A massive tanker truck bomb was detonated against the key Syrian border town of Azaz over the weekend, with the truck parked in a crowded marketplace near a key Islamic courthouse. Six rebels were confirmed killed, though the vast majority of the 60 slain were civilian bystanders.
Azaz is under the control of the Turkey-backed rebel coalition which has taken much of ISIS’ territory across the Aleppo Province, and ISIS is presumed to have been behind this attack, as they are the group which most often carries out such bombings.
A major border crossing into Turkey, Azaz has been prized and fought over by rebel factions throughout the civil war, as control of the crossing has entitled the faction to a cut of any weapons smuggled in through the crossing. Since the Turkish invasion last year, however, the region is more or less exclusive to the Turkey-backed coalition.
Given just how strategically vital Azaz is, and long has been, it is unclear how anyone was able to smuggle such a large tanker truck full of explosives into the city, let alone get it into a heavily populated area to detonate it without some sort of security trying to stop them.
No, no! You are on the wrong track here. This is all Al-Nusra work. Ever since Turkey started peeling off groups of Free Syrian Army, and recruiting them for their fight with ISIS and YPG, Al-Nusra took on giving Turkey hard time. Now that it is clear that Turkey and Russia are going to broker a peace agreement with a large number of Islamist groups, Al-Nusra and its close allies, are being isolated. Al-Nusra is taking now shots at Free Syrian Army. It is not true at all that only ISIS carries such bombings. Let us check the record of bombings in Syria prior to the dramatic arrival on the scene by the newest addition of bad guys. The record will show the atrocious bombing conducted by Al-Nusra, Ahrar Al-Sham, and others. The bombings were conducted inside Damascus, and Aleppo. Large scale bombings, at the gas stations, to multiply the effect of the explosion, at bus stops, at university at the exam time, etc. etc. In fact, all those bombings — were the key reason all the secular anti-Assad movement, was finished. Whatever hope they had to get the population on the side of the rebellion, died right with the bombings and the atrocities. How is it possible to forget the atrocities against Christian and Shia villages? Or killing principals, teachers in front of students, or throwing postal workers from the roof of the postal building. ISIS was just a convenient new entrant on the scene from Iraq — just enough for all the Al-Nusra and other “rebels” atrocities to be conveniently white washed.
This is not the first time that Al-Nusra has taken shot at Free Syrian Army, but it does look like — it is a message, but Al-Nusra is not willing (yet) to own the deed. In another nearby border town, just weeks ago, Al-Nusra “arrested” Free Syria Army group that worked with Turkey. Few days ago, in a strangest episode of this war — two US B-52 bombed the Al-Nusra held — jail. I think we can imagine that the “arrested” FSA soldiers working with the Turkey, are the victims.
What is happening is the sabotage against Turkey. And it is not out of the question that ISIS and Al-Nusra are coordinating efforts. Turkish operation at Al-Bab is at the heart of it. Whatever will be done to stop Turkey, and strengthen ISIS to hold out. Because, it is not in the interest of US for Turkey to advance past Al-Bab. Another curiosity. US overflew Al-Bab area, as a “show of support” but did not bomb ISIS. Russia had to come to help Turkey out. But following the mysterious over flight, it did appear that ISIS had the knowledge of Turkish artillery, and counter attacked with accuracy, causing great damage. Turkey is already stating that US is assisting ISIS as well as Kurds — and such events, like precision targeting of their artillery, bombing of jail with Turkey’s FSA fighters arrested by Al-Nusra, and now, a heavy bombing in Azzar. ISIS cannot profit from this bombing, but Al-Nusra can. It will be a very difficult situation for Turkey to have to finally engage Al-Nusra in this conflict.
It is getting vile. Evryone against everyone in Idlib, and the real difficult situation on Turkish border. One cannot exclude the assistance of Turkish Kurds, or even Syria Kurds — as they are armed. It will be really dangerous if US supplied weapons reach either Al-Nusra, or ISIS.