ISIS update 2/04/2017..SDF says it will isolate and surround Raqqa

Russian bombers strike Daesh arms warehouse in Deir-ez-Zor

SAA offensive in the areas of oil field al-Mahr and gas station Hayan in the eastern countryside of Homs

3 Feb The Army and Armed Forces units continued on Friday their intensive operations in the eastern countryside of Homs in the direction of al-Mahr oil field, al-Bida al-Sharqia village and Hayan gas plant in the northwest countryside of Tadmur (Palmyra) city. ISIS terrorist organization burned Hayan gas plant before its terrorists fled towards the area of the oil wells and gas fields, where smoke and flames were seen from long distances in the desert.

Army units, in cooperation with the supporting forces, carried out intensive operations on ISIS sites in the direction of Hayan gas plant and al-Mahr oil field, killing a number of ISIS terrorists, injuring others and destroying a number of their vehicles in the hills surrounding the field.

The reporter noted that the ground operations of the army units and the supporting forces coincided with airstrikes of the Syrian Air Force on the convoys of vehicles and gatherings for ISIS in the area of oil wells and gas fields in the northwest of Tadmur(Palmyra), killing scores of ISIS terrorists.

The airstrikes also targeted ISIS supply routes in the direction of Aqirbat village in the eastern countryside of Salamiyeh, destroying a number of vehicles equipped with machineguns.

Medical centre of Ministry of defense of Russia opened in Aleppo

The War in Syria: SDF says it will isolate and surround Raqqa

‘Step by step in the Euphrates’ to Rakka: The third phase of the operation has begun

Al Bab.03.02.2017

http://colonelcassad.livejournal.com/3223069.html

In the area of ​​Al-Bab and Turkish fighters under their control CCA launched an offensive in the east of the city, bypassing the main positions of militants in the region and Kabaysina Bzaa. During fierce fighting, in which both sides suffered losses in men and material (in the “black” minus 1 infantry fighting vehicles and two carts, Turks and PAS – minus 3 infantry fighting vehicles, 1 tachanka and one damaged tank), the Turks managed to break through the defense fighters and advanced SAS troops were able to move on Bzaa margin, as well as to start moving south, cutting the distance to the leading position of the CAA advancing to the north-east of Aleppo .. the attack of the Turkish army and the CAA is actively supporting the Turkish artillery and aircraft, which strikes both forward positions militants, and in the area between Al-Bab and Tadifom in order to hamper the militants to regroup. Air strikes by al-Bab is applied in addition to the Turks VKS Russia and the US Air Force. The Caliphate is trying to counterattack and actively used suicide bombers, but to stop the advance of his opponents can not yet. His situation here continues to deteriorate.

Russian and Syrian Airstrikes on Uwayshiyyah Village South of #alBab City

UNHCR rejects plan to create safe zones in Syria

This Is How Russia & The United States Are Cooperating In Syria | Zero Hedge

Federico Pieraccini via The Strategic Culture Foundation,

Since Donald Trump became President of the United States, we have been witnessing some interesting developments in Syria. We have only fragmentary and seemingly unconnected information at this time, but, as one puts the pieces of the puzzle together, it appears likely that some kind of deeper level of coordination between the US and Russia exists. While it cannot be said with certainty, Trump and Putin have probably agreed to cooperate in the fight against Daesh in Syria without making it publicly known. These represent only intentions, especially after the misunderstanding in recent days about joint strikes between Moscow and Washington against Daesh in Syria.

The following list is intended to facilitate an understanding of a tentative hypothesis that posits secret coordination between the US and Russia.

Let us start with some points concerning recent months.

1. Russia has fought terrorism in Syria for nearly two years, repeatedly requesting the US to cooperate in this effort, at least in terms of sharing sensitive information on intelligence.

2. Trump, during the election campaign, always said he would be willing to work with Moscow to fight terrorism in Syria, focusing on Daesh as the number one priority.

3. Once becoming president, Trump reiterated this position without backtracking, as many had anticipated.

4. Over the past ten days (21st, 23rd and 31st January 2017) the Russian Federation has conducted at least two aviation missions involving as many as six Tu-22M3 strategic bombers over the village of Deir ez-Zor, representing an important display of firepower.

5. The Russian Ministry of Defense (MOD) reported that they targeted structures and facilities used for making weapons in addition to the command centers and arms depots of Daesh.

