I don’t know enough about this group to decide if it’s a “good thing” or even a “less bad thing” than Assad. But I do know this: when it last looked like the Assad Regime was in danger, Russia moved significantly to make sure that didn’t happen. Russia considers having that regime in its pocket and access to Mediterranean ports an essential element of its national security. So if Russia is not moving with all speed to its ally’s aid, it’s a question of ability, not will. Cranking up the pressure in Syria might be a way to influence Russia in any negotiations over Ukraine next year.
Georgia is heating up and Moscow is making threats. Do they have the HP to do anything about it? Protests in Georgia spread as PM defies US condemnation
What’s the point of even posting then? Things can’t change, ever. Enjoy your ignorance and go fishing or something. Seems like a more productive endeavor.
Druze fighters opening a southern front Syrian rebels seize control of Deir Ezzor Rebels from Druze, an ethnoreligious minority group, have joined the uprising in southern Syria, CNN reports. Two Druze groups, the Men of Dignity Movement and Mountain Brigade Gathering, joined the fight in as-Suwayda, a city near the Daraa province which has been the scene of rebel fighting on Friday. Druze members have traditionally been against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime and now their numbers will bolster opposition forces in their fight against it.
Syria in maps: Where have anti-Assad rebels taken control? Surprising little about this in the news without searching for it. It seems the rebels are knocking on the door of taking Homs. Once that happens, the Assad regime is cut off from the sea and effective support from Russia. Pay attention only to the red portion. One glance at the purple told me this is not entirely accurate. It does not depict, for instance, the U.S.-garrisoned Eastern Syria Security Area.
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/thousands-flee-syrian-rebels-push-towards-homs-2024-12-06/ Syrian rebel forces advanced on the central city of Homs and Kurdish fighters seized effective control of the eastern desert on Friday, jolting President Bashar al-Assad's grip on power and triggering local revolts against his rule in the south. If Islamist insurgents captured Homs in their lightning new offensive, it would cut off the capital Damascus from the coast, a longtime redoubt of Assad's minority Alawite sect and where his Russian allies have a naval base and air base. In a parallel setback for Assad, a U.S.-backed alliance led by Syrian Kurdish fighters took Deir el-Zor, the government's main foothold in the vast desert in the east of the country, three Syrian sources told Reuters on Friday. It was the third major city, after Aleppo and Hama in the northwest and centre, to fall out of Assad's control in a week. Piling on the pressure, two Syrian army sources said the alliance known as the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) had swept through the nearby Albu Kamal border crossing with Iraq. In southern Deraa province, Syrian local fighters and former rebels overran one of the main army bases, known as Liwa 52, near Herak town as fighting spread to the southern border with Jordan, two rebel sources told Reuters on Friday.
Hama falls; Turkey rises. The war of the lunch meats continues. No comment from Roast Beef or Salami. This is Syria's. Strategic Syrian city of Hama falls to rebels in major blow to Bashar al-Assad
Now Iran evacuating under pressure rather than reinforcing and trying to stop the torrent. Waiting to see what Russia does. Going to be hard to hold that planned Eastern Mediterranean exercise without a base to go home to. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/06/world/middleeast/iran-syria-evacuation.html
Iran and Russia both being proven to be lightweights. Will Iraqi shiite militias be Assads only hope?
Sounds like Syrian army doesn't want to defend Assad “Iran is starting to evacuate its forces and military personnel because we cannot fight as an advisory and support force if Syria’s army itself does not want to fight,” Mehdi Rahmati, a prominent Iranian analyst who advises officials on regional strategy, said in a telephone interview. “The bottom line,” he added, “is that Iran has realized that it cannot manage the situation in Syria right now with any military operation and this option is off the table.”
He has already fled Syria with his family.* There is no one at the wheel. I think his “hopes” in life have narrowed somewhat. * Since posting this, I’ve seen conflicting word about whether Assad himself has fled or just his family.
I will admit I haven't been following the fighting in Syria. Is Turkey backing the rebels that are advancing on Damacus? I read that Russia is using a Syrian port, in what city is that located?
Just did a little extra reading on Tartus naval base and Russia losing that base is huge as it is the Med Sea repair and replenishment base. Their fleet now has to go back through the Turkish straits to the Black Sea for repair and replenishment.
