Chat Room – Excerpts & Highlights
_firefly_ says():Middle East
Islamic State Faces Major Assaults on Two Fronts in Iraq, Syria
By REUTERSJUNE 1, 2016, 3:39 P.M. E.D.T.
_firefly_ says():SOUTHERN OUTSKIRTS OF FALLUJA, Iraq/WASHINGTON — Islamic State insurgents faced major assaults on two fronts in both Iraq and Syria on Wednesday in what could prove to be some of the biggest operations to roll back their caliphate since they proclaimed it in 2014.
In Syria, U.S.-backed militia with thousands of Arab and Kurdish fighters were reported to have captured villages near the strategically-important Turkish border after launching a major operation to cut off Islamic State’s last access route to the outside world.
In Iraq, Prime Minister Haider Abadi ordered his troops to slow an advance at the gates of Falluja, Islamic State’s closest redoubt to the capital Baghdad, to limit harm to civilians, two days after the army poured into rural areas on the city’s outskirts.
Both operations are unfolding with the support of a U.S.-led coalition that has been targeting the ultra-hardline Sunni Muslim militants, who proclaimed a caliphate to rule over all Muslims from territory in the two neighboring countries.
The Syrian operation includes American special forces operating in advisory roles on the ground. In Iraq, the U.S.-led coalition has provided air support to government forces who are also assisted by Iranian-backed Shi’ite militia.
While there is no indication that the two advances were deliberately timed to coincide, they show how a variety of enemies of Islamic State have been mobilizing in recent months in what Washington and other world powers hope will be a decisive year of battle to destroy the group’s pseudo-state.
_firefly_ says():”LAST FUNNEL”
The Syrian operation, which began on Tuesday after weeks of preparations, aims to drive Islamic State from the last stretch of the frontier with Turkey it controls.
Continue reading the main story
“It’s significant in that it’s their last remaining funnel” to Europe, a U.S. military official told Reuters. Islamic State has used the border for years to receive material and recruits from the outside world, and, more recently, to send militants back to Europe to carry out attacks.
An 80-km stretch of terrain north of the town of Manbij is the only part of the Turkish frontier still accessible to the militants after advances by Kurdish fighters and President Bashar al-Assad’s government elsewhere.
A small number of U.S. special operations forces will support the push on the ground to capture the “Manbij pocket”, acting as advisers some distance back from the front lines, U.S. officials said, discussing the plans on condition of anonymity.
“They’ll be as close as they need to be for the (Syrian fighters) to complete the operation. But they will not engage in direct combat,” the first official said.
The operation will also count on air power from the U.S.-led coalition, which pounded Islamic State positions near Manbij with 18 strikes on Tuesday.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a group that reports on the conflict there with a network of sources on the ground, said Islamic State had been pushed out of 16 villages near Manbij. U.S.-led air strikes in support of the ground operation had killed 15 civilians including three children near Manbij in the last 24 hours, the Observatory said.
The assault is being carried out by an alliance known as the Syria Democratic Forces (SDF), which is composed of a powerful Kurdish militia called the YPG, and Arab combatants that have allied themselves with it.
The group, set up last year, is the main ground force to receive U.S. backing in Syria, where Washington opposes Assad’s government and has had difficulty finding capable allies on the ground in the past.
_firefly_ says():U.S. officials stressed that most of the fighting near Manbij would be carried out by Arabs, an emphasis apparently aimed at Turkey, which considers the Kurdish YPG to be foes.
“After they take Manbij, the agreement is the YPG will not be staying … So you’ll have Syrian Arabs occupying traditional Syrian Arab land,” the first U.S. official said.
However, the Observatory described much of the fighting so far as carried out by Kurds.
The operation is taking place ahead of an eventual push by the U.S.-backed Syrian forces toward Raqqa, Islamic State’s de facto Syrian capital, which, alongside Iraq’s northern city of Mosul is one of two main objectives to bring down the caliphate.
U.S. President Barack Obama has authorized about 300 U.S. special operations forces to operate on the ground inside Syria to help coordinate with local forces. In a reminder of the risks, one U.S. service member was injured north of Raqqa over the weekend, the Pentagon said.
A five-year-long, multi-sided civil war in Syria, in which global powers back enemy sides, has made it impossible to coordinate a single campaign against Islamic State there.
