"Syrian army expects to retake Palmyra 'within hours': TV" Topic

"Syrian soldiers and their allies advanced to within 1 km (half a mile) of Palmyra on Thursday and soldiers speaking from the outskirts of the historic city said they hoped to recapture it from Islamic State fighters within hours.

The Syrian army is trying to retake Palmyra, which the ultra-hardline Islamist militants seized in May, to open a road to the mostly IS-held eastern province of Deir al-Zor.

The recapture of the desert city would be one of the most prominent successes for President Bashar al-Assad since Russia launched a military intervention in September which turned the tide of Syria's civil war in his favor…"
Full article here
link

Amicalement
Armand

happy to see that the much maligned Russian appearing on the scene is working

At least one Russian special forces trooper has been killed for his trouble (not sure if he was Spetznaz, or some other type of SF soldier).

There's information that he was coordinating aviation strikes, got surrounded by the enemy and called fire on himself. It seems that ISIS is trying to locate the spotters and kill them if they can – another spotter was killed in February under similar circumstances.
Some pics fo Syrian army in Palmyra:
link
Frankly, I doubt that we're talking about hours here, more like days…or even weeks.

I have to agree … It seems it takes longer for the locals to do anything militarily.

To be fair, Palmyra is a big place.

The US armed forces are well trained and lavishly equipped and it still took a along while to take Falluja.

Yes, but we're not taking about Falluja. We've taking about the Iraqis in their backyard. With a lot of US/NATO support. It would have helped if they had not abandoned 42 M1 MBTs, 52 155mm M 109 SPFAs and 2300 HMMWVs for Deash to use or loot. That was some "lavish" equipment, IMO.

If I may …

Americans love a winner and will not tolerate a loser. Americans play to win all the time. That's why Americans have never lost and will never lose a war. The very thought of losing is hateful to Americans

A bit old school but I guess I'm a student of such …

And to paraphrase another US General, " his main strategic task was the destruction of the enemy armies and only but as secondary option the seizing of positions, territories, towns etc. "

I'm very old fashioned … at times

*some conditions may apply regarding the definition of a war. :-)

Legion…Palmyra is Syrian not Iraqi…

Yes, I know … but I was making a comparison … As were you comparing Fallujah Iraq with Palmyra Syria. So that works both ways …

And for Daesh those borders, many drawn by long dead short sighted European politicians after WWI. Have little to no meaning to Daesh. Their concept of "the Caliphate" cover many areas. And again current borders mean little in many cases. If I may – "Know Your Enemy" … Raqqa … Palmyra, Mosul, etc. … are part of Daesh "territory" …

Also note a number of Iraqi militias[mostly Shia] are fighting along with Assad's forces in Syria. And took part in the battle for Palmyra …

*some conditions may apply regarding the definition of a war.

As always … it depends on the terrain and situation and the highest rank in the area giving the orders.

Apparently the offensive is going well.

ZeroHedge: ( link )

"Syrian government forces backed by Russian airstrikes drove Islamic State fighters from Palmyra on Sunday, ending the group's 10-month reign of terror over a town whose famed 2,000-year-old ruins once drew tens of thousands of visitors each year," AFP reports. "In comments reported on state TV, President Bashar Assad described the Palmyra operation as a ‘significant achievement' offering ‘new evidence of the effectiveness of the strategy espoused by the Syrian army and its allies in the war against terrorism.'"

…

As Syrian and Iran-backed Shiite forces cleared the city, Vladimir Putin called Bashar al-Assad to congratulate him on the victory. Russia, Putin said, would continue to support the government in its efforts to drive ISIS, al-Nusra, and other jihadist elements from the country.

Now they have to hold it, but all in all Syrians have done a good job – better than Iraq army normally does.

Especially with the Russian's assistance. And yes, it takes some doing to be as ineffectual as the Iraqis have proven to be …

but to get back to the important point of what is happening in Syria (who cares what ISIS think of national boundaries), BBC are now reporting that Palmyra has been retaken and being Brits of course thats bound to be right so hooray. Quite why we dont take a WW2 allied with the USSR line ref Assad (yes hes nasty but the enemy of my enemy etc) I dont know

(who cares what ISIS think of national boundaries),

Indeed … but it is in stu's DNA for dig/make up some reason to correct me, as well as others for that matter …

Quite why we dont take a WW2 allied with the USSR line ref Assad (yes hes nasty but the enemy of my enemy etc)

As I have said, Assad is there to stay, with the strong Russian support. And again, as with Saddam and Ghadaffi, he/they are the lesser of the evils. Of Daesh, AQ, etc., … sadly …

I wasn't making a dig – just pointing out that if the most lavishly equipped army on earth takes a while to take a town, it might be reasonable to expect the Syrians to do likewise.

Honestly people, get a grip.

As it was, it seems, yet again ISIS didn't fight too hard.

No I was not talking about that … but the fact that you pointed out where Palmyra is in Syria … And we all know that …

Bangorstu 27 Mar 2016 2:23 a.m. PST

Legion…Palmyra is Syrian not Iraqi…

Legion 4 27 Mar 2016 6:26 a.m. PST

Yes, I know … but I was making a comparison … As were you comparing Fallujah Iraq with Palmyra Syria.

Some have pointed out that the battles for Raqqa, Syria and Mosul, Iraq will be like Stalingrad … But none had to say it was in Russia !

Ah right, sorry.

In that case I was wondering why the appalling track record of the Iraqi army last year was relevant to an operation that happened in 2004.

My only point is that urban combat takes a while.

In that case I was wondering why the appalling track record of the Iraqi army last year was relevant to an operation that happened in 2004.

Note Stalingrad was 70+ years ago but is still studied when talking about urban warfare. As it Manila '44, Jerusalem '67, etc., etc. …

My only point is that urban combat takes a while.

No doubt … Waaay back when we trained for MOUT. One of the big lessons was if you can avoid it do so.

"As it was, it seems, yet again ISIS didn't fight too hard."

Morale is bad. Wages have been cut by around two thirds. Shootings to enforce discipline and promote enthusiasm have taken place. Military defeats have become common place. The grand strategy of involving NATO to fight Syria and Russia promised by their Turkish and Saudi backers has not come about. Their most experienced fighters are now in Libya and those remaining must wonder about their future chances.

All in all its a far cry from the heady days of the establishment of the Caliphate. Not that its over yet.

Sounds like a pretty good evaluation overall …

Given the Iraqi assault on Mosul seems to be producing early success (time will tell…) I give ISIS about a year.

In that part of the world at least.

Then.. Libya. Where it might be sensible to repeat the success and use local militias and the Tunisians, Chadians and Egyptians.

We … will see … Don't bet the farm on it … yet …