"Kurdish fighters rout IS militants from town near Iraq " Topic

"Backed by U.S.-led coalition airstrikes, Kurdish fighters fought their way Friday into a northeastern Syrian town that was a key stronghold of Islamic State militants, only days after the group abducted dozens of Christians in the volatile region, Syrian activists and Kurdish officials said.

The victory marks a second blow to the extremist IS group in a month, highlighting the growing role of Syria's Kurds as the most effective fighting force against the Islamic State. In January, Kurdish forces drove IS militants from the town of Kobani near the Turkish border after a months-long fight, dealing a very public defeat to the extremists…"

Full article here
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Amicalement
Armand

Again, the only troops from the region on the ground kick'n Deash . We should directly supply them. And tell the Turks and Iraqis to pound salt, until they can do anything equal to or better on the battlefield with Deash … Frakk'n worthless cowards !!!!!!!

Agree…!

Amicalement
Armand

"The trouble is, there is an endless supply of White Men,
but there has always been a limited number of Human Beings."

- Old Lodge Skins to Little Big Man

Not enough Kurds in the world to defeat Daesh. We should be careful not to push the Kurds a village too far.

Just as well it's not only the Kurds fighting then….

The Iraqi Army and various militias have also been kicking butt lately, and ISIS didn't get much change out of the Lebanese Army either.

Given their main supply route between Syria and Iraq has been cut, I think it's a matter of time before we see the end of this particular infestation of Islamism.

The Kurds would have been grass without the airstrikes. Don't make them out to be supermen – they aren't.

C

Indeed. As they themselves have stated – all the courage in the world means nothing if your weapons are 40 years old.

Not enough Kurds in the world to defeat Daesh. We should be careful not to push the Kurds a village too far.

Don't think that will happen. The Kurds are not in any hurry to get martyred. And the US/NATO is smarter than that, IMO. The fact that the planned assault on Mosul was cancelled, demonstrated the Iraqi limitations are still known. Which generally there are many.

Just as well it's not only the Kurds fighting then….

The Iraqi Army and various militias have also been kicking butt lately, and ISIS didn't get much change out of the Lebanese Army either.

Given their main supply route between Syria and Iraq has been cut, I think it's a matter of time before we see the end of this particular infestation of Islamism.

Optimistic evaluation. The Iraqi Army still is not ready to retake Mosul, as I mentioned. And can the various militias, mostly Shia' being support by Iran, be depended to work with the other Iraqi and Kurd forces ? If it does not fit or support the Persian's end game ? As we now see, the liberation of Tikrit is in the planning and is to be lead by the Persian supported Shia militias. But will they be able to [want to] coordinate effectively with the Kurds and Iraqis to make this work ? Al-Sadr already pulled back some of his Shia' militias last week or so …

The Kurds would have been grass without the airstrikes. Don't make them out to be supermen – they aren't.

Yes, but the Iraqi military has air support and still can't generally get their together … At least the Kurds are willing to fight.

Indeed. As they themselves have stated – all the courage in the world means nothing if your weapons are 40 years old.

Not necessarily … Most of the Kurd SAs are the same as Deash is using. AKs, PKMs, etc., etc., even vehicles are similar. That being said, I saw a news story about the Kurds using an old WWII UK 25 lbers … And BTW, the M16 is around 50 years old. Bottomline, Deash does not have any real weapons superiority, save for old USSR FA and Armor. Which are important, but can be somewhat neutralized by airpower. If either are caught in the open by CAS, they most likley would be KO'd. Kurds are also getting more AT weapons from the US/NATO. And, IIRC I've seen Kurd usings T-55s or 62s. But it does appear Deash may have some more modern pick-up trucks … but not a real game changer, IMO … Regardless, there is plenty of work to go around, before Deash is eliminated or at least attrited enough to be ineffective.