The IRGC-QF directed offensive takes its name from the month of Muharram, which to the Shia is a month of mourning (on its tenth day, the Ashura, Shi'ites commemorate the martyrdom of Hussein bin Ali in the Battle of Karbala).
Tuesday, November 24, 2015
IRGC & Fatimiyoun Brigade KIAs, Operation Muharram near Aleppo
The IRGC-QF directed offensive takes its name from the month of Muharram, which to the Shia is a month of mourning (on its tenth day, the Ashura, Shi'ites commemorate the martyrdom of Hussein bin Ali in the Battle of Karbala).
Monday, November 23, 2015
Putin meets with Khamenei in Tehran, on sidelines of GECF
According to Reuters, dated 23NOV15:
Iran's supreme leader, at a meeting with Russian President Putin in Tehran on Monday, said U.S. policies in the region were a threat to both countries and called for closer ties between Tehran and Moscow.
"The Americans have a long-term plot and are trying to dominate Syria and then the whole region...This is a threat to all countries, especially Russia and Iran," Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said at the meeting on the sidelines of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) Summit in Tehran, according to the state news agencies.
"The United states is trying to achieve its failed military objectives in Syria now through political means," he added, referring to proposed peace talks to end the civil war in Syria.COMMENTARY: Iranian media depictions of meetings between Khamenei and world leaders non-aligned with the U.S.-led security order remain persistently anti-American in tone and substance, even after signage of JCPOA. To a certain extent, this latest depiction may be related to Iran's diplomatic reversal with the recent UNGA resolution condemning Iranian-backed intervention participations in the Syrian conflict.
Currently Russia Federation and Islamic Republic of Iran are engaged in aligned military interventions with Syrian Arab Republic, in the Syrian conflict.
- Dr. Mahmoud Vaezi, Iranian Minister of Communication
- Sergey Lavrov, Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs
- Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs
Iranian First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri (L) with President of Russian Federation Vladimir Putin (R)
Gift offered by Vladimir Putin to Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei
Khamenei inspects Putin's gift: a replica of the oldest Koran in existence possessed by the Russian Federation
Photos: Islamic Republic News Agency
Sunday, November 22, 2015
VEVAK claims arrest of two terror cells at Iranian border provinces
IEDs said by VEVAK discovered in Iran's southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan
According to PressTV, dated 21NOV15:
Iranian security forces have disbanded two terror cells, which were planning to carry out bomb attacks, in two provinces, Iran’s Intelligence Ministry [VEVAK] says.
Officials at the ministry said on Saturday that one of the terrorist groups was busted in the southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan.
The terrorists were planning to blow up over 150 kilograms of explosives in the form of ten bombs on the eastern Iranian border region.
Authorities added that another cell connected to groups hostile to the Islamic Republic, which had entered the country to commit acts of terror, was also smashed in West Azerbaijan Province.
Security forces also discovered and confiscated a large number of weapons and ammunition from the terror cell.COMMENTARY: On 22NOV15 IRGC Commander Maj. Gen. Mohammad Ali Jafari claimed the Salafi Jihadist terror cell arrested in West Azerbaijan Province have been linked to ISIL.
Quoted by the ISNA, the IRGC commander stated Iranian security forces were monitoring attempts by militants to "create insecurity" in Iran.
"IS has multi-layered support networks. One such network was [also] identified in Kermanshah province (in western Iran) and its members were arrested," Jafari told Iranian media reporters.
Imagery detailing IEDs planted alongside the Rāsk-Iranshahr section of Iran's Road 99
Detail of IED's, among ten discovered in the southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan
IRGC members at site of diffused IEDs discovered in the southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan
Photos: YJC.ir
IRIAF combat aircraft, units escorting RuAF strategic aviation against ISIL
IRIAF Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29B (9-12B) air superiority fighters (x2)
11th Tactical Fighter Squadron
Shahid Lashkari Tactical Air Base (TAB-1) – Tehran
IRIAF McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom II fighter-bombers (x4)
31st Tactical Fighter Squadron
Shahid Nojeh Tactical Air Base (TAB-3) – Hamedan
IRIAF Grumman F-14A Tomcat air superiority fighters (x4)
81st/82nd Tactical Fighter Squadron
Shahid Babei Tactical Air Base (TAB-8) – Isfahan
Photo emerging 21NOV15 of errant RuAF Kh-101 ALCM that landed in Shush County, Khuzestan
Friday, November 20, 2015
Iran's Air Force escorts Russian strategic aviation during airstrike against ISIL
Social media video emerged 20NOV15 depicting Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) F-14A and F-4E combat aircraft rendering allied fighter escort for Russian Air Force (RuAF) strategic aviation over Iranian airspace. The Russian video depicts RuAF strategic aviation comprised of Tu-22M3 “Blinder’, Tu-95MS “Bear” and Tu-160 “Blackjack" combat aircraft. Video stills and complete video provided below:
IRIAF Grumman F-14A Tomcat air superiority fighter accompanying RuAF Tupolev Tu-95MS strategic bomber and missile platform over Iranian airspace.
