شمالی وزیرستان میں جھڑپ، لیفٹیننٹ کرنل ہلاک

پاکستان کے قبائلی علاقے شمالی وزیرستان میں فوج کا کہنا ہے کہ سکیورٹی فورسز اور شدت پسندوں کے درمیان ہونے والی ایک جھڑپ میں ایک لیفٹیننٹ کرنل سمیت دو اہلکار ہلاک ہو گئے ہیں، جبکہ جوابی کارروائی میں چھ دہشت گرد مارے گئے ہیں۔

فوج کے شعبۂ تعلقات عامہ آئی ایس پی آر کی جانب سے پیر کی شام جاری ہونے والے ایک مختصر بیان میں کہا گیا ہے کہ شمالی وزیرستان کے علاقے شوال میں سکیورٹی فورسز اور شدت پسندوں کے درمیان فائرنگ کا تبادلہ ہوا۔

فائرنگ کے تبادلے میں لیفٹیننٹ کرنل فیصل ملک اور ایک جوان ہلاک ہوئے۔ بیان کے مطابق فائرنگ کے تبادلے میں چھ دہشت گرد بھی مارے گئے ہیں۔

ادھر خالد سجنا گروپ کے محسود طالبان نے فوج پر حملے کی ذمہ داری اپنی تنظیم کی جانب سے قبول کر لی ہے۔

پاکستان فوج نے چند دن پہلے شمالی وزیرستان کے دور افتادہ پاک افغان سرحدی علاقے شوال میں زمینی کارروائی کا آغاز کیا تھا۔

شمالی اور جنوبی وزیرستان کے ایجنسیوں پر مشتمل شوال کا علاقہ گھنے جنگلات پر مشتمل ہے جس کی سرحدی افغان سرحد سے ملی ہوئی ہے۔ مقامی لوگوں کا کہنا ہے شوال میں سکیورٹی فورسز کو شدت پسندوں کی جانب سے سخت مزاحمت کا سامنا ہو سکتا ہے۔

خیال رہے کہ شمالی وزیرستان میں گذشتہ سال آپریشن ضرب عضب کا آغاز کیا گیا تھا جس کے بعد ایجنسی کے زیادہ تر علاقے پر فوج کو کنٹرول حاصل ہوگیا ہے اور اس دوران علاقے کو عسکریت پسندوں سے صاف کر دیا گیا ہے، تاہم سرحدی علاقوں دتہ خیل اور شوال میں بدستور کارروائیوں کا سلسلہ جاری ہے۔

From Russia with Love, Syria's BTR-82As

Just days after the sighting of several BTR-80 variants among other military equipment bound for Syria onboard the Russian Navy ship Nikolay Filchenkov, an Alligator-class landing ship of Russia's Black Sea Fleet, more advanced Russian-made weaponry has apparently found its way to Syria, with the sighting of BTR-82s being the latests in a series of ill-reported weapon deliveries to the war torn country.

Footage of the Lattakia offensive shows the presence of at least one BTR-82A infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) taking part in the offensive aimed at recapturing previously lost territory in North-Eastern Lattakia. The offensive is conducted jointly by the National Defence Force (NDF), Syrian Arab Army (SyAA), and the Republican Guard, the latter of which only recently deployed to the Syrian Coast in such large numbers. Along with its T-72s, BMP-2s and 152mm 2S3 Akatsiya self-propelled howitzers, the Republican Guard arrived here in mid June 2015. It can be expected that the delivery of BTR-82s to the Republican Guard occured at the same time. The arrival of the Republican Guard greatly boosted the firepower of the National Defence Force, tasked with defending the region and mostly armed with ageing weaponry that was previously stored. In fact, the NDF was even forced to use 100mm KS-19 anti-aircraft guns as conventional artillery during previous offensives.

Syria was known to have received a limited number of BTR-80s from Russia in late 2013 or early 2014 under the chemical weapons removal deal, although none of the vehicles tasked with transporting and defending the chemical weapons were ever returned to Russia. At least two different versions of BTR-80s were previously sighted in Syria, with several BTR-80s of an unknown variant spotted onboard the Nikolay Filchenkov. The previously unknown delivery of BTR-82s thus makes up either the third or fourth BTR-80 variant to have entered Syrian service.

