Syrian Civil War (Graphic Photos/Vid Not Allowed)

[Yongpeng Sun-Tastaufen]

thermobaric strike in Idlib

https://twitter.com/x/status/961604654248484865

 

[ejaz007]

East Ghouta reels under intense Russian, Syrian bombing
by Zouhir Al Shimale & Ammar al-Bushy
15 hours ago

MORE ON US-led air raids in Syria 'kill 100 pro-Assad fighters'today

• Air attacks on Eastern Ghouta and Idlib kill nearly 200today
• Syria war escalates: International push for territorytoday
• Syria's civil war explained from the beginningtoday

Residents and medical sources in Eastern Ghouta have warned that the Damascus suburb is running short of food, water and medical supplies amid intense Russian and Syrian bombardment of the rebel-held area.

The area's designation as a de-escalation zone by Turkey and allies of the Syrian government, such as Russia and Iran, has not prevented Syrian forces aided by Moscow from trying to capture the area.

Nearly 200 people have died in four days of intense bombardment in the area, whose 400,000 residents have been besieged since 2013.

WATCH: Syria war - Hospitals being deliberately targeted, medics say (2:31)


Ahmed Al-Khaled, a wheelchair-bound 34-year-old father of two, told Al Jazeera the area was being "pounded by rockets" day and night by Syrian warplanes, and that residents had few places where they could seek safety.

"When the bombing happens, we don't hide in basements because people die in them," he said.

"The rockets being used tear the buildings apart and people get buried under the rubble where they hide," he explained.

Khaled said Syrian and Russian forces made no distinction between civilian and military targets and that the simplest of tasks was fraught with the danger of death.

"My wife goes to get food from a nearby street every day and says a last goodbye whenever she leaves...like a last farewell - in case she dies and never comes back again."

'Catastrophic situation'
Ahmad Ahmad, a local councillor, told Al Jazeera that Eastern Ghouta was facing a "catastrophic situation".

"People here feel that there is no shelter or safe place to avoid the shelling," he said, adding: "I feel a serious threat to my and my family's life."

Ahmad explained that, given the shortages of food and water, many were taking desperate measures to stay alive.

"We are suffering from a major shortage of drinking water and food.



WATCH
24:45


Is Syria's de-escalation deal done?


"We're depending on wells that we've drilled ourselves...water, which according to laboratory analysis is not drinkable."

Even hospitals and clinics, already suffering from a lack of medical supplies, have not been spared the violence.

Aid groups had previously condemned the Syrian government's targeting of medical facilities and said at least 10 hospitals had been put out of commission by air raids since December of last year.

Dr Abdul Wahab Abu Yahya, who is based in the area, told Al Jazeera that medics were struggling to save victims of the violence due to the combined effect of the attacks and a dearth of supplies.

"There isn't a secure place in the hospital to properly operate on patients," he said.

"Even when the situation is calm, we face difficulties running generators for the hospitals- the shortage of fuel is making it hard for us to save the lives of those who are getting injured.

Abu Yahya said there were "piles of injured people" at his hospital and that he was struggling with a lack of staff and medical supplies.

"We hope that this barbaric campaign against us will stop," he said.

After seven years of civil war, and with help from Iranian-backed ground forces and Russian air cover, Syria's government has the upper hand against rebels, who have just two major areas under their control; Idlib in Northern Syria and Eastern Ghouta in Damascus.

Buoyed by a feeling that momentum is on their side, forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad have pushed to recapture those areas from the opposition.

Opponents of the Syrian government say that effort has involved the use of indiscriminate attacks against civilians and the use of chemical weapons.

Around 500,000 people have died in the war, according to monitoring groups.

SOURCE: AL JAZEERA NEWS

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/...e-russian-syrian-bombing-180208094328198.html

 

[taubin]

They call it "seige" after they've supported terrorists and those terrorists got cleared out, now they want nice treatment from their govt. This is the same crap some sunnis did in Iraq- they supported ISIS as retaliatioin against the central govt and when ISIS got vanquished they started complaining they were being "mistreated",but they conveniently forgot when they were actively supporting ISIS and other terrorists against their "government".

