The triumphant whimper of the Syrian rebel alliance's winter 2014 offensive

[khad]

On the 1st of January, 2014, the Western media made a big hullabaloo about how all the moderate Syrian rebels together with "moderate" Al-Qaeda affiliates were fighting the Islamic State of Iraq in Syria. They launched a general offensive with the aim of dislodging ISIL from their positions in Aleppo, Raqqa, and Idlib governates. After a week, they were proclaiming victory as ISIL seemingly withdrew. However:

1/13 ISIL recaptures most of Raqqa governate. Over 100 Ahrar al-Sham and Nusra Front fighters executed and dumped in the morgue. Local Nusra commander disguises himself as a woman and tries to flee to Lebanon.

1/14 ISIL captures Al-Bab in Aleppo, another 60 executed

1/15-16 ISIL captures Jarablus, another 100+ executed and killed in car bombs; severed heads used to decorate town's cultural center

1/20 ISIL issues full sharia law in Raqqa

1/23 ISIL takes Manbij in Aleppo; ISIL completely dominates region northeast of Aleppo City

1/24 ISIL captures Darkush in Idlib

Many more massacres and car bombings not newsworthy enough to report.

By the time of this post, ISIL has recaptured most of its important positions from the so-called rebels, but that's not all. Due to the ferocity of ISIL's counterattack, Zawahiri from the Al-Qaeda front office has issued a statement of reconciliation realigning with Al-Baghdadi (leader of ISIL), who had been exiled in favor of Nusra front earlier last year. Al-Baghdadi now has de facto authority to assert control over any Islamist outfit in the region. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h25hVFLy7Ko

Shortly afterwards, ISIL announced that it was forming a common front with Nusra and Ahrar ash-Sham (sufficiently terrorized by hundreds of executions) and attacking the Kurds. http://inagist.com/all/427168892981489665/?utm_source=inagist&utm_medium=rss


BREAKING: #Syria: Jabhat al-Nusra, ISIS and Ahrar ash-Sham form joint front to seize western Ras al-Ayn from PYD control. Here's a video of them siging about their new partnership:
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But that's not all. Thousands of volunteers from the rural parts of Aleppo have pledged allegiance to ISIL and were seen in a massive convoy yesterday backed by ISIL armor.

https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/416151329694679040/pfEs4ZHm_normal.jpeg أنصار دولة الإسلام ‏@Islamic_States (https://twitter.com/Islamic_States)

Huge convoy of tribes in the countryside of eastern Aleppo gave bayah to #ISIS (https://twitter.com/search?q=%23ISIS&src=hash) and ready to fight against Sahwa pic.twitter.com/c1efHTnqzj (http://t.co/c1efHTnqzj)
https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/416151329694679040/pfEs4ZHm_normal.jpeg أنصار دولة الإسلام ‏@Islamic_States (https://twitter.com/Islamic_States)

#الدولة_الإسلامية_في_العراق_والشام (https://twitter.com/search?q=%23%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D9%88%D9%84%D8%A9_% D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%8A%D8 %A9_%D9%81%D9%8A_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9 %82_%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D8%A7%D9%85&src=hash) #ISIS (https://twitter.com/search?q=%23ISIS&src=hash) military convoy arrived in Badiyah after getting support from civilians pic.twitter.com/BhiXdIVg0m (http://t.co/BhiXdIVg0m)So, there are 10,000 fighters in ISI, and 10,000 each in Nusra and Ahrar ash-Sham. Add in 5000 (my estimates) new volunteers, and what you have is a force that on paper controls 35,000 fighters, easily making it the largest insurgent force in the Syrian War. In their bid for legitimacy, the Western-backed factions just assured their own irrelevancy and probably their eventual demise. How long has this war lasted? 3 weeks? The so-called moderates were ultimately barely even a speedbump to ISIL's counterattack and created a super-strong mutant version of what they were trying to oppose.

Oh yes, the SMC was advising the west to work with "moderate" al-qaeda. How's the knife in the back feel?

Saleem Idriss is an incompetent, worthless piece of shit who just made the situation 100% worse for everyone. Nobody benefits from this.

