Opposition counteroffensive stalls against Iran-backed forces, SW Aleppo

Iran-backed Iraqi Kataib Hezbollah T-72 type main battle tank, SW Aleppo front. Social media imagery emerging 24NOV15

According to Leith Fadel at Al-Masdar News, dated 26NOV15:

The Islamist rebels from the Syrian Al-Qaeda group “Jabhat Al-Nusra, Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham, Harakat Nouriddeen Al-Zinki, Jaysh Al-Islam, and Liwaa Suqour Al-Sham launched a large-scale offensive in southern Aleppo earlier this week, targeting the Syrian Arab Army’s frontline defenses at the multiple hilltops that surround the

Over the past 6 days in southern Aleppo, the Islamist rebels from Jabhat Al-Nusra, Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham, and Harakat Nouriddeen Al-Zinki have repeatedly tried to bypass the Syrian Armed Forces’ frontline defenses at the imperative village of Banes and Kafr Haddad; this powerful assault from the Islamist rebel factions has resulted in the capture of Kafr Haddad’s southern Sector, despite the Islamist rebels declaring this village as “liberated”.

With the ongoing firefights near Banes and Kafr Haddad, the Islamist rebels attempted to take advantage of the Syrian Arab Army’s brief hiatus from the battlefield in order to allow their soldiers to take leave for a few days before going back to battle.

According to a battlefield journalist that is embedded with the Syrian Arab Army’s 4th Mechanized Division in southern Aleppo, the Islamist rebels have been unable to make any significant progress in the last 72 hours after failing to take Banes from the soldiers entrenched in this village.

The Islamist rebel offensive has proved to be rather unsuccessful thus far as several of their combatants have been reportedly killed by the Syrian Armed Forces.

COMMENTARY: Opposition forces committed not inconsiderable forces in launching this counteroffensive. While sections of theIRGC-QF line appeared to buckle, no opposition breakthrough appears to have been achieved.

What's more, with R+5 (Russia, Syria, Iran, Lebanese Hezbullah, Iraqi PMF and Syrian NDF) forces attacking at multiple axes and with the opposition committing much needed military resources to this now stalled counteroffensive, attritional losses at the Aleppo front as well as multiple stress points being applied may now be stretching opposition force resources as never before.

Iran-backed Iraqi Kataib Hezbollah T-72 type main battle tank movement through countryside village, SW Aleppo front. Social media imagery emerging 24NOV15.

Iran-backed Hezbollah force member equipped with Iran-manufactured AM50 anti-materiel sniper rifle, SW Aleppo front. Social media imagery emerging 24NOV15.

Iran-backed Hezbollah force member equipped with SPG-9 Kopye (“Spear”) recoilless gun, SW Aleppo front. Social media imagery emerging 24NOV15.

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.

MODAFL unveils Qamar radar among 16 IEI defense technology achievements

Above: IRINN video still of Qamar ("Moon") 3-D mobile phased array radar

According to Fars News Agency:

General Dehqan unveiled 16 new defense projects of SAIran Electronic Industries (Shiraz Electronic Industries) Company in the Southern city of Shiraz today.

The most important projects unveiled during the ceremony included a Radar system with the capability of tracking different semi-heavy and heavy weapons and providing the global positioning system (GPS) specifications for taking action during electronic warfare, Qamar 3-D search and control radar system with the capability of tracking different kinds of targets, including fighter jets and drone, up to a distance of 450 kilometers at different low and high altitudes and transferring the relevant data to the air defense network and Absar video-imaging system which can be mounted on fighter jets and drones.

General Dehqan also inaugurated the production line of air and airport navigation systems, including Multilateration (MLAT), ELINT (Electronic signals intelligence) and Communications Intelligence (COMINT) systems.

"The most important achievement of today is the manufacture of different radars which can identify and track threats and defend the country," General Dehqan said, addressing the unveiling ceremony.

He reiterated that the SAIran Electronic Industries Company has mass produced different ra dar systems that can cover a range of objects in distances up to 500 kilometers.

General Dehqan pointed to the indigenization of the navigation systems of warplanes as another achievement of SAIran Electronic Industries, and said, "We have made outstanding advancement in area of software production for confronting enemies' electronic warfare."

COMMENTARY: Observers have speculated the Qamar ("Moon") 3D phased array radar may be an element of the Bavar-373 ("Belief-373") air defense system currently under development.

