New War Between Syria & Israel Plunges Syria Into Failed State, Like Libya.
The former leader of the fundamentalist-Sunni ISIS and al-Qaeda forces in Syria, al-Jolani (renamed al-Sharaa) has now suffered his first military defeat at the hands of the fundamentalist-Jewish Israeli Government, which is determined to keep parts of Syria and will now be free to take more of it. This defeat is a shattering blow to al-Sharaa’s followers, whom he increasingly struggles to hold together, while the country that he (backed by support from the U.S., Turkey, Qatar, the Saud family, and Israel) conquered from the fleeing prior secularist (anti-sectarian) Syrian Government by Bashar al-Assad, whom the U.S. regime had been planning ever since 2009 to overthrow, and actively started in 2011 to overthrow (that’s also archived here).
On July 17th, SouthFront headlined “NEW SYRIA SUFFERS FIRST DEFEAT” (archived here), and reported:
Syria’s new Islamist-led government has suffered its first defeat in al-Suwayda, where [Christian] Druze fighters backed by Israel solidified their control over the southern governorate.
The battle in al-Suwayda broke out on July 13 with a confrontation between Druze fighters and Sunni tribesmen. The clashes, which were focused in the eastern outskirts of al-Suwayda city, were the result of a series of assaults on Druze civilians traveling on the highway that linked the governorate with the capital, Damascus.
Early on July 14, the [al-Sharaa] government announced that it was sending its military and security forces to al-Suwayda to end the confrontation. However, [the Sunni] government forces sided with the [Sunni] tribesmen and launched a major offensive [against the Druze Christians] on al-Suwayda city.
Israel, which had vowed to protect Syrian Druze after the fall of the Assad regime last December, intervened, launching a few strikes at government forces.
On July 15, government forces stormed al-Suwayda city. Reports of war crimes, including summary executions of Druze civilians, began to surface.
Despite being overpowered, Druze fighters, led by the al-Suwayda Military Council, showed fierce resistance. Later on the same day, with direct Israeli air support, the fighters launched a counter-attack and managed to recapture most of the city.
All of the progress was lost, however, by early July 16, with government forces, reinforced with heavy weapons and drones, re-entering al-Suwayda.
What came next was an unprecedented escalation by Israel against Syria’s new rulers. Multiple Israeli strikes hit the Syrian military headquarters as well as the Presidential Palace in Damascus, with [Israel’s] Defense Minister Israel Katz declaring that “the signaling in Damascus is over, now come the painful blows.”
Other Israeli strikes hit government convoys near Damascus, military sites in the southern governorate of Daraa, as well as the forces operating in al-Suwayda and its outskirts. The strikes in Daraa claimed the lives of four senior commanders, in the first instance of Israel deliberately killing officials of the new government.
Late at night, the Syrian government announced an agreement with Druze leaders to end fighting, withdrew the military and deploye security forces in the city. However, the agreement was rejected by the spiritual leader of the group, Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri.
Early on July 17, Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa conceded the defeat, announcing a full withdrawal from al-Suwayda. Up to 700 government troops were reportedly killed. The losses on the other side are still unclear, but at least dozens of Druze civilians were reportedly executed.
The defeat in al-Suwayda was the first serious blow to the Syrian government. Despite engaging in talks with Sharaa, Israel appears to have its own agenda for Syria, which likely includes dividing the country.
On July 16th, Syria Observer headlined “From Spiritual Guide to Political Actor: Who Is Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri?” (archived here) and reported:
As the southern Syrian province of Suweida grapples with crisis and uphe
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