



Interesting things in the news today concerning Syria:

-The Russian MG who briefs at the MOD went to a lot of trouble today to demonstrate with overhead photos that Turkey is still helping IS export oil from Syria. One route goes north through the area east of Qamishli into Turkey where the masses of tanker trucks are just waved across the border by the Turks. This flow probably has a lot to do with why the Russians are going to start using Qamishli airfield as a base. The Russian briefers are quick to ask the rhetorical question as to why US air is not cutting off that flow. Yet another flow goes into Turkey through the gap still existing between the Kuweiris air base salient and the YPG Kurd positions west of the Euphrates dam.

- R+6 forces continue to drive south from the juncture they made in the last days north of Aleppo. This juncture closes the main supply route (MSR) from Turkey into the mass of rebel forces west and SW of Aleppo City. R+6 wish of course to provide some depth to the block on rebel supplies that they have created.

- Syrian civilians are leaving the part of the city still occupied by rebel forces. They know that in one form or another a major fight for the inner city will happen and they sensibly want to get out of the way. IMO the Syrian government is pleased to have them leave temporarily.

- Saudi Arabia now offers to send its ground troops to Syria. What a great idea! They should do that. I can hardly wait for the spectacle of the "savage" Saudi Land Forces' engagement of R+6 forces. pl