The US-led coalition in Syria launched a drone strike in the Idlib province, targeting a car, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported on Thursday.
US Central Command later confirmed that its forces launched a strike targeting a “senior operative” of Hurras al-Din, an al-Qaeda affiliate. Hurras al-Din just announced on Tuesday that it was dissolving, saying its goals were completed by the regime change that ousted former President Bashar al-Assad.
The attack marks the first known US airstrike under the new Trump administration. It comes about a month and a half after Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an offshoot of al-Qaeda, took power in Damascus with support from the US. Hurras al-Din was formed by former HTS members in 2018, and the groups share a similar ideology.
The damage to the vehicle suggested it was hit by a US-made AGM-114R9X Hellfire missile, nicknamed the “Flying Ginsu,” which shreds its target with razor-sharp blades instead of using an explosive warhead.
The SOHR said the strike marked the second in Idlib launched by the US-led coalition this month. On January 15, a few days before Trump was inaugurated, a coalition drone reportedly fired three rockets at a motorcycle, killing the rider and a boy who was walking nearby.
The Syrian Network for Human Rights said the motorcycle rider was a member of Hurras al-Din, while SOHR described him as a former member of ISIS. SOHR said a third person was killed in the attack.
Amazing!? What in the heck!? What now!? …No. …Never explain WHY again even if I ask you! I said NEVER and I did not ask WHY!? …No! I didn't ask…
The peace president strikes again.
"Peace through strength" The Romans said the same until their empire collapsed.
So it goes. The baton has been passed. From Killer Biden to Orange Killer Trump.
The difference is Trump would like to kill off DEI and people with handicaps. Just like Mr. Shicklegruber back in the day.
Remember this in 2015?
Trump, the man, the beast…………
This is getting too confusing. We help install Islamists, and then we bomb them anyway???
It must be very difficult to keep tract of who the "good" guys are from day to day.
Sometimes, there are no 'good guys' but just two evil factions, in Syria there are more than two.
Well, that was the plan all along. We and Israel help the Islamic terrorists to overthrow Assad, and then we turn on the Islamic terrorists to drive them out of Syria so Syria can be divided up between, Israel, Turkey, the U.S. and so on. It's "the enemy of my enemy is my friend…..for the time being."
The damage to the vehicle suggested it was hit by a US-made AGM-114R9X Hellfire missile, nicknamed the “Flying Ginsu,” which shreds its target with razor-sharp blades instead of using an explosive warhead.
Cute name. Always add a little humor when you're shredding humans.
Israel Isn’t Leaving Syria: Settlement Plans Signal a Permanent Land Grab
Israel wasted no time following the abrupt collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria. Within hours of Assad’s fall on December 8, 2024, Israeli forces seized the buffer zone separating the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights from the rest of Syria. They raised Israel’s flag atop Mount Hermon.
More than a month later, Israeli troops remain stationed in the United Nations-patrolled area — raiding government buildings and summoning residents for questioning — all the while alleging its presence is necessary to secure Israel’s border as the balance of power shifts in Syria.
Yet a combination of soldier and settler actions as of late question whether Israel has long-term plans for Syria. https://www.mintpressnews.com/israels-takeover-of-syria-after-assads-fall-colonial-ambitions-and-strategic-control/288960/
This assassination is just more evidence that HTS leader Ahmad al-Sharaa (formerly al-Jolani), the new appointed president of Syria, has been the CIA’s chosen survivor of a targeted assassination program. That is because he has been a CIA operative ever since he was imprisoned in Iraq during the insurgency 20 years ago. There have been many of these small targeted mysterious air strikes by the US in Idlib over the years to take out specific rebel leaders.
The targeted assassination of Muhammad Salah al-Za’bir, a senior operative in the al-Qaeda-affiliated Hurras al-Din terrorist group this week is an example of this CIA selection process. It is not hard to figure this out.
For example, just last August, as reported by Antiwar.com, the US killed Abu-Abd al-Rahman al-Makki, who was described as a “senior leader” of Hurras al-Din.
Just ask yourself, why wasn't al-Jolani targeted all of these years?
Ahmad al-Sharaa (formerly al-Jolani) had been groomed and selected all of these years by the CIA, with all of his competition eliminated with all these air strikes in Idlib. Al-Qaeda has been totally co-opted by the CIA for many years. Any local leader of competing groups to HTS in Idlib that might have gotten suspicious to this CIA selection process were themselves eliminated, all in the same manner.
