Islamist rebels in Syria catch Assad, Putin, Iran regimes off guard giving US new mideast headache
Extremist Syrian Islamist forces have recently taken control of much of Aleppo, the second-largest city in Syria, which has raised significant concerns for the U.S. government. The victory of Hayʼat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group with ties to Al-Qaeda, in Aleppo has sparked questions about the implications for Israeli national security and the U.S. policy in Syria.
The Syrian Scientific Studies and Research Center, where Assad’s chemical weapons program is housed, has reportedly been seized by these extremist groups. This development has highlighted the ongoing threat of Assad’s use of chemical weapons on his own population, despite previous efforts to dismantle his chemical warfare apparatus.
The government of Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel has expressed concern over the latest events in Syria and has reportedly held meetings to discuss the situation. The capture of Aleppo by HTS marks a significant military defeat for Assad and his allies, including Hezbollah, Russia, and Iran.
The U.S. has around 900 soldiers in Syria as part of a mission to defeat the Islamic State. However, the presence of extremist groups like HTS in Aleppo poses a new challenge for U.S. interests in the region. The U.S. government has designated both Iran and Syria as state-sponsors of terrorism, further complicating the situation.
Experts warn that HTS, with its connections to Al-Qaeda, poses a threat not only to Assad’s regime but also to U.S. interests in the region. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a U.S.-allied coalition of Kurdish forces, is also present in Aleppo and faces the risk of being challenged by HTS.
The rising influence of HTS in Aleppo has the potential to destabilize the region further and poses a threat to the YPG’s presence in northern Aleppo. Russia has also carried out airstrikes in Aleppo, adding to the complexity of the situation on the ground.
The Syrian regime has announced a “redeployment operation” in Aleppo in response to the recent developments. Dozens of soldiers have been killed, and terrorist organizations have entered large parts of the city. The ongoing conflict in Syria has led to the deaths of over 500,000 people since 2011, with the U.N. no longer tracking the death toll in the country.
Overall, the seizure of Aleppo by extremist groups has raised significant concerns for regional security and has highlighted the complexities of the conflict in Syria. The U.S. government will need to carefully consider its next steps in response to these developments to ensure stability and security in the region.