The camouflaged BTR-82A comes with the tacitcal number ''111''. This opposed to the identification system seen on Syrian military vehicles already in service for longer periods of time. The BTR-80s delivered under the chemical weapons deal were all painted olive drab without any tactical markings.


Delieveries of military equipment to Syria are undertaken by Russian Navy landing ships, sailing from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean on a regular basis. While opposed to the Assad regime, almost all of the military equipment delivered to the regime passes right through Turkey's largest city. Just 3 days ago, on 20 August, landing ship Nikolay Filchenkov passed through Istanbul carrying trucks and armoured vehicles on its deck. The presence of the vehicles on deck was notable, as equipment was previously only carried in the cargo bay and thus out of sight when passing the Bosphorus. This likely means that the batch of vehicles being sent to Syria under this deal was so big that it simply didn't fit in the cargo bay alone!

The long-barrelled 2A72 30 mm autocannon easily distinguishes the BTR-82A from the standard BTR-80 armed with 14.5 mm KPVT heavy machine gun. The differences with BTR-80A, an older model with the same 2A72 cannon are of a more subtle nature.

The main difference is the presence of the TKN-4GA-02 night-vision device on top of the BTR-82's turret, replacing the BTR-80's TPN-3 night-vision device. A second identification point is the different exhaust, which can also be seen below.




The recent delivery of BTR-82s to Syria will not have any significant impact on the day-to-day operations on the battlefields of Syria. While fairly capable for a wheeled IFV, the BTR-82A is only protected against small arms fire and thus anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) such as the TOW will have no problems pentrating its paper-thin armour.

The delivery mainly serves as a reminder of Russia's commitment to support the Assad regime, meaning deliveries of other vehicles and weapons systems are likely in the future. With the supply of brand-new looking T-72AVs still sporting all explosive reactive armour (ERA) titles appearing infinite, the Syrian Arab Air Force (SyAAF) remaining capable of supressing rebel groups and flying desperate revenge strikes on recently lost towns in addition to the string of articles of recently delivered Russian weaponry seen below, Russia's commitment to keeping the Assad regime in power continues to be greatly underestimated and might be far larger than anyone previously expected.

posted from Bloggeroid

Al Qaeda fighters deploy in Yemen's Aden, raise flag over port.

ADEN (Reuters) - Al Qaeda militants took control of a western district of Yemen's main port city of Aden on Saturday night, residents said, in another sign that the group is drawing strength from five months of civil war.

"Dozens of Al Qaeda militants were patrolling the streets with their weapons in total freedom in a number of areas in Tawahi. At the same time, others raised the Al Qaeda black flag above government buildings, including the administrative building of the port," a resident told Reuters.

The entrance of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula into Aden, once one of the world's busiest ports and the most secular and secure parts of an otherwise restive country, would be one of its biggest gains yet.

Forces loyal to Yemen's exiled government in Saudi Arabia retook the city from Iran-allied Houthi militia last month, with heavy backing from the kingdom and other Gulf Arab countries.

Gulf countries are seeking to fend off what they see as Iranian influence on their neighbor, while the Houthis say they are fighting a corrupt government in league with the al Qaeda militants.

Militiamen loyal to the exiled Yemeni government have ruled Aden's streets for five weeks as services lapsed, ruins from earlier battles went unrepaired and policemen and army units were largely absent.

But militants from al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, the global group's deadliest branch, have woven themselves among southern fighters battling the Shi'ite Muslim Houthis since the war began in March 26, gaining itself legitimacy and territory.

(Reporting By Mohammd Mukhashaf; Writing by Noah Browning; Editing by Jon Boyle)

Indian Navy's Strengthens Ties with Israel

Indian Navy's warship INS Trikand entered the port of Haifa, Israel, yesterday.

During her four day stay at Haifa, extensive engagements are planned with the Israeli Navy. In addition to professional interactions, various sports and social engagements are planned to further enhance cooperation and understanding between the two navies.

The previous port call at Haifa by an Indian Navy warship was in 2012.

