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DISPATCHES FROM STEPHEN LENDMAN
A job well done.
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu salutes as he takes part in a rehearsal for the Victory Day military parade on Moscow’s Red Square on May 7, 2015. Shoigu, a Buddhist, is widely regarded as a brilliant organizer and model defence minister, more interested in maintaining a just peace than in looking for wars—quite a different species from the bureaucrats running the Western war machine. (Photo credit should read KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP/Getty Images)
Russian intervention turned the tide of battle, preserving Syrian sovereign independence and territorial integrity – preventing its takeover by US supported ISIS and other terrorist groups.
War is far from over. It continues raging. It could stay low-level for years. Nothing in prospect suggests resolution any time soon.
Syrian battlefield successes are attributable to enhanced military strength and renewed spirit. A scaled-down Russian presence continues targeting terrorist elements as needed.
On Tuesday, its warplanes targeted Turkish-supported terrorists entering northern Syria from its territory, destroying or scattering their convoy of vehicles. Syrian warplanes followed with their own strikes, maintaining heavy pressure.
Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu explained Russia’s successful five-and-a-half month anti-terrorism campaign, far exceeding the expectations of most observers, showing Moscow’s military might and strategic capabilities are forces to be reckoned with.
Meeting with Putin on Monday, Shoigu said “(b)acked by our aviation, Syrian forces have freed 400 populated areas and over 10,000 km of territories.”
Russia’s modern tactical and strategic aircraft served with professionalism and distinction.
ABOVE: A “Blackjack” Strategic Bomber (Tu-22) during takeoff.
A Su-34 on a mission over Syria. This is a more advanced version of the Su-24, the work horse of Russia’s air deployment in the Middle East.
ISIS and other terrorist groups were routed from Latakia province. Most of Aleppo is liberated. War damaged or destroyed all six UNESCO heritage sites, including Palmyra, described as an “oasis in the Syrian desert.” Oil and gas fields near the city were retaken.
Military action to free sites still controlled by terrorists continues. Hama and Homs provinces are largely liberated.
Beginning on September 30, Russian warplanes conducted over 9,000 sorties, routing terrorist forces, destroying their weapons, command and control centers, underground bunkers, much of ISIS’ oil producing capability, thousands of oil delivery vehicles, and the will of US imported death squads to keep fighting.
According to Shoigu, “terrorists’ resources’ provisions has been largely cut.” Oil transport and main weapons routes with Turkey were blocked.
Dozens of Russian drones continue operating in Syrian airspace, gathering intelligence, monitoring conditions on the ground. Satellite surveillance continues.
A classified NATO report called Russia’s campaign “efficient (and) accurate,” its military capability formidable.
According to Russian Aerospace Forces commander General Viktor Bondaryov, Syrian and allied forces are strong enough to successfully conduct anti-terrorism operations on their own going forward.
Scaled-down Russian air support will continue as needed. Russian pilots accomplished their mission with distinction. “Not a single bombing raid missed the(ir) (intended) target(s),” Bondaryov stressed, refuting Western propaganda claiming otherwise.
STEPHEN LENDMAN lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III." ( http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html ) Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.
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