The U.S.-backed advance comes some weeks after Assad government troops, with Russian and Iranian support, recaptured the ancient city of Palmyra from Islamic State.
_firefly_ says():FALLUJA PAUSE
In Iraq, where Abadi’s Shi’ite-led government enjoys military backing both from the United States and Washington’s regional adversary Iran, the decision to pause at the gates of Falluja postpones for now what is expected to be one of the biggest battles ever fought against Islamic State.
“It would have been possible to end the battle quickly if protecting civilians wasn’t among our priorities,” Abadi told military commanders at the operations room near the front line in footage broadcast on state television. “Thank God, our units are at the outskirts of Falluja and victory is within reach.”
Falluja has been a bastion of the Sunni Muslim insurgency against both the Shi’ite-led Baghdad government and U.S. troops, who fought the biggest battles of their 2003-2011 occupation there. Islamic State fighters, also known as ISIS, ISIL or Daesh, raised their flag in the city in 2014 before sweeping through Iraq’s north and west.
Abadi first announced plans to assault Falluja 10 days ago. But with 50,000 civilians still believed trapped inside the city, the United Nations has warned that militants are holding hundreds of families in the center as human shields.
_firefly_ says():After heavy resistance from Islamic State, the troops have not moved over the past 48 hours, keeping positions in Falluja’s mainly rural southern suburb of Naimiya, according to a Reuters TV crew reporting from the area.
Explosions from shelling and air strikes as well as heavy gunfire could be heard on Wednesday morning in the city that lies 50 km (30 miles) west of Baghdad.
Falluja is the second-largest Iraqi city still under control of the Sunni militants after Mosul. Abadi’s initial decision to assault Falluja seems to have gone against the plans of his U.S. allies, who would prefer the government concentrate on Mosul.
_firefly_ says():Falluja is the second-largest Iraqi city still under control of the Sunni militants after Mosul. Abadi’s initial decision to assault Falluja seems to have gone against the plans of his U.S. allies, who would prefer the government concentrate on Mosul.
_firefly_ says():Abadi’s initial decision to assault Falluja seems to have gone against the plans of his U.S. allies, who would prefer the government concentrate on Mosul.
_firefly_ says():”You do not need Falluja in order to get Mosul,” a spokesman for a U.S.-led anti-IS coalition, U.S. Army Colonel Steve Warren, said in a phone interview 10 days ago when the government first announced its plans to recapture Falluja.
_firefly_ says():”You do not need Falluja in order to get Mosul,” a spokesman for a U.S.-led anti-IS coalition, U.S. Army Colonel Steve Warren, said in a phone interview 10 days ago when the government first announced its plans to recapture Falluja.
_firefly_ says():However, Falluja is Islamic State’s closest bastion to Baghdad and is believed to be the base from which militants have staged a campaign of suicide bombings in the capital, increasing pressure on Abadi to act to improve security.
_firefly_ says():FLEEING CIVILIANS SCREENED
Although most of Falluja’s population is believed to have fled during six months of siege, 50,000 people are still thought to be trapped inside with little food.
“The city is inaccessible for assistance and market distribution systems remain offline,” the United Nations’ World Food Programme said. “The only food available does not come from the markets, but from the stocks that some families still have in their homes.”
The military has been detaining men and boys older than 12 who leave the city, to screen them for Islamic State fighters.
“Don’t treat us like we are Daesh,” said 54-year-old Mahdi Fayyadh, among hundreds of families who escaped the city and were now taking shelter in a school.
Fayyadh, who lost a leg to diabetes while under Islamic State’s rule due to a lack of medication, said he fled the city with 11 family members after the assault began. Relatives helped him walk on crutches until they reached army lines, when the other men in the group were taken away.
“I already lost a leg,” Fayyadh said, a battered pair of crutches leaning against his shoulder. “I ask all the good people to not treat us like they (the militants) treated us.”
U.S. officials caution that territorial gains will not spell the end of Islamic State, which has established itself outside of its self-declared caliphate in Iraq and Syria, spreading to Libya, Afghanistan and beyond.
“It would be premature to say that the gains in Syria, even if they’re sustained, will spell defeat for ISIL, any more than the pummeling of al Qaeda in Pakistan has meant the end of that group,” said one of the U.S. officials.
