Syrian rebels call for regional alliance, more weapons from Sunni states to counter Russia and Iran
12 replies, posted
[quote]
World | Mon Oct 5, 2015 10:22am EDT
Related: World, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey
Syrian rebels call for regional alliance against Russia and Iran
BEIRUT
[b][b]More than 40 Syrian insurgent groups including the powerful Islamist faction Ahrar al-Sham have called on regional states to forge an alliance against Russia and Iran in Syria, accusing Moscow of occupying the country and targeting civilians.[/b][/b]
The insurgents, including rebel groups under the umbrella of the Free Syria Army, said such regional cooperation was needed to counter "the Russian-Iranian alliance occupying Syria".
Last week Russian jets based in western Syria launched air strikes against targets Moscow has identified as bases of the hardline Islamic State group, but which President Bashar al-Assad's opponents say disproportionately hit rival, foreign-backed insurgents.
The joint rebel statement criticized what it described as the "Russian military aggression in Syria and the blatant occupation of the country" as well as the targeting of civilians with air strikes in the Homs countryside in western Syria.
"Civilians have been directly targeted in a manner that reminds us of the scorched earth policy pursued by Russia in its past wars," the statement said, without specifying.
The statement, sent to Reuters by Ahrar al-Sham, did not name which regional states it was addressing but Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar have backed the insurgency against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
The 41 groups which signed the statement did not include Islamic State or al Qaeda's Syria wing Nusra Front, which is in an insurgent coalition with Ahrar al-Sham that captured most of Idlib province in the northwest.
Insurgents have renewed calls for their Arab backers to supply them with more powerful weapons such as anti-aircraft systems in light of the Russian intervention in the war but Monday's statement appeared to be the most concerted rebel call for action against Russia's move.
Dozens of [b]Islamist Saudi Arabian clerics,[/b] not affiliated with the government, earlier called on Arab and Muslim countries to "give all moral, material, political and military" support to what they term a jihad, or [b]holy war, against Syria's government and its Iranian and Russian backers.[/b]
(Writing by Sylvia Westall; Editing by Dominic Evans and Alison Williams)
[url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/10/05/us-mideast-crisis-syria-rebels-idUSKCN0RZ18F20151005]Reuters[/url][/quote]
Nothing good can come out of this, especially mixed with unrelenting US support for these same groups.
This'll turn into Vietnam 2.0.
[QUOTE=Spetsnaz95;48842125]This'll turn into Vietnam 2.0.[/QUOTE]
the difference is that iran and russia are actually willing to support assad til the end and are attacking the enemies at their powerbase compared to the usa which never invaded north vietnam and pulled out of vietnam after support for the war dissapeared at home.
[QUOTE=Spetsnaz95;48842125]This'll turn into Vietnam 2.0.[/QUOTE]
more like cambodia at this point
boy i sure can't wait for another proxy war
because those always work out super well
[QUOTE=joes33431;48854968]boy i sure can't wait for another proxy war
because those always work out super well[/QUOTE]
we get good games out of it tho so it aint all bad
[QUOTE=Sableye;48854522]more like cambodia at this point[/QUOTE]
Not until the Islamic State starts killing people for wearing glasses.
[quote=Reuters]Dozens of Islamist Saudi Arabian clerics, not affiliated with the government,[/quote]
Suuuuuuuuuuure, of course they're not. How could they be?
[QUOTE=gudman;48856162]Suuuuuuuuuuure, of course they're not. How could they be?[/QUOTE]
Are you implying something shady?
You must probably be Jewish
This makes me think of WWI rather than Vietnam. In WWI you had immediate combatants being joined little by little by allies on each side, each new combatant jumping in to support their ally.
Saudi Arabia is against Iran's expansion of influence in the area. I'm sure after seeing Russia and Iran raise their level of involvement SA is planning how to do the same.
I don't think a world war can spark from this but it certainly get very ugly faster than any country can deal with. All it takes is one "oops" when one country's forces accidentally attack or bomb another country's forces and next thing you know there's payback. Then there's payback for the payback. A ripple effect with no end in sight.
[QUOTE=cecilbdemodded;48856433]I don't think a world war can spark from this but it certainly get very ugly faster than any country can deal with. All it takes is one "oops" when one country's forces accidentally attack or bomb another country's forces and next thing you know there's payback. Then there's payback for the payback. A ripple effect with no end in sight.[/QUOTE]
The Franz Ferdinand of Syria, if you like? Seems feasible. All these 'accidents' and military mishaps in the last few years have only been resolved by one side or both de-escalating by backing down. This conflict is going to become more and more emotionally charged as time goes on, especially if some country deploys ground troops.
[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;48855078]Not until the Islamic State starts killing people for wearing glasses.[/QUOTE]
Killing people for playing music.
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