A file picture taken on September 21, 2015 shows a portrait of Hassan Nasrallah (top), the head of Lebanon's militant Shiite Muslim movement Hezbollah, and portraits of pro-government forces members killed in combat displayed on a street in the Syrian capital, Damascus. (AFP PHOTO/JOSEPH EID)
Reuters: Hezbollah welcomes Russian buildup in Syria, says U.S. has failed
Lebanese Shi'ite group Hezbollah on Friday welcomed Russia's military buildup in Syria in support of common ally President Bashar al-Assad, saying it was the failure of a U.S.-led campaign against Islamic State that had forced Moscow's hand.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said in a three-hour interview with the group's al-Manar TV that increased Russian support for Assad included highly advanced weapons systems, warplanes and helicopters.
Russia has stepped up its military involvement in Syria while pressing for Damascus to be included in international efforts to fight Islamic State, a demand Washington rejects. By raising the stakes in Syria's four-year conflict, Moscow has prompted its Cold War foe to expand diplomatic channels with it.
Update: Hezbollah leader welcomes Russia's growing presence in Syria -- FOX News/AP
WNU Editor: I guess the Hezbollah leader is happy about this .... Report: Syria arming Hezbollah with 75 Soviet-era tanks (Times of Israel). But for the long term .... if I was Putin .... I would not trust the Hezbollah leader. Hmmm ... come to think of it .... I would not trust him now.
Update: There is a lot of truth in this analysis .... Did Russia move into Syria because Hezbollah is exhausted? (David P. Goldman, Asia Times).
8 comments:
More trustworthy than the us at least. Since the americans tricked RUssia their words mesn notging
From DEBKA (USUAL CAVEAT) Chinese carrier just docked in Syria. So now we have Russian air to air fighting capabilities in Syria against an opponent with no air force and a Chinese aircraft carrier in the Med.( and docking at a Syrian port) with no air wing.
On Hezbollah's exhaust, as the article mention, compared to their size, they archived a lot in the war, and operated well. Their forces are in well trained, reliably and stand the battle, some country do not have that good infantry. But I think their step down is not only because the Russians are already there, but because the Libanes border is almost fully cleared from rebel forces, only Zabadani (under siege, a ceasefire ongoging, but not a danger), and some ( mainly unpopulated ) mountain area around the town/village of Rankus remained. In 2013 the border was a mess, and even if Hezbollah forces not fought only around their borders, but their present not that huge in the rest of Syria, other than the main battles like Aleppo.
James. I am not sure about the Debka story. The last I heard is that the Liaoning is in China because of repairs. When I read your comment I had just posted another Debka story (for 11:00AM). Debka has a long history of being 100% right, or 100% wrong. in this story they are probably mistaking it for another Chinese ship .... and not an aircraft carrier. There is also a Russian aircraft carrier in the region .... maybe people are mistaking it for that. Either way I am going to double check this story with other sources, and if I find it is correct, I will be definitely posting on it.
The Debka link is the following .... http://www.debka.com/article/24909/A-Chinese-aircraft-carrier-docks-at-Tartus-to-support-Russian-Iranian-military-buildup-
The Chinese aircraft carrier (Liaoning) is actually the same class as the Russian (Admiral Kuznetsov) so that is very possible.
WNU Caecus,
WNU, all true about DEBKA. Caecus you're right about the similarities and possible confusion, but I'd like to point out that it was positively stated it was seen transiting the Suez 9/22/15. Though certainly an incorrect id could be made, it does make it more difficult for the ship to be Russian. What really struck me about the "DEBKA" report was it was flatly stated to be from "military sources" and from the "Canal" area. These two things are unusual in themselves (though they don't prove the chicom carriers existence in the Med), they are of worth noting.
WNU: A general observation about DEBKA. Have you noticed a slight difference in DEBKA since it's recent hiatus. I can't really pin it down, but I swear it's a different voice that I hear.
Oh WNU,
I definitely would be cautious on posting the carrier story.
James .... I concur. Debka has another editor and/or writer.
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