View Full Version : Major Syrian Operation
ShotOne
2nd Apr 2017, 14:36
The Daily Mail (yes I know) is reporting a major special forces operation on Mar 21 to attack the Tabqa Dam and airbase. Even allowing for journalistic licence, there appears to have been a major battle involving the SAS, Hercules aircraft, Apache helicopters and the USMC. Massive respect for the skill and courage of all involved. Big question tho; while I'm sure Mr Assad will be grateful, what are British forces doing fighting battles inside Syria, and what do we know about the long-term aims of our SDF "allies"?
The Daily Mail (yes I know) is reporting a major special forces operation on Mar 21 to attack the Tabqa Dam and airbase. Even allowing for journalistic licence, there appears to have been a major battle involving the SAS, RAF Hercules aircraft, British Army Apaches and the USMC. Massive respect for the skill and courage of all involved. Big question tho; while I'm sure Mr Assad will be grateful, what are British forces doing fighting battles inside Syria, and what do we know about the long-term aims of our SDF "allies"?
Yes - let someone put all of that on here. Please.
chinook240
2nd Apr 2017, 15:46
OP seems to be using journalistic licence, the MoS doesn't mention British Army AH64, but US ones, or RAF C130.
Lonewolf_50
2nd Apr 2017, 16:14
Reuters reports that it was a US backed operation (http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-tabqa-airport-idUSKBN16X0V0) ... Not a lot of detail, but the security of the dam appears to be closer to achieved than before the op.
It also appears that nobody agrees on how the dam's doing. The aim appears to be to avoid flooding. Two different spokespeople with significantly different versions of what's going on ... you can choose whom to believe.
The director of the Syrian government's General Authority of Euphrates Dam that formerly operated the huge project blamed U.S. strikes in the past two days for disrupting internal control systems and putting the dam out of service, and warned of growing risks that could lead to flooding and future collapses.
"Before the latest strikes by the Americans, the dam was working. Two days ago, the dam was functioning normally," Nejm Saleh told Reuters.
"God forbid ... there could be collapses or big failures that could lead to flooding," Saleh said.
An SDF spokesman denied that coalition strikes hit the structure of the dam and said the air drop landing last week was conducted to prevent any damage to the main structure by engaging the militants away from the dam.
"The capture of the dam is being conducted slowly and carefully and this is why the liberation of the dam needs more time," Silo said, adding that militants dug inside the dam knowing they would not be hit for fear of damaging the dam.
ShotOne
2nd Apr 2017, 17:21
Chinook, you're right the report didn't specify whose Apaches; post amended. The question still stands however. I don't doubt the courage of the SDF (whoever they are) in taking the fight to IS. In supporting one rebel faction over another are we now fighting a foreign civil war? Secondly, how does it end...we don't have a perfect track record in picking winners in such situations (Libya).