War Against ISIS

RobWilliams

RobWilliams

Super Moderator
Staff member
ME nation involvement in it is a big deal, Jordan supplied Intel and F-16s, Saudi Arabia and the UAE supplied tankers and Qatar and Bahrain supplied their bases.

Also, the Iraqi Apache deal has fallen through apparently because the Iraqi Government missed the deadline, the thinking is that following on from the rapid deliveries of Russian attack helos and Su-25s that it's been put on the back burner, delivery of Iraqi F-16s is supposed to be imminent.

Also the Iraqi Govt requested the UK to take part in air strikes! Parliament has been recalled and a vote is going to take place. However this time there is cross party agreement this time and the Coalition believed they have all the legal issues sorted as it's an Iraqi request.

Looks like those Tornados doing recce runs will be taking part then, maybe a couple more.
 
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STURM

Well-Known Member
Indeed, the participation of Arab countries is significant and for me at least, was unexpected. I would be more impressed however if the same Arab countries who took part or supported the strikes deploy a multi-national Arab ground force to Iraq to assist the Iraqi army and the Kurds. This would truly demonstrate that they are serious and committed in assisting the West in defeating IS.

Not too sound like a sceptic or to pour cold water on the efforts of the Sunni Arabs countries but they have traditionally relied on the West to sort out the reigion's problems and it remains to be seen if they will continue to participate in military efforts against IS.
 
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swerve

Super Moderator
RobWilliams said:
Also the Iraqi Govt requested the UK to take part in air strikes! Parliament has been recalled and a vote is going to take place. However this time there is cross party agreement this time and the Coalition believed they have all the legal issues sorted as it's an Iraqi request.
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No legal issues to sort. A properly constituted, internationally recognised government has asked for our military help against an invasion. That's as good a legal standing for military action as one can get, short of resisting an invasion of your own territory.
 
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the concerned

Active Member
I know I'm only a enthusiast but I don't understand why people are concerned about the Raf only conducting strikes in Iraq. Surely with more allies committing to the Iraq side of the campaign that would free up US assets to strike in Syria even they can't be everywhere. Also surprised that the Ac-130's haven't been brought into the game as their time on station capabilities and targeting capabilities would be a massive bonus for this type of mission.
 
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Waylander

Defense Professional
Verified Defense Pro
Due to MANAPADs and AAA AC-130 were restricted to night time operations against oponents with extremely limited AA capability. The IS may not constitute such an opponent (yet).
 
surpreme

surpreme

Member
STURM said:
Economic factors and the problems that come with it are one of the reasons as to why people would join ISIS and groups lke it. I did not say or mean to imply that it was the ''primary '' cause. What I should also have said in my earlier post - to avoid people jumping to conclusions or misconstruing what I meant - is that there are ''political, economic and other'' factors that have to be addressed, in parallel with military and other efforts, if ISIS is to be totally defeated.
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Also the fact that the dream of a Islamic State or Islamic Caliphate from Afghanistan to Israel has been in the Arab world for a century. There's a lot of recruits who believe in this view of a Islamic Caliphate or a united Islamic nation in this area. The only problem it has to be a figure from the Prophet family or respected Iman of the known schools of Islam. This is not going end with the ISIS there going to be other that pop up in the future. The Syria Civil War by far is one of the craziest war it so far has many going against each other.
 
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ngatimozart

ngatimozart

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The UK parliament has voted for airstrikes with a significant majority so that is good for the coalition the US is building. The UK will carry out airstrikes in Iraq but not Syria. Apparently the RAF are in the position to start operations almost immediately with the almost being 6 hours according to media reports.
 
N

Nick underscore

Member
ngatimozart said:
The UK parliament has voted for airstrikes with a significant majority so that is good for the coalition the US is building. The UK will carry out airstrikes in Iraq but not Syria. Apparently the RAF are in the position to start operations almost immediately with the almost being 6 hours according to media reports.
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Belgian (6xF-16), Danish (6xF-16) and Dutch (7xF-16) also to participate in Iraq strike missions. RAAF apparently to also start operations in next day or so. Should free up more U.S. lead strike packages, directly into Syria (along with the Arab partners).

Westminster will vote again, should there be required UK intervention in Syria. Cameron had to split the motion after last years failure. Many senior ex-military commentators are looking at the potential recapture of Mosul by Iraqi & Kuridsh ground forces, as a sign that intervention is working positively (should that happen).
 
