VOA: Rebel Defiance, Relief as Assad Forces Get Bogged Down
GAZIANTEP, TURKEY - At early light they come, the Russian warplanes – mostly just silver flashes in the sky, sometimes roaringly close – unleashing "dumb" munitions and guided missiles depending on the target, scorching the countryside south of Aleppo.
They are followed by mechanized units of the Syrian army backed by Iranian-trained Shi'ite fighters mainly from Iraq, but some Afghans, too, who will be rewarded with Iranian passports when their enlistment finishes, if they survive.
In the flat countryside the regime has the edge during the day; but at night or whenever the jets are absent insurgents reclaim territory they retreated from hours earlier, staking out temporary defensive positions, prompting new rounds of aerial bombing heralded by the dawn.
Syrian War News Updates -- October 26, 2015
Russia says record 94 Syria targets hit in 24 hours -- AFP
Russian aircraft hit 94 terrorist targets in Syria — Defense Ministry -- TASS
Russia says flew 164 sorties in Syria in last three days -- Reuters
Combat report: Russia fighter jets hit 285 terror targets in Syria in past 3 days -- RT
Fighting Tooth and Nail: Syrian Army Recaptures Suburb of Damascus -- Sputnik
Syrian Army Takes Key Heights Near Turkish Border Under Control -- Sputnik
Russia reportedly just sent its version of Delta Force to Syria -- Business Insider
Syrian rebels to Russia: Stop bombing us -- Reuters
Syrian Saga: Russian Airstrikes 'Spread Panic Among Terrorists' -- Sputnik
Rebels Reject Russian Military Help -- Channels
Syria conflict: FSA rebels sceptical of Russia offer -- BBC
Human Rights Watch accuses Russia of war crimes in Syria -- Al Bawaba
Kremlin Rejects Claims Of Civilian Casualties In Syria Air Strikes -- RFE
Extermination of terrorism will facilitate success of political processes in Syria — Assad -- TASS
Syria's Assad open to early presidential elections 'only if terrorists defeated first' -- AP
Syria cholera outbreak sparks fears of ‘international threat’ -- The Independent
Rise in Violence in Syria Displaces Tens of Thousands -- NYT
Russia’s Desert Storm Moment in Syria -- Cmdr. Daniel Dolan, USN (Retired), USNI
Analysis: Meetings, meetings, everywhere; but no meeting of minds on Syria peace plan -- AP