And next, Syria?

I was thinking that too.



I don't know why the BBC uses scare quotes here.

Syrian activist and daughter 'murdered'

 

I hear the site owner/starter was killed yesterday. Known to some here.

 

Yes, recent sad news, was thinking about posting on the Kurdish/Rojava thread. He was a lovely guy with sound politics.

British documentary-maker dies in Syria

 

Targeting hospitals again

Physicians for Human Rights - PHR Documents Worst String of Hospital Attacks in Syria Since April

 

At the core of the war in Syria | Heinrich Böll Foundation

 

Lot of these 'SAA' generals dropping dead eh?

 

Putin and Basher claim victory over terrior, the whole region is as safe as clown in a sewer.

 

From The Lancet

Patterns of civilian and child deaths due to war-related violence in Syria: a comparative analysis from the Violation Documentation Center dataset, 2011–16

 

Deleted, already posted on a more relevant Beeley thread.

 

They've now formed a wider group and released this statement of founding principles.

 

I stumbled across this yesterday and cry as I did, I couldn't tear myself away from the film. It's brilliant what people have done and it's implications for future investigations etc. Whilst did sad and chilling that it is necessary. Forensic Architecture digitally reconstructs model of Syrian prison

 

Russia takes aim at US over series of Syria drone attacks

 

Yes saw this on Twitter yesterday.

More here, it also mentions the mortar attack that allegedly destroyed a number of Russian aircraft a couple of weeks ago.

Who is attacking Russia’s bases in Syria? A new mystery emerges in the war.

 

Russia says DIY drones that attacked its base in Syria came from a rebel village

 

Could this be the next Aleppo? - CNN Video

 

Just the few months late with this aren't they? Weeks of ariel bombardment and this is new a possible future?

 

Fullbacks are still dropping iron bombs on Idlib.

 

I know. But what's happened is that some of the extremist AQ-affiliated militias such as HTS have guaranteed the safety of western journalists in an effort to publicise the plight of civilians in a so-called de-escalation zone.

 

Pathetic isn't it - there's been actual journalists who've been reporting from within the sieges and bombardments - Liz Sly was open mouthed in astonishment at one report over the weekend, at what actual journalism looks like - but i don't think they fit the profile these news services want.

 

The never-ending seige on Eastern Ghouta

 

...........and the slaughter and the deaths and the despair goes on and on and on and on...............

The perfect example of what Hell on Earth is truly like. And this, in the year of 2018.

 

So a Russian plane was shot down over Idlib in the last couple of days. The pilot allegedly died by detonating a grenade rather than be captured by the rebel forces. By way of retaliation there has been at least one chlorine gas attack, presumably by regime forces and deliberate targeting of medical facilities by the Russian air force.

 

Live grenade in the cockpit doesn't pass the sanity test. The Frogfoot was Blue 6 from 368 ShAP based in Sevastapol. Shootdown was by a Chinese FN-6 MANPAD.

 

Fair enough. That's why I said 'allegedly' shot by rebels then.

 

There's quite a lot of imagery of Russian aircrew carrying grenades as when they get in/get out of their aircraft - I suppose that under normal circumstances it doesn't pass the sanity test, but IS put a captured Jordanian pilot in a steel cage and burnt him alive, live on Facebook, so 'normal' probably doesn't apply in Syria.

I wouldn't be remotely surprised if the Russian Air Force weren't overly keen on their very expensive aircraft being put at significant risk by grenades being carried by people with pretty much no experience of using/carrying them, but that commands on the subject from people in starched uniforms in Moscow or Sevastopol don't carry much weight...

 

I wasn't doubting that it happened, just commenting on the wisdom of it!

On Operation Northern Watch we used to get 14 gold sovereigns and a "ghoolie chit" with which we were to bargain for our lives. The ghoolie chit was a polylingual document that gave bland assurances to the effect that Her Britannic Majesty's government would shower undefined favour on the bearer should he return it with a downed airman who still had his balls and head attached.

 

Yeah, I had one in Afghanistan and Iraq.

I'm assuming that Russian aircrew are choosing grenades, despite all their attendant dangers, because they see them as being easier to use post crash/ejection than a pistol.

It's interesting.

 

"You can kill me now and get 14 gold sovereigns plus whatever the local bounty is - or transport an injured enemy airman to the frontline and receive a mystery prize from the Queen!"

 

Navigators got a book of stamps instead of the gold.

 

Not that the UN has been of any use so far

UN outrage at Syrian suffering: ‘We can no longer stay silent’

Women Now center destroyed in the midst of fierce bombing of civilian areas - Women Now for Development