Rich Tea Wellin wrote: ↑Tue Dec 10, 2024 9:26 am
Dunners wrote: ↑Tue Dec 10, 2024 7:15 am
From a military strategic perspective, moving to occupy the high ground before a jihadist militia gets to it first is the smart move. It also cuts off the supply lines from Iran to Hezbollah.
Syria is done anyway. It is no longer sovereign, and the territory is now contested between multiple proxies.
Interesting take.
The same Jihadist Militia the ones who overthrew Assad who the West are thanking for their efforts, or different ones?
It is indeed a murky world. And this tendency of western media to refer to these groups as "rebels" is utter bullsh*t.
It could be HTS, which appear to be in the running for top dogs right now. Although previous examples of post-regime collapse suggest that they could be turned over by another group. It's the uncertainty that, if nothing else, would mean it is risky for a neighbouring country
not to take measures to achieve strategic and defensive depth.
Trying to work out what is happening right now is next to impossible. HTS appears to be Turkish-sponsored but, whatever anyone may infer, the correct assumption is that everyone is currently acting in their own interests. Whether it is Turkey, Iran, HTS, other militant groups, Hamas, Hezbollah, Israel..... any alliances are merely out of mutual (and possibly temporary) convenience.
Right now, the best anyone can hope for is stability. Even a Jihadist taliban-esque form of stability would be preferable to a total state of chaos.