For majority of the worlds humanity , it is Assad and his supporters who are the terrorists and for sure the people of Ghouta dont support him ..... Infact they hate him as a swine is to be hated .....

 

[Hack-Hook]

For majority of the worlds humanity , it is Assad and his supporters who are the terrorists and for sure the people of Ghouta dont support him ..... Infact they hate him as a swine is to be hated .....

if he supported a different camp he was a saint in the eye of the majority of the world

 

[925boy]

For majority of the worlds humanity , it is Assad and his supporters who are the terrorists and for sure the people of Ghouta dont support him ..... Infact they hate him as a swine is to be hated .....

Ok.so who represents "majority of the world"? The UN right? Well the UN still recognizes Assad as the legitimate leader of syria while most of the opposition are literally labelled by the UN as terrorists.this is not to say Assad govt hasn't done nasty things.but it's a nasty war and both sides are evil.but if it's Assad vs the terrorists,I know who I support.besides,if the world and regional powers stayed out of this civil war from the get go Assad won't have almost lost.facts.and people like u actually have no realistic better alt to assad.face it. You have hypothetical and dreams of a better syria but in realistic terms that's mostly an illusion.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/world/100-pro-assad-fighters-killed-in-us-strikes/540949.html

Washington/Beirut: More than 100 fighters aligned with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad were killed overnight when the US led coalition forces repelled their attack in eastern Syria, a US official said. The heavy death toll underscored the large size of the attack, which the US official said included about 500 opposing forces, backed by artillery, tanks, multiple-launch rocket systems and mortars.

In reports that appeared to confirm the official’s comments, Syrian state media said the US-led coalition against Islamic State had bombed pro-government forces east of the Euphrates river in Deir al-Zor province. One of the state TV outlets reported “dozens of dead and wounded”. Reuters

******

REUTERS | Published — Friday 9 February 2018

Turkish forces continue attacks on Kurdish militants in Syria

http://www.arabnews.com/node/1242606/middle-east

ISTANBUL: Turkish warplanes hit Kurdish YPG militia targets in Syria’s Afrin region, the army said on Friday, and a monitoring group reported that seven fighters and two civilians were killed in strikes.

The overnight attacks came after a lull in Turkish air strikes following the shooting down of a Russian warplane elsewhere in Syria last weekend.

The air strikes destroyed 19 targets including ammunition depots, shelters and gun positions, the armed forces said in a statement without specifying when the raids were conducted. The raids began at midnight, state-run Anadolu news agency said.

Seven YPG fighter and two civilians were killed in the strikes, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based group that monitors the war in Syria.

Turkey had halted air strikes as Russia worked on its air defense system in the wake of the shooting down by Syrian rebels of a Russian warplane in Idlib province on February 3, Turkey’s Hurriyet newspaper reported.

Ankara launched an air and ground offensive in Afrin on January 20 against the YPG, which it views as a terrorist group and an extension of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) that has waged a three-decade insurgency on Turkish soil.

Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by telephone on Thursday and agreed to strengthen military and security service coordination in Syria, according to the Kremlin.

The YPG and its allies have set up three autonomous cantons in the north, including Afrin, since the Syrian conflict began in 2011.

Their territory has expanded since they joined forces with the US to fight Daesh militants — although Washington opposes their autonomy plans, as does Syrian President Bashar Assad’s government.

US support for the Kurdish-led forces has infuriated Turkey, which views growing Kurdish power as a security threat along its frontier.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/turkish-free-syrian-army-forces-capture-villages-in-w-afrin/1058673

By Burak Karacaoglu and Esref Musa

IDLIB, Syria

Turkish and Free Syrian Army (FSA) forces on Friday liberated five more villages from PYD/PKK terrorists as part of Operation Olive Branch in northwestern Syria, according to Anadolu Agency correspondents on the ground.