(Additional reporting by John Davison in Beirut, Maher Chmaytelli and Ahmed Rasheed in Baghdad; Writing by Peter Graff; Editing by Mark Heinrich)
_firefly_ says():
http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2016/06/01/world/middleeast/01reuters-mideast-crisis.html?_r=0
ddboys1626 says():Question where is Millon day she has not been on chat for a while
ddboys1626 says():Is she ok?
subgirl says to ddboys1626():she is fine, just working hard and paying bills That is all we know?? 🙂
ddboys1626 says to subgirl():Ok thanks will see be back?
subgirl says to ddboys1626():ok and your welcome 🙂
subgirl says to ddboys1626():we are not sure when she will be back ???
ddboys1626 says to subgirl():ok thanks does anybody have contact with her?
subgirl says to ddboys1626():yep I think BGG does…
ddboys1626 says to subgirl():thanks
subgirl says to ddboys1626():your welcome 🙂
BGG says to dovi():Of course, everyone has misses MD (for quite some time now…) but this is not within our control – is it??
dovi says():Is it not ok to say we miss her? I feel rebuked or challenged
dovi says():I just miss her simple as that!
watson1 says():i miss do miss MD ,but there so much news we have let MD do what she need to do and know we are thankful for all she does .
BGG says to dovi():it’s fine for you to say this – however, the facts are the facts. I am sorry you feel the way you do.
BGG says():I think we’ll go with a Monday – Wednesday – Friday News Time schedule from now on…
BGG says():Leaving Sundays open for MD should she so desire
.Hutch says to BGG():Sounds perfect
swan2013 says():OK
swan2013 says():SO WILL YOU DO NEWSTIME TONIGHT OR START NEXT WEEK?
BGG says to swan2013():No – I don’t think I will tonite. Got some stuff going. I should be good on Friday though.
BGG says to swan2013():(I think)…
movack says():anyone up for a question
swan2013 says():GO
movack says():is this a statement that kurds are seeking indipendace by bi-passing bagdad with support directly from international agents- http://rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/300520162
movack says():it is a Question
swan2013 says():I REMEMBER BGG SAYING THEY WEREN’T GOING ANYWHERE…
Hutch says to movack():Quite the opposite. The Kurds are fully onboard with Baghdad
swan2013 says():THANKS HUTCH
Dinar Dave says to movack():It would take YEARS for that process to be completed…. You would be long gone
movack says():that is what i thought to but how do they get funds directly
Dinar Dave says to movack():Kurds like to JIBBER to see who listens
movack says():but it is Lisa Grande making the staement
movack says():un embasitor
Dinar Dave says to movack():When people JIBBER sometimes you have to listen…. Otherwise that would be RUDE now wouldn’t it…lol
movack says():have u listen to the un embasitor to Iraq statement
swan2013 says():EITHER SHE IS MISINFORMED, OR SOMEONE PRINTED WORDS TO CREATE CHOAS ONCE AGAIN.
Dinar Dave says to movack():You can listen and read who you want… I gave you my opinion…. Many problems come from reading and listen to many people that perhaps aren’t clear on what is currently happening???? BBL
movack says():so what you are saying is that UN IMF WB reps are not worth listening too
movack says():????
swan2013 says():CAN YOU BRING THAT QUESTION BACK TO BGG OR RCOOKIE? THEY MIGHT HAVE AN EXPLANATION
movack says():kk
movack says():thank you for responding
swan2013 says():BGG IS DOING NEWSTIME ON FRIDAY.. GOOD TIME TO ASK.
Hutch says to movack():Again, Quite the opposite,
Dinar Dave says to movack():ARE YOU SERIOUS???? I AM CLEARLY LISTEN TO WHAT THE IMF AND WB BANK ARE SAY YOUR NOT!!!
movack says():along with this – http://rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/300520162
movack says():just makes me ask a question
movack says():LINK
7Shelia says():Anybody have any news??
swan2013 says():SHEILA… BEST TO READ THE NEWS SECTION
7Shelia says():Sorry am not familiar with that “section”. I am not very good at navigating around the site.
swan2013 says():SHEILA, GO TO THE TOP OF THIS PAGE AND CLICK FORUM, IN THAT AREA YOU WILL FIND CHAT LOGS, AND NEWS SECTION, YOU WILL DISCOVER SOME GREAT STUFF IN THE FORUM YOU’VE BEEN MISSING.