Feanor

Feanor

Super Moderator
Staff member
3rd batch of Mi-35M helos, probably 4 of them, delivered to Iraq. I know they've already flown combat missions, and one was even lost. But does anyone know how much of an impact they're having? I mean Iraq seems to have given up on the idea of the Apache buy, but they should have a sizeable fleet of older hinds.
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bmpd -
 
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the concerned

Active Member
With reports that Russia has delivered new anti aircraft missiles to Syria and is planning a new delivery of more is that going to cause more issues in Syria. As we have seen before Israel usually takes appropriate measures with these supplies if they feel that they are heading towards Hezbollah, whats the bet that Russian and pro assad supporters will spin this to say that this was and attack by western governments on the assad government.
 
RobWilliams

RobWilliams

Super Moderator
Staff member
Feanor said:
3rd batch of Mi-35M helos, probably 4 of them, delivered to Iraq. I know they've already flown combat missions, and one was even lost. But does anyone know how much of an impact they're having? I mean Iraq seems to have given up on the idea of the Apache buy, but they should have a sizeable fleet of older hinds.
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You can find good selections of videos of Iraqi attack helos attacking ISIS convoys and following on from allowing the deadline for Apaches to pass they seem to believe a combination of Mi-28NE and Mi-35M being delivered as well as their selection of Su-25s they seem to believe they have suitable ground attack assets.

Can't imagine two dozen international fighters doing ground strikes daily didn't have something to do with it too.

The first 2 Iraqi F-16s should be delivered this Autumn too.
 
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Bonza

Super Moderator
Staff member
RobWilliams said:
First strikes by UK Tornados have happened, during a recce sortie a pair of Tornados were tasked with supporting Kurdish forces & made contact. Equipped with a Litening III recce pod*, hit a 'heavy weapon position' with a Paveway IV 500lb LGB and a technical with a Brimstone missile.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/...ion?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

*presumably the second carried a RAPTOR pod.
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God those Brimstones are showing off their value lately, especially back in Libya. A hell of a munition, particularly for the size. If its effectiveness is an indicator for the capability of oncoming air-to-ground/surface weaponry then I can't wait to see what comes of FASGW-H, JSM, etc (I know the weapons aren't related to one another but just in terms of post-Cold War munitions)...
 
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KiwiRob

Well-Known Member
RobWilliams said:
First strikes by UK Tornados have happened, during a recce sortie a pair of Tornados were tasked with supporting Kurdish forces & made contact. Equipped with a Litening III recce pod*, hit a 'heavy weapon position' with a Paveway IV 500lb LGB and a technical with a Brimstone missile.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/...ion?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

*presumably the second carried a RAPTOR pod.
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Hitting a ute and a morter with those weapons appears to me to be a huge waste of money.
 
B

Bonza

Super Moderator
Staff member
KiwiRob said:
Hitting a ute and a morter with those weapons appears to me to be a huge waste of money.
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Yeah, but that's what is in the inventory and precision guidance doesn't come for free. It's still better than dropping a planeload of cluster bombs.
 
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bdique

Member
KiwiRob said:
Hitting a ute and a morter with those weapons appears to me to be a huge waste of money.
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And so is flying a sortie, but these are necessary trade offs in order to destroy vital targets deep inside IS territory accurately and within the window of opportunity.

It may hurt the wallets of taxpayers, but it will also hurt the warfighting abilities of IS, which is the ultimate aim after all.
 
RobWilliams

RobWilliams

Super Moderator
Staff member
Bonza said:
God those Brimstones are showing off their value lately, especially back in Libya. A hell of a munition, particularly for the size. If its effectiveness is an indicator for the capability of oncoming air-to-ground/surface weaponry then I can't wait to see what comes of FASGW-H, JSM, etc (I know the weapons aren't related to one another but just in terms of post-Cold War munitions)...
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The mixture of Paveway IV and Brimstone has become the de-facto loadout for these kind of things simply due to the versatility. Plus we're kind of proud of them and exporting some would be fine, wink wink nudge nudge ;)

If you think Brimstone is badass, wait until Brimstone 2 enters service on Tornado next year (and Typhoon 2018/2019) with a goal to increase the engagement envelope by 200% in both off boresight and max range and a better seeker.
 
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