Update on Syria: Americas Latest Perpetual War

I don't support the goals of Hamas.

That said, I have somewhat less respect for who western governments designate as terrorist groups than I imagine you do.

https://bsky.app/profile/titchashen.bsky.social/post/3lc5uvkqv4c26

Putin pledges assistance within 72 hours.

Does Assad have 72 hours?

Also, 72 hours? The offensive gained steam and the SAA started breaking on Weds.



We can have a battalion anywhere in the world within 18 hours with the entire brigade in theater within 48-72.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immediate_Response_Force

Good rundown of what we think we know:

https://bsky.app/profile/cxcarroll.bsky.social/post/3lcc4xty7es22

I know you want to recast them as "moderate rebels" but "renouncing Al Qaeda" while retaining the same leadership, adopting a Taliban-like approach to women and continuing to carry out beheadings (including of children) doesn't make them heroes.

This is what the British government has to say:

First Signs Russia Is Evacuating Navy Ships From Syria

Footage of multiple VKS strikes on Idlib hospital:

https://bsky.app/profile/noelreports.com/post/3lcgixjldns2c

Tend to agree, though Anc’s link does have a statement by them purportedly promising ethnic and religious toleration. If it can be believed (I don’t know if it can), that would be a promising development.

Interesting thread:

https://x.com/charles_lister/status/1864693167133544741

State TV has reported an unsuccessful coup attempt.

Rumors are that Assad has fled again.

N12 reports IDF attacked a chemical weapons storage facility in Syria to prevent it from falling into rebel hands.

https://bsky.app/profile/omrimarian.bsky.social/post/3lcns6d36j22v

Where assistance go?

Russia now evacing their airbase:

https://x.com/tendar/status/1865102250269372693

CNN are doing softball interviews with Mohammed Al Jolani, former ISIS nutter and founder of the Syrian branch of Al Qaeda. It's clear from it that he has received media training. Fucking hell.

If this continues the way it's going, shit will get really bad for Syrians again.

Reports have spiked in the last fifteen minutes that Assad has fled to Tehran.

WSJ reporting that Egypt and Jordan have urged Assad to flee and set up a government in exile.

https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-ea...y-in-growing-threat-to-assad-bd21f39f?mod=mhp

There are literally no good guys to root for here, except the Kurds. But Jolani or Assad, will much change for the Kurds either way?

"Assad remained in Syria on Friday. Last week, his children and his wife traveled to Russia and his brothers-in-law traveled to the United Arab Emirates"

Not sure, to be honest. I imagine their prospects are not good under the Turkish-backed HTS. (Even though I read today that there's some tension in that relationship.) There are lots of uninvolved civilians stuck in the middle between these bastards too. We can root for them.

NYT interview with al-Jolani

https://archive.ph/apjAN

Interesting article in the Times of Israel with a commander of some of the secular forces participating in the offensive:

https://www.timesofisrael.com/syria...o-support-uprising-strike-iran-backed-forces/

I’m not buying the tolerance pose, I don’t think.

Even if it's genuine from the leadership, have you seen the videos of what the rank and file fighters are saying?

No, but now I'm curious. What are they saying?

SAA is either running or defecting in almost every theater.

Rebels from the north are entering Homs and from the south the rural areas outside Damascus right now.

Assad forces are fleeing into Lebanon as rebels take a village 8km SW of Damascus.

https://bsky.app/profile/chadbourn.bsky.social/post/3lcprsfkvq22z

Rebels are in Damascus.

https://bsky.app/profile/tendar.bsky.social/post/3lcq5avi7hs2m

People are tearing down Assad posters 6km from the Presidential Palace.

https://bsky.app/profile/youranoncentral.bsky.social/post/3lcq56d6vts2m

And your Mom's ascus.

Damn!

Fireworks as cities are liberated:

https://bsky.app/profile/qusaynoor.bsky.social/post/3lcq7bpc4jk2k

When it comes to ethnic groups historically shat upon, the Kurds have got to be near the top. At one point or another, it seems to that every superpower (absolutely including the U.S.) have used them and dumped them.