7Shelia says():I have done that before and for some reason have been unable to find nothing but hours and hours of long chats that this uneducated person (in these kinds of matters – but ask me about the bible and that’s a different story) in these areas that I just don’t understand. Thanks for your information any ways Swan.
swan2013 says to 7Shelia():MY KIND OF GAL! I DONT’ UNDERSTAND MOST OF IT EITHER, I DID POST RCOOKIES RECAP FOR THE DAY UP THERE^^^^ THAT MIGHT HELP
7Shelia says():All that stuff is waaaayyyyy over my head, and I get so frustrated sometimes. Just think I need to move on to a site that can sorta not talk over my head.
swan2013 says to 7Shelia():LOTS HAPPENING TO MOVE THEM FORWARD, THAT IS WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN. WE ARE ALL WAITING FOR THE END RESULTS OF THE YEARS OF PUTTING THEIR COUNTRY BACK TOGETHER
7Shelia says():Thank you Swan. Very kind of you.
swan2013 says to 7Shelia():DONT’ GO ANYWHERE … JUST SIT BACK AND LET IT ALL UNFOLD.
swan2013 says to 7Shelia():THE WAY I SEE IT, WE ARE AT THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME AND WHEN IT HAPPENS, WE WILL SAY THANK YOU AND MOVE ON TO WHAT WE ARE CALLED TO DO.
swan2013 says to 7Shelia():UNDERSTANDING IT ALL IS NOT FOR EVERYONE… BE LIKE HENRY FORD AND SURROUND YOURSELF WITH PEOPLE WHO DO HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE..
ITS CALLED A MASTERMIND GROUP. WE HAVE THE BEST OF THE BEST IN HERE WHO HAVE GIFTS WE DON’T. YOUR GIFT IS DIFFERENT THAN MINE, TO COPY OR RCOOKIE AND MD TO BRING NEWS AND INTERPRET OR OTHERS WHO CAN PRAY THIS THROUGH, THAT MIGHT BE YOU!
7Shelia says():Amen…and I can hardly wait for that RV to get here because the Lord has given me such plans for that money. I have been in this investment for 7 years….am so ready for something to finally click towards my dreams
swan2013 says to 7Shelia():BE READY, PREPARE LIKE POPPY SAYS, THAT IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO. BE READY TO FLY
7Shelia says():Am ready !
swan2013 says to 7Shelia():EXCELLENT
willie60 says to swan2013():The Henry Ford thing—great advise, thank you.
swan2013 says():THE BOOK I WAS REFERENCING IS THINK AND GROW RICH BY NAPOLEON HILL. EXCELLENT READ.
poppy123 says():”THE BATTLING BOYS OF BENGHAZI”
We’re the battling boys of Benghazi,
No fame, no glory, no paparazzi.
Just a fiery death in a blazing hell,
Defending our country we loved so well.
It wasn’t our job, but we answered the call,
fought to the Consulate and scaled the wall.
We pulled twenty countrymen from the jaws of fate
Led them to safety and stood at the gate.
Just the two of us and foes by the score,
But we stood fast to bar the door.
Three calls for reinforcement, but all were denied,
So we fought and we fought and we fought ’til we died.
We gave our all for our Uncle Sam,
But xxxxx and xxxxy didn’t give a d—.
Just two dead Seals who carried the load
No thanks to us…we were just
“Bumps In The Road”.
BGG says():While not entirely accurate (according to the various “operators” action reports) the two former Seals killed at Benghazi were VERY HEROIC.
swan2013 says():YES THEY WERE
BGG says():the rushed to the aid of 4 brothers in arms left to fight all nite on their own.
BGG says():I cannot imagine the courage that took – just to get there.
swan2013 says():ESPECIALLY KNOWING THEY MAY NOT COME OUT ALIVE
BGG says():they were killed by a lucky mortar round right when they got there.
movack says():good evening BGG
BGG says():the other 4 covert operators did, in fact, fight (on their own) for nearly 13 hours.
poppy123 says():AMEN BGG— PLUS I CANNOT IMAGINE THE SECRETARY OF STATE DENYING SENDING HELP OR AT LEAST A PLANE TO PICK THEM UP AND GET THEM HOME . LYBIA WOUND UP GOING IN TO GET OUR 4 SONS LEFT. .
david334 says to rcookie():rcookie you just drove in threemen on base with two, full count in the bottom of the 9th. thank you and sleep well.
Read More: http://www.dinarupdates.com/showthread.php?35268-Wednesday-June-1-2016/page3
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