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It's LIVE now. My screen capture is working on overdrive while I play "intel analyst"....

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Voiceover by Harold Hoover

The US-backed military operation against ISIS terrorists in the Iraqi city of Mosul is approaching its final phase.

Iraqi security forces (ISF), backed up by US-led coalition warplanes, attack helicopters, and special operation forces, have made significant progress against ISIS terrorists in the northern and southern parts of western Mosul, out-flanking the Old Mosul area and nearby neighborhoods which remain strongholds of ISIS terrorists in the city.

The ISF advance in western Mosul is on-going amid heavy clashes with ISIS terrorists who actively use suicide bombers and snipers. At the same time, experts note a lower frequency of the usage of suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (SVBIEDs) by ISIS in comparison to the early stages of the battle for Mosul. This means that the terrorist group is suffering from a lack of explosives and vehicles which could be used for creating SVBIEDs. This, as well as the shortage of weapons and ammunition, predetermines the results of the battle.

However, the current progress of ISF, actively backed up by the US-led coalition, shows that ISIS is still capable of defending its positions in heavy urbanized areas. The terrorist group has a motivated infantry. Furthermore, ISIS members actively use the favorable environment of western Mosul.

Meanwhile, ISIS has increased guerilla activity in Syria and Iraq. Earlier this month, 5 ISIS suicide bombers attacked the Kiwan military base operated by Kurdish Peshmerga forces and the US military in Iraq.  The ISIS-linked news agency Amaq claimed that the base was being used by US forces to oversee landing operations against important ISIS sites or commanders in Syria and Iraq. Amaq claimed that ISIS members managed to destroy two Humvee vehicles during the attack after infiltrating the base. One of the attackers blew himself up at the entrance to the base. Two suicide bombers blew themselves up along with some Peshmerga forces inside the base. Amaq argued that the clashes continued for two hours ending with the killing of all the attackers.

Earlier, another group of ISIS suicide bombers attacked several positions inside the Syrian city of Hasaka, controlled by US-backed Kurdish forces.

The collapse of ISIS as a terrorist state in the territory of Syria and Iraq will push the terrorist group to revise its Middle East strategy. It will likely halt attempts to keep formal control over villages and towns and focus on guerilla warfare and terrorist attacks against military and civilian targets.

The post Mosul Battle Report – May 9, 2017: Operation Approaching Its Final Phase appeared first on .

via ReutersIran will hit back at most of Saudi Arabia with the exception of Islam's holiest places if the kingdom does anything "ignorant", Tehran's defense minister was quoted as saying on Sunday...

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Thanks to Darren for the link! via National Post. Canada’s new search and rescue aircraft could take up to two days to reach survivors of a disaster at the North Pole but the Canadian military...

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via Oshkosh Defense Press Release.  Oshkosh Defense, LLC, an Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE: OSK) company, announced today that it has submitted a proposal in response to the U.S. Government’s...

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via CIMSEC.org The U.S. Navy achieved extraordinary success in the 20th century – playing key roles in winning WWII and the Cold War. The U.S. Navy earned these accomplishments with forces...

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Personnel from the Australian Defence Force (ADF) have joined the US and the Philippines forces to participate in the 33rd iteration of Exercise Balikatan 2017.

Rolls-Royce has entered an agreement with Indian shipyard Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) to assemble MTU Series 4000 engines for naval vessels in India.

Lockheed Martin has rolled out the first short take-off / vertical landing version of the F-35B Lightning II joint strike fighter from its Final Assembly and Check Out (FACO) facility at Cameri Air Base in northern Italy.

Thanks to Storm Shadow for the idea! Why is everyone so in love with the L-CAT?  What does it do that the LCAC can't (with the exception of my note below)?  Have we even tested the...

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Syrian government forces have been successfully developing an advance in eastern Qalamoun. So far, government troops have captured more than 70 square kilometers near the al-Seen Military Airbase.

The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and its allies got control over Beir al-Siba, the Mount Sabahiyat and the Rishi, Tal Shahab, al-Sabab Biyar and the Zaza Checkpoint.

The SAA and its allies are now aiming to reach the strategic Busairi crossroads from the both northern and southern directions. By doing this, government troops will prevent a possible militant advanc in the direction of Damascus and will secure the southern flank of the strategic Palmyra-Homs road.

Click to see the full-size map

The post Military Situation In Eastern Qalamoun After Recent Gains By Syrian Army appeared first on .

FILE IMAGE

Reports from various pro-government sources argue that the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) has managed to capture the village of Beit Naim in the southwestern part of the Estern Ghouta region near Dammascus.

So far, SF can only confirm that the SAA has managed to capture some 6 points that had belonged to Jaish al-Islam in the village.

From its side, Jaish al-Islam released a statement claiming that the group had repelled an attack of the SAA on the village. Pro-militant sources also reported about intense strikes by the Syrian Air Force and artillery units on the village before it was stormed by the SAA. Jaish al-Islam also claimed that its members managed to destroy a T-72 tank of the SAA.

Click to see the full-size image

During the past few days, Beit Naim witnessed violent clashes between Jaish al-Islam and the Al-Majdi Brigades, which recently joined the Al-Rahman Corps. Thus, it seems that the SAA decided to take advantage of the ongoing infighting among militant groups operating in Eastern Ghouta. This advancce is a violation of the safe zones agreement that includes Eastern Ghouta. However, the agreement remains very successful in the rest of the regions.

Most likely supporters of the agreement understand that the SAA will not stop its operation in the vicinity of the Syrian capital. Especially after Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and Jaish al-Islam violated the previous ceasefire agreement  launching an attack that threatened Damascus.

The post Syrian Army Captures Beit Naim Village In Eastern Ghouta – REPORTS appeared first on .

On Monday, the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) and Jaish Al Thowar repelled an attack by the Turkish-backed militant groups of Ahrar al-Sham, Sultan Murad and Jabhat al-Shamia on the villages of Tal Refa’at and Al-Sheikh Issa.

The clashes had been ongoing for more than 6 hours. Separately, YPG fighters managed to target a Turkish army position in Mara’ village while militants of Jabhat al-Shamia destroyed two bulldozers belonging to the YPG with Konkurs anti-tank guided missiles in Al-Sheikh Issa and Ain Dukna.

Click to see the full-size image

The Turkish-Kurdish tension raised again after the Turkish Army deployed large forces in the areas of Kielis, Hitai and Al-Dulbah near the border with the Syrian province of Idlib.

At the same time, sources linked with the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) claimed that the Turkish forces in Jarablus and Al-Bab arrested a number of civilians on charges of communication with the SDF – the YPG is a core of the SDF.

On Monday, according to local sources, 930 refugees arrived from the areas controlled by Turkish-backed militants to the YPG-heled area of Afrin. It is believed that there are now over 300 thousand refugees in the YPG-held area. A large part of them fled the areas under control of pro-Turkish militants in northern Aleppo, including the towns of Al-Bab and Jarablus. The reason is a corruption, crimes and endless harassments against civilians in the Turkish-occupied area, according to local sources.

The post Kurdish YPG Repels Attack Of Turkish-backed Militant Groups In Northern Aleppo appeared first on .