So, when Jake Sullivan said back in 2013, "al-Qaeda is on our side", he meant that al-Qaeda has been co-opted.
Al Qaeda- "The Base"- Al- CIA- da
Just to add a detail. Hurras al-Din was hit first at the time it planned to join Turkish led SNA.
How is this group a threat now? Group disbanded — as presumably the goal of getting rid of Assad was achieved. That did not fool US — disbanding meant giving freedom to nembers to join SNA.
US wanted the group to stay with HTS, but enmity between the two was from the get-go.
It seems to be related to US hitting a prison where many HTS opponents were jailed.
However, group of psychopaths , Al-Zinki is loyal to HTS. And now basking in US glory in Damascus. The image that still haunts me was a video where the group beheaded a child, holding him in their arms.
We are an empire, and that is what empires do to maintain the monoploly on fear.
And Israel-Lebanon-Syria — just the latest masterpiece.
U.S. and the gang prefer al-Qaeda offshoots that are cute and cuddly.and drones the opinionated ones.
Drone warfare may come home to roost.
Hmm. US-led coalition? Resurrection of an old cannard? In the case of Syria — so far the ONLY “coallition” in existence US controls in the misnamed SDF — Syrian Democratic Forces. Imagined as a coalition of Kurds and Arab tribes — it never materialized. A few Syrians that joined abandoned SDF years ago. So now “Syrian” Democratic Forces are 100% Kurds. And of them at least 80% Kurdish YPG. A party that was always affiliated with Turkish PKK. This is today US coalition. If anyone knows of any other component, ket me know.
There is one more group of about 900-1000 mikitants kept in a former regugee center within US cintrolled Al-Tanf base. Styling themselves “revolutionaries”, but essentially cream of the crop of former ISIS, that were given orotectiin after the fall of Raqqa. I am not giving them any importance as — unlike Kurds — they have no local constituency.
Now about Idlib. Not the first time US hit Idlib. In one instance the hit was on HTS run prison. There was a reason. Those were all Idlib local resistance to HTS. Second hit was about two years ago — against an Idlub group negotiating with Turkey in joining Turkish controlled Syrian auxikiaries, now renamed SNA —Syrian National Army. HTS was frim day one UK outfit, with US mikutary protection. White Helmets are British special ops, recruiting locals for at least ten years, However, HTS and other mikitant groups control of Idlib was not welcome by populatiin. But had no recourse. HTS has commandeered all foreign aid to Idlib, and only loyal were rewarded.
Last March there were massive protests against HTS in Idlib city. Administrator of Idlib, Mohamned Al-Bashir, did not allow HTS to prosecute them, issuing an amnesty. HTS was losing grip over Idlib. More and more individuals and former “rebels”stuck in Idlib were leaving for Turkish led SNA. One of the conditions Turkey imposed was the disbanding of mikitant group and accepting Turkey appounted commanders. They had to accrpt unuforms and the new command structure. But they had pay and could support families.
The latest hit is clearly for the same reason — a message to all thise groups in Idlib that abandoning HTS would be punished. In this case group tried to be clever — disbanding as goal was achieved. Did not fool US. Disbanding was a means of freeing nembers to join SNA.
Somebody was punished for this move. But US cannot control thie situation. In general disarray – Idlib residents cannot be controlled.
HTS new lease on life came with Israel’s push into demilitarized zone in Golan Heights. As Syrian Army mobilized to defend border, HTS was to harass Damascus from Idlib.
This caused the complete — and I believe – planned deconstruction of Syrian state. Assad’s last command was an order to Army to stand down, and to the government to cooperate.
HTS with its 15,000 still loyal groups entered Damascus.
And now the real games begin. HTS is no match for Turkish led SNA numerically. 100,000+ strong, better trained, equipped and commanded Training, equipment and.command — SNA has advantage.
It is so common place to hear that Turkey supports HTS. A volune can be written about Turkey—HTS clashes. HTS militanrs are undisciplined and are currently reduced to gangs narauding, robbing and killing in Damascus.
US is trying to find them allies. Latest one — many tribes have been fighting Kurds in areas US installed them but have no Kurdish population. HTS is being sold to them as heloing them fighr Kurds. I think it is Deir Azzor province. It sounds ridiculous that US Kurds would be fighting US supported HTS. But it is not what it appears. The only goal is to get these tribes on payroll and orevent Turkey from recruiting them.
Stay tuned. It is a fast moving story. The latest is the mystery of who us the “interrim” president. US seems to signal that it is Joulani, The actual appointee was at first Al-Bashir. Dust needs to settle there.