Abu Mohammad al-Julani, a leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra, the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda)
Major groups of the Syrian opposition will hold an extensive meeting in the Turkish city of Antioch on March 14 to take important decisions on the situation in Syria.
The meeting will include the National Syrian Army (NSA), the National Front for Liberation (NFL), the Syrian Higher Negotiation Committee (HNC), the National Coalition for Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces, The opposition’s delegation to the Astana talks and the Syrian Islamic Council (SIC).
Elaph, a London-based Arabian newspaper, reported that a series of high-level decisions and measures are expected to be announced at the end of the meeting. The outlet didn’t provide any additional information.
However, a recent report by the Syrian Enab Baladi news outlet predicted that opposition forces will announce steps to merge the Turkish-backed Syrian Interim Government with the Salvation Government, which is run by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
HTS, commonly known as the al-Nusra Front, was the main branch of al-Qaeda in Syria up until 2017. Back then, the terrorist group leader, Abu Mohammad al-Julani, announced that the group has parted ways with al-Qaeda.
Despite this announcement, Ayman al-Zawahiri said in late 2017 that al-Qaeda has never released HTS from its pledge of allegiance. Furthermore, al-Qaeda-affiliated groups in Syria continued to work under HTS protection.
Even the U.S. rejected this rebranding scheme. Washington’s embassy in Damascus warned from cooperating with the so-called the Salvation Government.
This new attempt to legitimize HTS and its “government” was not a surprise. Two months ago, a source in the HNC told Sputnik news agency that Turkey is working to transform HTS into a political party.
“Turkey is trying to handle the Nusra matter in Syria’s north, and they [the Turks] want to make this group a political group, like Hezbollah in Lebanon,” the source said.
These attempts to legitimize al-Qaeda will not likely settle well with the Damascus government and its allies, especially Moscow. Even the U.S. and its Arab allies will not likely tolerate such step, because it would damage their allies in the region, especially Kurdish forces in Syria.
Local observers believe that Turkey is planning to de facto divide Syria by placing its northern part under the control of a terrorist group. This would kill chances for a political settlement of the conflict.
Whether legitimize HTS as a political party with out Syrian government approval will not be acceptable. Then Syria must also legitimize PKK,YPY in Turkey is not needed in Syria it derails government liberalization goals.
HTS/al Qaeda and their head-chopper pals are attempting to self-legitimize by merging. Turkey thinks its a good idea (as an occupation proxy), but fuck them.
This may work to everyone’s benefit. There will be demands for the US State Department to add this new group to the list of known terrorist organizations – HTS was already added to the list last April.
https://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2018/05/282880.htm
The Department of State has amended the designation of al-Nusrah Front – an al-Qa’ida affiliate in Syria – to include Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and other aliases. These aliases have been added to al-Nusrah Front’s designations as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) under Executive Order 13224.
In January 2017, al-Nusrah Front launched the creation of HTS as a vehicle to advance its position in the Syrian uprising and to further its own goals as an al-Qa’ida affiliate. Since January 2017, the group has continued to operate through HTS in pursuit of these objectives.
Not that the US wil do a damn thing about them. But the Israeli-firster neocon chickenhawks in Washington will have no more ex-FSA to claim to protect in Idlib. They won’t be able to say anything when Syria and Russia move in to Idlib to smoke out the remaining rats. All the US has left is a canister or two of Sarin hidden in HTS tunnels and a few left-over white helmets. Idlib will be liberated before the US can justify another retalitory Tomahawk strike on Gasser Assad.
As Idlib falls, Turkey gets to decide how much it really wants to piss off Russia. I’m guessing Erdogan will just pout, withdraw his troops from Syria and then line Turkish troops ten-deep at the Syrian border to keep out fleeing head-choppers. He might take the opportunity to grab some land from the Kurds in the east. That will be damn interesting.
ok you lost me there. Who you think is supporting all the moves turkey is making into syria and back them up? Or you think all is happening with out the approval of russia? and while you thinking about it think also who arrange for all the terrorists to be moved in idlip and afrin?
many of them via turkey also found their way into europe and the balkan area, getting ready and organized for face two, that be europe. It seems none of you understand that russia as a major global player has long range plans and is moving on them, unlike western stooges that are catch with their pants down and reacting in spasmodic way.