The villages of Nesriyya and Dukkan in Jandaris, western Afrin were cleared of PYD/PKK terrorists during the operation.

Turkish troops and the FSA also cleared the Nesriyya Hill from terrorists.

Later in the day, Turkish troops and the FSA also cleared the villages of Iskan and Juqali Fawqani, also in Jandaris.

The Orta Cakalli village in the town of Shaykh al-Hadid, western Afrin, was also liberated from terrorists later.

Last night, Turkish aircraft carried out airstrikes in various locations of Afrin, including Mt. Baflun, the village of Sheik Huruz, the towns of Sheran and Jandaris, as well as some terrorist meeting points.

Since the operation began, Turkish forces and the FSA have liberated a total of 46 zones, including 29 villages and 13 strategic mountains and hills.

Turkey on Jan. 20 launched Operation Olive Branch to remove PYD/PKK and Daesh terrorists from Afrin.

According to the Turkish General Staff, the operation aims to establish security and stability along Turkey’s borders and the region as well as protect Syrian people from terrorist cruelty and oppression.

The operation is being carried out under the framework of Turkey’s rights based on international law, UN Security Council resolutions, its self-defense rights under the UN charter, and respect for Syria's territorial integrity, the military said.

The military has also said that only terrorist targets are being destroyed and "utmost care" is being shown to avoid harming civilians.

Afrin has been a major hideout for the PYD/PKK since July 2012 when the Assad regime in Syria left the city to the terror group without a fight.

*************
http://aa.com.tr/en/turkey/turkey-3-iraqi-nationals-arrested-over-daesh-link/1058820
By Recep Bilek

SAMSUN, Turkey

At least three Iraqi nationals were arrested on Friday in Turkey's Black Sea province Samsun over suspected links to Daesh terror group, security sources said.

Police seized their digital devices for investigation, said the source who refused to be named due to restrictions on talking to the media.

On Wednesday, police arrested six other Iraqi nationals over Daesh links during a counter-terror operation in the city.

Turkish security forces have been involved in a long-running campaign to thwart Daesh attacks.

************
http://aa.com.tr/en/turkey/turkish-police-arrest-19-pkk-linked-terrorists/1058872
KOCAELI, Turkey

Turkish police have arrested a total of 19 suspects in northwestern Turkey for their alleged links to PKK terrorist group, a police official said on Friday.

The counter-terrorism operation was conducted to arrest 21 suspects, who are accused of making terror propaganda on the social media in Kocaeli province, said the official, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on talking to the media.

Among the arrested were district heads of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) and Democratic Regions Party (DBP), the official added.

Police seized pictures of the PKK head Abdullah Ocalan as well as posters praising PYD-YPG, according to the source.

The PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- resumed its armed campaign against Turkey in July 2015.

Since then, it has been responsible for the deaths of more than 1,200 Turkish security personnel and civilians, including women and children.

On Jan.20, Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch to remove PYD/PKK -- a Syrian affiliated group of PKK -- and Daesh terrorist groups from Afrin.

The Turkish General Staff has said the Afrin operation was aimed at establishing security and stability along Turkish borders and the region as well as protecting the Syrian people from the oppression and cruelty of terrorists.

It said the operation was being carried out under the framework of Turkey’s rights based on international law.

The military also said "utmost diligence" was shown to avoid collateral damage to civilians.

Afrin has been a major hideout for the PYD/PKK since July 2012 when the Bashar Assad regime left the city to the terror group without putting up a fight.

*******

AK Party says 400 Daesh terrorists released by PYD/PKK
Terrorist PYD/PKK released Daesh prisoners in Raqqa, Afrin and Deir ez-Zour to fight against Turkey in Syria


By Baris Gundogan

ANKARA
http://aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/ak-party-says-400-daesh-terrorists-released-by-pyd-pkk/1059046

The ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party spokesman confirmed Friday that 400 Daesh prisoners had been released in northern Syria to fight Turkey.

