"The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and the National Defense Forces (NDF), led by units of the Tiger Forces, have liberated a large area from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra, the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda) in southern Idlib and deployed within only 11km south of the Abu al-Duhur Airbase.
On January 8, the SAA and the NDF liberated over 11 villages from militants, expanding the buffer zone around the recently liberated town of Sinjar and avdancing towards Abu al-Duhur.' southfront
---------
The R+6 have now broken out of the hills and are advancing across farmland. The air base at Abu al-Duhur and the cross roads at the same place will be very useful. 11 km. reported to Abu al-Duhur and 30 km. overall to the northern jaw of government held territory north of reported positions of the Tiger Forces, 4th Mechanized Division and NDF. Piece of cake! The government forces west of Khanassar are evidently there to fix HTS in position.
The meeting of the jaws will create another bag full of HTS. At the same time HTS continues to be attacked by IS forces in the bypassed pocket around Sujur. Oh, Goody!. pl
Col. Lang
After being used to seeing much slower progress on other fronts, watching this blitzkrieg unfold over the last week or so has been astonishing. I saw a report yesterday of Tiger forces Intelligence units from inside the airbase. The FSA commander you referred to in your last piece chose a heck of a time to visit his masters in Washington.
In your opinion, where should we expect the next thrust, after the jaws close?
Posted by: Account Deleted | 08 January 2018 at 03:56 PM
Barbara Ann
They will probably clean up the new pocket Abu al-duhur-Khanassar-Suruj and then there will be a concentric attack from Lattakia Province-Aleppo City-Abu al-duhur. The IS pocket around Suruj will probably be persuaded to be transported yo east of the Euphrates where the Iraqis can help wipe them out. pl
Posted by: turcopolier | 08 January 2018 at 04:20 PM
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/russian-military-shoots-13-jihadist-drones-hmaymim-airport/
From global perspective the news of the massed IPDCM (Improvised Propellor Driven Cruise Missile) attack was IMHO much more important news. I wonder how many months it will take for this to be the new normal in Yemen, Afghanistan and Libya
Posted by: charly | 08 January 2018 at 06:29 PM
Without the umbrella of political support and a steady stream of Bulgarian or Saudi anti-tank guided missiles, the unicorn freedom-yearning army seems to have dissolved into the foothills of Idlib, and the Jihadist vermin can offer no resistance to the blunt force trauma of an armored fist with artillery support. Religious zeal doesn't appear to help much against field artillery. Who would have thought?
Good development in Yemen as well, with the Saudis losing some aircraft, which is significant since they have thus far been able to menace the stubborn population with impunity from the air. The Yemeni setup is interesting, using some sort of foreign-sourced FLIR to track the aircraft and hit it using an unknown missile:
https://southfront.org/houthis-released-video-showing-moment-when-saudi-led-coalition-f-15-was-hit-by-surfate-to-air-missile/
Posted by: Peter in Toronto | 08 January 2018 at 08:24 PM
This article says that there was an attack over the weekend by 13 unmanned drones on two Russian military bases in Syria; 10 attacking one base and 3 on the other. The drones were either shot down or disabled. It seems as if the drones were carrying weapons that could be fired--
https://www.rt.com/news/415276-syria-russian-military-repelled-attacks/
Posted by: robt willmann | 09 January 2018 at 12:48 AM
ISIS only attacking HTS. Been watching that. Wondering if SAA at one of the past ISIS filled cauldrons (east Homs?) gave them a travel deal?
Posted by: Peter AU | 09 January 2018 at 01:21 AM
Colonel, have you read this treatise on Egypt's war in Yemen?
http://www.alexthorn.com/writings/Thorn-EgyptsVietnam.pdf
Posted by: FkDahl | 09 January 2018 at 01:28 AM
And meanwhile...http://www.newsweek.com/russia-will-pay-huge-price-backing-iran-says-trump-adviser-mcmaster-771696
In case anyone has lost sight of the Deep State's next objective.
Posted by: sid_finster | 09 January 2018 at 10:15 AM
Rebel supporters will repeat that and half baked theories of Assad-ISIS cooperation ad nauseam but really these are the same guys from the Hama pocket supplemented by a constant stream of rebel/HTS defections since October
Posted by: Serge | 09 January 2018 at 10:19 AM
you're mentioned (as "turcopole") in video https://twitter.com/Syria_Hezb_Iran/status/950763674356076545
Posted by: SM | 09 January 2018 at 11:23 AM
Russia may again be planning to accuse the US of directly aiding the remaining ISIS forces.
BREAKING: Drones used in attack on Russia’s bases “could only be shipped from US”
http://theduran.com/breaking-russian-official-claims-drones-used-attack-russias-syrian-bases-shipped-us/
The accusation is indirect at this point, since it comes from unnamed sources and is only linked to a US surveillance plane by innuendo. It will be interesting to see if this accusation is firmed up over the next few days.
Posted by: Richardstevenhack | 09 January 2018 at 11:42 AM
Peter
Wow. You can see "Flir Systems" on the side of the pod and watermarked into the video ... Zerohedge says this is a US manufacturer. When was the last time someone shot down an F-15 for gosh sakes? It looks like the missile ignored the flares ... I wonder if that speaks to the sophistication of the missile or if the pilot didn't use the tools at his disposal as well as he could have.
Posted by: JamesT | 09 January 2018 at 12:15 PM
SM
Who is "Buzzpineapple?" Je sui flatte. pl
Posted by: turcopolier | 09 January 2018 at 01:22 PM
sid_finster,
( reply to comment 8),
This may not be any Deep State initiative or pursuit. It may be strictly McMaster's personal long-held grudge and personal desire for vengeance.
Posted by: different clue | 09 January 2018 at 03:04 PM
FLIR is a company that makes cheap (and not so cheap) infrared camera's.
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2015/08/flir-one-round-two-the-thermal-imaging-camera-drops-100-gets-a-new-shape/
Posted by: charly | 09 January 2018 at 04:26 PM
Russia is now saying the drone attack on its base came from Turkish-controlled area in Idlib. Still hints of US involvement but appears to redirect its accusation to Turkey.
Drone attack on Russian bases launched from Turkish controlled area
http://theduran.com/russian-mod-drone-attack-russian-bases-launched-turkish-controlled-area/
As it might relate to the US cruise missile attack on a Syrian air base last year, Russia reports that half of the drones were forced to land by electronic countermeasures, something at which Russia excels.
Posted by: Richardstevenhack | 10 January 2018 at 11:49 AM
In the thick of things. Covering the failed rebel counteroffensive in Idlib a Syrian journalist and his cameraman is blessed with some divine luck.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J71PPFchNHk
Posted by: Poul | 12 January 2018 at 11:14 AM