Dr. Ibrahim Al-Othaimin
The Guardian describes the overtaking of many districts of Aleppo by the forces of the Syrian regime as having resulted in "one giant graveyard".
The heavy shelling with missiles and the systematic killing have left this ancient city soaked in blood and strewn with mutilated corpses. The terrorist regime, backed by Russia and Iranian militia, is guilty of a brutal, inhumane and atrocious massacre of thousands of innocent civilians including women and children in Aleppo. It has repeated the events of Bosnia and Rwanda, and the silence of the whole world in the face of such crimes, in violation of all human rights guaranteed by international law, is shameful in the 21st century. With its control over Aleppo, the regime and its backers are attempting to achieve the following goals:
Firstly, it aims to change the balance of power on the ground for negotiations. In view of the US administration’s transition, Russia is backing the regime’s takeover of Aleppo as it holds great strategic significance. The fall of Aleppo will enhance the regime’s negotiating power in any future political settlement. It will put pressure on the opposition to accept any terms laid down by the regime, particularly with regards to the political process which would include Assad being involved in the transition term.
Secondly, it intends to resettle the regime militia by cracking down on the opposition and forcing it out. Col. Abdul Jabbar Al-Oqaidi, founder of the Aleppo Revolutionary Military Council, says: “It seems clear that the regime wants to displace the people of Aleppo in order to impose a new demographic reality in the region, leaving families with no option other than resistance”.
Aleppo is known to be divided into opposition-held areas and those held by the regime-backing forces. The regime commands the western side of the city while the rebels have control of the eastern side. So, the regime is putting pressure on the opposition-held citizens to distance themselves from the rebels.
As has been the case in other areas of Syria, the regime is displacing those in Aleppo who resist and attempt to remain in their city despite the loss of livelihood, and replace them with the regime-backing militia. “During the past 24 hours, thousands were displaced to the west from the opposition-held areas” says Mr. Rami Abdulrahman, head of the Syrian observatory. He confirms that “some eastern districts of the city have become completely devoid of population”. If the regime is successful in its mission in Aleppo, it will do the same in the rest of the cities in Idlib down to the coastal area. It should not be forgotten that the regime followed the same course in 2012 when it launched a brutal attack on Aleppo forcing 200,000 people out of the city, as confirmed by the UN.
Thirdly, it is cutting supplies to the opposition. Aleppo is regarded as Turkey’s backyard, which functions as the opposition’s lifeline by smuggling arms and fighters and provides a way out for the wounded for treatment. Cutting off Turkish aid to the opposition through such a vital and safe passage would only be possible with a besieged Aleppo. Moreover, Russia and the regime seek to empower the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) to take control of the countryside north of Aleppo adjacent to Turkey. Hence, Turkey will be threatened by the YPG and Daesh (the self-proclaimed IS).
It is essential that the international community should work to provide relief for the stricken people, end this tragedy, bring about justice and stop the daily massacres being committed against them. The only way out is to strip the terrorists of power; otherwise the spark of this war will ignite and consume the entire world. If this tragedy continues, outrage will increase, especially among zealous youth, driving them to join terrorist organizations in their search for salvation. The longer this situation continues, the more refugees will spill out over the world.
— Dr. Ibrahim Al-Othaimin is a Middle East affairs specialist and security analyst based in Riyadh. He can be contacted at Ibrahim.othaimin@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @Alothaimin