"It is confirmed that 400 Daesh prisoners in Raqqa, Afrin and Deir ez-Zour were released on the condition that they will fight against Turkey," Mahir Unal said at a news conference following a Central Decision and Executive Board meeting of the AK Party.

Unal referred to the Russian ambassador's statements made at the UN on Thursday, saying 120 of those released entered the ranks of the PYD/PKK terror group in Syria.

Vassily Nebenzia, Russia's permanent representative to the UN, told a Security Council meeting the PYD/PKK terror group in northern Syria pardoned 400 Daesh members in early January, adding some of them to the ranks of the PYD/PKK-led group SDF.

The terrorist group struck a deal with Daesh terrorists to use them as a tool against Turkey's Operation Olive Branch in Afrin, the sources told Anadolu Agency on condition of anonymity due to security concerns.

The PYD/PKK captured many civilians who were fleeing the clashes between Kurdish and Arab opposition groups, putting them in prisons in the townships of Rajo and Jinderes in the west of Afrin, as well as in underground cells.

The number of civilians being held in prisons, with no official charges against them, is estimated at 1,100. It was also reported that some of the detainees were told they were “convicted” for life.

Turkey on Jan. 20 launched Operation Olive Branch to remove PYD/PKK and Daesh terrorists from Afrin.

According to Turkish General Staff, the operation aims to establish security and stability along Turkish borders and the region as well as to protect the Syrian people from the oppression and cruelty of terrorists.

The operation is being carried out under the framework of Turkey’s rights based on international law, UN Security Council’s decisions, self-defense rights under the UN charter and respect for Syria's territorial integrity, it said.

The military has also said that only terrorist targets are being destroyed and "utmost importance" is being given to not harm any civilians.

Afrin has been a major hideout for the PYD/PKK since July 2012 when the Assad regime in Syria left the city to the terror group without putting up a fight.

************
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/syria-deploys-new-air-defense-systems-in-north-126893

• February 06 2018 16:58:00

Syria deploys new air defense systems in north
BEIRUT – Reuters

The Syrian army has deployed new air defenses and anti-aircraft missiles to frontlines in the Aleppo and Idlib areas, a commander in the military alliance fighting in support of President Bashar al-Assad said on Feb. 5.

“They cover the air space of the Syrian north,” the commander told Reuters, describing the deployment as a “message to everyone.”
The air defenses had been sent to frontlines with militants in rural areas of Aleppo and Idlib.

The regime move came after one Turkish soldier was killed at an observation point in Idlib, where Russia and Turkey cooperate to establish a de-escalation zone as part of the Astana agreement.

Five other Turkish soldiers were slightly injured in the same mortar attack.

Turkish warplanes have been mounting air strikes against the northwestern province of Afrin as part of a major offensive targeting the People’s Protection Units, which Ankara views as a terrorist group for its links to the outlawed Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK).

Ahead of the Turkey’s “Operation Olive Branch,” the Syrian government had threatened to shoot down any Turkish warplanes in Syrian air space.

The U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) also operates in northern Syria, though some distance from Aleppo city in territory stretching from the city of Manbij to the Iraqi border.

 

[Mohammed al-Faruqi]

Assad, Russia and Iran are as usual aiding Daesh in their shared bid to thwart Syrian freedom.

https://twitter.com/x/status/961915506600144896

https://twitter.com/x/status/961975110180667392

Assad regime opens terror corridor for Daesh into Idlib

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad opened a corridor for the Daesh terrorist organization to pass into Idlib, which is a de-escalation zone. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said government forces allowed Daesh to leave a besieged pocket of territory at the intersection of Aleppo, Idlib and Hama provinces, and to go to southern Idlib.

"The regime started the operation against this pocket seven days, suddenly they were able to take 80 villages and towns after giving them a corridor," Observatory Director Rami Abdulrahman said.

