Fighting in Syria’s long-contested Idlib Province has slowed down in
recent days, but all sides involved are using it as an opportunity to send more reinforcements and military assets into the area, anticipating the next round of fighting.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says that Syrian forces are
being sent into the area with an eye toward contested the key highway to
Aleppo, which is in parts still held by al-Qaeda.
But they aren’t the only ones. Russia, anticipating supporting a renewed
Syrian offensive, is bringing some military forces into the area, as
well as mobile clinics and ammunition depots in the area.
On top of that, Turkey is also sending reinforcements into
Maarat-Numaan, a key rebel-held town on the edge of Idlib. The intention
here is clearly to prevent the Syrian/Russian offensive from taking
their allies’ territory.
Turkey’s rebels aren’t directly aligned with al-Qaeda, but they also
aren’t fighting, and during times of Syrian offensives, Turkey tends to
support whoever Syria is fighting.
If Maarat is liberated, then the gig is up in Idlib for the Turks. HTS would be totally finished. They need to pack it up and go home. So does the USA. Nobody there is benefiting from this ridiculous “Assad” fetish the west has going on.
The US regime has all but lost this war. They just refuse to acknowledge it.
Agreed, but it’s a great business model for future Empires: The business of never ending wars. There are alternatives. Pakistan PM, Imran Khan, on MSNBC Morning Joe made this statement this morning: “While USA was pouring at least $1.5 Trillion into futile Afghanistan
war, China was developing 1st world infrastructure and today New York
has bumpy roads”. America is a basket case and has no business promoting its arrogant “exceptionalism” followed by bombs.
Turkey and Al-Qaeda are two sides of the same filthy nickle.
“Turkey tends to support whoever Syria is fighting”. That’s a very encouraging statement. Also the remaining 400 American troops in Syria?
This is favorite fantasy — that goals of Syria, Russia and Turkey — are irreconcilable., it is silly — downright. Turkey has a very difficult task of controlling former US funded and then abandoned, mostly under the defunct label “Free Syrian Army”. And they are under control — but one can never write off the power of money. And some of the groups have bern caught transporting weapons to Al-Qaeda.
If anyone thinks Turkey would protect them, better think twice. Al-Qaeda is in Turkey a terrorist organization, and off limits. This is why it is difficult for Al-Qaeda to get allies.
If an offensive is coming — it would make sense for Turkey to block any escape route. So far, all actions were coordinated, from Jarabulus to Afrin.