Recent Saudi/UAE combat losses in the Yemen conflict (2)

Second installment of imagery depicting Saudi/UAE combat losses inflicted by Ansarullah or allied Yemeni Army forces, during the current Yemen conflict:

Royal Saudi Land Force M1 Abrams type main battle tank, captured and subsequently destroyed by Ansarullah forces at a Saudi military base near Jizan.

Second view of captured and subsequently destroyed Royal Saudi Land Force M1 Abrams type main battle tank

Saudi military Gurkha rapid patrol vehicle (RPV), abandoned and captured near Jizan by Ansarullah or allied forces

Royal Saudi Land Force M1 Abrams type main battle tank near Jizan, hit and destroyed by Ansarullah or allied forces operating ATGM.

Royal Saudi Land Force M1 Abrams type main battle tank destroyed by Ansarullah or allied Yemeni Army forces, among three AFVs destroyed at this position near Jizan.

Saudi Toyota-platform LTV and Gurkha rapid patrol vehicle (RPV) destroyed by Ansarullah or allied Yemeni Army forces, apparent victims of ambush near Jizan.

United Arab Emirates Army Oshkosh M-ATV destroyed by Ansarullah or allied forces in the Mukayris region

United Arab Emirates Army Oshkosh M-ATV destroyed by Ansarullah or allied forces in the Mukayris region

United Arab Emirates Army Oshkosh M-ATVs destroyed by Ansarullah or allied forces in the Mukayris region

United Arab Emirates Army Oshkosh M-ATV destroyed by Ansarullah or allied forces in the Mukayris region

Remains of Schiebel Camcopter S-100 unmanned air vehicle (UAV) believed operated by United Arab Emirates military, downed by Ansarullah or allied Yemeni Army forces in the Mukayris region.

Sana'a government imagery of Scud-type ballistic missile, launched by Yemeni Army on 26AUG15 in the direction of Jizan, at same time Yemeni Army opened up with BM-27 Uragan MLRS artillery on Najran Domestic Airport.

Sana'a government claimed imagery of Scud-type ballistic missile launch on 26AUG15, in the direction of Jizan

Iran delegation at MAKS-2015 air show in Moscow

Iranian attendees of the MAKS-2015 air show held at Zhukovsky Airfield, on 25AUG15 in the Moscow Region. What follows are photos of interest to embedded IRNA photographer:

9M82M3 and 9M83M3 missile display, included in exhibit of Almaz-Antey S-300VM "Antey-2500" (NATO: SA-23 Gladiator\Giant) Transportable SAM system.

Of interest are reports Iranian officials attending MAKS-2015 are intent on signing a deal for delivery of a S-300 series type system.  Note depicted system painted in desert tan, believed to be scheme applied to systems that entered service in Egypt in November 2014.

Tactical Missiles Corporation BAL-E Coastal Missile System with Kh-35E (3M-24E) anti-ship missile

Mil Mi-28N "Night Hunter" (NATO: Havoc) all-weather, day-night, military tandem, two-seat anti-armor attack helicopter

Kamov Ka-52K (NATO: Hokum B) naval attack helicopter prototype, intended for now cancelled delivery of Mistral-class landing helicopter dock (LHD) vessels.

Russian Air Force Mil Mi-8AMTS Terminator, RF-91418 / "62 Yellow" (cn AMTS00643136605U)

Left: KBP Instrument Design Bureau Pantsir-S1 (NATO: SA-22 Greyhound) combined short to medium range surface-to-air missile and anti-aircraft artillery weapon system. (note desert tan scheme)

Right: KBP Instrument Design Bureau Kornet-EM multi-purpose anti tank guided missile system, mounted on GAZ Tigr 4x4, multipurpose, all-terrain infantry mobility vehicle. (note desert tan scheme)

Display of Russian manufactured unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV)

Russo-Indian (NPO Mashinostroeyenia / DRDO) short-range ramjet supersonic cruise missile, air-launched variant

Russian Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevichi MiG-29 SMT (9-17) (NATO: Fulcrum), "777 Blue" displayed with R-27 series air-to-air missiles and B-13L rocket launcher.