As the regime and Daesh advance in Idlib’s southeast, Russia is providing air support against the opposition and anti-Assad groups. Many regions frequently change hands as a result of clashes.

Hasan Haj Ali, commander of the Free Idlib Army opposition group, said his fighters were taking part in clashes with some 200 Daesh terrorists who had arrived in southern Idlib early on Friday.

"This morning at dawn we were surprised by the joint treachery by the regime and Daesh. They have six armored vehicles with them," he said.

Assad-Daesh

The Assad regime and Daesh have formed a tactical agreement to advance against the opposition in Idlib, which is the largest chunk of Syrian territory held by groups opposed to Assad and a de-escalation zone.

In October 2017, the Assad regime opened a path for Daesh in the Hunayfis district east of Hama, ensuring their safe passage into opposition and anti-regime-held areas in Idlib. The coordinated move combined with Russian air support enabled Assad and Daesh to make great advances within three months.

https://www.yenisafak.com/en/world/assad-regime-opens-terror-corridor-for-daesh-into-idlib-3104325

 

[Yongpeng Sun-Tastaufen]

Assad, Russia and Iran are as usual aiding Daesh in their shared bid to thwart Syrian freedom.

https://twitter.com/x/status/961915506600144896

https://twitter.com/x/status/961975110180667392

Assad regime opens terror corridor for Daesh into Idlib

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad opened a corridor for the Daesh terrorist organization to pass into Idlib, which is a de-escalation zone. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said government forces allowed Daesh to leave a besieged pocket of territory at the intersection of Aleppo, Idlib and Hama provinces, and to go to southern Idlib.

"The regime started the operation against this pocket seven days, suddenly they were able to take 80 villages and towns after giving them a corridor," Observatory Director Rami Abdulrahman said.

As the regime and Daesh advance in Idlib’s southeast, Russia is providing air support against the opposition and anti-Assad groups. Many regions frequently change hands as a result of clashes.

Hasan Haj Ali, commander of the Free Idlib Army opposition group, said his fighters were taking part in clashes with some 200 Daesh terrorists who had arrived in southern Idlib early on Friday.

"This morning at dawn we were surprised by the joint treachery by the regime and Daesh. They have six armored vehicles with them," he said.

Assad-Daesh

The Assad regime and Daesh have formed a tactical agreement to advance against the opposition in Idlib, which is the largest chunk of Syrian territory held by groups opposed to Assad and a de-escalation zone.

In October 2017, the Assad regime opened a path for Daesh in the Hunayfis district east of Hama, ensuring their safe passage into opposition and anti-regime-held areas in Idlib. The coordinated move combined with Russian air support enabled Assad and Daesh to make great advances within three months.

https://www.yenisafak.com/en/world/assad-regime-opens-terror-corridor-for-daesh-into-idlib-3104325

All is fair in love and war. It's not Assad's fault rebels join IS in droves.

 

[Taskforce]

Now Assad is becoming stronger and Israel’s proxy YPG is loosing the Jews have become frisky. Moments ago Israeli jet shot down above Damascus. I’m afraid Israeli will move in with their troops soon. I hope our leaders don’t make the mistake by siding with Israel against Assad. The Syrian government is on our side in this war.

 

[ptldM3]

Assad, Russia and Iran are as usual aiding Daesh in their shared bid to thwart Syrian freedom.

https://twitter.com/x/status/961915506600144896

https://twitter.com/x/status/961975110180667392

Assad regime opens terror corridor for Daesh into Idlib

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad opened a corridor for the Daesh terrorist organization to pass into Idlib, which is a de-escalation zone. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said government forces allowed Daesh to leave a besieged pocket of territory at the intersection of Aleppo, Idlib and Hama provinces, and to go to southern Idlib.

"The regime started the operation against this pocket seven days, suddenly they were able to take 80 villages and towns after giving them a corridor," Observatory Director Rami Abdulrahman said.

