Writing by Pilot Colonel Ismail Ayoub
(Zaman al-Wasl)- What the Syrian resistance factions did in south Aleppo cannot be considered a surprise attack or in the absence of time or place. Nor a lethal weapon was used to seal the battle. What happened in the south of Aleppo was an attack prepared for a month ago and it was announced a month ago too on an enemy mobilized by 100%. The enemy occupying all points and strategic hills in the stage of fighting; an enemy superior in number and arms backed up by air coverage.
During a few hours, the strongest defense lines of the superior enemy collapse on all the front line estimated to be 20 km and that is the miracle for the sciences of the east and west alike.
Before the start of the battle
Fierce battles took place between the regime, Shiaa militias, Hezbollah forces and between Syrian resistance forces on the other side north of Aleppo in al-Malah area.
The regime was aiming to recapture Castello road, the only road for more than 30000 civilians living in the eastern part of Aleppo. During a month of fighting on the area adjacent to al-Malah recaptured by the regime, Castello road was cut and regime forces and its militias were mobilized on the rest of the fronts fearing an attack by a faction from the southern side of Aleppo which witnessed two months ago loss of Khan Tuman and areas surrounding it east and south reaching to Khalsa, Barneh, Zaitan, al-Ayss and until al-Hader villages considered the Shiaa militias stronghold in southern Aleppo countryside.
By this short recount of the military scene, we see that regime forces and regime allies were in a state of attack north of Aleppo and reinforced defense state south of Aleppo to encircle the siege on the eastern part of Aleppo.
Meanwhile, amid escalation by the Russian and regime air force, Army of Conquest and other factions were announcing almost daily that they will do a military campaign to break the siege on Aleppo if Aleppo was sieged. The announcement in fact had took the surprising factor for the rebel forces and regime forces, Iranian militias and Hezbollah should have been alert to that despite them having all scouting means including drones which did not leave the sky of the area for months.
-Power balance before start of battle-
It is no doubt the power balance had the most role in achieving victory. If we are to compare between the two parties in Aleppo battle on the 20 Km long front, we find the number of regime personnel and supporting militias was 12000 and this makes a division for 10000 for the resistance and that makes up two brigades.
The regime tanks make up a brigade and for the resistance a battalion and it is the same for armed vehicles. The regime is superior in the air and other fields like artillery.
Hence, the defending forces meaning the regime is superior to the attacking forces by number and weapons including air force coverage. In contrast, the attacking forces only own the well-known anti-aircraft and they are artillery M/T 14.5 titer in addition to anti-aircraft of 23 Mm titer and some artillery of 57 titers.
Although Army of Conquest cleric Abdullah al-Muhaysini announced start of near military work to break the siege on eastern Aleppo days before the battle, and a month before that, he announced a military work prepared south of Aleppo where Zaman al-Wasl published a detailed report about “the great battle of Aleppo”.
Despite all of that preparatıon, the regime forces and Iranian and Russian occupation forces were convinced the attacking party will not benefit from the surprising principle which is considered one of the most important principles used in fighting.
If we wanted to study this using the military sciences in the east and west alike, we find that the party on the defense makes precautious and careful preparations on all the front line. But by studying the nature of the ground, the military leader expects for the defending forces the highest possibility of the ground from which the attacking enemy might infiltrate. It is estimated to be a strip of 2 Km for the brigade and 4 to 6 Km for the armed division or mechanical division in the classic armies.
By estimating the stance by the defending leader, the leader builds the effective fire device on the attacking forces (tanks, artillery, missiles, warplanes, ddirect firing weapons) in addition to the engineering preparation in front of the defending the strip for the brigade or the range of defending division. If we know that the front line was 20 Km long and that means in military science that the forces defending this line might be a mixed division Mica+ tanks. Accordingly, the attacking leader has to estimate the enemy well; meaning the size of the defending forces should be more than 15000 in the classic sense for organizational defense on several ranges.
And if we know that the attack of the factions of the Syrian resistance was on all the range of the defense of the regime forces and that it infiltrated the defense lines and fortified areas on all the defense range which is 20 Km, we find that the attacking party achieved a tactical operational surprise of the heavy load by infiltrating the defense area of the enemy on all the defense line.
By this, the attacking party negated all western and eastern military theories and achieved military successes and advanced on all the width of the front. Especially if the attacking forces do not have an air coverage securing for it big and effective strikes during the attack nor securing protection from the strikes of the enemy warplanes to achieve a certain attack pace like the one we saw in the first and second phase of the battle. Regarding the effect of igniting rubber tires, the percentage of effect does not exceed 10 to 15 %. Accordingly, the resistance ability to advance and encircle in a short time the biggest stronghold of the regime in Aleppo and that is the military complex including “Air Training Institute, Artillery Faculty, Arming Faculty” is considered a miracle in science of war negating all western and eastern military theories.
Maybe, the history of military will immortalize how small armed groups owned arms looted from a regular army supported by foreign air and land forces defeated a fully-equipped army in this humiliating way on the psychological and military level and that this battle will not pass like that and military historians will conduct extensive military studies in the future.