Who you think is supporting all the moves turkey is making into syria and back them up?
Honestly: nobody. I’m guessing Erdogan serves his own interests like always. He mostly cooks up schemes on his own today, throws them out there and sees what sticks. Russia and US try to figure out when he’s serious and react, or figure out when he’s just bullshitting everyone and can be ignored. It’s a toss up right now. He’s kind of a loose cannon, and enjoys the way it keeps Russia and the US guessing.
Or you think all is happening with out the approval of russia?
Erdogan knows never to go full retard on Russia again – there will be consequences. But he’s stubborn as hell and damn sure isn’t getting prior approval from Russia to do anything – he just knows his limits. On the other hand, Erdogan isn’t in any hurry to do anything – Syria isn’t going anywhere. Russia wants all this to end as soon as possible and encourages Turkey to cooperate, but (to me) that doesn’t seem to be going too well.
and while you thinking about it think also who arrange for all the terrorists to be moved in idlip and afrin?
Think about how HTS/nusra merging with the leftover FSA gangs is the culmination of the Russian plan the US said was absolutely impossible: separating die-hard head-choppers from those militants that don’t give a damn anymore and were/are willing to reconcile with Syria. If the ‘merger’ happens, then any anti-Assad militant left in Idlib and most of Afrin is either going to be in a terrorist organization (that even the US will have to recognize as such) or will have to reconcile with Syria. The answer to your question is that Russia got Syria to move them all to Idlib for the final separation. Nobody can argue now if they go in to clean out the remaining terrorists, not even Turkey.
I don’t know what to make of the rest of your comment – Russia does not want any of these head-choppers going anywhere. It is FUKUS/NATO that wants to re-use their head-choppers in future schemes and are trying to ‘preserve’ them. Thats not going to happen, of course. FUKUS/NATO failed – they just haven’t acknowledged their defeat.
k watch what is happening and you eventually get to the answer. It appears you missing the point all terrorist organizations are one and the same and all of them is a continuation of GLADIO. US naming terrorist organizations means nothing as they and their masters created them, giving the sickness and then arriving with the cure that usually is worst than the sickness.
US naming terrorist organizations means nothing…
Well, of course it doesn’t – to most normal people on earth. But it does mean something in Washington to Washington chicken-hawks. Specifically when they were trying to protect their left-over moderate FSA head-choppers and somehow drag out their failed regime change operation for another try.
If all militants in Idlib into a single al Nusra/al Qaeda influenced militia, then the US name-change trick won’t fool the US public anymore. The US is not going to have CENTCOM openly defending the only militia left in Idlib if that militia is on the terrorist list. Chlorine barrel bomb false flags are useless of you no longer have any moderate head-choppers to save.
what you say is logical but you missing the picture in order to answer me in a way that sounds logical but not in touch with reality on the ground. west already by pass what the russians achieved in syria and they no longer care of a pipe line passing from syria. Already secured the deposits of cyprus and greece and the russians are left out.
This deposits will make europe self sufficient in few years and globalization always played the very long run game for centuries. A set back there and here means absolutely nothing to them. Just more nations get destroyed and more people die.
Learn to see the bigger picture and not focus on a pixel of it. Syria is no longer the main battle field, just a part of it and the testing ground measuring the real opponents strength and commitments. Knowing who needs a bullet and delivering the bullet is two all together different issues and time will teach you this. You simplify too much what is happening and maybe is time to see what happens in Mediterranean and the balkan area as well in all the borders of russia where 10s of thousands of isis have been moved into europe and been pushed to the borders of russia as well positioned to the balkan area where they wait at the starting points of their assignments.
As I said watch and learn not that it do you any good but…………. you have something to talk about if shit dont hit the fan, globally and you still, have net.
