Suriyakmaps

Gerasimov's statements are shameful—announcing the capture of two large towns while fierce fighting continues there. Then they'll complain if something similar to what happened in Kupiansk occurs. And men are getting insulted with these declarations while are dying on the battlefield so that the leaders can pin medals on themselves. 🇷🇺🇺🇦

Statement issued by the Islamic Resistance Front in Syria. In an extremely dangerous security development, Turkish intelligence services carried out a coordinated security operation today that resulted in the arrest and abduction of Professor Ali Kayali (Miraj…

Therefore, we in the “Islamic Resistance Front in Syria” affirm the following decisions and statements:

First: Condemnation of the infiltration and disinformation campaigns in Lebanon: We warn of the danger that the Lebanese arena may become a permissive environment in terms of security and the media, facilitating the activities of the Damascus regime’s embassy in Beirut, which has gone beyond its diplomatic role to become an active hub for fabricating narratives, persecuting free-thinking individuals, and settling political scores.

Second: Exposing suspicious coordination and its malicious use: We reveal the involvement of these embassy-affiliated groups in direct dealings with Lebanese figures and entities loyal to the regime, and the use of this coordination to launch systematic campaigns of persecution targeting, above all, the children and cadres of the dissolved military apparatus, in retaliation for their positions and history.

Third: We call for extreme caution and vigilance. We urge all former military cadres and personnel, as well as fighters of the free resistance present on Lebanese territory, to exercise the utmost caution, vigilance, and security awareness; not to be misled by rumors or false narratives; and to take the necessary measures to thwart plans for arrest or elimination.

Fourth: Firmness of Position and Principles: These intelligence operations and attempts to betray leaders and tarnish their reputations will not deter the honorable from continuing on their path; rather, they will only strengthen the resolve of the free people to confront the instruments of terrorism, occupation, and treason until rights are fully restored.

God is the protector of steadfastness.
Islamic Resistance Front in Syria
Politburo
October 15, 2026

This new strategy follows two objectives: to contain the Russians until the arrival of autumn, when the rain and mud make it difficult for heavy vehicles to advance, forcing them to use secondary roads and significantly slowing down logistics and operations; and, secondly, to create a propaganda image of victory by portraying infiltration zones as captured territory, which has on other occasions resulted in a fresh surge of external aid to Ukraine to enable it to continue the war. Both objectives seems to have been reached now.

However, the problem lies in the limitations and costs of this new strategy in the long term. The deployment of these reserve troops alleviates the existing problem of understaffed brigades, helps to hold positions, strengthen defences and reduce the strain on existing units, whilst also dispelling the narrative of a shortage of Ukrainian troops that has been repeated for months.
However, the accelerated deployment of troops with little or no experience ultimately loses its saturation effect once there are sufficient numbers of troops on the defending side. This substantially increases the attackers’ casualties (this year the Ukrainians have suffered heavy losses in these local counter-offensives) and leaves a gap in the rear ranks of personnel who are key to resupplying the troops at the front; consequently, in the long term, the overall situation at the front would not only fail to improve but would actually worsen, especially given that this year the Russians have managed to establish drone supremacy across much of the front lines.

And the impact is not only military, but also social, as there are currently reservists on the front line who were forcibly conscripted; consequently, a rise in casualties amongst these inexperienced troops – deployed to achieve political and media objectives (without this guaranteeing progress towards a victory, as Zelenskyy seeks) – will have a negative effect by increasing draft evasion and fuelling further social unrest on the streets of Ukraine. 🇺🇦🇷🇺

The Ukrainian rear guard springs into action. 🇺🇦
There has been talk in recent days of Starlink’s temporary restrictions on Ukrainian forces, which affected the Ukrainians’ communications and logistics for a relatively short period. This recent incident highlights the strategic dependence on a system largely controlled by the US and the vulnerability to political or technical decisions, particularly as, unlike Russia, Ukraine is not developing alternatives in the event of a service blockade.
Drones have been key to maintaining a relative balance on the front lines, preventing the Russians from making major advances as they did in 2024 and 2025; and with the loss of Starlink for the Russians, the Ukrainians have managed to turn the situation around, halting the Russian advance and even going on the offensive.

How has this been possible? The recruitment situation in Ukraine is critical due to a chronic shortage of combat troops, social tensions and reforms aimed at improving incentives and attracting more personnel, both Ukrainian and foreign. Kyrylo Budanov (Head of the Presidential Office) stated in August 2026 that Ukraine cannot mobilise fewer than 30,000 people per month to maintain the current strength of the Armed Forces (estimated at between 880,000 and 1 million personnel). Not all of these forces are deployed on the front line (approximately 250,000–350,000 personnel), whilst the remainder are assigned to logistics, administration, headquarters and the National Guard, Territorial Defence, training, medical recovery or support roles.
In fact, barely a third of those mobilised each month actually reach the front line. Theoretically, this would allow the rotation rate to be maintained and troops to recover over time, although in the long term the situation would generally worsen for the Ukrainian side and, of course, it would not allow them to launch counter-attacks on more than one front.

December 2025 saw a substantial shift in this dynamic, with a higher proportion of troops from the rear being sent to the front lines. With Mykhailo Fedorov as the new minister in January 2026 and Oleksandr Syrskyi as commander-in-chief, it was decided to send part of this reserve of soldiers – who had little experience or combat skills – to the front to overwhelm the Russian forces, which were already stretched thin, through infiltration operations to force their withdrawal, in this way, the experienced units are tasked with clearing the rear and securing the abandoned Russian positions whilst the infiltrations by the reserves continue to force the Russians to focus on them and abandon any counter-attack. The most notable aspect of this strategy is that it has been carried out under a defence minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, who is an advocate of modernisation and the supremacy of drones (followed by next minister Yevhenii Khmara). And even following Syrskyi’s dismissal in July by Mykhailo Drapatyi—who is apparently inclined to minimise casualties—this strategy has not only continued but has been strengthened, alongside greater decentralisation of management, increased autonomy for commanders and the extension of rotation periods (this has led to an increase in the number of reservists at the front over the last two to three months).

