Syrian planes hit Sunni insurgents in Iraq

[Bob Of Burleson]

Syrian Warplanes Strike
in Western Iraq, Killing
at Least 50 People

Ali A. Nabhan and
Matt Bradley
The Wall Street Journal

BAGHDAD—Syrian warplanes carried out airstrikes in western Iraq, stepping up the military role of the U.S. adversary in helping Baghdad's Shiite-dominated government fight Sunni insurgents.

The strikes on Tuesday came as the Pentagon announced that the first 130 members of a potential 300 U.S. military advisers were in place in Baghdad to start assessing and improving the Iraqi army's ability to counter the gains of rebels led by the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham.

At least 50 people were killed and more than 132 others wounded Tuesday when Hellfire missiles fired from what appeared to be Syrian government planes hit a municipal building, a market and a bank in the district of Al Rutba, according to an Anbar provincial official and Mohammed Al Qubaisi, a doctor in the district's main hospital.

Those people said Tuesday was the second consecutive day of airstrikes by Syria, which has joined Iran in aiding the embattled Baghdad government against the ISIS-led rebels. Tehran has deployed special forces to help protect the capital and the Iraqi cities of Najaf and Karbala, which Shiites revere.

There was no confirmation from Syrian authorities or Iraqi military air force officials that Syrian fighters had entered Iraqi airspace. Iraq's own air capabilities are decidedly limited and wouldn't be capable of carrying out such an attack. Reports of the Syrian attack were widely mentioned in the Iraqi media.

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[planosteve]

Only two people "thought" they were Syrian, an unnamed "official" and a doctor. Yeah, I'm buying that!
Israel carried out 7 air strikes in Syria in the last week. They are almost never mentioned in the US media or admitted by Israel.
Also, there are reports that the Kurds have begun selling oil to Israel. If true that might be why Israel is bombing in Iraq.
http://www.businessinsider.com/ayub-nur ... age-2014-6

[Bob Of Burleson]

These were ground-level attacks. The planes should have been easy to identify.

[planosteve]

These were ground-level attacks. The planes should have been easy to identify.

It's pretty easy to change the insignia. Unless you know what the plane is and whether it is the type that is used in Syria you haven't really identified them. I don't see why Syria would be bombing in Iraq, they have enough targets in Syria.

[Bob Of Burleson]

Syrian warplanes strike in Iraq,
killing 57 civilians, official says

By Mohammed Tawfeeq, Holly Yan
and Chelsea J. Carter

Baghdad, Iraq (CNN) -- At least 57 Iraqi civilians were killed and more than 120 others were wounded by what local officials say were Syrian warplanes that struck several parts of Anbar province Tuesday.

Sabah Karkhout, the head of Iraq's Anbar provincial council, told CNN that the attacks struck markets and fuel stations in areas such as Rutba, al-Walid and Qaim.

"Unfortunately, (the) Syrian regime carried out barbarian attacks against civilians in Anbar province," he said Wednesday. "Today we will hold an emergency meeting in Ramadi to address this issue."

Karkhout said he was certain the warplanes were Syrian because they bore the image of the Syrian flag.

"Also, the planes flew directly from Syrian airspace and went back to Syria," he said.

Local officials said residents used scopes and other equipment to see details on the warplanes.

CNN is seeking a response from the Syrian government in Damascus.

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[BigTex]

Was one of the planes a Boeing 777?

[GFB]

Syrian planes hit Sunni insurgents in Iraq

Why is there a "Sunni" in this thread title?

[planosteve]

I don't see what the big deal is. There is a war. The town fell to ISIS 2 days ago. It's on a road to a Syrian border crossing which they also took over. Obviously, Syria wouldn't be happy about that. The implication seems to be that they killed Iraqi's but they would have been trying to kill the terrorists.

[Bob Of Burleson]

Syrian planes hit Sunni insurgents in Iraq

Why is there a "Sunni" in this thread title?

You're right, "Sunni" is too exclusive. This thing seems to be turning into a popular uprising against Maliki and the Iraqi government.

[GFB]

Syrian planes hit Sunni insurgents in Iraq

Why is there a "Sunni" in this thread title?

You're right, "Sunni" is too exclusive. This thing seems to be turning into a popular uprising against Maliki and the Iraqi government.

..and Syria is Sunni.

[planosteve]

Syrian planes hit Sunni insurgents in Iraq

Why is there a "Sunni" in this thread title?

