Syria Civil War resumes; Assad Regime Falls
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Rebels storming Aleppo. What’s unfolding in Syria and where is Assad
“…
The offensive began on Wednesday, November 27, the same day that a ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed group Hezbollah came into effect in neighboring Lebanon.
Thousands of rebels, led by Islamists from Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), are attacking the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) forces in the western part of Aleppo province. According to their statement, the Deterrence of Aggression offensive operation began in response to shelling. This marks the first significant escalation since the ceasefire in March 2020.
Within the first 10 hours, opposition forces captured dozens of settlements, seized the 46th Regiment base, known as Base 46, and advanced within 5 kilometers of Aleppo.
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Today, after three days of fighting, the rebels breached defense lines in the western suburbs of Hamdaniya, New Aleppo, and Zahra, and entered the city itself.
"Our forces have begun entering the city of Aleppo," the newly formed rebel coalition was quoted as saying by CNN.
The Syrian army states that it faced "a large attack" initiated by "terrorists" with heavy weaponry and drones. Rebel commanders claim to have taken control of a military research center on the outskirts of Aleppo after "intense clashes with regime forces and Iranian militants." …”
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What to know about sudden rebel gains in Syria's 13-year war and why it matters
The 13-year civil war in Syria has roared back into prominence with a surprise rebel offensive on one of Syria’s largest cities and ancient business hub
“… The surge in fighting has raised the prospect of another violent front reopening in the Middle East, at a time when U.S.-backed Israel is fighting Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, both Iranian-allied groups.
Robert Ford, the last-serving U.S. ambassador to Syria, pointed to months of Israeli strikes on Syrian and Hezbollah targets in the area, and to Israel’s ceasefire with Hezbollah in Lebanon this week, as factors providing Syria’s rebels with the opportunity to advance.
… The roughly 30% of the country not under Assad is controlled by a range of opposition forces and foreign troops. The U.S. has about 900 troops in northeast Syria, far from Aleppo, to guard against a resurgence by the Islamic State. Both the U.S. and Israel conduct occasional strikes in Syria against government forces and Iran-allied militias.
Turkey has forces in Syria as well, and has influence with the broad alliance of opposition forces storming Aleppo.
… Ford said the fighting in Aleppo would become more broadly destabilizing if it drew Russia and Turkey — each with its own interests to protect in Syria — into direct heavy fighting against each other. …”
lawtig02
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Interesting timing for an uptick in both this and the Georgia thread.
amp.cnn.com
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday praised US President-elect Donald Trump as an “intelligent and experienced” politician capable of finding “solutions,” as tensions between Moscow and the West ramp up over the war in Ukraine.
Speaking to reporters in Kazakhstan, Putin castigated President Joe Biden for creating “additional difficulties” for the incoming Trump administration, after Biden gave Ukraine permission to fire longer-range American missiles, called ATACMS, at targets deep inside Russia.
The Russian president also threatened to strike Ukraine again with a nuclear-capable ballistic missile, called “Oreshnik,” following Moscow’s widespread overnight attack Wednesday targeting critical energy infrastructure facilities.
Asked whether Biden’s decision would impact future relations between Moscow and Washington, Putin suggested things could improve after Trump takes office in January.
“As far as I can imagine, the newly elected president is an intelligent and already quite experienced person. I think he will find a solution,” Putin said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin says Trump is ‘intelligent and experienced,’ capable of finding ‘solutions’ | CNN
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday praised US President-elect Donald Trump as an “intelligent and experienced” politician capable of finding “solutions,” as tensions between Moscow and the West ramp up over the war in Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday praised US President-elect Donald Trump as an “intelligent and experienced” politician capable of finding “solutions,” as tensions between Moscow and the West ramp up over the war in Ukraine.
Speaking to reporters in Kazakhstan, Putin castigated President Joe Biden for creating “additional difficulties” for the incoming Trump administration, after Biden gave Ukraine permission to fire longer-range American missiles, called ATACMS, at targets deep inside Russia.