Detail of IRIAF Grumman F-14A Tomcat air superiority fighter, as filmed by RuAF crewman while traversing Iranian airspace.
IRIAF Grumman F-14A Tomcat air superiority fighters accompanying RuAF Tupolev Tu-95MS strategic bomber and missile platform over Iranian airspace.
What appears to be an IRIAF McDonnell Douglas F-4E fighter-bomber accompanying RuAF Tupolev Tu-95MS strategic bomber and missile platform, emerging in Russian cameraman's LOS immediately following the drop-launch of ALCM. Next ALCM is now visible on rotated launcher.
COMMENTARY: IRIAF can now claim to have participated in the war against ISIL on two theaters: the Iraqi theater and now the Syrian theaters of war.
The Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin is scheduled to meet Iranian Commander-in-Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on 23NOV15 in Tehran.
COMMENTARY: IRIAF can now claim to have participated in the war against ISIL on two theaters: the Iraqi theater and now the Syrian theaters of war.
The Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin is scheduled to meet Iranian Commander-in-Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on 23NOV15 in Tehran.
COMPLETE VIDEO:
UNSC unanimously adopts French-proposed resolution against ISIL
File photo: United Nations Security Council in session [photo: UN.org]
According to the UN News Centre, dated 20NOV15:
The United Nations Security Council this evening called on all countries that can do so to take the war on terrorism to Islamic State-controlled territory in Syria and Iraq and destroy its safe haven, warning that the group intends to mount further terror attacks like those that devastated Paris and Beirut last week.
In a unanimously adopted resolution, the 15-member body declared the group’s terrorist attacks abroad “a global and unprecedented threat to international peace and security” following the “horrifying terrorist attacks” it perpetrated recently in Sousse (Tunisia), Ankara (Turkey), over Sinai (Egypt) with the downing of a Russian plane, and in Beirut and Paris.
It warned that the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), or Da’esh as it is also known, “has the capability and intention to carry out” further strikes and called upon “Member States that have the capacity to do so to take all necessary measures, in compliance with international law, in particular international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law” on its territory.
Condemning “in the strongest terms” ISIL and other terrorist groups in the region such Al-Nusrah Front, the Council Member States “to eradicate the safe haven they have established over significant parts of Iraq and Syria.”
It called on Member States to intensify efforts to stem the flow of foreign terrorist fighters to Iraq and Syria and to prevent and suppress the financing of terrorism, and reaffirmed that those responsible for terrorist acts, violations of international humanitarian law or violations or abuses of human rights must be held accountable.COMMENTARY: The full text of the resolution hadn't been uploaded by the UN at the time of this posting but it appears the the government of the Syrian Arab Republic was not condemned in the resolution, which is significant. According to Russia Today, dated 20NOV15:
Syria’s UN Ambassador, Bashar Ja’afari, hinted prior to Friday’s vote that this resolution was long overdue. “Welcome to everybody who finally woke up and joined the club of combating terrorists.”
Meanwhile, Russia is continuing its work on a draft resolution proposing international military campaigns to fight against Islamic State. The current text is an updated version of a document submitted on September 30.Previously on 19NOV15 the UNGA human rights committee Thursday adopted a Saudi-proposed resolution condemning certain foreign interventions in Syria
According to Reuters, dated 19NOV15:
The U.N. General Assembly’s human rights committee Thursday adopted a Saudi-drafted resolution condemning Iranian and Russian intervention in Syria, a decision that the Syrian and Iranian delegations rejected as unhelpful and unjustified. The nonbinding resolution, authored by Saudi Arabia and sponsored by Qatar and other Arab nations, the United States and other Western powers, passed by the 193-nation assembly’s third committee.
There were 115 votes in favor, 15 against and 51 abstentions.
