Langers That would be Command and Control via the cities...

Langers

That would be Command and Control via the cities infrastructure and would probably have been destroyed some time ago. Not the rebels communications systems as in most armies they are manpack at unit level and small veh mounted at HQ level.

But your scenario makes sense and in normal circumstances would be the case. As in the invasion of Bahgdad the US sent in their stealth aircraft to knockout CC systems, water, power and other important infrastructure. They also had their special forces in well before that to reccy the whole situation.

Close air support via helicopter gunships if indeed their ground forces are making a push, we will probably find out in the next few days I would imagine.

Thanks for the well thought out post.