Sunday, November 15, 2015

Soleimani among Iran-equipped Iraqi fighting forces during Syrian offensive

IRGC-QF Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani addressing Iran-backed Iraqi Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba fighting force members; claimed depiction in the southern Aleppo countryside appearing 13NOV15 on social media.

According to Leith Fadel at Al-Masdar News, dated 14NOV15:
The Syrian Arab Army’s 4th Mechanized Division and Hezbollah began their long journey to Aleppo Governorate from the Syrian resort-city of Al-Zabadani in early September, marking the first time that the Lebanese Resistance has committed such a large force to a front so far away from the Lebanese border.
However, Hezbollah’s participation in the southern Aleppo offensive has played a pivotal role in the pro-government forces’ success as they have led the charge on the Islamist rebel defenses, killing several enemy combatants and capturing several villages in the process.
Over the last 72 hours, the Syrian Arab Army’s 4th Mechanized Division – in coordination with Hezbollah, the National Defense Forces (NDF) of Aleppo City, the Al-Ba’ath Battalions, Harakat Al-Nujaba (Iraqi paramilitary), Kataeb Hezbollah (Iraqi paramilitary), and Firqa Fatayyemoun (Iranian/Afghani paramilitary) – have captured the strategic towns of Al-Hadher and Tal Al-‘Eiss, paving the way for their forces to approach the Damascus-Aleppo Highway from the eastern flank.
Map depiction dated 14NOV15 detailing roughly 500 km2 area recaptured during IRGC-QF directed offensive SW of Aleppo.  [source: Al-Masdar News]

There are also reports IRGC-QF directed offensive has advanced to M5 highway, as depicted in this 14NOV15 situation map  [source: Peto Lucem]

Sheikh Akram Al-Kaabi, Secretary General of Iran-backed Iraqi Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba (HHN), conducting Friday prayers with HHN fighting force members. Photo claimed depiction 13NOV15 in the Aleppo southern countryside.

Iran-backed Iraqi HHN fighting force member equipped with Iranian-manufactured Toofan ("Typhoon') ATGM, claimed depiction 13NOV15 in the Aleppo southern countryside.

Iran-backed Iraqi HHN fighting force member equipped with Iranian-manufactured AM50 anti-materiel sniper rifle, claimed depiction 13NOV15 in the Aleppo southern countryside.

Iran-backed Iraqi HHN fighting force light infantryman, claimed depiction 13NOV15 in the Aleppo southern countryside

Iran-backed Iraqi HHN fighting force light infantryman, claimed depiction 13NOV15 in the Aleppo southern countryside

Iran-backed Lebanese Hezbollah (LH) fighting force member equipped with Croatian HS Produkt VHS assault rifle. Note sleeve patch bearing likeness of LH Secretary General Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah, as well as button bearing likeness of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hezbollah is well trained and is viewed as one of the toughest special forces units in thr middle east they are the equivalent of Delta force, actually they're better because they've seen more combat missions. They also have the best weapons.

Anonymous said...

Impressive, very well equipped troops with encrypted radios, body armor and high morale. Syria is on a winner.

interested party said...

I find the last picture interesting as the Croatian origin of the weapon might suggest it was captured off western armed and possibly trained rebels. In the earlier stages of the war when rebels were pleading for ATWG's and MANPADS they were sent shipments of Croatian made OSSA unguided short range rockets and assualt rifles. The OSSA was a Yugoslav version of a French model. A good infantry weapon but not an ATGW.

Anonymous said...

The Zionist Debka childish website has been claiming General Soleimani's death for 4 years now. Another claim yesterday, that would make Mark Twain blush.

You are right Hezbollah is highly motivated too and the officer and cadre education levels are high. They like Iran have a lot of engineers and professionals that understand modern weaponry, tactics and strategy. The SAA is becoming very proficient too. They are getting top of the line Russian weaponry like T-90 and the new The 2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm SP with better armor plating. Some of them look factory new as paint has barely dried. The SAA is using a good combined arms combo now, SP to soften targets and then move tanks and mechanized infantry for close support. The dense Russian MI-24 helo cover and SU-25 Flying Tanks have also turned the tables.

Anonymous said...

that they are better than Delta Force is an hilariously idiotic and inane claim.

Anonymous said...