The visit is part of the Indian Navy’s mission of building ‘bridges of friendship’ and strengthening international cooperation.

posted from Bloggeroid

Jaish Al Fatah started campaigne to liberate eastern mountain of Zabadani

‪#‎Zabadani‬ rebels Storming Assad’s forces Strongholds in the Eastern mountain
The Jaish Al Fatah launched a surprise attack at dawn on Thursday on barriers of Assad's forces and the Hezbollah militia in the eastern mountain in the city of Zabadani -Rural Damascus.
Field sources said that the fighters of the Islamic Movement Ahrar al-Sham and Al-Nusra Front and other factions stormed checkpoints of Karam Alaly and Jododna restaurant in the eastern mountain the Zabadani city and were able to liberate the first barrier and kill all its elements and seize a tank T72 , two IA bases and ammunition amid violent clashes.
Meanwhile in the eastern mountain town of Zabadani it exposed to violent artillery shelling and rockets accompanied by air strikes from helicopters dropping explosive barrels.
The JAF launched a surprise attack yesterday on the axis of the al-Sultani- Serghaya road in Zabadani regaining several buildings and inflict Assad army and militia Hezbollah number of deaths.
While Hizbullah sources have announced that they have "lost contact" with 2 dozen of their fighters and they have gone missing.
This comes after two CPs where overrun by Jaish Al Fatah fighters.

posted from Bloggeroid

ISIS Adapts to LNA Offensive in Sabri, Benghazi

Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) attacked Libyan National Army (LNA) positions in the coastal Sabri District of Benghazi. The attack targeted the Bu Ashrin building, killing at least three LNA soldiers. The outcome of the fighting in unclear. ISIS claimed to have captured multiple vehicles as well as a “number of checkpoints,” but independent confirmation is not available. This is the first attack since the LNA offensive in Sabri and Souq al-Hout and may represent an adaptation to territorial losses.



In late July LNA units advanced into the Sabri district of Benghazi, taking positions near Khatout Street and theNoran Hotel and establishing what appeared to be a sustainable foothold in the lower half of the district from which to fight the Shura Council of Benghazi Revolutionaries (SCBR). This operation was conducted in conjunction with an LNA push into northern Souq al-Hout. For further information on these events see Libya Security Monitor’s publications “LNA Advance Near Coast Seeks to Cut Off Rebel Strongholds”

On 14 August, local media sources reported that LNA forces had clashed with unidentified rebels in the upper half of Sabri, focused around the Bu Ashrin building. ISIS released a picture set claiming responsibility for the attack and showing their fighter planning the assault.

The imagery depicted (likely taken from a commercially available drone) shows a section of Sabri known asZariyaya, which contains the above-mentioned Bu Ashrin building. Additional pictures show dead LNA soldiers, a picture of the destroyed Bu Ashrin building, and captured vehicles as well as a T-55 tank (photos can be viewed through the source link below but are not shown due to their graphic nature)

Even if ISIS’ claim of capturing several checkpoints is accurate, the actual tactical gain for the organization is minimal. Of interest however is the renewed interest in the Sabri district. Since the late July offensive, ISIS has not claimed any attacks or published any media related to Benghazi. While it is difficult to determine ISIS’ involvement in activities attributed to the SCBR, it is clear this period has seen a marked decrease in ISIS kinetic and media activity. It is possible that this attack and picture set represents a renewed period of ISIS activity in Benghazi adapted to the LNA gains in Sabri and Souq al-Hout.

posted from Bloggeroid

The PDF announces the killing of 35 Turkish soldiers southeast Turkey

On ​​Monday the leadership of the Popular Defense Forces (PDF), the armed wing of the PKK, announced the killing of 35 Turkish soldiers southeast Turkey, indicating to the destruction and the burning of a number of Turkish military vehicles.

The leadership of the PDF said in a statement received by IraqiNews.com, “The Popular Defense Forces launched yesterday a massive attack on a camp belonging to the Turkish army in Tatawan area in Bitlis region southeastern Turkey, which resulted in the death of 35 soldiers and wounding others.”

The leadership added that, “A number of military vehicles were destroyed and burned,” asserting that, “the attack was in retaliation to the blood of the martyrs and the revival of the thirty-second anniversary of the launch the armed force of the PKK.”

posted from Bloggeroid