To gain a deeper draw Moscow into the conflict, Washington forms new coalition.
Under the pressure of external forces in the Syrian province of Aleppo, a new large opposition coalition. Its officially declared goal is the destruction of the “Islamic state”.
As reported by Arab media, it will be known as the “Northern army” or “Northern front” — the example of the already existing “southern front”, who was fighting in the Deraa province and is supported, according to experts from the middle East at the Carnegie center in Beirut, the United States, Europe, Saudi Arabia and Jordan.
According to Arabic press reports citing American diplomatic sources, earlier, the United States and Turkey have agreed to expand coordination to a large-scale offensive against ISIS in Northern Aleppo, in particular on the city of Manbij, located near the Turkish border controlled by ISIS. Coordination entails, including air support from the US air force and Turkish artillery.
Also, the media pay attention to the fact that I have recently met representatives of the opposition from provinces of Idlib, Latakia and Aleppo with the intelligence officers of the United States, Turkey, Qatar, Saudi Arabia. Allegedly, between them, an agreement was concluded, the meaning of which is as follows. Such large groups like “Ahrar al-sham, Jaish al-Islam”, “Faylaq al-sham”, “Harakat Nur ad-DIN AZ-So -” etc., should definitely take part in the operations, “the Northern front”. Otherwise, they will be listed in the list of terrorist organizations of the United Nations.
It is also noted that the Turkish authorities in April suspended the work of all the so-called “charitable organizations and foundations” in the border area in order to put pressure on those teams who have some doubts about the necessity of joining the new coalition.
As noted by the expert RIAC and the Middle East Institute Sergey Balmasov, the new Alliance structure similar to that of the Salafi coalition Jaish al-Fath (“the victory Army”), formed in March 2015 with the support of Ankara and Riyadh, headed by “al-nusra Dzhebhat” and is still successfully operating in Idlib.
— In addition to the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda” group “al-Nusra” — to include “Ahrar al-sham, Jund al-Aqsa”, “the File kas-sham” In Syria continuously created some of the coalition and that is significant — dominate them mostly Saudis. That is, in the case of the so-called “Northern front”, again we are talking about “overflow” of the same groups from the coalition to the coalition.
The meaning of such combinations náprstek of action is clear — as much as possible to weaken the regime of Bashar al-Assad, as well as deeply as possible tighten in the Syrian conflict Russia and Iran. USA in this way during the period of the armistice create a situation in which they, not Russia, affect conflict. However, it should be noted that this does not mean that the United States will take the lead. As I said, in the Syrian conflict continue to strengthen its position come from Saudi Arabia. For example, activation of a son of Osama bin Laden — Hamza, who once again calls upon the Mujahideen to unite and struggle — that is to say, the link of this particular chain.
— Official purpose “the Northern front” — such as the fight against “Islamic state”.
— It is possible that it is in fact so. At the moment, “Islamic state” has become quite a serious enemy of the Gulf monarchies. And if the IG is not clean, it is not known for whom it will hit harder — Assad or Saudi Arabia with the UAE. Let me explain. The Saudis consider the “an-Nusra”, “Ahrar al—sham” etc. as opposed to IG. For example, in the group “Ahrar al-sham” is largely dominated by the military wing of the “Muslim brotherhood”, which in the Syrian quarter of Yarmouk in southern Damascus was severely affected by the militants.
The popularity of the “Islamic state” in the middle East is growing. For example, a significant part of the conspiracies that are constantly disclosed in the UAE or KSA is not fiction local security services. The situation is really serious: there is an active agitation among the indigenous population and migrant workers against established regimes, it is necessary to demolish the remnants of historical epochs, for all wealth belonged to all Muslims, not a handful of presumptuous sheikhs.
That is why now the Saudi intelligence services are actively working with “an-Nusra”, “Ahrar al-sham, and the United States, despite the truce, continued to supply the opposition with weapons — small arms, RPGs, anti-tank systems.
— However, the support of the “Islamic state” from the outside still goes on…
— The accusations against Qatar and Saudi Arabia that they will continue to support IG, — partly fair. It is clear that no one is to do it directly — support is provided through various private funds, donations, and through the branches of the IG in other States. But, Turkey still continues to support the “Caliphate”. As he wrote the famousfirst military historian Bernard fall, any rebel movement who are in transition from the partisan to the state, a long time must rely on logistical support, otherwise they just destroy. And as we can see, since active involvement in the Syrian conflict Russia and Iran, the “Islamic state” suffered a tactical loss.
Deputy Director of the Institute for political and military analysis Alexander Khramchikhin stressed that the main aim of any being created in Syria, the opposition coalition has actually been and remains the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad.
— “Islamic state” and “an-Nusra” also perform this function. Of course, it is not known how the Caliphate came under control of its curators, but it has become unacceptable for a number of reasons. Although, in fact, the difference between ISIS, al-Nusra”, “Ahrar al-sham,” no, but to unite and fight as a United front they can’t mainly because their leaders fight for influence.
Therefore, the West hand seems to be more “moderate” groups, which are not included in the list of terrorist, although they are, will simulate the struggle against more radical. Where it leads is hard to say. It is reported that the work of the “Northern front” will be based on the principle of functioning of the opposition coalition Jaish al-Fatah, which is headed “Dzhebhat an-Nusra”. And at the same time States that “the Northern front” will be used in order to squeeze “Dzhebhat EN-Nusra” from the province of Idlib and the city of Azaz. The contradiction is obvious.
Pay attention to the fact that if the attack groups of the “Northern front”, as stated, will be implemented in Azaz and Jerablus border with Turkey city through which the insurgents get reinforcements, we should expect their clashes with Kurdish troops who now actively help the United States. The Kurds, as you know, would like to capture these settlements, to permanently close the Syrian-Turkish border and linking the cantons of Afrin and Kobani…
In General, the tangle where all are fighting against all, it is very difficult to unravel. Those same Americans do not always know who in the moment to choose, and often take ad-hoc decisions, not always knowing what will come out of the situation… And, frankly, I don’t believe not only that the coalition “Northern front” will reach some success in the fight against “Islamic state”, but in what it is generally held as a combat-ready force.