[Sir Comradical]

When did hostilities between the Islamic Front and ISIS begin, and over what?

[khad]

When did hostilities between the Islamic Front and ISIS begin, and over what?
Struggles always happen over resources among these insurgent groups. ISIS has been kidnapping, intimidating and killing various militant leaders for some time now. Funnily enough, the most recent bout of conflict was sparked when ISIS tortured an Ahrar al-Sham commander to death.

And now you have the very same militia singing praises of brotherhood with the same militant group that was torturing and executing them by the hundreds. Really shows you how dominant ISIS's regime of terror has become. According to some tweets coming out now from the terrorist twittersphere, there could be more splits and defections coming out of the Islamic Front in the near future.

[Hrafn]

Err, "so-called rebels"? Then what are they? Non-combatant civilians?

[khad]

Err, "so-called rebels"? Then what are they? Non-combatant civilians?
I was thinking more along the lines of Al-Qaeda's slaves, which is what Nusra Front and Ahrar ash-Sham have become.

Because this is how ISIS rolls:

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The supposed defection of the Saddam al-Jamal, commander of the Allahu Akbar brigade, to ISIS was not a wholly voluntary act. ISIS has been in constant combat with over 15 FSA units in northern Syria throughout the past few months in an effort to expand their zones of total control. The Ahfad Al-Rasoul brigade, of which the Allahu Akbar Brigade was an affiliate, is one of these units. Because of the existing tensions with Allahu Akbar's parent unit, ISIS stormed an Allahu Akbar command post post in Deir Ezzour, taking the brigade's weapons cache and killing several fighters, including the brother of Saddam Al-Jamal. Having lost his brigade, his weapons, and his brother, Mr. Al-Jamal pledged allegiance to ISIS to protect himself. Ideological factors were not at play.This guy used to be the Eastern theater chief of staff under Salim Idriss's SMC.

[Hrafn]

So al-Qaeda can't be rebels?

[Raquin]

So al-Qaeda can't be rebels?
They are soldiers in the army of Allah and his servant Prince Baghdadi, Commander of the Faithful, Khalifah of the Ummah, Interior Designer, and Master of the Guillotine, not rebels.

[khad]

So al-Qaeda can't be rebels?
Considering that the media has a fixation with labeling certain factions rebels and others Al-Qaeda, the distinction is already out there. It's merely there for your English-speaking convenience and why, ironically, the formerly-official Al-Qaeda representative in Syria, Nusra Front, was suddenly transformed in the Western press from an Al-Qaeda gang to one of the "rebel" coalition.

Would you rather I use the jihadist terminology and call all the SMC/IF aligned factions sahwa?

[Hrafn]

I don't see how "rebel" can be controversial. It's a very broad word.

[khad]

I don't see how "rebel" can be controversial. It's a very broad word.
It is controversial when the media makes a point to use it as a distinct, oppositional discursive construct against "Al-Qaeda." It's a distinction that has little basis in reality.

[Sir Comradical]

Khad, are you sure ISIS controls Jarabulus?

"The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) has lost its HQ in Jarabulus city, north Aleppo, after fierce fighting with Islamist rebels for the last few days, local sources told Zaman Alwasl."

http://www.zamanalwsl.net/en/news/3299.html"]http://www.zamanalwsl.net/en/news/3299.html (http://"http://www.zamanalwsl.net/en/news/3299.html"]http://www.zamanalwsl.net/en/news/3299.html)

*Edit* My mistake, you're right. Here's the article for others to read:

"Fighting came to a head on January 17, between rebel groups Liwa al-Tawhid Brigade and the al-Qaeda-linked Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in the town, when reinforcements arrived from Raqqa and reclaimed the city in a brutal four-hour battle. By nightfall, at least 10 men had been beheaded, their heads mounted on spikes, and more than 1,000 refugees fled the 3kms across the border to Turkey."

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2014/01/al-qaeda-slaughters-syria-killing-fields-2014121112119453512.html

[Sir Comradical]

Some more articles describing the above events.

