax) funds. He says the fugitive fighter left a message to former comrades on Twitter: “What state? What caliphate? You idiots.”
Original post by AlwaysWatching
Do you think the next stage will be set in Libya?
I don't think ISIL will ever be able to get the kind of foothold in Libya that they got in Syria and Iraq. I suspect Libya will be more akin to a mopping up operation.
There are some reports that the UK is going to take the lead role in sorting out Libya and that the Libyan file is considered Europe's area of responsibility (as France and the UK are really the ones who pushed for the overthrow of Ghaddafi). If true, I believe the UK could have a weighty responsibility, but I also think we're up to the task.
Original post by woIfie
I don't think ISIL will ever be able to get the kind of foothold in Libya that they got in Syria and Iraq. I suspect Libya will be more akin to a mopping up operation.
There are some reports that the UK is going to take the lead role in sorting out Libya and that the Libyan file is considered Europe's area of responsibility (as France and the UK are really the ones who pushed for the overthrow of Ghaddafi). If true, I believe the UK could have a weighty responsibility, but I also think we're up to the task.
There are some reports that the UK is going to take the lead role in sorting out Libya and that the Libyan file is considered Europe's area of responsibility (as France and the UK are really the ones who pushed for the overthrow of Ghaddafi). If true, I believe the UK could have a weighty responsibility, but I also think we're up to the task.
Yeah I heard rumours of 1000 military personnel being sent there this year. But we should have to wait and see. Very informative, cheers!
Original post by AlwaysWatching
Yeah I heard rumours of 1000 military personnel being sent there this year. But we should have to wait and see. Very informative, cheers!
No problemo, thanks to you too and for your kind words. The only thing I'd add quickly is that I hope if we are training the Libyans, we will train them in their country.
Last time we had the Libyans here, two of their soldiers in a base near Cambridge left the base and raped a young man in a park
http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/may/15/two-libyan-soldiers-jailed-for-raping-man-in-cambridge
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