Foreground: Russian Air Force Sukhoi Su-34 (NATO: Fullback), "31 Red"

Background: Russian Air Force Sukhoi Su-25SM (NATO: Frogfoot), RF-95488 / "04 Red"

Russian Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-31BM (NATO: Foxhound), "93 Blue" with “Guards” emblem and VVS ROSSII (“Russian Air Force”) markings.

Russian Air Force Beriev A-50U (NATO: Mainstay), RF-92957 / "47 Red" (cn 0043453577)

Foreground: Dexter Air Taxi Myasischev M-101T Gzhel, reg. RA-15111

Background: Aeroflot Airlines Tupolev Tu-144D (NATO: Charger), reg. CCCP-77115 (cn 09-1)

Mil Mi-38-2 transport helicopter 

Roscosmos Ilyushin Il-76MDK (NATO: Candid), RF-75353 (cn 1013495871)

 

Defying sanctions against the Russian Federation, attending MAKS-2015 is Airbus A350-900, reg. F-WXWB (cn 001)

Photos: Islamic Republic News Agency

83% of Syria No Longer Under Control of Government – Report

83 percent; that’s how much territory the Syrian government has lost control of since the country’s civil war began more than four years ago, according to a new analysis by HIS Janes’s. Territory fully controlled by President Assad’s forces has shrunk by 18% between 1 January and 10 August 2015 to 29,797 square kilometers, roughly a sixth of the country, according to latest data produced by HIS Conflict Monitor.

Assad appears to concentrate his efforts on holding key strategic areas with large populations including Damascus, the Alawi coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartous, and the city of Homs, on the corridor connecting Damascus to the Latakia coast. HIS Jane’s observes that these are the areas likely to be defended, even at the expense of losing other major cities like Aleppo and Daraa. 

On military manpower, the report says that the Syrian Army is believed to have lost around 50% of its prewar strength of 300,000, with manpower shortages creating a serious challenge to the government’s war effort. Many of the remaining soldiers are very young Alawi conscripts, sent to the front lines with minimal training and low morale. (HIS Jan’s, 23 August)

Under the circumstances, major military operations are apparently being led by the Quds Force-backed foreign Shia militias, especially the Lebanese Hezbollah, with the Syrian army on support role.

Map credit: The Syrian government lost 18% of territory since the beginning of this year. (HIS Conflict Monitor/HIS Jane’s)

Iran claims serial production of Nasr aircraft-launched AShCM

On 25AUG15 Iran’s Defense Minister IRGC Brig. Gen. Hossein Dehghan announced serial production of the Nasr ("Victory") aircraft-launched anti-ship cruise missile (AShCM).

The Nasr aircraft-launched AShCM was previously publicized on 25SEP13, fitted to IRIAF McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom, serial 3-6649 / 01551 (cn 4743),  prior to completed Dowran Phase I upgrade.

Iranian media appears to have recycled photos from 25SEP13, previously unpublished for this 25AUG15 announcement. Same aircraft serial 3-6649 and same Nasr unit can be seen in the older publicity: click HERE.

In the current announcement,  Deghgan further claimed “plans are underway to install the air-launched cruise missile on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)” [source: Tasnim News Agency]

COMMENTARY: MODAFL again publicizes Iranian missile technology during this period of political debate in Iran revolving around adoption of JCPOA. The Rouhani administration is on the defensive for perceived compromises made related to continued terms of sanctions applied to Iran's arms industry, arms acquisitions and specifically domestic missile programs. 

Photos: Islamic Republic News Agency

People’s Daily: ‘Black Monday’

Shanghai markets closed on Monday with stocks 8.5% down, prompting Chinese Communist Party’s official organ, The People’s Daily, calling the meltdown “Black Monday.” (Economist, 24 August)

The Chinese downturn hit global markets hard. The Dow opened down more than 1,000 points and after regaining some of the losses closed down 588 points, or 3.6%. The Eurofirst 300 index had its worst day since 2009. And Germany’s DAX has now lost all the gains it made in 2015.

