You tagged me, but which one should I address? You make a lot of statements which I have never seen a good evidence for.
For example, you mention that Assad financially supported ISI during Iraq war. This is a very unconventional claim. It's not one that I have seen addressed by either the major media networks, nor small, independent ones. Can you back this up?
And then you mention Russian foot soldiers involved in the frontlines. It's not impossible, but it's the first time I am hearing about this. What sources do you have for this?
You then mention something Bashar Jaafari said. I have extremely little opinion on that. First of all, I don't know Arabic, so I don't know what exactly Mr Jaafari said, but I strongly doubt that the Syrian government's new policy is to turn Assad into God. Like the rumor about Assad changing the Quran, I bet it's a bunch of exaggerated bullshit so that some Uk-born Pakistani or Saudi will go "WHAT? How dare they!! ALLAH AKBAR!!!!" and rush to join ISIS.
Also, I think you completely misunderstand my stance. I'm not defending the Syria government based on who wins the Best Muslim of the Year award. My reason for wanting the Syrian government to win out is,
1) The anti-government revolution, I believe, was manufactured, and was a plan to get rid of a government that was resisting the western domination of the M.E.
2) The anti-government revolution is made up of extremists who came from over the world to start a caliphate which I think is not only harmful for Syrians, but also will have a negative effect on the security of my nation in the future
3) I believe Syria was better off before the manufactured opposition, so my desire is for a return to stability & security
I was specifically referring to Jaafari's statement.
But here goes: Assad DID support the Islamic State of Iraq in the Iraq war. The operation was referred to Al Qaqaa IIRC. There was also a 2009 article where Maliki accuses Assad of supporting ISI. I will edit the post when I find it.
Russian soldiers are on the frontlines in Latakia. Just like in Ukraine, it's denied by Russia, but there's only 1 thing that explains the rebel's quick retreat and routing. Russian generals were clearly leading some operations (most notably on Salma), and Russia has sent multiple convoys into Salma, for example, as "media escorts," but a 'media escort' with 10+ Trucks filled with troops and 2 BTRs doesn't add up. Also, Russian artillery and Air Force are much more effective in Latakia than elsewhere, even though they still shell civilians purposely. And the biggest evidence: Russia wants rebels out of Latakia to protect Hmeimeim.
There's also an Andalou agency that claims 109 Russian soldiers killed, but I can't verify if true or not as I haven't look at it myself.
You may not know Arabic, but other people do.
@Falcon29 @Antaréss @Ahmed Jo can confirm if you'd like. Or any other Arabic speaker.
But in the later half of the video, you can clearly hear him say words such as "Qur'an," "Fatiha," "Saddaqa allahu alazeem." All Arabic, all relating to Qur'an.
1.) It's impossible for a western country to suddenly rally Syrians in 2011 as some of the most popular protest rants accused Assad regime of being agents of the West. Not possible in the slightest for it to be manufactured in any case, as mobilizing hundreds of thousands everywhere is NOT easy.
2.) You were saying?
All in SAA camo/gear. 2011 or 2012. Assad released Islamists from jails a few days after protests btw, in order to Islamize opposition (less foreign support, more individual support from Muslims worldwide, hence foreign fighters.)
As for security of Iran: Iran could have stayed out of this completely and would have most likely been an ally of Syria. Same with Russia & Hezbollah. But instead you decided to get involved and in the end only screwed yourselves over.
3.) Syria was NOT better off. Frequent (almost daily) power outages (we lived in "rich parts" of Aleppo btw,) government inaction about drought, rampant corruption, government abuse, brutality, etc. and so on. Also high unemployment (due to drought, farmers fled to cities due crop shortages.) Not to mention all the election BS.
I'm sorry but Syria will be MUCH better off once rebels win. And they will god willing.
In 2009 when our GDP declined by 9 % and our economy didn't collapse, it surly won't collapse from 3.7 % contraction,and this year recession will end, but it all doesn't matter because ruble can go to 100 and still wont save your ***.
economic collapse lol enjoy your total rebel collapse in Latakia, sponsored by RuAF
Oh yeah, because Latakia is sooo important. It's not like Assad is about to lose Hama (and subsequently lose Aleppo as a result) in the next few weeks, God willing.
Now for actual News:
Rebels in Northern Hama are doing the usual, testing regime defences (just like in Idlib) and are preparing for a large scale offensive. If successful, they could cut off regime in Aleppo, which will render regime advances there moot (10s of thousands of SAA/NDF/Hezbollah/Shiite militias + T-90s will be trapped) and if cut off regime would be unable to evacuate or get any more heavy weapons or reliable shipments of ammo. Only two airports could provide, and that's not enough. Nairab also very dangerous, within ATGM range.
Rebels in Latakia seem to have stopped the onslaught and now the frontline appears to be stabilized. They're stopping the regime at Ara.
Rebels in Aleppo are doing nicely, regime/Shiite militias have taken two villages but at extremely heavy losses. Obviously Shiite militias use Iranian human wave tactics which seem to work in Syria, but rebels are adapting. I am not exaggerating, but I have seen *dozens* of Shiite militia corpses in Northern Aleppo. Also Southern Aleppo rebels are repelling the regime attempts to advance in Hersh at the Khan Touman frontline.
