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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran | ||
| Syrian insurgent groups vow to attack Russian forces | ||
| 2015-10-06 | ||
More than 40 Syrian insurgent groups vowed to attack Russian forces in retaliation for Moscow's air campaign in a show of unity among the usually fragmented rebels against what they called the "occupiers" of Syria. The 41 groups, which included powerful factions such as Ahrar Al Sham, Islam Army and the Levant Front, said Russia joined the war in Syria after President Bashar Assad's forces were on the verge "of a crushing defeat."
The Russian intervention was widely criticised by Syrian opposition groups and activists especially since Moscow once played the role of a mediator hosting rounds of talks between the Syrian government and its opponents. "This new reality requires the region's countries and the allies in specific to hasten in forming a regional alliance to face the Russian-Iranian alliance that occupies Syria," the 41 factions said in a statement released by Ahrar Al Sham. It was apparently referring to backers of the opposition such as Turkey and Saudi Arabia. A Syrian military official was quoted by state media as saying that Russian airstrikes on Monday hit in the central province of Homs and Idlib in the northwest. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human rights said warplanes believed to be Russian have targeted the northern town of Al Bab that is a stronghold of the Daesh group. It said the airstrike left "a large number" of casualties.
The Syrian militant and rebel factions, including the US-backed Division 101 and Tajammu Alezza, said "the Russian military aggression on Syria is considered a blatant occupation of the country even if some claim it was done with the official request of the Assad regime. Those who lost legitimacy can't offer it." "All Syrian armed revolutionary factions must realise we are in a war to push an aggressor, a war that makes unifying ranks and word a duty on all brothers," the factions said in the two-page statement posted online. "Any occupation force to our beloved country is a legitimate target." Earlier in the day militant websites reported that Syria's Muslim Brotherhood declared that fight against the "sheer Russian occupation of Syria" is a legitimate duty for everyone capable of carrying weapons. The Brotherhood's media chief Omar Mushawah was quoted as saying that "we as Muslim Brotherhood group confirm that we are witnessing a sheer and clear Russian occupation" and that "resisting the occupier is a legitimate duty." Meanwhile, Syria's foreign minister said Russian airstrikes and its new military "steps" in Syria took months of preparations. Walid Al Moallem said in remarks broadcast on Beirut's Al Mayadeen TV that Russia closely coordinates with the Syrian army over its airstrikes. The full interview with Al Moallem will be aired later on Monday. | ||
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #8 How many troops can the Russian state provide for? This is a bit out of country for them. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2015-10-06 17:15 |
| #7 Syria's economy is finished. How will the rump state eat? Live off Russian rent money? |
| Posted by: Sven the pelter 2015-10-06 16:04 |
| #6 do it long enough for the rebels to start fighting among themselves. Um, Pappy, hasn't that time line gone negative already? I mean the past is present and future, no? |
| Posted by: AlanC 2015-10-06 15:29 |
| #5 how many is Russia willing to commit to defending pencilneck? Enough to buy time for Assad's forces to rearm, re-equip and learn new weapon systems. Enough to buy time for the Iranians to both bring in forces and kick their wavering Hesb'allah subsidiary into their place. Enough to establish a de facto buffer zone around the current rump Syrian state, perhaps interdict the rebels' supply routes. And do it long enough for the rebels to start fighting among themselves. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2015-10-06 15:08 |
| #4 Russia has maybe 100,000 combat ready troops. Given the number committed to the Ukraine and to the strategic reserve (somebody has to march in parades), how many is Russia willing to commit to defending pencilneck? And what happens when the KIA counts go up? |
| Posted by: Sven the pelter 2015-10-06 14:33 |
| #3 More than 40 Syrian insurgent groups vowed to attack Russian forces in retaliation for Moscow's air campaign in a show of unity among the usually fragmented rebels against what they called the "occupiers" of Syria. I give it a week. Okay, two weeks. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2015-10-06 11:30 |
| #2 Given all the history, both fact & fiction, about us arming the Afghan rebels to fight the Russians what's the consensus about arming the Syrian rebels against the Russians and Iranians? Seems like an approach/avoidance conflict to me. |
| Posted by: AlanC 2015-10-06 07:16 |
| #1 Does Ladbrokes have odds on this match? I'll take the Russians & the over... |
| Posted by: Raj 2015-10-06 00:59 |