More Russian and Iranian soldiers in Syria

The news this morning from Syria are two. The first is that Al Qaeda leader Ayman Al Zawahiri has called on rebels, with a widespread audio message, to implement a “long-running guerrilla” against Bashar al Assad. For the jihadist leader “it will be a protracted war because it is a war between the West and Islam, and the Levant (Sham) will not bend except to Allah”.

Addressing “moderate” rebels, he added: “You have to prepare for a long war with the crusaders and their Christian and Shiite allies. You have to switch to a guerrilla strategy to bring them to exhaustion “. A change of course in the Al Qaeda strategy, then, that could create many problems not only to Syria, but also the West.

The second news relates to the possible sending of new Russian and Iranian troops to Syria. According to Damascus, Moscow has sent a formal request to President Assad to send more soldiers in those areas of Syria necessary to continue to pressurize the “moderate” rebels (therefore, al Qaeda). The same sources also said that Iran is preparing to take a more active role in the war in Syria, even by sending ground troops.

For Tehran and Moscow is in fact necessary to continue to “prop up” the Damascus government ahead of a political solution. The Kremlin does not want to lose a key ally in the Middle East chessboard. Iran, on the other hand, must try to keep united the so-called “resistance axis” to counterbalance not only the Sunni states, but also (and above all) Israel. For these reasons, Iran and Russia have for years sent their soldiers to fight alongside Damascus.

Government forces, meanwhile, have won back a number of positions lost last week in Damascus and Hama. Assad forces are making progress towards the al-Hussein Mosque and the nearby farm in the neighborhood of the Qabon district of the capital, thanks to an impressive aerial backup. For the first time after four years, Damascus troops have taken again control of the Barza district and other areas in the hands of rebels in the east of the capital, as yesterday they managed to regain some areas in the northern part of Hama’s province.

 

Source: Gli Occhi della Guerra