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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| ISIS Captures Major Syrian Air Base |
| 2014-08-26 |
| BEIRUT — Islamic State fighters captured a major military air base in northeastern Syria on Sunday, eliminating the last government-held outpost in a province dominated by the extremist group, activists and state media said. The jihadis launched their long-anticipated offensive last week to seize the sprawling Tabqa air field, located some 45 kilometers (25 miles) from the extremists’ stronghold in the city of Raqqa. The air base was one of the most significant government military facilities in the area, containing several warplane squadrons, helicopters, tanks, artillery and ammunition. After several failed efforts to breach the facility’s walls in recent days, Islamic State fighters managed to punch through and storm the air field Sunday, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Despite government airstrikes to try to beat back the attack, the jihadis quickly quashed the remaining pockets of resistance, killing dozens of soldiers. “Some of the Syrian regime troops pulled out, and now the Islamic State is in full control of Tabqa,” said Observatory director Rami Abdurrahman. “This makes Raqqa province the first to fully fall out of government hands.” |
| Posted by:Ebbomosh Hupemp2664 |
| #8 See also DEFENCE.PK/FORUMS > "ISLAMIC STATE" MILITANTS CAPTURE KEY SYRIAN AIR BASE [NE Syria], GIVING THEM OPEN ROAD TO THE SEA + MASSIVE STORE OF WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT. "Open Road to the Sea" being the key or operatibe phrase here, as the ISIS/ISIL seeks startegic access via Turkey andor Lebanon. The main threat of the ISIS Caliphate stems from its potential influence on Israel's Muslim neighbors, most espec already anti-Israeli SHIA IRAN + TURKEY. * E.G. GROONG > [Guradian.UK] ISIS SURGES TOWARDS THE BORDERS WID TURKEY AS WEST MULLS OPTIONS. Neo-Ottomanism or no Neo-Ottomanism, at present Turkey is effec contained, + must mostly adhere to the "Japan Model" of Economic achievement in order to expand its MilPol or Geopol influence - THIS WILL CHANGE TO THE US', WEST'S DETRIMENT IFF THE SUPER-RADICALIST OR HARDLINE ISIS/ISIL IDEO FINDS FAVOR WID LOCAL TURKISH ISLAMISTS + BAD BOYZ. The Clock is ticking on Turkey. The good news here for the US, NATO-EU + Russia is that the ISIS' demand for strategic access via Turkey + Lebanon puts it in direct conflict wid Shia Rising Iran's own "Mahanist" agenda. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2014-08-26 23:00 |
| #7 bad link |
| Posted by: 3dc 2014-08-26 20:18 |
| #6 Assuming they have some pilots, what would be their first target? I can't believe they have trained dog fighters do they'll do ground attack. Which ground? |
| Posted by: AlanC 2014-08-26 19:09 |
| #5 Assuming they have some pilots, what would be their first target? I can't believe they have trained dog fighters do they'll do ground attack. Which ground? |
| Posted by: AlanC 2014-08-26 19:09 |
| #4 Despite government airstrikes to try to beat back the attack, the jihadis quickly quashed the remaining pockets of resistance, killing dozens of soldiers. How is a major air base only manned by dozens of troops? |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2014-08-26 17:57 |
| #3 Most likely a few trained pilots from the 'stans as well. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2014-08-26 12:13 |
| #2 I just hope ISIL doesn't have anyone qualified to fly a MIG-21 or a MI-8. There are, probably, some Iraqi Baathist pilots still around. |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2014-08-26 02:55 |
| #1 I think that qualifies as a full blown "Oh Shit" moment for our foreign policy(?). I just hope ISIL doesn't have anyone qualified to fly a MIG-21 or a MI-8. I would say that Tabqa qualifies as a target rich environment for our flyboys if our administration has the cajones to pull the trigger. |
| Posted by: Bill Clinton 2014-08-26 00:26 |