Name one other arab military that was able to stop the israelis in their tracks,hezbollah have shown themselves to be formidable on the defensive back in 06 and now with all the combat experience that they`ve gained in syria they`ve shown that they are equally formidable on the offensive,by comparison the gulfies cant even defeat the houthis and the yemeni army remnant in yemen.Now its really impossible to say whether they may or may not be better than delta force but it is certainly clear that they are a very formidable and very capable military force which is all the more impressive when one realises that they are not the armed forces of a nation state and that they are all part timers rather than professional soldiers

Anonymous said...

Its quite possible altho` we have seen all sorts of weapons turning up in syria and iraq,my favorite was a dprk type 73 gpmg seen in iraq,now was this one delivered by iran from old iran-iraq war stockpiles delivered by the dprk back in the 80s or was this supplied to the syrians by the dprk at some point anywhere from the 60s onward or was it acquired from somewhere else entirely?,who can say
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bDy4NPlHELc/VWRoE5BXj4I/AAAAAAAADx0/A4nQMPxvztw/s1600/11149640_466086816874936_6833074386945181679_o.jpg

swakil said...

Still, one must not exaggerate their skill. They are far more effective in tactical defense of their own villages in the South of Lebanon than deployed in the offensive in foreign lands. This is true for most asymmetric armed forces/militias. Delta force, on the other hand, are professional, full time special forces, trained, equipped and experienced with commando offensive missions. It's like comparing apples and oranges.

Anonymous said...

The outgoing Zionist Chief of Staff would concur with your analysis:

Israel's top military officer warned today that Hezbollah's capabilities have grown substantially since the 2006 war, putting much of Israel within the reach of the legendary and secretive Lebanese Shia militant organization.
“Bring me four or five states that have more firepower than Hezbollah: Russia, China, Israel, France, and England,” he told Israel’s national security committee that forced Nethanyahu to tone down his rhetoric after the devastating Hezbollah Kornet strikes at the foot of Mount Hermon. “What is this enormous power that they [Hezbollah] have that can cover every area of the state of Israel?”
Gantz’s comments reflect Israel's longstanding concern about Hezbollah’s growing might, which has soared in terms of weaponry, technology, and personnel since the two enemies last fought each other in open war in 2006.
Last week, an anonymous Israeli intelligence officer wrote in Israel’s Maarachot military magazine that in the next war, Hezbollah would not merely defend against an Israeli invasion but could make a “ground offensive and multi-pronged attack on Israeli territory and will certainly invade upper Galilee and hold it."
In the past eight years, the Iran-backed group is believed to have acquired GPS-guided Syrian-manufactured missiles fitted with 1,100-pound warheads with ranges of at least 250 miles. That puts Tel Aviv and all of Occupied Palestine within range of the Lebanese border. It also has drones that can carry dozens of pounds of explosive. In October 2012, a drone operated by Hezbollah penetrated Israeli airspace in the south before being detected and shot down by Israeli jets.
Hezbollah’s reconnaissance and communications capabilities have also improved. Fighters serving in Syria use thermal imaging cameras to monitor rebel movements and prepare ambushes, including one in February that killed 175 rebel fighters near Otaiba, east of Damascus. It has built a few dozen training camps across the Bekaa Valley in recent years to process the steady influx of new recruits. After the devastating Hezbollah ambush that caught the Israelis napping, the IDF high command has been advising caution and refrains from taking on the Hezbollah which would destroy Israeli economy and impose unsustainable losses.
Israel backing down on removing Hezbollah, Iran from Golan as IDF generals warn that Hezbollah will destroy our cities and is too strong and can not be defeated

Anonymous said...

This is where Iran's money is going too.Hezbollah is better equipped than the Iranian border guards protecting our homeland.

Anonymous said...

We iranias are smarter than you. Iranian boarders are not at war. Ally Syria and Lebanon are at war so we know were is the priority. If IS starts war at irania boarder you will be suprised what we iranians are able to present them. Well you don't know. IS knows.... ;)

swakil said...

Typical Zionist propaganda, I'm afraid. Exaggerating their opponents' capabilities when it suits their interests, and at other times downplaying these same capabilities. They have been saying stuff like that about Iran for years. Most of the comments above were meant for the domestic Israeli audience for the purpose of getting more funding for the Zionist occupation forces.