Without explicitly naming Russia, it said the General Assembly “strongly condemns all attacks against the Syrian moderate opposition and calls for their immediate cessation, given that such attacks benefit so-called ISIS and other terrorist groups, such as Al-Nusra Front.”
The resolution’s language is clearly aimed at Russia, which has been bombing opposition forces in Syria for two months. Moscow says it is attacking ISIS but Western officials say they have targeted other rebel forces and Western-backed groups.
The resolution also condemned the presence in Syria of “all foreign terrorist fighters ... and foreign forces fighting on behalf of the Syrian regime, particularly the Al-Quds Brigades, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps [of Iran] and other groups such as Hezbollah.”
[…]
The resolution demands foreign militias leave Syria immediately.
It also blasts ISIS and other Islamist militant groups for rights abuses and atrocities.
But most of the criticism in the resolution is aimed at the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad, whom Western and many Arab nations would like to see ousted.COMMENTARY: Predictably, the Syrians and Iranians rejected the resolution. The Iranian response was put forward by Iran’s Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Gholam Hossein Dehqani. According to PressTV, dated 20NOV15:
Dehqani warned of the “adverse consequences” of the resolution on the UN reputation and said Iranian military forces are present in Syria upon an official request by the Syrian government to provide consultations to the war-hit country.
“Therefore, the adoption of such a text is a violation of international regulations and a breach of governments’ right to establish peace in their own territory,” the Iranian envoy pointed out.
He said such claims are aimed at taking revenge against forces that have so far played the most effective role in the battle against terrorism and extremism, adding that Daesh terrorists would have overran more areas in the Middle East in the absence of such forces.
The Iranian diplomat once again reiterated that the resolution would act as an award for extremists and terrorists as well as all those who use financial and logistical resources to spread extremist and terrorist ideologies.The Syrian response was put forward by Syria's U.N. Ambassador Bashar Ja'afari. According to Reuters, dated 19NOV15:
Syria's U.N. Ambassador Bashar Ja'afari rejected the resolution and accused its Saudi authors of hypocrisy about what he said are widespread human rights in the kingdom. He referred to "decapitation and flogging in public squares," saying they were like abuses of Islamic State.
He accused the Saudis, along with Qatar and Turkey, of supporting what he said were terrorists in Syria.
The delegates of Qatar, Turkey and Saudi Arabia rejected the charges.
Russia sells Su-35 to China, seeks Superjet 100 sales to Iran
Sukhoi Su-35BM "Flanker-E" "901 Black" with Sukhoi SSJ-100-95B Superjet 100 (RRJ-95B)
[Photo: Kulverstukas]
According to Reuters, dated 19NOV15:
China will buy 24 Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets from Russia in a deal worth more than $2 billion, an industry source told Reuters on Thursday…
[…]
The deal makes China the first foreign buyer of the Su-35, one of Russia's most advanced military aircraft, and is one of the largest contracts for military jets ever signed between the two countries.
[…]
A delegation representing China's military and aerospace industry also held talks with Russian state-owned aircraft engine manufacturer United Engine Corp this week on the possible joint development and production of military engines.
This included the AL-41F-1S engine that powers the Su-35, United Engine Corp said in a statement.COMMENTARY: This sale provides a boost to Russia's JSC United Aircraft Corporation (UAC).
While the sale had been in the works for some time now, still it can be said the Russian intervention in Syria serves Russian arms manufacturers with an effective marketing tool being generated in the form of publicity on mainstream media outlets covering the war.
KnAAPO production facility for Sukhoi Superjet 100 - Aeroflot Sukhoi Superjet 100 (RA-89001) at Dzemgi Airport (UHKD)
[photo: Wikipedia]
According to PressTV, dated 19NOV15:
Russian officials say the country is negotiating with Iran over the local production of the Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ 100) airliner to replace the ageing Iranian fleet on regional routes.
Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin says Moscow may deliver a large batch of SSJ 100 planes – described as the country’s most modern commercial jets – to Iran before 2020.
Rogozin told the Russian media that the batch could comprise about 100 planes.
The planes can be in part be localized by Iranian producers if Tehran makes the political decision to purchase ready-made aircraft, he told Rossiya 24 TV during a two-day trip to Iran.
[…]
Sukhoi Superjet 100 is Russia’s newest twin-engine regional passenger aircraft which began operating commercially in 2011. More than 60 aircraft are in service with airlines in Laos, Mexico, and Russia.