You're right, "Sunni" is too exclusive. This thing seems to be turning into a popular uprising against Maliki and the Iraqi government.

..and Syria is Sunni.

The majority of Muslims are Sunni but the Alawites run the country.

[Bob Of Burleson]

Iraq is a Muslim-majority country; Islam accounts for an estimated 97% of the population, while non-Muslims account for just 3%. It has a mixed Shia and Sunni population. Most sources estimate that around 65% of Muslims in Iraq are Shia, and around 35% are Sunni.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq#Religion

[planosteve]

So, it appears that the airstrikes by Syria in Iraq are probably accurate. Then why is Assad flying missions against ISIS in Iraq to support Malaki? If he is fighting the same organization in Syria, why fight them in Iraq? It doesn't seem to make much sense.

Syrian airstrikes on ISIS mark new strategy in civil war
By Mousab Alhamadee and Jonathan S. Landay
McClatchy Foreign StaffJune 25, 2014 Updated 11 hours ago

ISTANBUL — After taking a hands-off approach toward the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria for several months, the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad has reversed course and launched air attacks against the Sunni Muslim extremist group inside both Syria and Iraq.

The policy shift complicates an already tangled situation for the Obama administration by effectively aligning Assad, whose ouster Washington is demanding, with the United States in the fight against ISIS, which was once part of al Qaida.

The attacks by Syrian jet aircraft are occurring as Iraq’s air space appears to be growing crowded. The Pentagon this week confirmed that U.S. aircraft and unmanned drones are flying dozens of daily sorties over Iraq, collecting intelligence to share with the government of beleaguered Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki. Moreover, news reports said that Iran, which backs both Maliki and Assad, also is flying drone missions over Iraq.

Who is coordinating the Syrian air attacks on ISIS targets inside Iraq is unclear. The state-run Syrian news agency denied that Syrian aircraft had bombed inside Iraq. But local Sunni tribes denounced the attacks, and White House spokesman Joshua Earnest said the administration has “no reason to dispute” the reports of Syrian airstrikes in Iraq.

Read more here: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2014/06/25/2 ... rylink=cpy

[Bob Of Burleson]

Iran Secretly Sending Drones
and Supplies Into Iraq,
U.S. Officials Say

By MICHAEL R. GORDON and ERIC SCHMITT
The New York Times

BRUSSELS — Iran is directing surveillance drones over Iraq from an airfield in Baghdad and is supplying Iraqi forces with tons of military equipment and other supplies, according to American officials.

The secret Iranian programs are a rare instance in which Iran and the United States share a near-term goal: countering the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, or ISIS, the Sunni militants who have seized towns and cities in a blitzkrieg across western and northern Iraq. But even as the two nations provide military support to the embattled government of Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki, they are watching each other’s actions warily as they jostle for influence in the region.

Senior American officials emphasized that the parallel efforts were not coordinated, and in an appearance at NATO headquarters here on Wednesday, Secretary of State John Kerry highlighted some of the potential risks.

“From our point of view, we’ve made it clear to everyone in the region that we don’t need anything to take place that might exacerbate the sectarian divisions that are already at a heightened level of tension,” Mr. Kerry said.

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[planosteve]

Who's on first, what's on 2nd and I don't know's on third.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTcRRaXV-fg&feature=kp

[Bob Of Burleson]

I'm for staying out of it until our castle gets stormed. Too many elements involved for the kind of wars we're equipped to fight.

[Bob Of Burleson]

Iraqi PM welcomes Syria air strike on border crossing

BBC.co.uk

Prime Minister Nouri Maliki of Iraq has told the BBC he supports an air strike on Islamist militants at a border crossing between Iraq and Syria.

Military and rebel sources say the strike took place inside Iraq, at the Qaim crossing, although Mr Maliki said it was carried out on the Syrian side.

Isis and its Sunni Muslim allies seized large parts of Iraq this month.

The government has struggled to hold back the militants' advance from the north and west.

It has also been receiving support from Iran, with whom its Shia Muslim leaders have close links.

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[planosteve]

I'm for staying out of it until our castle gets stormed. Too many elements involved for the kind of wars we're equipped to fight.

It's not that hard Bob. Just reread my post from yesterday.
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=693

[Bob Of Burleson]

I'm for staying out of it until our castle gets stormed. Too many elements involved for the kind of wars we're equipped to fight.

It's not that hard Bob. Just reread my post from yesterday.
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=693

Yeah... Maybe.

[Bob Of Burleson]