Daesh/ISIS is advancing in Aleppo, cutting off supply lines from Turkey to the FSA and possibly stra - Polidicks

[quote]The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group has seized more territory from Syrian rebels in Aleppo province near the border with Turkey. The advance by the armed group on Tuesday threatens to cut off supply lines used by Syrian rebel factions fighting both ISIL and the Syrian government. Activist group, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said rebel groups have sent reinforcements to ward off the offensive, which has seen four villages and a town previously held by the al-Qaeda affiliated Nusra Front fall to ISIL fighters. A video posted by ISIL on YouTube showed its fighters walking without opposition in the town of Umm al-Qura in Aleppo. On Tuesday, the pro-Islamic State Aamaq News Agency released a video showing fighters with the group as they captured Umm al-Qura. The video showed the fighters marching in fields near the village, as well others shooting from the roof of a building. "Thank God, with His help the brothers of the Islamic caliphate advanced at several northern countryside villages," an unidentified ISIL fighter said in the video. "God has made it easy for us to get hold of their necks and we were able to kill 35 and what is coming is worse for them than this." [img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b2/Aleppo-map.png[/img][/quote] [url]http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/06/isil-seizes-territory-syria-rebels-aleppo-150602154413816.html[/url]

"The fighting came a day after US State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said authorities heard reports that forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad launched airstrikes supporting the ISIL's advance." Um, Assad, whose side are you on?

[QUOTE=Pilot1215;47865876]"The fighting came a day after US State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said authorities heard reports that forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad launched airstrikes supporting the ISIL's advance." Um, Assad, whose side are you on?[/QUOTE] He's on his own side. It's Assad vs. "Free Syrian Army" vs. Islamic State. All 3 are competing, with peppered Kurdish resistance siding with the FSA. [editline]2nd June 2015[/editline] Needless to say, Assad is Alawite, which is a Shia influenced sect and the Islamic State is insanely Sunni to the point of bombing Shi'ites anywhere possible.

"But Assad is like, the good guy!"

[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;47865902]He's on his own side. It's Assad vs. "Free Syrian Army" vs. Islamic State. All 3 are competing, with peppered Kurdish resistance siding with the FSA. [editline]2nd June 2015[/editline] Needless to say, Assad is Alawite, which is a Shia influenced sect and the Islamic State is insanely Sunni to the point of bombing Shi'ites anywhere possible.[/QUOTE] Honestly this conflict gives me a headache. Did you hear about the Turkish MIT agent caught fighting alongside ISIS in Mosul?

What?

[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;47866091]What?[/QUOTE] Originally Jordan Matson(American YPG volunteer) had posted about it, then I found this. This says former, although the way the Peshmerga had seemed to put it was he was current. I'm not sure, but this is interesting. [url]http://www.ibtimes.co.in/former-turkish-mit-intelligence-agent-arrested-while-fighting-isis-mosul-report-634291[/url]

[QUOTE=ThePinkPanzer;47865959]"But Assad is like, the good guy!"[/QUOTE] You'd have to be pretty sick to think Assad was a "good guy" if you saw the pictures of what he did to the peaceful protesters when this all started

[QUOTE=Pilot1215;47866665]Originally Jordan Matson(American YPG volunteer) had posted about it, then I found this. This says former, although the way the Peshmerga had seemed to put it was he was current. I'm not sure, but this is interesting. [url]http://www.ibtimes.co.in/former-turkish-mit-intelligence-agent-arrested-while-fighting-isis-mosul-report-634291[/url][/QUOTE] That makes this opinion piece I read slightly concerning [url]http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2015/05/turkey-tomb-raided-confronting-isil-150531072245933.html[/url]

[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;47866769]That makes this opinion piece I read slightly concerning [url]http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2015/05/turkey-tomb-raided-confronting-isil-150531072245933.html[/url][/QUOTE] Yea, it does. Wonder how this is gonna turn out.

In this particular area, Assad's support for ISIS makes sense for them. The Battle for Aleppo is mainly a Government vs. FSA fight. ISIS has no real way of taking the city without first going through the both of them. Assad is hoping that if ISIS breaks the FSA's supply lines, he can take the entirety of Aleppo for himself. Imo this is strictly a strategic move, not the makings of an alliance between the Government & ISIS.

[QUOTE=ThePinkPanzer;47865959]"But Assad is like, the good guy!"[/QUOTE] Said literally nobody, ever. (except maybe Assad)

[QUOTE=Psychokitten;47870068]Said literally nobody, ever. (except maybe Assad)[/QUOTE] Despite what you may think, Bashar al-Assad is pretty decently supported amongst the non-muslim minority groups (plus the alawites of course) He's really far from the universal bad guy for many people.

[QUOTE=Milkdairy;47870183]Despite what you may think, Bashar al-Assad is pretty decently supported amongst the non-muslim minority groups (plus the alawites of course) He's really far from the universal bad guy for many people.[/QUOTE] The fact that half the country is controlled by an intolerant Sunni extremist group that literally executes anyone of a different faith (or the same) may be a pretty good factor as why they support Assad. It's not that they like Assad, it's that the other options are worse for them.

Firmly regime controlled areas of Syria are practically the only place where life still takes on a hint of normalcy so yeah I'd say it's not surprising that they at the very least lay their trust to the regime for protecting them. honestly I think it's all part of his plan because there is overwhelming indications that the regime indirectly supports the success of IS forces in Syria and by rallying the Christians and Alawites towards him by playing the protector he maintains a certain form of legitimacy (and better yet stability in regime owned areas)

Pretty soon Russia is going to want him to step Assad.

[QUOTE=Starq;47871149]Pretty soon Russia is going to want him to step Assad.[/QUOTE] Russia's military and political focus is too busy in Ukraine to dedicate much effort to Assad.

[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;47871245]Russia's military and political focus is too busy in Ukraine to dedicate much effort to Assad.[/QUOTE] Something to add that interested me. Also, the YPG's recruitment page on Facebook posted some more ties between Turkish citizens and ISIS, although this is more related to gangs fighting for ISIS. [url]http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Report-Russia-turning-its-back-on-Syrian-regime-not-honoring-prior-agreements-404590[/url]