[THREAD] On the latest video from ISIS #Barakah (SDF Areas), which is essentially a sum up of their operations over the past year+, with much of the footage being quite older.
(See image below, from December 2018- AKS-74U driveby of an SDF figure).
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(See image below, from December 2018- AKS-74U driveby of an SDF figure).
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Insurgents in the area have the standard repertoire of bombings, assasinations, etc. However, this video shows more Iraq-style killings of figures than previously documented. Suppressed Glock 19, Walther PPK/S and Makarov are used in executions.
Essentially TTPs are very ISI
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Essentially TTPs are very ISI
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Broadly, weapons seen are identical to those captured from IS Cells by the coalition/SDF- read my Summer 2019 overview of those to get a really good idea of what the IS cells are armed with: calibreobscura.com/covert-operati…
It is interesting to see the Sa vz. 23/25 suppressed though.
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It is interesting to see the Sa vz. 23/25 suppressed though.
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And of course, plenty of IEDs. Clips are usually low quality, IS media operations have not been able to regenerate locally like they have in Iraq. Barely any "B-Roll" footage.
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Plenty of footage has been already been seen on Amaq, such as this Bay'ah with some quite nice kit:
And this rocket launch, to which a large section was devoted in the video, mostly about planning:
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And this rocket launch, to which a large section was devoted in the video, mostly about planning:
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Some other aspects I find interesting: ISIS operatives printing out warnings to locals re: Working with the SDF etc, not weapons related but of note regardless. As always, presenting a "remaining" image despite plenty of CT raids in NE Syria recently.
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Captures: These was a section towards the end in which multiple SDF fighters (5+) were killed and vehicles damaged by IS in an apparently large and complex ambush. I have been unable to date this part.
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However, it has a lot of deaths and a lot of materiel capture by ISIS from SDF, including ~15 RPG warheads (+ motors) [PG-7V/T69-1, PG-7VM, OG-7V, DZGI-40 Bounding], PKM, 5+ AKs of various manufacturers, magazine, RPG launcher(S), F-1 grenades, etc.
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I see this video as mostly an attempt to keep IS' presence known and to communicate their remaining ability to attack, which whilst much, much less significant than just 2-3 years ago, has undergone a level of restructuring/regeneration whilst under constant pressure.
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