Isis winning its war on two fronts: Militants conquered Sunni regions of Iraq

[Jefferson23]

Last edited Sat Aug 2, 2014, 09:40 AM - Edit history (1)

and are now consolidating hold on north-east Syria

While the world has been understandably focused on events in Gaza and Ukraine, the Islamist force has been extending its self-styled caliphate and consolidating its previous gains.

In the early hours of 24 July a Saudi volunteer belonging to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isis) drove a car packed with explosives towards the perimeter wall of a base manned by 300 soldiers of the 17th Division of the Syrian army near the city of Raqqa in north-east Syria.

As the Saudi raced at high speed towards the wall he was given covering fire by a barrage of artillery shells and rockets, but he did not quite make it. His car was hit by Syrian army fire and blew up with an explosion that shook buildings miles away in Raqqa city. The plan had been for 40 Isis fighters to burst through a breach in the perimeter wall made by the suicide bomber. A further 600 Isis fighters were to follow up the first assault, if it made headway.

A second Saudi suicide bomber in a truck drove towards the base, but his explosives also detonated prematurely when hit by Syrian fire. Even so, the Syrian army detachment appears to have been too small to defend the base and 50 of them were ambushed and killed as they pulled back. A Twitter account linked to Isis later showed horrific pictures of the heads of decapitated soldiers stuck on the spikes of what looks like a gate.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/isis-winning-its-war-on-two-fronts-militants-conquered-sunni-regions-of-iraq-and-are-now-consolidating-hold-on-northeast-syria-9641167.html

[sandpan]

1. Your link?

Something is wrong with your link.

Thank you,

[bemildred]

2. Try this:

http://www.counterpunch.org/2014/08/01/isis-is-winning-the-war-on-two-fronts/

[Jefferson23]

4. Thanks. n/t

[Jefferson23]

3. Link is now fixed...thanks. n/t