U.S. Strikes Said to Kill Scores of Russia Fighters in Syria

**Voodoochild** · 02-13-18, 08:13

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...hters-in-syria

More than 200 contract soldiers are said to have been killed
The casualties dwarf official Russian army death toll in Syria

**duece71** · 02-13-18, 09:07

This has been a proxy war for a while now.......just wait until it’s no longer war by proxy

**chuckman** · 02-13-18, 09:23

A couple thoughts. First, there are Russian fighters, then there are Russian fighters. Those were booger-eaters, mercs, not playing on Russia's dime. Russia doesn't seem too distraught over the event. Second, what country doesn't have some nationals over there fighting for someone? It may not be playing out with nation-states, but it is truly a "world war" given the dozens of countries with people over there in all sorts of capacities. Third, I love the pic of the Russians in the article: sporting a Punisher skull. I wonder if Marvel is going after them too for copyright infringement.

**duece71** · 02-13-18, 09:25

Also, lots of money and money changing hands in this “war”. It will be a while unless the “proxy” fighting ends and the big players become fully involved.

**Sry0fcr** · 02-13-18, 09:44

i still don't know WTF we're doing over there...

**yoni** · 02-13-18, 11:01

Understand they were in Syria with the blessing and consent of Putin. But I don't see him getting all that worked up over this. On Saturday the IAF took out the majority of non Russian anti aircraft in Syria.

**FromMyColdDeadHand** · 02-13-18, 11:08

Originally Posted by Sry0fcr

i still don't know WTF we're doing over there...

We are killing Russian Mercs, jeez, its in the title.

If it were just the Russians helping Syrians whack general jihadis, meh. Iran being there makes it a play to be a regional power from the Indian Ocean to the Med.

**dwhitehorne** · 02-13-18, 15:44

It is interesting reading that a battalion sized force attacked with artillery support. It sounds like we handed them their asses. We haven't had a ground campaign in my life time with large opposing forces on the battle field. Desert Storm was one sided and nothing like a WWII operation. The Syrian's are dismayed at 200 KIA. Imagine the response if it was a thousand like a WWII battle. I wonder if any county in our time has the stomach for sustained intense conflict. David