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Message
The Kurds just made a combat jump.
Posted on 3/24/17 at 9:28 am
Posted on 3/24/17 at 9:28 am
Capturing a dam, cutting off Raqqa on three sides, while also blocking the Syrians and their Russian allies from moving on Raqqa. LINK
7
Posted on 3/24/17 at 9:33 am to Jim Rockford
That's pretty ninja
Posted on 3/24/17 at 9:50 am to Jim Rockford
Word
Posted on 3/24/17 at 9:57 am to Jim Rockford
Yep, using US helicopters.
One thing to point out: it's not just Kurds. The SDF is a multiethnic group comprised mostly of Kurds and Arabs. I think the predominant ethnicity is actually Arab, but the YPG is a predominantly Kurdish group that operates alongside the SDF. This division is politically expedient, because it allows the SDF to hold territory near the Turkish-backed Euphrates Shield rebel operation to the north and west of Manbij. The Turks hate the Syrian Kurds and have repeatedly attacked them using indirect fire. They would actually like to take Manbij from the SDF/YPG, but Syrian Arab Army and Russian forces actually formed a shield area on the western flank around Manbij to prevent the Turks and rebels from attacking. US SOF are thought to be along the northern border along the Sajur river, preventing an attack from that direction.
The Raqqa offensive started on November 6th, 2016. They've systematically surrounded Raqqa, cutting it off from the rest of ISIS territory. The US gave the SDF armored vehicles (Guardians), and have most recently given them USMC artillery support. US SOF have been embedded with the SDF for quite a while now--at least a year, probably longer.
They've proven to be a valuable ally and extremely effective ground force against ISIS in Syria. I'm glad to see US support for the SDF continue under the Trump administration. This strategy of supporting non-radical ground forces in Syria and Iraq is working.
One thing to point out: it's not just Kurds. The SDF is a multiethnic group comprised mostly of Kurds and Arabs. I think the predominant ethnicity is actually Arab, but the YPG is a predominantly Kurdish group that operates alongside the SDF. This division is politically expedient, because it allows the SDF to hold territory near the Turkish-backed Euphrates Shield rebel operation to the north and west of Manbij. The Turks hate the Syrian Kurds and have repeatedly attacked them using indirect fire. They would actually like to take Manbij from the SDF/YPG, but Syrian Arab Army and Russian forces actually formed a shield area on the western flank around Manbij to prevent the Turks and rebels from attacking. US SOF are thought to be along the northern border along the Sajur river, preventing an attack from that direction.
The Raqqa offensive started on November 6th, 2016. They've systematically surrounded Raqqa, cutting it off from the rest of ISIS territory. The US gave the SDF armored vehicles (Guardians), and have most recently given them USMC artillery support. US SOF have been embedded with the SDF for quite a while now--at least a year, probably longer.
They've proven to be a valuable ally and extremely effective ground force against ISIS in Syria. I'm glad to see US support for the SDF continue under the Trump administration. This strategy of supporting non-radical ground forces in Syria and Iraq is working.
This post was edited on 3/24/17 at 10:00 am
Posted on 3/24/17 at 9:58 am to GeauxxxTigers23
quote:
That's pretty ninja
I like ninjas
Posted on 3/24/17 at 10:01 am to Hog on the Hill
The real question is what happens after Raqqa and Mosul fall. We already have Rangers playing referee between opposing factions in Syria. I don't want to see anymore mission creep but I'm not hopeful.
This post was edited on 3/24/17 at 10:02 am
Posted on 3/24/17 at 10:03 am to GeauxxxTigers23
The ISIS Navy Seals are ready for them 
Posted on 3/24/17 at 10:04 am to Hog on the Hill
quote:
Yep, using US helicopters.
Which raises the question of why they were jumping when they could be landing, but what do I know. Maybe some advisers wanted a star on their jump wings.
Posted on 3/24/17 at 10:05 am to StraightCashHomey21
The ISIS has a navy that doesn't include 1980s bay boats?
Posted on 3/24/17 at 10:06 am to GeauxxxTigers23
quote:Someone posted a Conrad Black op-ed yesterday insisting that Trump's masterful diplomacy has already made BFFs out of the US, Russian, and Turkish backed forces
We already have Rangers playing referee between opposing factions in Syria.
Posted on 3/24/17 at 10:07 am to Jim Rockford
quote:Jumping out of helicopters, combined with an amphibious boat raid, makes for good headlines.
Which raises the question of why they were jumping when they could be landing, but what do I know. Maybe some advisers wanted a star on their jump wings.
Posted on 3/24/17 at 10:14 am to GeauxxxTigers23
quote:Well the Rojava region, which is controlled by the SDF and YPG, is pretty peaceful apart from the fighting with ISIS. They also seem to be getting along with the SAA (Syrian regime army) for the time being. That's not the region I'm worried about right now. There aren't that many factional divisions there.
The real question is what happens after Raqqa and Mosul fall. We already have Rangers playing referee between opposing factions in Syria. I don't want to see anymore mission creep but I'm not hopeful.
Hopefully there will be a diplomatic solution in Syria, at least among the SAA, SDF, and YPG. Once ISIS ceases to exist as a state, the eastern part of the country can be restabilized, I think. I'm actually more worried about the non-ISIS radicals in the western part of the country, as far as being a threat to Syria's stability.
I think that once ISIS is defeated as a state, the US won't be at risk of any significant degree of mission creep.
The key will be finding diplomatic solutions to factional divisions in Iraq. The Sunnis and Shia have to find a way to play nice, and that means they both need representation in government. That wasn't happening in the years leading up to ISIS's rise.
Posted on 3/24/17 at 10:16 am to Jim Rockford
quote:Maybe landing was considered too risky? Helicopters are easy targets on the ground.
Which raises the question of why they were jumping when they could be landing, but what do I know. Maybe some advisers wanted a star on their jump wings.
Posted on 3/24/17 at 10:17 am to Hog on the Hill
Apparently the last assault on the dam failed. I think this time they decided to pull out all the stops.
Posted on 3/24/17 at 10:18 am to Jim Rockford
Saladin's people are tougher than Muhammad's people.
There, I said it.
There, I said it.
Posted on 3/24/17 at 10:22 am to Jim Rockford
quote:
Which raises the question of why they were jumping when they could be landing, but what do I know. Maybe some advisers wanted a star on their jump wings.
They probably have a way to make a jump insertion more stealthy and quiet than a helicopter landing.
Posted on 3/24/17 at 10:33 am to Jim Rockford
fricking Airborne!!!!!
Posted on 3/24/17 at 10:40 am to Jim Rockford
This would have been over years ago if Barry would have told Pakistan to GFY and armed the Kurds.
Posted on 3/24/17 at 10:51 am to bamarep
quote:
This would have been over years ago if Barry would have told Pakistan to GFY and armed the Kurds.
Posted on 3/24/17 at 11:03 am to bamarep
quote:What the frick?
This would have been over years ago if Barry would have told Pakistan to GFY and armed the Kurds.
You might want to grab a map before posting
This post was edited on 3/24/17 at 11:04 am
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