Syria rebel groups form new coalition as regime eyes Idlib

best wishes to the syrian government as it cleans out these islamic 'rebels'.

The war in Syria has killed more than 350,000 people since it began in 2011 with a brutal government crackdown on protesters.

It has grown in complexity over the past seven years, drawing in world powers and jihadists.

An inordinately complex situation. But taking an Occam's Razor look at it, it's mostly about gaining more control of oil and gas. Again.

Bit surprised. Next month, September, it will be about 3 years since Russian forces were 'invited' by Assad to 'participate' in military actions. Many posters claimed as a result of Russia's military involvement and might the rebels would be quashed. Over a year ago 'leading' Russians claimed mission accomplished.

Kissinger (one of the worst men of the second half of the 20th century) must have been right, that if the guerrillas don't lose they win. Looks like they guerrillas are still fighting. And now some are in control of refugee camps outside Syria.

Why do we (Japanese) have to worry about the situation of Syria? Heck with them.

With such a ragtag mixture of uniforms and clothes, it's a wonder that they can identify friend from foe.

@PTownsend

Over a year ago 'leading' Russians claimed mission accomplished

Can you be more specific, who exactly said that? I remember only one "mission accomplished" claim, but that was Bush's circus in Iraq. Can you provide a link?

Very hilarious situation indeed: the Syrian army with Russian help liberated a great part of the country, Idlib is the last jihadists' stronghold, but some posters are not happy - "not quick enough, some of my friends' friend promised me it would be quicker". All right, tell us about more quick and successful campaigns, such as Iraq and Afghanistan. Or, wait...

Good luck to the Syrian army with liberation of their country!

@asakaze Can you be more specific, who exactly said that? I remember only one "mission accomplished" claim, but that was Bush's circus in Iraq. Can you provide a link?

‘Mission accomplished’ was my interpretation of the article below, which says:

The Russian General Staff has declared the liberation of Syria from Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS), stating that all territories previously under terrorist control were liberated in the final push by the Syrian Army.

https://www.rt.com/news/412149-syria-liberated-isis-terrorists/

I know the source is RT; I don’t trust their slanted reports either. But what do you expect from kleptocrat owned media.

And I know both Bush and Trump have claimed victories that were victories only for the various war industries and their financial backers. 

None of the world’s powers involved in Syria (or Iraq, Afghanistan, etc.) care one whit about the majority of people living there. They care only about their respective .01%ers and expanding their empires. There are no ‘good’ guys involved in Syria militarily.

Soon all over and Assad will be ruling a devastated and divided country (again).  although most of it destroyed by years of war.  Another wonderful "intervention" by Western powers when they initially supported the "uprising" against the :regime".

When your best friends are Syria, China and North Korea, it says something about your character and lack of class (Russia)

"best wishes to the syrian government as it cleans out these islamic 'rebels'."

The Russians are helping out.

Serrano, quite right. Go Russia!

@PTownsend

‘Mission accomplished’ was my interpretation of the article below, which says

And? The Russian General Staff correctly stated that previously ISIS-controlled territory is liberated, that's all. One enemy (ISIS) defeated, turn to another. That's the problem: Russians give a correct info, but then comes your "interpretation".

There are no ‘good’ guys involved in Syria militarily

Very questionable statement. I definitely prefer the Syrian army, simply because its enemies are much worse, and Assad can prevent his country from turning into another post-2011 Libya.

@Dango bong

When your best friends are Syria, China and North Korea, it says something about your character and lack of class

When your best friends are Saudi Arabia, Israel and Syrian jihadists it speaks volumes about your character and complete lack of class, profound lack of any grounds to claims of moral authority. And absolute absence of any common sense, because in Syria the West supports the same jihadists in fights in other countries.

I'll take the Syrian government over the murderous bunch of islmic jihadists anyday.

That'll be the Syrian government who murders its own citizens, yes?

That'll be the Syrian government who murders its own citizens, yes?

If they are armed and attack government forces, yes. U.S. cops kill about 900 people annually. Does it mean U.S. government murders its own citizens?

Does it mean U.S. government murders its own citizens?

Has a long and bloody history of doing just that, yes. Activists, students, people of color, native Americans, strikers...

But I digress. The conflict in Syria is a many faceted one and there are many participants involved.

The conflict in Syria is a many faceted one and there are many participants involved

But we can identify two main opposing sides there: one is the Syrian government and its allies, and the other side are jihadist groups of all names and colors and its sponsors. Which side is better? And what would be a response of any government of any even most democratic and liberal country if some of its citizens arm themselves, join a jihadist gang and attack law enforcement forces?

one is the Syrian government and its allies, and the other side are jihadist groups of all names and colors and its sponsors. Which side is better?

Not all the rebels are Jihadists, though, so that's a difficult one to answer. The Syrian Govt has used chemical weapons on its own people. Kurds, Assyrians and Arabs have been fighting against ISIS but they aren't pro-Assad, for example.

Not all the rebels are Jihadists

Not-jihadist anti-Assad groups are small, insignificant and quickly morph into jihadist as soon as Western support for them stops. Kurds and others have rather rocky relationship with the government, but they'll find some compromise to finish the war, just like Kurds in Iraq did.

The Syrian Govt has used chemical weapons on its own people

Proof? Besides videos of the "White Helmets videofake production" company, sponsored and directed by the U.S. and U.K.?

Proof? Besides videos of the "White Helmets videofake production" company, sponsored and directed by the U.S. and U.K.?

Uh oh.

A UN report confirmed that it was most likely sarin used on attacks in Aleppo, Saraqib and Ghouta in 2013. They and the OPCW found that chlorine was used in Talmenes, 2014 and Sarmin in 2015.

These are just a handful of instances where the Assadists used chemical weapons on its own citizens.

Not that I support either the US (who have used chemical weapons themselves) or the UK governments.

A UN report confirmed that it was most likely sarin used

I love this "most likely" wording. Just like with the Skripals fiasco - "we believe that most likely". It is not proof, it is a trick. Why these stories from 2013-15 so quickly died down? Just like with "regime gas attacks" of 2017-18, when there were no proof to support the claim.

Not that I support use of chemical weapons by any side of this war.

No matter how many times they change the brand name, it's still the same group of warlords and terrorists who hoped that the US would force the Syrian population to cower under the iron grip of.

And it's still the vast majority of the Syrian population saying they'd rather support their democratically elected government, even if it means years of suffering America's retaliation, than knuckle under, and wanting every Syrian rescued from the hostage taking 'opposition'.