Lead of the tactical initiative
Doubtless there are many ways and methods to lead the initiative in classic wars between two equal armies by number and arms, but in a battle like Aleppo, I believe car bombs had a big effect on giving rest of fighters the moral to advance and sacrifice and at the same time scaring the hearts of the enemies.
The car bombs weapon is considered a crucial factor in difficult battles since you can scare with death who is fighting you, but you cannot scare the one coming to kill you with his body in addition to detonating the tunnel under the enemy leadership centers where parts of the enemy fly in front of the defending hostile forces and this gives the defending fighters a feeling of defeat. It gave audacity and advancing for the raiding groups which make them lead the tactical and firing initiative on the ddirect confrontation lines with the enemy.
Facts for history in 6 days
For the first time in history homogenous armies by targets, places and times owning most factors of victory with air support get defeated in front of resistance armed groups looted most of its arms and military power.
For the first time in modern history, an organized defense line falls and all strategic hills get occupied during few hours on all the front line extending to 20 Km at once.
For the first time in modern military history, the fortified area gets infiltrated on all the defense range for the forces and this is a miracle for the military science that did not happen before in addition to defeated party owning all scouting and maneuvering means by force, fire, helicopters and most advanced anti-tank missiles.
-Principles of combat use-
The principles of combat use did not change since the dawn of military history. The implementation of these principles or parts of it at least are the most important factors in achieving victory in wars be them old or modern especially during a war between two parties with the same number and arms. But with the advancement of the military equipment throughout history, the principles of combat use had to advance and create new combat methods to match the advancement of equipment.
Whoever creates new methods and means in the battle is the victorious party when the two fighting parties have the same number and equipment classically speaking.
However, the recent Aleppo battle turned the balances of the art of war for the attacking forces which are not identical with the defending side not even with 20% of its force and equipment. It can be said the principles of combat use will not change, but what is certain that what happened will add to the principles in combat use new principles like (the principle of right power and taking power and will from it) and new methods and means in principles of combat use implemented by Aleppo rebels very professionally and accurately.
Their combat preparedness was high and constant and they mobilized their forces and equipment and cooperated between each other. They concentrated their efforts and surprised the enemies with new combat methods during the attack. They maneuvered with force and means and use it economically depending on the course of the battle. They affected their enemy in an effective way and in the right time.
The moral, religious and psychological state for fighters before the battle was benefited from by the leaders and leading the battle was firm and constant so they had to be victorious.
(Zaman al-Wasl)- What the Syrian resistance factions did in south Aleppo cannot be considered a surprise attack or in the absence of time or place. Nor a lethal weapon was used to seal the battle. What happened in the south of Aleppo was an attack prepared for a month ago and it was announced a month ago too on an enemy mobilized by 100%. The enemy occupying all points and strategic hills in the stage of fighting; an enemy superior in number and arms backed up by air coverage.
During a few hours, the strongest defense lines of the superior enemy collapse on all the front line estimated to be 20 km and that is the miracle for the sciences of the east and west alike.
Before the start of the battle
Fierce battles took place between the regime, Shiaa militias, Hezbollah forces and between Syrian resistance forces on the other side north of Aleppo in al-Malah area.
The regime was aiming to recapture Castello road, the only road for more than 30000 civilians living in the eastern part of Aleppo. During a month of fighting on the area adjacent to al-Malah recaptured by the regime, Castello road was cut and regime forces and its militias were mobilized on the rest of the fronts fearing an attack by a faction from the southern side of Aleppo which witnessed two months ago loss of Khan Tuman and areas surrounding it east and south reaching to Khalsa, Barneh, Zaitan, al-Ayss and until al-Hader villages considered the Shiaa militias stronghold in southern Aleppo countryside.
By this short recount of the military scene, we see that regime forces and regime allies were in a state of attack north of Aleppo and reinforced defense state south of Aleppo to encircle the siege on the eastern part of Aleppo.
Meanwhile, amid escalation by the Russian and regime air force, Army of Conquest and other factions were announcing almost daily that they will do a military campaign to break the siege on Aleppo if Aleppo was sieged. The announcement in fact had took the surprising factor for the rebel forces and regime forces, Iranian militias and Hezbollah should have been alert to that despite them having all scouting means including drones which did not leave the sky of the area for months.
-Power balance before start of battle-
It is no doubt the power balance had the most role in achieving victory. If we are to compare between the two parties in Aleppo battle on the 20 Km long front, we find the number of regime personnel and supporting militias was 12000 and this makes a division for 10000 for the resistance and that makes up two brigades.
The regime tanks make up a brigade and for the resistance a battalion and it is the same for armed vehicles. The regime is superior in the air and other fields like artillery.
Hence, the defending forces meaning the regime is superior to the attacking forces by number and weapons including air force coverage. In contrast, the attacking forces only own the well-known anti-aircraft and they are artillery M/T 14.5 titer in addition to anti-aircraft of 23 Mm titer and some artillery of 57 titers.
Although Army of Conquest cleric Abdullah al-Muhaysini announced start of near military work to break the siege on eastern Aleppo days before the battle, and a month before that, he announced a military work prepared south of Aleppo where Zaman al-Wasl published a detailed report about “the great battle of Aleppo”.
Despite all of that preparatıon, the regime forces and Iranian and Russian occupation forces were convinced the attacking party will not benefit from the surprising principle which is considered one of the most important principles used in fighting.
If we wanted to study this using the military sciences in the east and west alike, we find that the party on the defense makes precautious and careful preparations on all the front line. But by studying the nature of the ground, the military leader expects for the defending forces the highest possibility of the ground from which the attacking enemy might infiltrate. It is estimated to be a strip of 2 Km for the brigade and 4 to 6 Km for the armed division or mechanical division in the classic armies.
By estimating the stance by the defending leader, the leader builds the effective fire device on the attacking forces (tanks, artillery, missiles, warplanes, ddirect firing weapons) in addition to the engineering preparation in front of the defending the strip for the brigade or the range of defending division. If we know that the front line was 20 Km long and that means in military science that the forces defending this line might be a mixed division Mica+ tanks. Accordingly, the attacking leader has to estimate the enemy well; meaning the size of the defending forces should be more than 15000 in the classic sense for organizational defense on several ranges.
And if we know that the attack of the factions of the Syrian resistance was on all the range of the defense of the regime forces and that it infiltrated the defense lines and fortified areas on all the defense range which is 20 Km, we find that the attacking party achieved a tactical operational surprise of the heavy load by infiltrating the defense area of the enemy on all the defense line.
By this, the attacking party negated all western and eastern military theories and achieved military successes and advanced on all the width of the front. Especially if the attacking forces do not have an air coverage securing for it big and effective strikes during the attack nor securing protection from the strikes of the enemy warplanes to achieve a certain attack pace like the one we saw in the first and second phase of the battle. Regarding the effect of igniting rubber tires, the percentage of effect does not exceed 10 to 15 %. Accordingly, the resistance ability to advance and encircle in a short time the biggest stronghold of the regime in Aleppo and that is the military complex including “Air Training Institute, Artillery Faculty, Arming Faculty” is considered a miracle in science of war negating all western and eastern military theories.
Maybe, the history of military will immortalize how small armed groups owned arms looted from a regular army supported by foreign air and land forces defeated a fully-equipped army in this humiliating way on the psychological and military level and that this battle will not pass like that and military historians will conduct extensive military studies in the future.
Lead of the tactical initiative
Doubtless there are many ways and methods to lead the initiative in classic wars between two equal armies by number and arms, but in a battle like Aleppo, I believe car bombs had a big effect on giving rest of fighters the moral to advance and sacrifice and at the same time scaring the hearts of the enemies.
The car bombs weapon is considered a crucial factor in difficult battles since you can scare with death who is fighting you, but you cannot scare the one coming to kill you with his body in addition to detonating the tunnel under the enemy leadership centers where parts of the enemy fly in front of the defending hostile forces and this gives the defending fighters a feeling of defeat. It gave audacity and advancing for the raiding groups which make them lead the tactical and firing initiative on the ddirect confrontation lines with the enemy.
Facts for history in 6 days
For the first time in history homogenous armies by targets, places and times owning most factors of victory with air support get defeated in front of resistance armed groups looted most of its arms and military power.
For the first time in modern history, an organized defense line falls and all strategic hills get occupied during few hours on all the front line extending to 20 Km at once.
For the first time in modern military history, the fortified area gets infiltrated on all the defense range for the forces and this is a miracle for the military science that did not happen before in addition to defeated party owning all scouting and maneuvering means by force, fire, helicopters and most advanced anti-tank missiles.
-Principles of combat use-
The principles of combat use did not change since the dawn of military history. The implementation of these principles or parts of it at least are the most important factors in achieving victory in wars be them old or modern especially during a war between two parties with the same number and arms. But with the advancement of the military equipment throughout history, the principles of combat use had to advance and create new combat methods to match the advancement of equipment.
Whoever creates new methods and means in the battle is the victorious party when the two fighting parties have the same number and equipment classically speaking.
However, the recent Aleppo battle turned the balances of the art of war for the attacking forces which are not identical with the defending side not even with 20% of its force and equipment. It can be said the principles of combat use will not change, but what is certain that what happened will add to the principles in combat use new principles like (the principle of right power and taking power and will from it) and new methods and means in principles of combat use implemented by Aleppo rebels very professionally and accurately.
Their combat preparedness was high and constant and they mobilized their forces and equipment and cooperated between each other. They concentrated their efforts and surprised the enemies with new combat methods during the attack. They maneuvered with force and means and use it economically depending on the course of the battle. They affected their enemy in an effective way and in the right time.
The moral, religious and psychological state for fighters before the battle was benefited from by the leaders and leading the battle was firm and constant so they had to be victorious.
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