Commodity markets are tumbling. Brent oil closed at $42.69. A broader index of 22 commodities compiled by Bloomberg is at its lowest since 1999.

Chinese market problems began when the country devalued its currency yuan on 11 August. Today’s Chinese meltdown was triggered by disappointing data on Friday, suggesting that China’s industrial activity is slowing sharply, and by the failure of the Chinese government to unveil bold market interventions to prop up its equity market. (Economist, 24 August)

It’s important to note, however, that the Shanghai Composite is still up 43% on its level of a year ago, and China can still intervene aggressively in the market. So there's some light at the end of the tunnel!

Photo credit: ImagineChina/The Economist

Oil Plunging

Oil prices continued their decline for the eighth straight week. Brent crude closed at $42.62 a barrel today. Serious concerns over China’s slowing economy on top of the saturated crude oil market are causing the current downturn with no signs of reversal anytime soon. Even geopolitical factors, including armed conflicts in Iraq, Syria, Libya and Yemen, which would have normally kept the prices high, are having limited impact on the market.

Since late 2014, oil prices dropped by 60 percent, creating fiscal crisis for petrostates whose foreign exchange earnings mainly come from the oil sector. 

Recent Saudi/UAE combat losses in the Yemen conflict (1)

Social media depictions of recent Saudi/UAE combat losses inflicted by Ansarallah/Yemeni Army forces in the Yemen conflict:

Major General Abdul Rahman Al-Shahrani, commander of 18th Infantry Brigade of Saudi Arabian Army reportedly KIA with members of RSLF on 23AUG15 by elements of Yemeni Army in Jizan province, southern Saudi Arabia.

Royal Saudi Land Force M2A2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) and armored wheel loader, knocked out and abandoned at Jizan region, southern Saudi Arabia.

Royal Saudi Land Force M88A1 Recovery Vehicle (ARV), disabled and abandoned at Jizan region, southern Saudi Arabia.

Royal Saudi Land Force Al Shibl 2 (“Cub 2”) armored vehicle, knocked out and abandoned at Jizan region, southern Saudi Arabia.

Royal Saudi Land Force wheel loader, knocked out and abandoned at Jizan region, southern Saudi Arabia

Small arms and equipment, thrown down by fleeing Royal Saudi Land Force troops at Jizan region, southern Saudi Arabia.

Royal Saudi Land Force M2A2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) and unidentified fighting vehicle, knocked out and abandoned at Jizan region, southern Saudi Arabia..

Doomed Saudi AH-64 Apache attack helicopter, shot down by Ansarullah forces in the district of Harad, in the western Yemeni province of Hajjah.

Ansarullah forces operating Kornet ATGM against Royal Saudi Land Force AFVs at Jizan region, southern Saudi Arabia

Royal Saudi Land Force AFVs being targeted by Ansarullah forces operating Kornet ATGM, at Jizan region, southern Saudi Arabia.

Knocked out United Arab Emirates Army Oshkosh M-ATV Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle, location: Mukayras, in southern Yemen.

Abandoned United Arab Emirates Army Oshkosh M-ATV Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle, location: Mukayras, in southern Yemen.

Knocked out United Arab Emirates Army Oshkosh M-ATV Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle, location: Mukayras, in southern Yemen.

Knocked out United Arab Emirates Army Oshkosh M-ATV Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle, location: Mukayras, in southern Yemen.

OTR-21 Tochka (NATO: SS-21 Scarab) mobile missile launch system captured by Ansarullah forces

OTR-21 Tochka (NATO: SS-21 Scarab) mobile missile launch system captured and fired by Ansarullah forces

Ansarullah or allied force member. Note the Republic of Yemen tricolor. The primary local force of the Saudi/UAE led coalition fly the flag of South Yemen, not the flag of the Republic of Yemen.