The results have been evident on several fronts:
- Dnipropetrovsk and southern Donetsk, where the Ukrainians have managed to reverse many of the Russian advances made in 2025 in the former oblast and have recaptured the town of Komar.
- Stalling Russian offensive capabilities in Oleksiievo-Druzhkivka and east of Kramtorsk and Sloviansk, forcing a Russian withdrawal around the waterway (due to Drapatyi’s extensive rotations).
- The repulsion of the Russian offensive in Lyman and the surrounding area (though not Operation Vivaldi, carried out by experienced Ukrainian troops).
- The maintenance of the pockets east of the Oskil and south of Kupiansk.

Criticism from pro-Russian fanatics shows no sign of abating, but the reality of events constantly puts them in their place. According to the Russian Ministry of Defence, the last localities in the Kharkiv ‘pocket’ have been captured. However, it will still…

Criticism from pro-Russian fanatics shows no sign of abating, but the reality of events constantly puts them in their place. According to the Russian Ministry of Defence, the last localities in the Kharkiv ‘pocket’ have been captured. However, it will still take at least another two or three weeks before it is fully taken. But that’s no problem; as far as they’re concerned, the Russian army never retreats and everything the Ministry of Defence says is true. 🇷🇺🇺🇦

After speaking to people in Ukraine (not just Russian soldiers), we now have a clearer picture of the Russian retreat over the past few weeks. I’ll talk about it tomorrow. For goodness’ sake, this war must end soon. And to think there are people who are still…

After speaking to people in Ukraine (not just Russian soldiers), we now have a clearer picture of the Russian retreat over the past few weeks. I’ll talk about it tomorrow.
For goodness’ sake, this war must end soon. And to think there are people who are still inciting it... 🇺🇦🇷🇺

Ukrainian-Russian war. Day 1683-1689: 🇺🇦🇷🇺 Situation on Dobropillya & Krivorozhskaya fronts: During the last week, Russian army has regained the initiative in Dobropillya town by launching a major assault from the south (small infiltrations continue north…

15 Km to Bab el-Mandeb 🇾🇪

15 Km to Bab el-Mandeb 🇾🇪

30 Km to Bab el-Mandeb 🇾🇪

40 Km to Bab el-Mandeb 🇾🇪

The YNA’s retreat toward Al Mukha continued during the early morning hours of September 10, while Ansarallah capitalized on the momentum to continue advancing from the north (capturing Ḩasy Sālim, Al Ma‘āqim, An Nujaybah, Al Mandūb, Az Zahārī, Al Kadarah,…

En Ceuta hay tres tipos de musulmanes.
- Población peninsular conversa al Islam (algunos descendientes de andalusíes). Viven desde siempre en Ceuta y han representado una minoría con respecto a la población cristiana [El censo de 1888 habla de 122 musulmanes naturales de Ceuta].
- Población árabe y bereber ceutí. Minoría ínfima en Ceuta hasta la independencia de Marruecos cuando comienzan a asentarse en la ciudad española, por motivos económicos. La entrada en vigor de la Ley de Extranjería de 1985 dará la nacionalidad española a esta población.
- Población marroquí asentada posteriormente a 1985. Parte de ellos nacionalizados.

Si bien la ciudad de Ceuta ha sido un lugar de convivencia de culturas, dada su cercanía al sultanato alauita y su situación geográfica en el continente africano la esencia de la ciudad ha sido eminentemente cristiana y peninsular (española). No fue hasta las ultimas seis décadas cuando la realidad demográfica cambió, con una tendencia a la mayoría musulmana en las próximas décadas.
El argumento de quienes sostienen que "en Ceuta siempre ha habido musulmanes" tiende a considerar a los musulmanes como un colectivo unificado sin entender el origen de las distintas tendencias, equiparando a un peninsular con un marroquí.
El problema es tratar esta cuestión como una religiosa y no étnica. Y esto Marruecos lo sabe bien y lo emplea como arma política mientras España reniega de un pasado andalusí que conlleva al rechazo de un compatriota musulmán (Y no, no me refiero al segundo y tercer tipo). 🇪🇸

Pensar que lo de Ceuta se arreglará sin salirse del marco de "la moderación, el respeto y el diálogo" es otra muestra más de la decadencia mental a la que está sometida la población española.
El "qué dirán" en un mundo donde "los derechos humanos" es una herramienta usada como pretexto de invadir o agredir países, carece de valor y no puede ser una limitación para defender tu territorio y aun más importante, a tu población.
Mucho apoyo a los ceutíes, que desesperados por la inacción del gobierno, se ven obligados a salir a la calle a recuperar lo que es suyo. 🇪🇦

Pensar que lo de Ceuta se arreglará sin salirse del marco de "la moderación, el respeto y el diálogo" es otra muestra más de la decadencia mental a la que está sometida la población española.
El "qué dirán" en un mundo donde "los derechos humanos" es una herramienta usada como pretexto de invadir o agredir países, carece de valor y no puede ser una limitación para defender tu territorio y aun más importante, a tu población.
Mucho apoyo a los ceutíes, que desesperados por la inacción del gobierno, se ven obligados a salir a la calle a recuperar lo que es suyo. 🇪🇦

On December 30, 2025, Ukrainian authorities announced the evacuation of 14 towns in the Chernihiv region, located along the border between Russia and Ukraine, in the Semenivka and Novhorod-Siverskyi districts. On June 24, a new evacuation order was issued…