Defense, interior, and national guard ministers extend Eid greetings, praise efforts of military and security personnel    Worshippers in Makkah and Madinah perform Eid Al-Fitr prayer    Saudi authorities shut down food factories and branches over suspected poisoning cases    Saudi Arabia welcomes formation of new Syrian government, expresses hope for stronger ties    Saudi Transport Authority says passengers can ride for free if taxi meters are off    Ministry of Education forms 425 community partnerships with SR653 million impact    Syria forms new government with 22 ministers including one woman President Sharaa vows reform and transparency    Israeli army fires warning shots at UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon    Denmark rebukes US Vice President Vance over Greenland remarks    Hamas accepts new Gaza ceasefire proposal brokered by Egypt and Qatar    Mexico bans junk food in schools to fight childhood obesity epidemic    Makkah and Madinah mobile data usage exceeds global average during Ramadan: CST    Elon Musk's xAI acquires X in all-stock deal    Sweet sales surge ahead of Eid as Saudi chocolate imports top 123 million kg in 2024    Saudi creatives shine at Jeddah's Fawanees Nights with art, fashion, and storytelling    100 Thieves claim Marvel Rivals Invitational NA crown as 2025 scene heats up    T1 CEO confirms Gumayusi's return for LCK Spring after lineup shakeup    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Saudi Arabia hold Japan to goalless draw in Saitama to stay in World Cup hunt    NewJeans announces hiatus after setback in court battle    George Foreman, heavyweight champion and cultural icon, dies at 76    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    King Salman prays for peace and stability for Palestinians in Ramadan message King reaffirms Saudi Arabia's commitment to serving the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims    Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan 'out of danger' after attack at home in Mumbai    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Aleppo: A journey of blood, silence and tears
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 29 - 12 - 2016

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 [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @Alothaimin


Clic here to read the story from its source.