As the regime and Daesh advance in Idlib’s southeast, Russia is providing air support against the opposition and anti-Assad groups. Many regions frequently change hands as a result of clashes.

Hasan Haj Ali, commander of the Free Idlib Army opposition group, said his fighters were taking part in clashes with some 200 Daesh terrorists who had arrived in southern Idlib early on Friday.

"This morning at dawn we were surprised by the joint treachery by the regime and Daesh. They have six armored vehicles with them," he said.

Assad-Daesh

The Assad regime and Daesh have formed a tactical agreement to advance against the opposition in Idlib, which is the largest chunk of Syrian territory held by groups opposed to Assad and a de-escalation zone.

In October 2017, the Assad regime opened a path for Daesh in the Hunayfis district east of Hama, ensuring their safe passage into opposition and anti-regime-held areas in Idlib. The coordinated move combined with Russian air support enabled Assad and Daesh to make great advances within three months.

https://www.yenisafak.com/en/world/assad-regime-opens-terror-corridor-for-daesh-into-idlib-3104325

How is letting ISIS go and kill Al-Quida linked terrorists "aiding" anyone? This was a smart move, in fact, it was brilliant, terrorists killing terrorists. ISIS leaves the small pocket they used to control to Syrian forces. Syrian forces gain territory without firing a bullet and ISIS gets killed by Al-Quida linked groups and visa versa.

Let them slaughter each other.

 

[Hindustani78]

Turkish Armed Forces reach the de-escalation zone in Idlib
IDLIB, SYRIA - FEBRUARY 09: Military vehicles of Turkish Armed Forces reach the de-escalation zone with ceasefire observation points, under the framework of Astana agreements, in Idlib, Syria on February 09, 2018. ( Muhammed Rihavi - Anadolu Agency )

 

[royalharris]

syria is a big arena,every one has its self goal
international powers: USA、russia
regional powers: isreal（directly involved）、iran（directly involved）、KSA; now turkey（directly involved）

let's look what is the result?

 

[Hindustani78]

In this February 6, 2018 file photo, Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army fighters sit together in Eastern Afrin countryside, Syria. | Photo Credit: Reuters

http://www.thehindu.com/news/intern...rin-erdogan/article22720680.ece?homepage=true

Turkish military said a total of nine soldiers were killed and 11 wounded on Saturday in clashes with mainly opposition forces near Afrin. It said it had killed 39 militants.

A Turkish army helicopter was shot down by Syrian Kurdish YPG fighters near the north Syrian town of Afrin, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday, and the Turkish military said two soldiers on board the aircraft were killed.

YPG sources separately confirmed the downing of the helicopter.

“One of our helicopters was downed just recently,” Mr. Erdogan told members of his AK Party in Istanbul. “These things will happen, we are in a war ... We might lose a helicopter, but they'll pay the price for this.”

A statement from the Turkish military did not specify a reason for why the helicopter crashed. It said two soldiers on board were killed and technical crews were investigating the crash.

The downed helicopter was the first officially confirmed loss of a Turkish aircraft over Syria since the start of the country's long-running civil war.

In another statement, the Turkish military said a total of nine soldiers were killed and 11 wounded on Saturday in clashes with mainly Kurdish forces near Afrin. It said it had killed 39 militants.

Ankara launched an air and ground offensive last month against opposition forces in Syria's Afrin region on its border, opening a new front in the multi-sided Syrian war.

Separately, the Turkish military said on Friday the construction of a fifth military post near Syria's northwestern region of Idlib had begun.

Turkey agreed to set up 12 observation posts in Idlib and neighbouring provinces under a deal reached with Tehran and Moscow to try to reduce fighting between pro-government forces and mainly Islamist insurgents in northwest Syria.

However, the “de-escalation” in violence they were meant to monitor has collapsed. The Syrian army, alongside Iranian-backed militias and heavy Russian air power, launched a major offensive in December to take territory in Idlib province.

Idlib is one of the last main strongholds of rebels opposed to President Bashar al-Assad, who have been driven from most of their bastions in Syria since Russia joined the war on the side of Assad's government in 2015. Turkey has long been one of the main allies of the anti-Assad rebels.

 

[mike2000 is back]

Washington/Beirut: More than 100 fighters aligned with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad were killed overnight when the US led coalition forces repelled their attack in eastern Syria, a US official said. The heavy death toll underscored the large size of the attack, which the US official said included about 500 opposing forces, backed by artillery, tanks, multiple-launch rocket systems and mortars.

In reports that appeared to confirm the official’s comments, Syrian state media said the US-led coalition against Islamic State had bombed pro-government forces east of the Euphrates river in Deir al-Zor province. One of the state TV outlets reported “dozens of dead and wounded”. Reuters

This Assad backed militias don't know the people they should be targeting? How can they be messing with coalition forces considering the imbalance of power? Moreover, to make things worse, I'm sure he didn't get Putin's approval for this mission. Well, too bad he got the results he should have expected.

Assad, Russia and Iran are as usual aiding Daesh in their shared bid to thwart Syrian freedom.

https://twitter.com/x/status/961915506600144896

https://twitter.com/x/status/961975110180667392

Assad regime opens terror corridor for Daesh into Idlib

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad opened a corridor for the Daesh terrorist organization to pass into Idlib, which is a de-escalation zone. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said government forces allowed Daesh to leave a besieged pocket of territory at the intersection of Aleppo, Idlib and Hama provinces, and to go to southern Idlib.

"The regime started the operation against this pocket seven days, suddenly they were able to take 80 villages and towns after giving them a corridor," Observatory Director Rami Abdulrahman said.

As the regime and Daesh advance in Idlib’s southeast, Russia is providing air support against the opposition and anti-Assad groups. Many regions frequently change hands as a result of clashes.

Hasan Haj Ali, commander of the Free Idlib Army opposition group, said his fighters were taking part in clashes with some 200 Daesh terrorists who had arrived in southern Idlib early on Friday.

"This morning at dawn we were surprised by the joint treachery by the regime and Daesh. They have six armored vehicles with them," he said.

Assad-Daesh

The Assad regime and Daesh have formed a tactical agreement to advance against the opposition in Idlib, which is the largest chunk of Syrian territory held by groups opposed to Assad and a de-escalation zone.

In October 2017, the Assad regime opened a path for Daesh in the Hunayfis district east of Hama, ensuring their safe passage into opposition and anti-regime-held areas in Idlib. The coordinated move combined with Russian air support enabled Assad and Daesh to make great advances within three months.

https://www.yenisafak.com/en/world/assad-regime-opens-terror-corridor-for-daesh-into-idlib-3104325

To be honest, Assad is not the only one who has been using ISIS and other radical groups for his own interests when iyt suits him(its true that he was the first to use this jihadists groups when he freed many of them from Syria's prison at the beginning of the uprising, in other to tarnish the reputation of the genuine Syrian opposition and label them ALL as fanatics/islamist/jihadists etc from the start. However, we cant blame him that much, put yourself in his shoes, if you were a dictator and tyrant like Assad whose family has ruled the country with an iron fists under a state of emergency for over half a century, will you not have used any means whatsoever to stay in power and maintain your privileges? So from his point of view, its understandable.
At the end of the day, it worked quite well for him and has helped keep him in power and led to the intervention of many foreign and regional powers as the war raged on without any clear winner.
That's geo politics for you, it has never been a clean game and never will it be. No player is innocent.

syria is a big arena,every one has its self goal
international powers: USA、russia
regional powers: isreal（directly involved）、iran（directly involved）、KSA; now turkey（directly involved）

let's look what is the result?

Thanks to Assad.
Egypt and Tunisia would have ended up the same way if their tyrants were not deposed/fled from power more quickly and had their army decided to kill/shoot on their own people when they rose up.