The Russian president also threatened to strike Ukraine again with a nuclear-capable ballistic missile, called “Oreshnik,” following Moscow’s widespread overnight attack Wednesday targeting critical energy infrastructure facilities.
Asked whether Biden’s decision would impact future relations between Moscow and Washington, Putin suggested things could improve after Trump takes office in January.
“As far as I can imagine, the newly elected president is an intelligent and already quite experienced person. I think he will find a solution,” Putin said.
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in Aleppo “… there was no sign of a significant pushback from government forces or their allies. Instead, reports emerged of government forces melting away in the face of advances, and insurgents posted messages on social media calling on troops to surrender.
Robert Ford, who was the last U.S. ambassador to Syria, said the attack showed that Syrian government forces are "extremely weak." In some cases, he said, they appear to have "almost been routed."
… This week's advances were among the largest in recent years by opposition factions, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, and represent the most intense fighting in northwestern Syria since 2020, when government forces seized areas previously controlled by the opposition.
The offensive came as Iran-linked groups, primarily Lebanon's Hezbollah, which has backed Syrian government forces since 2015, have been preoccupied with their own battles at home.
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Dareen Khalifa, a senior adviser with the International Crisis Group and an expert on Syrian groups, said the insurgents have signaled for a while that they were ready for an offensive. But no one expected the swift advance of the forces toward Aleppo.
"It's not only that the Russians are distracted and bogged down in Ukraine, but also the Iranians are distracted and bogged down elsewhere. Hezbollah's distracted and bogged down elsewhere, and the regime is absolutely cornered," she said. "But the surprise element comes in with how quickly the regime crumbled."
… The Kremlin said Friday that it considered the attack an encroachment on Syria's sovereignty and that it supported the quickest possible establishment of constitutional order in the region.
… In a phone call with his Syrian counterpart, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the insurgent attacks in Syria "as a plot orchestrated by the U.S. and the Zionist regime following the regime's defeat in Lebanon and Palestine." …”
Robert Ford, who was the last U.S. ambassador to Syria, said the attack showed that Syrian government forces are "extremely weak." In some cases, he said, they appear to have "almost been routed."
… This week's advances were among the largest in recent years by opposition factions, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, and represent the most intense fighting in northwestern Syria since 2020, when government forces seized areas previously controlled by the opposition.
The offensive came as Iran-linked groups, primarily Lebanon's Hezbollah, which has backed Syrian government forces since 2015, have been preoccupied with their own battles at home.
…
Dareen Khalifa, a senior adviser with the International Crisis Group and an expert on Syrian groups, said the insurgents have signaled for a while that they were ready for an offensive. But no one expected the swift advance of the forces toward Aleppo.
"It's not only that the Russians are distracted and bogged down in Ukraine, but also the Iranians are distracted and bogged down elsewhere. Hezbollah's distracted and bogged down elsewhere, and the regime is absolutely cornered," she said. "But the surprise element comes in with how quickly the regime crumbled."
… The Kremlin said Friday that it considered the attack an encroachment on Syria's sovereignty and that it supported the quickest possible establishment of constitutional order in the region.
… In a phone call with his Syrian counterpart, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the insurgent attacks in Syria "as a plot orchestrated by the U.S. and the Zionist regime following the regime's defeat in Lebanon and Palestine." …”
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BTW, those rebels in Aleppo are not what most Westerners would think of as good guys. A lot of ISIL and jihadist ties there.
But the betrayal of the Kurds during the prior Trump administration also creates all kinds of insane cross-currents in this conflict as the U.S. hurtles toward a transition to a radically different foreign policy approach.
But the betrayal of the Kurds during the prior Trump administration also creates all kinds of insane cross-currents in this conflict as the U.S. hurtles toward a transition to a radically different foreign policy approach.
Don't terribly expect any good guys or moderates there. Neither group does well in rebellions , occupation , or dictatorships. What Hightower said about white lines ,etc. applies internationally in those times as well.
StrangePackage
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If the Free Syrian army wins they will have to do yeoman's work to be worse than Assad.
But I'm willing to bet they'll give it their best effort.
But I'm willing to bet they'll give it their best effort.