Last month, France-KLM's CityJet signed a deal with Sukhoi to purchase 15 SSJ 100 planes worth over $1 billion. Sukhoi has also sold three SSJ 100s to Thailand and one to Kazakhstan.COMMENTARY: It must be stated the favorite in the sale of this class of aircraft has to be the Airbus A320 series, for it's no secret the Iranians perceive the prize of the nuclear agreement in the form of renewed access to purchasing European hi-tech products such as commercial aircraft. President Rouhani even alluded to this, prior to his trip to Paris being postponed due to the national emergency currently gripping France.
Very unfortunate that the Boeing 737 series will likely be ineligible for Iranian purchase due to American domestic politics, and the history of U.S.-enforced sanctions directed againstg Iran's commercial airline industry.
Were the Iranians to purchase the Sukhoi Superjet 100, this would provide yet another boost to Russia's Russia's JSC United Aircraft Corporation (UAC).
Thursday, November 19, 2015
UN Special Envoy for Yemen & Russian Deputy PM in Tehran
The UN Special Envoy is in Tehran for talks on the latest developments in Yemen. He is visiting Iran following his trips to Saudi Arabia and Oman.
Rogozin's portfolio includes the Russian aerospace industry, shipbuilding, maritime operations, prevention and elimination of emergency situations, and the defense manufacturing sector.
Upon the Russian Deputy Prime Minister's return to Moscow, it was reported by Tass the following:
Russia will be ready to go over to the partial localization of the Sukhoi Superjet 100 production in Iran, if Tehran takes a decision on purchasing ready-made aircraft, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin who has completed a two-day visit to Iran told the Rossiya 24 TV channel.and...
Iran and Russia have reached agreement on expanding cooperation in space research, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin told TASS on Wednesday upon the end of talks with the Iranian Vice President in charge of science and technologies, Sorena Sattari.COMMENTARY: The Russians are interested in providing Iranian commercial applications with GLONASS system, as well as providing satellite launch services.
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
NEZAJA 'Muhammad Rasulullah 3' military exercise
Iran media imager depicting NEZAJA 'Muhammad Rasulullah 3' ("Muhammad the Messenger of God 3") military exercise involving 177th Independent Infantry Brigade and 38th Independent Armored Brigade, taking place 17NOV15 at Iran's eastern city of Torbat-e Jam in Khorasan Razavi Province:
IRIAA Bell AH-1J International Cobra (209), serial 3-4437 (cn 26637) of Attack Squadron from 5th Support & Assault Group.
Main armament of NEZAJA T-72 type main battle tank
NEZAJA 2nd lieutenant (L) and 2nd warrant officer (R) atop T-72 main battle tank turret
NEZAJA T-72 type main battle tank firing main armament
NEZAJA T-72 type main battle tank alomngside technical equipped with ZU-23-2 autocannon
IRIAF Northrop F-5 Tiger II fighter-bombers of 141st TFS from Mashhad/Shahid Hashemi Nejad TFB-14
IRIAF Northrop F-5 Tiger II fighter-bombers of 141st TFS from Mashhad/Shahid Hashemi Nejad TFB-14
IRIAF Northrop F-5 Tiger II fighter-bomber of 141st TFS from Mashhad/Shahid Hashemi Nejad TFB-14
IRIAA Bell (Agusta) AB-206B JetRanger II of Reconnaissance Squadron from 5th Support & Assault Group
Ghods Mohajer (“Migrant”) type reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)
NEZAJA ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft twin-barreled autocannon
NEZAJA ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft twin-barreled autocannon
NEZAJA soldier equipped with RPG-7, with 2nd sergeant (R) looking on
NEZAJA corporal equipped with Iranian-manufactured G3-A3 battle rifle
NEZAJA soldier equipped with SPG-9 Kopye (“Spear”) 73 millimeter calibre recoilless gun
NEZAJA soldiers handling 73 mm round for SPG-9 recoilless gun
NEZAJA soldiers with machine gun belts, within infantry trench
NEZAJA marksmen equipped with Iranian-manufactured G3-A3 battle rifle fitted with telescopic sights
NEZAJA soldiers equipped with infantry mortar
NEZAJA soldiers equipped with DShKM type 12.7 mm heavy machine gun
Prepared position for recoilless guns, machine guns and hull-down technical
Simulated bombardment near road-bound NEZAJA BTR-60 armored personnel carriers
Foreground: NEZAJA Commander Brig. Gen. Ahmad Reza Pourdastan
VIDEO:
Photos: Islamic Republic News Agency and Mostafa Abbasi at Fars News Agency
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