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On November 8, Ali Akbar Velayati, a top adviser to Iran Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, expressed that the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) will set off to capture Idlib governorate and eastern Syria after defeating ISIS, according to the Iranian news agency (MEHR).
“Soon we will see the eastern Syria cleared, and then the Idlib area in west,” Velayati said during his visit to the Syrian city of Aleppo.
During a meeting with Aleppo governor Hussein Diab, Velayati stressed Iran’s will to participate in Syria’s restoration process. Khamenei’s top advisor said that his visit to Aleppo is a message “to all that we are determined to help with the restoration of peace and security to Aleppo”.
“The terrorists’ proxy wars have caused great damage to Aleppo and other cities in Syria, but they also strengthened the people’s resolve and resistance against the armed terrorists and their allies … The presence of an Iranian delegation in Aleppo signifies the readiness of the Iranian nation to stand by Syrian people, whether during the time of war or during the restoration process,” Velayati said after his meeting with the Aleppo governor.
Back on November 3, Velayati said that the SAA will soon advance towards Raqqa city in eastern Syria to liberate it. A top adviser to President Bashar al-Assad, Bouthaina Shaaban also said on November 8 that the is SAA is willing to recapture Raqqa city.
The latest statements of Velayati and Shaaban mark a start of the new phase of the Syrian war, in which the Syrian government has to deal the Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in Idlib governorate , and the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in eastern Syria. While there is a notable chance that the governmetn and the SDF may find some common ground for negotiations, further military oprations against HTS are widely expected.
The great and magnificent Iranian Revolution.
Very important to defeat all of the Israeli mercenaries and proxies in Syria before the start of the next Israeli aggression on Lebanon. This is a good oportunity for Syria to take back its stolen Golan Heights from the thieving Zionists.
True in fact they should shoot to retake it immediately when Israel makes another dumb move
I have a feeling the move on Lebanon will come BEFORE Idlib is liberated!
Idlib and Raqqa and all other occupied places in Syria will be free soon or later.
PKK is a small faction. Kurds are not terrorists.
The PKK represents the very spirit of Kurd’s and everything they stand for. PKK is more like the symbolism of the Kurdish mindset. If all Kurd’s did not believe in what PKK stands for, then the Kurd’s would have arrested or killed all of them by now.
Your anti-Kurdish hatred is depressing. Kurds have resisted jihadis.
Idlib pocket today looks similar to Idlib pocket in November of 2015. I hope Velayati’s prediction is accurate but it seems to be optimistic.
That’s right and that’s because Sirya simply doesn’t have enough forces (atm) to fight on many fronts at a time. In this age of “instant gratification” mentality the way that SAA (and Russian general stuff) is conducting its patriotic war to liberate their country from US/UK/Israel proxy is considered as some kind of weakness. In reality it shows that they steadily work according to solid and realistic plan that takes into account available resources.
The Ottoman and NATO invasions and occupations of Syrian territory are ongoing. Daesh has lost Ottoman and NATO support. Though Zio and Wahhabistani support of Daesh continues it is futile. Like any war, the foe gets a vote in the outcome.
As tudor pointed out, SAA can deal efectively one opponent at time. In the begin 2015 campaign, there were more than 100 different gangs raging in the country. Russians made deals and cease fires to buy time and resources for SAA to deal those gangs one by one. As you can see, ISIS is very light opponent, when you have opportunity to focus on it. It always has been and always will.
Yes, SAA/Russia strategy has been effective at rolling back Daesh. As I mentioned to VGA earlier though, Daesh had lost Ottoman and NATO support by 2017. Qaida and FSA continue to enjoy it.
And in the start of 2017 ISIS retook Palmyra and sieged the army base west of it while Deir Ezzor pocket was shrinking and the SAA had to airlift reinforcements to avoid a collapse.
True, but by 2017 Daesh had lost much of it’s international support. Qaida and Free Salafist Army continue to enjoy Ottoman, Wahhabistani, NATO and Zio support.
It doesn’t look like the Syrian government coalition is planning on conceding any territory to the Jew world order regime change criminals. And that’s a good thing.
it was obvious. Assad announced it yesterday as well. If ISIS is cleared form the DEZ region, if the SAA secures the borders with the help of Iraq as well…..its time to focus on HTS. Those hardcore butchers cant negotiate, wont give up, will have no remorse. So its time for the Tigers and the ISIS hunters to track them down….one by one…..and send them to hell.
Definitely HTS is fair play for SAA to unleash their bullets bombs missiles and rockets on :)))
The US Propoganda Ministry will claim that Iran is bolstering Assad 100% anyhow, Iran is not doing so at the moment, if Iran turns a new leaf the defections of My Brother Salafists to al-Qa’ed will slow to a trickle, most of IS was Ba’athists and only influenced by being on the winning team, israel is waiting it out but Salman is past the point of no return, Kushner is pushing Netanyahu to do the stupid thing because Trump cannot follow up, Ali Akbar Velayati is delivering an important message, I have been posting for 2 months that Erdogan won’t jump ship, he won’t, if he does I’ll have to resign as Jesus Christ.
In my opinion Iranian officials should refrain from saying what the Syrians must and must not do. It fuels the narrative of the empire who claims that Iran has its hands on the region (in Syria through the regime, in Lebanon through Hezbollah, Iraq/Hashd, Yemen/Houthi…). Iran must promote the absolute sovereignty of nations even in its rhetoric and leave the opponents on their own in their position of disrespect of countries’ independence.
In my opinion Iranian officials should refrain from saying what the Syrians must and must not do ….
EXACTLY!