Following reports late last week that the Syrian military controlled a whopping 92% of Aleppo, the losses among the rebel coalition in the city continued to mount rapidly, with the government now saying it controls fully 98% of the city, and every single district east of the Aleppo River.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights declared the fighting all but over, saying the rebels had effectively lost and it was only a matter of time until they collapse outright. Syrian Lt. Gen. Zaid al-Saleh insisted the battle would end quickly, and the rebels had only the choice of surrendering or dying.
Negotiations are still ongoing on a deal to evacuate what’s left of the rebels, which includes a number of al-Qaeda fighters and their allies. The talks are proceeding a lot more slowly than the battle, however, meaning that the rebels might be defeated outright before any deal convincing them to leave.
Indeed, the rebels still aren’t talking pullout themselves, with one of the rebel officials in Turkey issuing a statement predicting that the river would represent “a new front line” and that the rebels would continue to fight. While the logistics of getting into the last rebel stronghold aren’t totally clear at this point, with so much of the city damaged and barricaded, since the rebels lost effectively half of their territory in just a few hours, it seems unrealistic for their Turkey-based spokesmen to hope for a major turnaround.
Yeap, we officially don’t have to worry about anyone starving in Aleppo anymore.
Explains perfectly the hysteria of the DC establishment blaming Russia for Hillary’s loss. They are deflecting this great defeat of their proxy war against Syria.
And fo not forget that now US is sn outright accomplice in ISIS move on Palmyra. Outright. It first disabled thtough “mistake” bombing Syrian stronghold ar Deir Azzor, then watched thousands of Mosul fighters move to Raqqa — all over an open territory, without anyone firing a bullet to stop them. So now they were able to move to Palmyra again over open desert. Keep in mind that these skies were to be reserved for US “coalition” — but ISIS has not been harmed all these years. In fact planes return regularly from missions without firing at ISIS. the game played now is to harm Syria and punish Russia. ISIS is perfect tool — now just moving out of Mosul. And old Hillary plan to use Kurds to “liberate” Raqqa is still pushed even though everyone knows that Kurds are not wellcome there, as population knows they plan to ethniy cleanse the area for THEIR state promised them by US. Another nation building project Trump will not stand for. Even though Turkey is offering troups to help US liberate Raqqa — it is not accepted. This is why the noise is being made about Turkey. Turkey does not need a Kosovo under US flag on its border to become a tripeire for all future Kurdish nation projects in the region. Turkey is for territorial integrity of Syria and Iraq as the final
outcome. Russia will respond to the Palmyra US gift to ISIS. remains to be seen how will Turkish/US positions adjust. US is having multiple versions of story out — one is cled “Syrian Elite Forces”. which was to be 90% Arab (translate Syrian) and 10% others, like Turkmen, Kurds. That sounded like Turkey was bringing in its motley crew collection of former rebels to the field. The problem for US is that these are the very locals Kurds ethnically cleansed along Turkish border during the period before Turkish intervention. All efforts that Thrkey put in in order to stop US from using Kurds, stop giving them tettitory –appareny failed. Like with EU eaier in the year, Turkey had to learn the same lesson. Being member of NATO does not give you any protection of your borders. And after decades of arming Kurds in Turkey by the West and Israel — time is approaching when US and EU want a client Kurdish state to be the Piedmont of bringing in other Kurdish regions. Protected by US the entity –just like Kosovo — can engage in any attrocity and be shielded from consequences. One can easily find information on the fear of Raqqa residents of Kurds, and population composition of township and villages of Raqqa goverorate. The current licy is bone headed and aims at entangling US in the region as a babysitter and by riling up the region keep Saudis and Israel safe. I doubt Trump will go along — but this is.meant to tie his hands.
At last. With presidents Trump, Putin, and Assad peace in Syria is starting to look like a possibility.