The northern Syrian city of Ariha, the last government-held city if the Idlib Province, fell today to al-Qaeda’s Nusra Front and its allies, giving them effective control over the entire province.
The attack on the city near the Turkish border began earlier in the day with the fall of military checkpoints around the city. Syrian state media reported heavy fighting inside the city.
Later, the Syrian government confirmed that the city fell outright, saying the military had moved to defensive positions outside the city after an influx of a large number of Nusra fighters.
Pre-war, the city had about 80,000 people, and lies along the key supply route between Idlib and the coastal Latakia province. Nusra has already made some attempts at Latakia as well, and this will likely make such offensives easier.
Will our "leaders" in Washington (of both political persuasions) ever get a clue that eliminating Al Qaeda terrorists (including but not limited to Al Nusra) anywhere on the planet — whether in Syria or elsewhere — is far more important to our national security than promoting "regime change" as to foreign governments which have never attacked our homeland nor even threatened to do so? What do our "leaders" think will be the result if and when the Assad government is overthrown and Syria is dismembered into segments ruled by Al Nusra, ISIS and other similar Sunni extremist organizations? Do these "leaders" really believe that the Syrian people will be better off under Al Qaeda rule than under the existing Syrian government? Do these "leaders" even care what happens to the Syrian people? And aside from the welfare of the Syrian people, do our "leaders" really believe that our homeland will be safer when the Syrian government is replaced by a balkanized Syria consisting of subregions ruled by Al Qaeda affiliates? Our "leaders" in Washington deserve psychiatric examination: they are obviously dangerous to themselves and others.