(1) http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2014/Jan-23/245006-zawahiri-urges-immediate-end-to-syria-islamist-fighting.ashx#axzz2rwhthijf

(2) http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2014/Jan-15/244084-regime-advances-near-aleppo-isis-tightens-grip-on-raqqa.ashx#axzz2rwhthijf

(3) http://www.frontpagemag.com/2014/dgreenfield/transgender-emir-of-syrian-al-qaeda-captured-in-womens-clothing/

(4) http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2014/Jan-13/243941-isis-jihadists-seize-most-of-north-syria-town-activists.ashx#axzz2rwhthijf

(5) http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2014/01/al-qaeda-slaughters-syria-killing-fields-2014121112119453512.html (http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aljazeera.com%2Findepth%2 Ffeatures%2F2014%2F01%2Fal-qaeda-slaughters-syria-killing-fields-2014121112119453512.html&h=nAQHGuy0l&enc=AZN8u-rt6BoOyRRq5F8c2AvTSZyULwqZ8eFeVGACw87UJBrooze7zoUh _Yr8VIiQei1FQQCScVkCXZd8lOcyxMOw83ajcGB4IFR0CI2dy2 FdwaknwHsMDQsTLvjrXw2c0e1RCiwb_w-kZbfshL-cnlTj&s=1)

(6) http://rt.com/news/jihadists-sharia-law-syria-980/

(7) http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=7e0_1390515147

(8) http://syriahr.com/en/index.php?option=com_news&nid=1374&Itemid=2&task=displaynews

[khad]

"Fighting came to a head on January 17, between rebel groups Liwa al-Tawhid Brigade and the al-Qaeda-linked Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in the town, when reinforcements arrived from Raqqa and reclaimed the city in a brutal four-hour battle. By nightfall, at least 10 men had been beheaded, their heads mounted on spikes, and more than 1,000 refugees fled the 3kms across the border to Turkey."

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2014/01/al-qaeda-slaughters-syria-killing-fields-2014121112119453512.html
Yeah, they blew up at least 40-50 people and executed another 50 in that town. Those are only the reported deaths, but most ISIL takeovers follow a similar MO. Remember when the Chechen ISIS fighters tried to take over Latakia, they executed entire villages Nazi-style.

[Sir Comradical]

Got a source for the Chechen ISIS trying to takeover Latakia?

[khad]

Got a source for the Chechen ISIS trying to takeover Latakia?
It was a spectacularly failed offensive with the virtual destruction of their fighting force, but they made up the difference with civilian massacres.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_Latakia_offensive

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According to Jihadist sources, they suffered 400 dead and 1200 wounded, and this was out of an initial fighting force of about 2000.

An example of a typical mass grave left by ISIL
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They keep finding these things scattered all over the countryside. Here's one from the latest ISIS-rebel infighting.

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=a4c_1390924359

[Sir Comradical]

Breaking news, *apparently* Al-Qaeda just disowned ISIS.

Thoughts?

http://inagist.com/all/430204153835823104/

[Sasha]

so more info: http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/02/al-qaeda-disowns-isil-rebels-syria-20142385858351969.html

[PhoenixAsh]

Well...ISIL just bombed and killed an al-Nusra delegation in Aleppo that was there for negotiations with ISIL.

[khad]

so more info: http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/02/al-qaeda-disowns-isil-rebels-syria-20142385858351969.html

It would matter if Zawahiri actually commanded any real military power from his Pakistani cave. On the ground, ISIL just forced major concessions from the Sham Falcons, one of the few "rebel" groups still in this fight. Note how this truce happened after ISIL assassinated one of that unit's major commanders, Hussein al-Dik (on the same day that they bombed the al-Tawhid HQ). It's clear that they won't accept any peace unless it's strictly on their terms.

The Iraqi Witness ‏@IraqiWitness (https://twitter.com/IraqiWitness) 3h (https://twitter.com/IraqiWitness/status/431080990954356736) BREAKING: ISIS SIGNS TRUCE WITH SUQOOR al-SHAM. #Syria (https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Syria&src=hash)

The Iraqi Witness ‏@IraqiWitness (https://twitter.com/IraqiWitness) 3h (https://twitter.com/IraqiWitness/status/431081256814538753) This is a big victory for ISIS because they forced Suqor al-Sham to agree with "shared court" instead of an independent court. Big diff!

