Supporting Moderate Rebels is the Right Step towards Fighting Extremism

Hadi Al Bahra, president of the Syrian Coalition, met with leaders of the FSA’s Supreme Military Council (SMC) who briefed Al Bahra on the situation on the battlefronts. The SMC’s commanders stress that supporting the FSA is the right path in the fight against the Assad regime and the extremist factions. They also renewed the demands to get sufficient support to counter the growing strength of ISIS which has been limiting its operation to the already liberated areas without engaging in a single clash with regime forces. Al Bahra pointed out that “fighting ISIS will be our top priority.” Louay Safi, spokesman for the Syrian Coalition, said earlier that the connection between the Assad regime and ISIS has never been so intimately interwound as it is today with the progress being made by regime forces near Aleppo and that of ISIS in Deir Ezzor. These advancement have not been interrupted by a single clash between regime forces and ISIS, which proves the existence of full coordination between them.” Safi attributes the setbacks suffered by Syrian rebels to the reluctance of the friends of Syria group to provide the rebels with the advanced weapons that can tip the balance on the ground. This reluctance contrasts with the unlimited support the Assad regime receives from his Russian and Iranian allies, who have been conspiring on the Syrian people and their revolution for dignity and freedom. The resignations of some members of the FSA’s Supreme Military Council were prompted by the lack of military support, which in turn led to a lack of a unified leadership capable countering regime forces and the Iranian militias.” Furthermore, Safi agrees with the former U.S. ambassador to Syria Robert Ford, who blames the rise of extremist groups in Syria on the Obama administration’s hesitation to support the moderate opposition forces. The military situation is very critical, as regime forces are about to laid siege on Aleppo. But even if Assad’s forces recapture Aleppo, the crisis will not be over. The conflict in Syria can be solved only when the roots of the escalating political and military conflict are dealt with. It is therefore imperative for the international powers that have conflicting interests in the region to assume their responsibilities and carry out their duties and stop fueling the conflict and refrain from supporting sectarian and authoritarian regimes that promote extremism. Efforts must be stepped up to achieve a real democratic transition in the region, as this is the only solution to ending extremism and terror. (Source: Syrian Coalition)