IRINN video still of reverse-side of mobile Qamar ("Moon") 3-D phased array radar

IRINN video still of radar console, among 16 IEI defense technology achievements

IRINN video still of among 16 IEI defense technology achievements

IRINN video still of among 16 IEI defense technology achievements

IRINN video still of among 16 IEI defense technology achievements

What may be imagery depiction from synthetic aperture radar (R), and airborne radar type seen at background, left.

IRINN VIDEO:

‘Moharram’ military exercise at Western Iran- Phase II

Iran media imagery of NEZAJA and IRIADF participating in Moharram maneuvers phase II, taking place at Kermanshah and Ilam provinces:

Tactical Weapons and Equipment

IRIADF Fakour ("Thoughtful") air defense command system, under supervision of Brig. Gen. 2C Massoud Moqaddas (background, right).

Console tracking details of Fakour air defense command system

IRIADF Fath-14 ("Conquer-14") long-range radar

RPG-29 ATGM launcher handled by NEZAJA infantryman

Baher 23mm anti-material sniper rifle handled by NEZAJA first lieutenant from 65th Airborne Special Forces Brigade

40mm grenade launcher handled by NEZAJA first warrant officer

OPFOR exercise for NEZAJA 130th Independent Infantry Brigade on 21OCT15 at Bojnord

Red Team motorized column of OPFOR exercise at Bojnord. Note American flags attached to Sepehr, Safir and Toyota HiLux vehicles.

Simulated strikes against Red Team motorized column during OPFOR exercise at Bojnord

Motorized teams of NEZAJA lieutenants belonging to 130th Independent Infantry Brigade

Captain (L2) and first lieutenant (L1) of NEZAJA 130th Independent Infantry Brigade, with first sergeant  (L3) equipped with Iranian license-built G3-A4 battle rifle.

NEZAJA second warrant officer of 130th Independent Infantry Brigade, handling box magazine

NEZAJA majors with ranger rating belonging to 130th Independent Infantry Brigade, observing OPFOR exercise from command post.

NEZAJA company captain belonging to 130th Independent Infantry Brigade, departing command post

NEZAJA  major of 130th Independent Infantry Brigade, exercising C2 within CP

Detail of command post, within trench and covered by framed camouflage netting

Background: Mercedes-Benz L-series vehicle-mounted ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft twin-barreled autocannon

First warrant officer (L2) behind ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft twin-barreled autocannon

 

Members of NEZAJA 130th Independent Infantry Brigade, outfitted in or carrying chemical defense gear

VIDEO:

Photos: Islamic Republic News Agency, and Hamed Jafarnejad at DefaPress

NEZAJA ‘Moharram’ rapid reaction force exercise- Tactical weapons

Iran media imagery of recently developed tactical weapons publicized 19OCT15 during NEZAJA ‘Moharram’ rapid reaction force exercise:

DIO Baher 23mm single-shot anti-materiel sniper rifle, in operation

DIO Baher 23mm anti-material sniper rifle fitted with telescopic sight and mounted on tripod, with adjacent spotter scope 

Muzzle of DIO Baher 23mm anti-material sniper rifle 

NEZAJA lieutenant handling bolt and 23mm round for DIO Baher anti-material sniper rifle 

Mersad ("Ambush") sniper rifle fitted with what appears to be thermal imaging scope

DIO Fajr-224 ("Dawn-224") assault rifle (5.56x45mm NATO)

Mobile DIO Mesbah anti-aircraft artillery system (four remotely activated Iranian variant ZU-23-2 autocannons)

Operator with remote control box for DIO Mesbah anti-aircraft artillery system

Small UAV (SUAV) unmanned aerial vehicle operated by NEZAJA infantry

Demonstration flight of small UAV (SUAV) unmanned aerial vehicle, operated by NEZAJA infantry

Technicians arming Kaveh-30 automatic grenade launcher, with what appear to be live rounds

NEZAJA Commander Brig. Gen. Ahmad Reza Pourdastan demonstrating the firing of Kaveh-30 automatic grenade launcher.

RPG-29 rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) launcher (NATO: Vampir), possible Iranian variant. In background, Sepehr ("Sky") tactical vehicle.

RPG-29 on firing stand, for demonstration purposes fired remotely by pullcord attached to trigger 

RPG-29 tandem type warhead, appearing to be DIO variant Ghadir ("Intensity") 105 mm anti-armor rocket

Photos: Alvandkhabar.ir