The Iraqi Witness ‏@IraqiWitness (https://twitter.com/IraqiWitness) 3h (https://twitter.com/IraqiWitness/status/431088613317566464) Truce was mediated by Liwaa Dawood (who helped ISIS then became separate again) and was posted on their official page. #Syria (https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Syria&src=hash)

The Iraqi Witness ‏@IraqiWitness (https://twitter.com/IraqiWitness) 3h (https://twitter.com/IraqiWitness/status/431090408903278594) Suqoor Sham leader, Abu Isa, threatened on Twitter that he would purge Syria of Khawarij, now they sign deal so ISIS lets them go. #awkward (https://twitter.com/search?q=%23awkward&src=hash)

The Iraqi Witness ‏@IraqiWitness (https://twitter.com/IraqiWitness) 1h (https://twitter.com/IraqiWitness/status/431121822088585216) Picture which claims to show Suqor al-Sham convoy leaving fronts against #ISIS (https://twitter.com/search?q=%23ISIS&src=hash) after ISIS gave them safe passage. pic.twitter.com/fpoo8JmU8u (http://t.co/fpoo8JmU8u)

The Iraqi Witness ‏@IraqiWitness (https://twitter.com/IraqiWitness) 1m (https://twitter.com/IraqiWitness/status/431140870591500288) ISIS source says 220 of Suqoor al-Sham went home safely after repenting to God for fighting ISIS in Hamah #Syria (https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Syria&src=hash)

[khad]

Some real power politics going on behind the scenes right now. Just yesterday, following the official rebuke of ISIL by Zawahiri, other prominent jihadi clerics supposedly issued statements condemning ISIL in Syria, including this by the Jordanian Abu Qutada:

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2014/Jan-30/245844-radical-preacher-rebukes-extremists-in-syria.ashx

He now denies ever releasing such a statement


dawlat_islam1 (https://twitter.com/dawlat_islam1) 10h (https://twitter.com/dawlat_islam1/status/430988959599325184) Abu Qatada Al Filistini denies releasing a letter against Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi pic.twitter.com/u1DK4SzHuC (http://t.co/u1DK4SzHuC)
This is becoming more and more convoluted.

UPDATE: Sham Falcons head office is demanding an explanation for today's agreement. Looks like someone is having trouble controlling their troops.


@SQORALSHAM (https://twitter.com/SQORALSHAM) 49m (https://twitter.com/SQORALSHAM/status/431179407126851584) مداخلة مدير المكتب الاعلامي لألوية صقور الشام لشرح حقيقة الاتفاق بين صقور الشام وداعش http://youtu.be/qCUGn9ydsaU (http://t.co/WT0sYytE1F)

[Sir Comradical]

Interesting conversation with a friend who just got back from Syria.

She visited a refugee camp in Suwayda and noted that when internally displaced refugees were asked where their husbands and fathers were, some openly and proudly declared that they had gone to wage "jihad" against the government.

Mind you I'm not saying they shouldn't get assistance, they are after all Syrian citizens with rights, but it undermines the exaggerated image of Syria as a repressive and authoritarian regime if families of fighters can openly declare their hostility to the Syrian government while under its care.

[khad]

Yeah, this turkey is done. Sham Falcons made an official statement regarding the truce today:

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=66c_1391727862

Of the four most powerful rebel militias that started this campaign, only the Monotheism Brigade (Liwa al-Tawhid) is left, reeling after the assassinations of much of its top leadership. Suquor al-Sham, Ahrar ash-Sham, and Nusra are all at peace with or actively supporting their ISIS brethren.


The Iraqi Witness ‏@IraqiWitness (https://twitter.com/IraqiWitness) 2h (https://twitter.com/IraqiWitness/status/431560329848307713) BREAKING: #FSA (https://twitter.com/search?q=%23FSA&src=hash) now threatening Nusra in Darkoush after claiming Nusra helped #ISIS (https://twitter.com/search?q=%23ISIS&src=hash) enter Darkoush and arrest citizens/use car bombs. #Syria (https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Syria&src=hash)


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