The War on Terror /Central Asia/Mid East/Africa thread

[simple schoolboy]

The US contribution to the current Syria activity has been to conduct airstrikes on the Iraqi based Shia militias that have been moving to reinforce Assad. Turkish backed HTS has been the winner in all this. We don't ostensibly want them to win, but then again, they aren't the ones firing rockets at US troops, so what are you going to do?

[McParadigm]

Defecting Syrian soldiers and police, signing up to work for the rebels’ ministry.

[Anders]

[Anders]

[Anders]

Reports that Kurdish forces are capturing Deir Al-Zor.

[E.H. Ruddock]

I wonder if that American that has been a prisoner for 12 years over there will be released?

[Anders]

[Anders]

I wonder if that American that has been a prisoner for 12 years over there will be released?

There are several different rebel groups in Syria, and I’m not certain how this will end. The Kurds are probably the most legit, and deserve their own nation, but they won’t take Damascus.

Hopefully, if Assad and his regime falls, something better will replace it, and someone like your prisoner, will be released.

[BurtReynolds]

Given that there are so many rebel groups, I think war in Syria will be ongoing for awhile. And the Turks will probably attack the kurds at some point.

[McParadigm]

Sounds like the regime is done

[Anders]

The regime has slaughtered large numbers of innocent people in the past, and been a close ally of Hezbollah, Iran and Russia. Can’t cry for them, but I do worry about what will happen next.

[Anders]

[bart]

Damascus about to fall. Hope Assad gets Gaddafi’d

[bart]

Well that was fast. Assad’s getaway plane may have crashed or emergency landed in HTS territory outside Homs as well.

[Bi_3]

Damascus about to fall. Hope Assad gets Gaddafi’d

Yes, that worked out so well

[McParadigm]

Maybe he was on that plane

[Anders]

[Anders]

BBC: «The Russian foreign ministry has said that deposed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad left his post and the country following negotiations with "other participants in the armed conflict" and gave instructions for a peaceful power transfer.
It insists that Russia was not involved in those negotiations and that its military bases in Syria are on high alert but not under threat.
Russia states it is in touch with "all groups in the Syrian opposition".
Russia had been a key ally of Assad, previously offering him with military assistance to remain in power.»

[Anders]

[Anders]

Leader of the opposition forces is there for the evening prayer in the main mosque in Damascus.