6. The areas around Deir ez-Zor have been under Daesh control for a very long time.

Now let us look at some recent but rather obscure events that have never been fully clarified.

7. The most cryptic news coming out of Syria usually involves areas around Deir ez-Zor and Palmyra, which has included the cowardly bombing by the international coalition of the Syrian Army on September 17, 2016, and also in recent weeks, as well as the extraordinary crossing of hundreds of Daesh members from Mosul to Deir ez-Zor that did not provoke any air intervention from the international coalition.

8. Given the above, it is likely that the American deep state (CIA and State Department) is in contact with Daesh, coordinating the repeated attacks on the Syrian state.

Some considerations on the Russian operations in Syria, in addition to the earlier observations.

9. From experience, thanks to the story of the heroic sacrifice of Alexander Prokhorenko, we know that Russian aviation relies on Russian special forces (acting as spotters) for bombings in such locations as Palmyra and Deir ez-Zor, relying on such soldiers to identify and confirm targets on the ground that are often disguised as civilian structures (e.g., weapons-manufacturing plants and arms depots). But we also know how dangerous and difficult it is for spotters to infiltrate such areas.

10. Russian strategic bombers have employed «dumb» bombs that do not require laser-guided targeting systems. Evidently Russians have been confident in their ordnance hitting their targets.

11. Given points (1), (6), (9), (10) and the repeated attacks in recent days of strategic bombers, it is evident that the Russian ministry of defence has acquired new, previously unknown intelligence information regarding ground targets in the area of ??Deir ez-Zor that was. Moscow has been requesting from Washington the sharing of intelligence information for years now. The Obama administration has consistently refused to cooperate. Trump has always offered the opposite.

In addition, a note on recent news of joint efforts between the American and the Russian air forces in Syria.

12. The episode involving the joint bombing conducted by the Russians and Americans (but denied by sources in the international coalition) has taken on a particular significance when Trump’s spokesman, Sean Spicer, declined to comment on the story, perhaps indicating possible differences of opinion between the Trump administration and members of the US-led international coalition.

Finally, two logical deductions, consistent with those reported previously.

13. It is very likely that Moscow received from American sources, thanks to the points (7) and (8), the coordinates of Daesh in Deir ez-Zor. This would also explain the issues covered (4), (9) and (10).

14. The Russian MOD has not released information on how they acquired the information that led to the bombing of the past days.

Conclusions.

In summary, we can draw a picture of events in recent days in Syria, assuming a hidden coordination between Moscow and Washington.

We know, for example, that Trump does not intend to overthrow the Assad government. With no need for ground troops (AKA terrorists), the newly established administration does not intend to finance or arm «moderate rebels», as was repeatedly stated by the new president in the election campaign.

Equally likely is that as a result of the US-Russian joint mission in Syria against Daesh, confirmed by the Russian Ministry of Defence and repeated by RT and not denied by Spicer (12), the US deep state (especially the Republican Party, the mainstream media and intelligence communities at high levels) has strongly protested against this, maintaining the traditional hostility towards Moscow.

It is therefore likely that the Trump administration has gone from active support (joint missions) to hidden coordination with Moscow to avoid further friction with some of the components of the so-called ‘deep state’.

To confirm this hypothesis, strategic bombers have struck with unguided bombs targets that were previously unknown, probably thanks to newly acquired intelligence (otherwise it is not clear why these targets would have not been previously engaged in such missions given the critical situation in Deir ez-Zor for the Syrian Arab Army).

Regarding paragraphs (6), (7) and (8), it is easy to understand why it is likely that this kind of information is in the possession of Washington. This is also one of the reasons why the previous administration has consistently refused to cooperate with Moscow. The American deep state has deep, hidden links with terrorism in Syria, and the US intelligence community has every intention of maintaining these secrets.

Areas Of Mosul Are Still Under Siege, But Signs Of Life Return

Russian Bombers Turn Deir Ezzur into Hell for ISIL as Syrian Army Comes Close to Lift Siege of Airport
Army General: Syrian Army About to Capture Al-Bab
Damascus: Syrian Army Dispatches More Soldiers, Equipment to Al-Seen Airbase
Syrian General: Army’s Control over Al-Bab A Prelude to Raqqa Operation
Syrian Army Cuts off ISIL’s Movements South of Deir Ezzur City
Syrian Army on Verge of Liberating Energy-Rich Region in Eastern Homs
Iraq: ISIL Facing Shortage of Forces in Mosul, Using Female Fighters for Suicide Attacks