My latest with Redacted: UN ‘humanitarian’ crossings in Syria and Russian ‘veto’
We cover the latest wrangling at the UN over the Al Qaeda trading post at Bab Al Hawa on Syrian border with Turkey
We cover the latest wrangling at the UN over the Al Qaeda trading post at Bab Al Hawa on Syrian border with Turkey
One thing is clear from my recent visit to the Idlib battle frontlines – the Bab Al Hawa border crossing is not the “humanitarian” lifeline as described by US, UK representatives and aligned officials at the UN. For these civilians, it represents the perpetual threat of death or injury, the destruction of their livelihood and a life of deprivation, bloodshed and fear.
The aid is effectively supporting the partition of Syria. Idlib province, and the militants which govern there, seek to separate permanently from Syria. They are attempting to Turkify the region through sectarian education, promoting the Turkish language and even using Turkish currency.
“All of the humanitarian aid which enters Bab al-Hawa is seized by HTS and sold at extortionate prices to the civilians under their control in the last remaining al-Qaeda haven,” she explained.Beeley maintains that by trying to maintain cross-border operations, the US intends to to sustain the terrorist enclave in Idlib and the war against the Syrian government.
Propping up HTS and its murderous Idlib tyranny as a jingoistic cat’s paw against the Damascus government and its Russian, Chinese, and Iranian allies – whether through diplomacy, aid, publicity, or weapons – only delegitimizes the terrorists and their Western apologists even further.
The Turkish regime continues to violate its obligations under international law, the Adana Agreement, Sochi, Stana, Moscow and Security Council resolutions, especially those relating to counter-terrorism, as this regime continues to provide multi-form support and care for loyal terrorist organizations His which is active in various areas of northern Syria.
The statement is remarkable as much for its omissions as for what it does say. Not a word about secularism or protection for minorities. That the jihadi groups are totally airbrushed out of the picture, except obliquely in a prohibition on using terrorism as a justification for use of armed force, is really quite striking. There is not a word here with which Hayat Tahrir Ash Sham, the dominant jihadi group, would not concur.
2nd March 2020 – driving from the city of Aleppo to Urem Al Kubra, the furthest point in west Aleppo before reaching the terrorist frontlines. These areas were occupied by HTS or Al Qaeda in Syria and Nour Al Din Zinki, child beheading extremist group backed by the US as part of the “train and equip” programme.
Saraqeb, Idlib 24th February 2019. Former Nusra Front military training center, suspected used by White Helmets also.
Cette guerre livrée à la Syrie depuis 2011, rappelle Vanessa Beeley, est une invasion et une occupation menées par des groupes terroristes financés et soutenus notamment par Washington, Londres, Paris mais aussi par la Turquie et Israël. Libérer le territoire syrien n’est ni plus ni moins la seule façon de faire respecter le droit international et de rétablir la paix.