{"id":51626,"date":"2016-01-31T07:09:27","date_gmt":"2016-01-31T14:09:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/?p=51626"},"modified":"2016-01-31T07:09:27","modified_gmt":"2016-01-31T14:09:27","slug":"russian-led-coalition-heading-for-stunning-victory-in-syria","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/2016\/01\/31\/russian-led-coalition-heading-for-stunning-victory-in-syria\/","title":{"rendered":"Russian-led Coalition Heading for ‘Stunning Victory’ in Syria"},"content":{"rendered":"

Courtesy SPUTNIK<\/em><\/span><\/h2>\n

Western media coverage does not accurately reflect what is happening on the Syrian battlefield, US journalist Mike Whitney wrote for the CounterPunch magazine: Damascus-led forces, assisted by Russian warplanes, have turned the tide of war and are on the way to flush Islamic radicals out of the country.<\/p>\n

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Unlike America’s military engagement in\u00a0Afghanistan and Iraq, this process will not be a protracted one, Whitney added.<\/p>\n

“What the western media characterizes as\u00a0a ‘quagmire’ has all the makings of\u00a0a stunning victory for\u00a0the Russian-led coalition that is gradually reestablishing security across\u00a0Syria while sending the invaders running for\u00a0cover,” he said<\/a>, referring to\u00a0foreign mercenaries, who are fighting for\u00a0Daesh, al-Nusra Front and other radical groups in\u00a0Syria.<\/p>\n

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\"Russian<\/div>\n
\u00a9 SPUTNIK\/ DMITRI VINOGRADOV<\/div>\n
Russia’s Hi-Tech Campaign in Syria Becomes a ‘Sobering Experience’ for NATO<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Reports from\u00a0the Syrian battlefield speak for\u00a0themselves. Thanks to\u00a0Russia’s involvement, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) is on\u00a0the offensive<\/a> on\u00a0virtually all fronts, freeing strategic cities and destroying militants in\u00a0key provinces. Less than\u00a0six months ago Damascus-led forces were losing territories and their prospects looked grim.Whitney maintains that Americans are “conditioned” to\u00a0believe that any military involvement in\u00a0a foreign land would necessarily turn into\u00a0a quagmire. These concerns are understandable. After all, the United States was dragged into\u00a0two military campaigns in\u00a0the Middle East that has only contributed to\u00a0more violence and instability in\u00a0the region.<\/p>\n

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\"A<\/div>\n
\u00a9 REUTERS\/ LUCAS JACKSON<\/div>\n
A U.S. soldier from Dragon Company of the 3rd Cavalry Regiment prepares for a mission on forward operating base Gamberi in the Laghman province of Afghanistan<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Russia’s case is different. “The fact is, however, that Putin has no intention of\u00a0getting ‘bogged down’ in\u00a0Syria for\u00a0a decade or two. What he plans to\u00a0do is to\u00a0defeat the enemy and move on,” Whitney noted. “Recent reports from\u00a0the frontlines suggest that that is precisely what he is doing.”<\/p>\n

Russia launched its limited but\u00a0highly efficient aerial campaign on\u00a0September 30 following\u00a0a formal request from\u00a0Damascus.<\/p>\n

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\"Operation<\/a><\/div>\n
\u00a9 SPUTNIK\/<\/a><\/div>\n
Operation of Russian Aerospace Forces in Syria<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n