Monday, March 28, 2016

Syrian Government forces retake ISIS held Palmyra

(Damascus)  This past week Syrian regime forces comprising of Syrian/Russian/Iranian/Lebanese and Afghan troops retook the area around the ancient ruined city of Palmyra . Whilst the liberal world have reported on rescuing this historical city from the clutches of the religious bigots of ISIS. The real reason for the Assad Government is that it sits on a strategic crossroads, the seizure of which restricts the ability of ISIS to project force into Western Syria from its safe haven along the Euphrates River Valley and provides a much-needed buffer for several critical regime-held oil and natural gas fields that provide electricity to Western Syria.


Operations against ISIS in the Palmyra region commenced after the battle of Aleppo finished and despite the  draw down of Russian air assets announced by Moscow  on the 14th March 16. The Russian Air-force carried out at least 41 sorties against 146 targets near Palmyra between March 22 and March 24 alone, which kind of explains why people living in the area have reported that half the city has been destroyed.  On the ground  saw  the deployment of RussianTOS-1 (Video) and BM-30 ‘Smerch’ (video) heavy multiple rocket launcher systems as well as Mi-24 ‘Hind’ helicopter gunships in support of operations to seize Palmyra.   All this was supported by over 5000 troops comprising of Syrian Marines, Hezballah, Afghan Shias and the Iranian army. 


With the capture of this strategic crossroads,  the Syria regime is using the region as a stepping board in which to advance further into ISIS held territory now that it has solidified its position in the west of the country,