Summary
Rebels in Syria, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), have launched their first major offensive on Aleppo since 2016, threatening a potential shift in the 13-year civil war.
The attack targets a city historically vital to Syria’s economy, previously reclaimed by President Assad with Russian support.
This resurgence could destabilize the region, involving players like Russia, Turkey, and Iran, while creating openings for ISIS.
HTS, previously linked to al-Qaida, has sought legitimacy but remains controversial. The fighting raises concerns of regional escalation amid other Middle Eastern conflicts.
Wow, I didn’t realize this war was still ongoing, and 13 years old. I remember when this war broke out, and not only does it seem that long ago, but I thought it was pretty much wrapped up and the government won out.
Goes to show how much the media controls our knowledge on current affairs.
Because Assad’s an ethnic-minority, he either has to genocide the entire country, XOR if he fails, then his life, itself, is hosed, from what I’ve read…
He CANNOT back-off & live.
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Syrian here. It was never exactly wrapped up. The government had strong momentum supported by its allies, but upon reaching the last stretch of rebel stronghold, they mysteriously stopped back around 2017-ish. What seems to have happened is Russia making a deal with Turkey and agreeing to stop.
Those remaining rebels have now launched a new offensive against the samw government army, but it is weaker than ever and severely lacking of ally support.
Thanks for the update. I hope you and yours are safe. What a terrible situation
No need to ease on the emergency measures as long as the war is on, eh?
“The war is not meant to be won, it is meant to be continuous.”
It’s not war so much as an imperial invasion. If you think this is long, check out the history of iran, palestine, iraq, libya, afghanistan, vietnam, all of latin america, all of africa, etc.
Goes to show how much the media controls our knowledge on current affairs.
Not necessarily. It just means you aren’t active enough to go out of your own information bubble. Plenty of news sources would mention many things.
They probably meant the hegemonic narrative rather than just “news sources”. Sure, there are alternatives but they’re completely marginalized.
This.
And a bit of what he’s talking about. I live under a rock with isopods for the most part. I stopped watching the news on TV years ago, and have really reduced the effort I put into keeping up with world events because of how discouraging it is, and how much I’ve come to realize said narratives are primarily competing propaganda narratives.
It’s insanely hard to find a modicum of truth in the sea of shit out there, and journalistic integrity has largely fallen by the wayside.
I also pretty much stopped watching TV as well. Online has more varied news sources.
Most Americans have no idea we are occupying Syria.
We?
Americans
It now appears like Russia put an overwhelming amount of their military might into Syria as their current invasion has revealed how ineffective their army actually is.
With vastly diminished Russian assets, Assad has a problem.
Contrary to whats being thrown around, Russia’s support hasnt shrank much. The major change was Hezbollah, which had to retreat from its positions in Syria to support the front against israel.
It’s most important to know that this is extreme propaganda calling terrorists “rebels”, etc. It’s a continuation of the war on reality. Genocide is self-defense, etc.
Reminder that America, Turkey, and Israel are occupying ~40% of Syria, including the oil fields and are stealing the oil and food from those regions, and occasionally bomb Syrian forces.
While Assad is not blameless, our actions certainly don’t improve the stability of Syria.
Edit: That any of these posts are getting downvoted is mindboggling. These rebels are HTS organization, which is what fucking al-Nusra renamed itself to.
These guys beliefs and actions aren’t meaningfully different from fucking ISIS.
While Russia and Iran occupy the other portion. Don’t leave them out of the party
Russia only occupies the small region of its naval base. Iran does not really occupy any part, although they do seem to have great influence on the government.
You mean the legitimate government of Syria and the militaries they invited to help them fight ISIS, Al Nusra, and other US proxies?
Iran’s General Solomeni was viewed across the middle east the way Americans view General Patton for coordinating an effective opposition to ISIS while the US continued to arm them via “Free Syrian Army” factions that either joined or immediately handed their equipment to ISIS and bomb people on both sides.
Yup, those are the “legitimate” war criminals
They are certainly more legitimate than the war criminals who are also stealing the oil and food, causing further immiseration and famine.
What makes Assad’s government legitimate?
OK, legitimate is a strong term for any bourgeoisie democracy, but some amount of legitimacy comes from defending its people from HTS and all the other US armed terrorist factions, Israel, Turkey, and the US.
That will change once they’re not in danger of being subjected to a worse fate by the US, but for now it’s the only organization capable of resisting.
Very ml of you
Having literally any understanding of geopolitics and history is just tankie shit ig.
simp harder
Bet most Syrians would prefer the US or Kurd occupied areas over the regime/Russian/Iran ones
I’m certain they don’t prefer the immiseration and famine that comes with the US and/or proxies literally stealing their harvests and oil.
The Kurds are more complicated; Turkey invades/bombs them whenever possible, sometimes the US takes measures against further Turkish aggression, sometimes they ignore it.
In 2019 the Kurds made a deal with Assad for protection and autonomy within Syria after Trump decreased support. For them, Turkey represents a far greater threat than the Syrian government.
Seems like it’s the Turks who steal the olives. Are they a US proxy or independent? And apparently the Kurds are the ones benefiting from the oil production and making deals with US buyers. Seems like the Kurds are the ones stealing I suppose. Just a quick googling.
What about US-induced famine?
Are they a US proxy or independent
Yes. Turkey does things the US doesn’t like, such as bombing US proxies, namely the Kurds, but at the same time, the US hold’s turkey’s leash.
the Kurds are the ones benefiting from the oil production
This is correct in the same sense that the poor benefited from the trump tax cuts; the US is getting that oil for $16/barrel.
What about US-induced famine?
Grain has been transported out of the US occupied area into Iraq.
There’s food scarcity and hunger-related disease across Syria, but it is significantly worse in the US-occupied areas.
To be clear Assad is not a good guy here, but stealing the country’s resources and bombing forces fighting the former Al Nusra only makes things worse.
I immediately assumed the oligarchy (through US or Israel) had injected new life into the rebellion to stir shit up for their new never ending wars.
