The Israeli army is in regular contact with Syrian rebel forces, and has been providing them with growing amounts of aid over the course of the Syrian Civil War, not just providing medical aid to the wounded, as has previously been reported, but also giving rebel factions food, fuel, and even money to pay their fighters’ salaries and buy ammunition.
Those familiar with the Israeli aid say that it’s gotten so prevalent that Israel’s military is actually setting aside a specific part of their budget for aid to be provided to Syrian rebels, while Syrian rebels openly praise how deep the Israeli aid has gotten, crediting it for their continued operation as rebel forces.
One of the rebel factions, the Knights of the Golan, receives an estimated $5,000 from Israel every month. The group is not affiliated with any umbrella group and it appears Israel’s stipend is a significant chunk of this group’s operating budget.
The UN Observer Force in Syria is a bit less upbeat about that, saying that Israel’s interaction with the rebels has been growing precipitously in recent months, and that this could trigger growing clashes between the rebels and Syrian forces in the southern Syria, putting the observers at risk.
Israel officially doesn’t admit to any of this, beyond providing medical aid to wounded rebels, and of course attacking Syrian military bases regularly across the nation’s south. The direct aid is all under the table, but less of a secret all the time.
Syrian rebels? Hmmm that would be…. ISIS? And no one is suspicious why Israel hasn’t been attacked? Jihadi Wahabbi Sunnis right next door and not one ISIS commander has even thought hey THAT’s the people we’re supposed to be against more than anything? Curiouser and curiouser. Or maybe not.
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I don’t think it is increasing it is just not being hidden any longer.
“this could trigger growing clashes between the rebels and Syrian forces in the southern Syria”
That is the intent behind doing it.
Sorry but 5000$ dollar per fighter or in all? That quote looks a bit too much like “I don’t know either so I’ll just pass it on and just imply it’s a big deal”. I think it’s per fighter, but that should be made explicit.
When discussing aid for rebels, too often people focus on weapons giving to rebels because it’s the most intuitive thing to do but providing salaries for the fighters is perhaps the most substantive form of aid one can give. Without fighters there can be no rebel force. The Saudis and the Gulf states have kept the Al Qaeda coalition in N. Syria alive by issuing stipends. The U.S. has provided training and black market weapons from former eastern bloc countries.
Syrian terrorists. Up until now, NOBODY has identified ONE “rebel” group that is not being controlled by Al-Qaeda, ISIS or local Takfiri, cults that spawned out of Wahhabi Saudi sect. Free Syria Army does not exist, or ever existed. Different groups just defended their turf or engaged in local raids to plunder, smuggle and spread lawlessness anywhere Syrian Army could not defend.
It is really pathetic that a great power like US and a state set up to give homeland to survivors of European extremist ideology today use extremism, religious fanaticism and sheer terror to achieve their goals.
As Syrian territory has been liberated more and more each day — and Kurds cannot establish control on the ground as hoped — Syrian and Iraqi Army are moving to reestablish common border, a panic has set in. There is a rush to control access to border at Al-Tanf, a base has been set up protecting this vital access road that from Saudi Arabia and Jordan is the key to supplies. But Iraq and Syria connected just 50 miles to the east, so the base and whatever “rebel” ad hoc group providing fig leaf for the base — are all now separated from ISIS. So, the excuse of fighting ISIS is no longer there. As Syrian Army moves to liberate ISIS surrounded town of Deir Azzor, there are all sorts of excuses made to protect ISIS — and prevent Syria to liberate their population! For years people lived of airdrops for survival — and here we are, trying to keep them surrounded and starving. And no tears shed for them.
Kurds cannot occupy the territory where they do not live — unless US wants to commit to occupation. As Iraq is clear about US troups leaving after ISIS is defeated neocons are looking for another foothold.
We are not protecting any population there. Syrian Army is pooular in Syria almost to mythological proportions. Army has dxpanded, and has thousands new jobs and training in demining, military police, humanitarian supplies, social work, civil engineering, and rescue. For US it is a stupid and losing intervention, and it is now recklessly inviting escallation of war. But Israel first interests prohibit US from alternatives, such as regional security and peace settlement. By keeping ISIS alive, the stupidities multiply, risks to us grow. And ridks to all those that support this approach. From Gulf to Wesr Europe, questions are asked, our weaponized religious cults are striking Europe, and are seeking our cash to do our bidding or to do us harm. What a mess. Will Saudi Arabia just sit meekly after it loses shirt gambling on our leadership? Or anybody else. But we should be proud in our knowledge that it was all for Israel.