Hizbollah can not be compare with created terrorists organization or parties.Hisbollah is a liberation fighters and resistance Movement which have protected the existence of all Muslims and Arabs against Zionism,Jews apartheid and racism of Israel white imperialism of USA.When USA and Israel white oppression,supremacy and imperialism and oppression started because of their oil,gas,gold,all the mineral resources. Then Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Emirates Kuwait,Egypt,Turkey,Oman give in out of fear USA and Israel. Poor Lebanon fighters with Iran,Syria,Iraq and Yemen supplies form a resistance force.That is why this country’s are still under USA NATO destruction.Hisbollah resistance have forced Israel to come to the negotiating table. USA,Israel and NATO are terrorists countries cause human suffering where ever their got involved.
You don’t have to explain Hizbollah here, Xoli Xoli. The entire planet knows they’re on the US Foreign Terrorist Organization’s list because: Israel. And because the Israeli-firsters in the US Congress need to earn their sheckels when their otherwise not fellating their wealthy pro-Israeli donors pimped out by AIPAC.
Thanks my well informed man.
When Saddam start fire directly on Israel USA NATO come up with weapons of mass destruction lies and kill him.Same to Gadaffi.But the same USA NATO was helping Saddam to destroy Iran just because of helping Palestine his end came.But besides all viva resistance fighters Hezbollah Iran,Iraq, Yemen,Thanks to the Cuban,Venezuela for supporting Palestinians. If a left out any serious helper by mistake then my humble apology.
Which is why soon SAA must attack and annihilate the vermin!
Russia is stopping any SAA offensive on Idlib due to strong Russia-Turkey economical and commercial projects.
If legitimizing Al-Qaeda is not a problem, who not legitimize ISIS too? https://countercurrents.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/al-qaeda-in-syria.jpg
You Isis bitch may hide behind a Western girls picture, but wie all know and despise you Islamist nutjobs here. Your time has come, and nusras and turkeys will come soon. If not by help of Putin, then by syria and Iran alone. Count in it.. Erdogan is just the Captain of the Titanic..
Lol i live in the West.
bi idnilah baaaqyia
No, it is not what God plans for you. Not gonna happen.
Not god……. just the russians with their turkish partners.
daem min alsewdy ☝☝⚑ https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/624c811657d63d38c722a3204ef65e337bae055c11b387735f9fef4976aea96b.jpg
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/0092c9040c7a7b777f2fe9deb4c01a10bf2f4549219db1c6a3eb25a5a7691f20.jpg
Great picture, it says more than one thousand words.
https://youtu.be/m6YOot0rwJ0
what is the differense beyween isis and al qaeda? same shit different name.
And they are both U$ allies!
Both recruited, trained, armed and paid from Saudi and Emirati money under the aegis of CIA, Mossad, MI6 and the Froggy DGSE. The Wahhabi madrassas are in overdrive as the crop of headchoppers is dwindling.
Too late, the HTS terrorists are just buying time.
Wonder if Erdogan or his ministers will attend the terrorist meeting.
He will send one of his representatives, of course.
May be, may be not. Plenty of time to get them obliterated before the meeting on 14th.
When I see “Splutnic”, I becomes sceptic.
no shit Sherlock. From the moment russians arrange for turkey to move into afrin and idlip was kind of obvious, to any thinking person that they was selling out syria and setting it to be divided so they get their gas pipe to pass from turkey.
OK !!!
“HTS” (i.e. al-Queda) is simply too extreme of a group for Syria and its allies to negotiate with. The Turkish-backed groups were supposed to defeat HTS and take control of Idlib as part of the ceasefire deal. They failed. Now it is time for a Syrian military operation to crush the HTS terrorists.
Turkey did not fail, it just acted according to, cheating Russia.
As even a complete dolt would know the Americunts, Limey gits, Froggies and the Turkeys are rebranding their ISIS proxies under a new terrorist banner. Where do you think all the heavy lift choppers from Baghuz are taking the terrorists to?
Sounds a bit like Monty Python’s Life of Brian – The People’s Front of Judea https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WboggjN_G-4
This was writen in the stars, months ago, when Erdogan forced other groupes to surrender and leave their locations in favor of his proteges.
Let us point out htis. The meeting of terrorists will be held on Turkey !!! Who has been supporting terrorists on north part of Syria ?