WhatsappThe Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) led rebel forces commandeered by Muhammad al-Jawlani, a former ISIS commander turned “moderate” continues to gobble up land in the northwest of Syria. After defeating Bashar Assad regime forces in Aleppo and pushing south to Hama, the rebel group offered a deal to the remaining Kurdish led SDF forces in the Aleppo area, which the American backed SDF has now agreed to.
The rebel leadership proposed the following deal to the Kurdish dominated SDF whose divisions were in the Aleppo district:
“We are fighting against the criminal Assad regime and pushing Iranian militias away from our cities and villages to enable the safe return of our people. We propose that you withdraw from Aleppo with your weapons safely to northeastern Syria. In return, we promise that Kurds in Syria will be an integral part of Syrian society, enjoying full rights equal to those of all other Syrian citizens. We emphasize to the residents of Sheikh Maqsoud (a predominantly Kurdish area in northern Aleppo) and all other residents of Aleppo that you are part of us. We are responsible for your protection and ensuring a life of dignity for you.”
The fact is, HTS had already started taking Kurdish female soldiers they captured as sex slaves and the message by the Turkish backed Jihadist rebels was made clear – leave and you will be fine…for now. The Christians in Aleppo have not faired as well with witnesses already claiming that churches are being destroyed and Christmas trees taken down.
The SDF has now officially accepted the rebel offer and begun retreating to the northeast of Syria taking the Kurdish civilians located n Aleppo with them.
The retreat of the SDF has now given the Jihadist rebels complete control of Syria’s northwest and opens up a corridor for the group to conquer areas further to south like Hama and beyond. The strategic loss of the Kurdish enclave in northwest Syria cannot be understated. Erdogan of Turkey views the Kurds as his mortal enemy and will continue to use his troops and the Turkish militias in Syria’s east to lay siege to them. This will allow the HTS to push southward – spreading the growing Turkish backed caliphate towards its end goal – Damascus.
It Is Time For Israel To Directly Help The Kurds
While the upheaval in Syria may be advantageous for Israel in the short term as it disconnects Iran from Hezbollah, the destruction of Kurdish resistance means that a potential ally for the Jewish State in war torn Israel will need serious support to maintain it grip on the eastern banks of the Euphrates. The Kurds are not only friendly to Jews and Israel, but can be trusted to work together with Israel against the growing threat from Turkey as well provide a buffer against Iranian expansion into Iraq.
Former Defense Minister and MK Avigdor Lieberman spoke today saying: “If it’s up to me, we need to take an active part, Israel must assist the Kurdish forces.” While Israel has overt ties to Iraqi Kurdish groups allowing Israelis to fly to Erbil on their Israeli passport, the same cannot be said for the SDF in northeast Syria. Like the Druze in southern Syria, the Syrian Kurds are natural allies of Israel and are fast becoming isolated by both the HTS led rebels and Erdogan’s henchmen. Israel may have no choice but to enter the fray and by doing so help reshape a post war Syria allowing two fellow indigenous allies achieve the autonomy they deserve.
WATCH BELOW as Turkish backed Jihadists take Kurdish women prisoners:
