Rebels To Manoeuvre Through Tougher War Scenario With Russian Involvement


09/22/2015

There is news that Russia will be directly involved in the battle field to help Syrian army fight the rebels.



“Russia's intervention in support of its ally will only lead to an escalation of the war” claim the rebels who brought down “big losses” on President Bashar al-Assad of Syria. Moreover, they also believe that doing so could even “encourage” additional military aid from “the rebels' Gulf Arab backers”. The deployment decision taken by Russia could even bring down conflict within the insurgents advancing into “western Syria” which could have initiated the Russian decision. As per U.S. officials the Russian forces are on their way.
 
However, rebels informed Reuters that government resistance have been quite strong in the “coastal heartland of Assad's Alawite sect” which could even translate into “tougher war” as the Russian forces are now involved. Yet, some think Russian deployment will bring in “more military aid” from various other countries like Saudi Arabia. Nevertheless the Russian involvement only “signals”:
“...a spiral of deepening foreign interference in a conflict already complicated by a regional struggle between Saudi Arabia and Iran”.
 
In an attempt gather “more support” the rebels are instigating the “Soviet failure in Afghanistan” which replicates their struggle, whereby terming Russia “as a new occupier”. As per the rebels’ information, the war is likely to continue longer, which has already on going for five years till now. One of the rebel, Abu Yousef al-Mouhajer stated:
"It is in our calculations that the battle will now extend for more years than it would have without the Russians”.
 
While, the fighters on the “Ahrar al-Sham group” are of the opinion that:
"The Russian intervention has come to save the regime”.
 
Russia is involving “helicopter gunship”, almost “500 naval infantry”, fighter-jets and artillery, whereby creating “significant military” build-up. Yet, Russia doesn’t specify “its goal” and claims that this involvement is only to “fight terrorism”. Almost thirty percent of insurgent fighters are “foreign jihadists”, including “Russians, Asians and Chechens”, who have been seized by the idea of fighting the “Alawite-led government”.
 
Russia has also extended weaponry help to the army of Syria who lack in manpower. However, rebels too have posed a threat to Assad being “better armed and organized”. They receive supports from the government of Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, as they all want Assad to be removed from power. Recently, the rebels have adanced into “Ghab Plain”, whereby they are facing stronger resistance from the army. In al-Mouhajer’s words:
"Today we have a new type of soldier that is fighting us with more ferociousness and professionalism.
"The battle has changed: it's now in their Alawite home."
 
While another rebel comments:
"The more progress we make towards the coast, the more ferocious they are in battle."
 
Nevertheless, the rebels aren’t sure of whether the Russian aid has already reached the battle ground, although Abu Anas al-Lathkani said:
"The information we have is that Russia has taken on the task of protecting the coast and it is leading the battles we are now fighting near Joreen”.
"The Russian presence will change the nature of the battle. The pace of our advances will become slightly more difficult”.




References:
http://www.reuters.com