Russia Bombards Syrian Rebels Near Site Of Downed Russian Jet

[Purveyor]

Source: Reuters

YAYLADAGI, Turkey (Reuters) - Russian forces launched a heavy bombardment against insurgent-held areas in Syria's Latakia province on Wednesday, near where a Russian warplane had been shot down by Turkey the day before, rebels and a monitoring group said.

At least 12 air strikes hit Latakia's northern countryside as pro-government forces clashed with fighters from al Qaeda's Nusra Front and Turkmen insurgents in the Jabal Akrad and Jabal Turkman areas, the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

A Turkmen commander said missiles fired from Russian warships in the Mediterranean were also hitting the area, as well as heavy artillery shelling.

Hassan Haj Ali, the head of Liwa Suqour al-Jabal, a rebel group operating in western Syria, also said there were fierce battles in the area, with Russian aircraft supporting pro-government forces.

Read more: https://ca.news.yahoo.com/russia-bombards-syrian-rebels-near-downed-russian-jet-122428258.html

[w0nderer]

1. k&r for later persual and more visibility n/t

[lovuian]

4. I agree if you wait for our media news

the rest of the world already heard before us

[lovuian]

3. Russia isn't playing around anymore

It looks like Syria is too big of a prize for Russia to let go of and I guess the next question is how much does the US want Syria

[CanonRay]

7. Personally, I don't want Syria at all. n/t

[forsaken mortal]

5. Not surprising

Since attacking Turkey directly is out of the question, Russia will extract its pound of flesh by decimating the Syrian rebel groups that Turkey supports.

[Nihil]

11. More likely a straightforward & predictable response to the murdering of the parachuting pilot.

This was to punish the people who murdered the parachuting pilot as well
as those who fired a (US-supplied) anti-tank missile at the search & rescue
helicopter, killing one of the crew there.

I suspect that Russia's response to Turkey itself is yet to come.

[uawchild]

8. Bad news for the Turkomen (ethnic Turks in Syria)

So, Turkey thought shooting down a Russian jet would stop attacks on the islamist and/or Turkomen fighters they were supporting in Northern Syria? That Russia and the Syrian army would just give up there? Seriously? What passes for brains in the Turkish government and military command these days?

[EndElectoral]

9. Not sure how this really hurts Turkey and just costs Russia a ton of money.

[uawchild]

10. Here's how it hurts Turkey...

It puts the kibosh on the islamist and/or Turkomen (ethnic Turks in Syria) proxy forces that Turkey has been arming and supporting along their border with northern Syria. Reducing the area controlled by Turkey's proxy fighters inside Syria reduces the influence Turkey has on the eventual outcome in Syria.