Several days of pushing into Idlib Province, focused on the area along the main highway, has left the Syrian military in control of several towns that they’d lost very early in the Syrian War, and had been under various rebel groups’ control for years.
The towns themselves aren’t huge, but show that they are handing
al-Qaeda a series of defeats in recent days, and gives them control of
the highway to allow them to get more reinforcements into the area.
Turkey isn’t happy with reports of al-Qaeda taking such losses, and is
complaining that the flight of civilians from the combat area is a
“humanitarian crisis.” Turkey’s main concern, however, is that Turkish
troops are in posts within Idlib Province, and some are now virtually
surrounded by Syrian forces.
Al-Qaeda and Turkish-backed rebels are the last of the rebel-controlled
parts of Syria, covering Idlib and some of Aleppo Provinces. Syria now
seems to believe they can retake much of it.
This is an utterly uninformed article. First, Turkey has a law that prohibits supporting Al-Qaeda under whatever name they live in Idlib.
Second, there is a corridor with Turkish checkpoints, but Russian as well. Turkey has put a great number of groups under its control, and they are part of forces from Al-Bab to north border.
But groups within the zone have been known for abandoning Turkey and rejoining HTS. It is simple — money. HTS receives money mostly from UK, its operatives are there, and White Helmets. Those groups staged gee attacks from the safe zone — and the decision was made to bomb their smuggling convoys, as well as to surround its forward positions.
Turkey is afraid of civilian refugees. At the same time — Syria and Russia opened safe corridors for civilians to escape. Western press ridiculed the effort — along the lines of civilians loyal to terrorists, and will remain!
Luckily such delusions are not affecting people on the ground as they assist civilians. Western media cannot let go of terrorists good — Assad bad broken record.
And trying to conflate Turkish controlled groups with Turkey is another way of propaganda gloating — see Turkey is fighting agains Russia and Assad! But as complicated as Idlib is — it is not a cause for conflict. Just as — in spite of cheerful prognostications — Afrin was not as well. I suggest patience and grasping that regionally IRAN, Russia and Turkey are still guarantors of the process.
Turkey better get out of their illegal presence in Idlib and Syria fast or face embarrassment!
Please get the story straight.
We do not seem capable of getting stories straight. Turkey is against Al-Qaeda, Nusra or new named HTS, By law, Turkey fights Al-Qaeda. Remember that HTS was kicked our of Aleppo and other groups also after losing elsewhere went to Idlib. What Turkey did was to peel off many groups away from HTS. And used them to patrol border to prevent any ISIS or Kurds intrusion.
But remember, West had a collective fit at the idea of Syria liberating Idlib. The reason being – this is the only place where Western intelligence is placed. But because Russia or Turkey will not deal with HTS, what is happening is using HTS foreign money to BUY BACK some groups that previously signed up with Turkey. They had access to Syria, and used it to smuggle ammunition, When Syria bombed the convoy, the lovers of Al-Qaeda jumped to portray this as Syria attacking Turkey. No such thing, Turkey knows this, Following the attack — Syrian army saw to this that the smuggling corridor was closed, What this may mean that SOME Turkish checkpoints are legitimate former rebels not bought by HTS. While other are. This will be a way to sort this out. Turkey dies not need smugglers behind its back to give legitimacy to HTS as if Turkey accepts HTS as legitimate partner.
This is the key issue. Nobody wants to have foreign intelligence “Syrian” Idlib represented in constitutional assemby. The assembly has been agreed to — with the exception of HTS or Al-Qaeda.
We need to be very careful when we are served the dish of presumably Turkey supporting Al-Qaeda. West is trying to legitimize them, so they will form government in Idlib. Nobody — not Turkey, Syria or Russia will let this happen. UK may have to evacuate their operatives. Or they will be defeated as less space for smuggling is open.
Like in Aleppo, corridors for civilians are opened. The collective ridicule is coming from Western press as if the population should brave it and defend Al-Qaeda at all costs! Like in Aleppo, once people get a chance to escape the terrorists— they take it.