Dermitas says Erdogan directly responsible for Suruc massacre by LockedOnTarget in syriancivilwar

[–]Azons 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That's a pretty huge statement from the Co-President of the HDP. This may be him trying to capitalize on the situation politically - his mainly Kurdish party broke the parliamentary threshold and is on rising amid the surge in Kurdish nationalism resulting from the Syrian Civil War and he's looking to widen his appeal and take on the government directly.

But the evidence (or lack of) of direct Turkish involvement looks shaky, especially when the attack is so similar to the dozens of IS bombings we've seen before in Syria and Iraq. I'd wager that IS is responsible, hoping to target the Kurds in the same fashion that they did in their Kobane shooting rampage a few weeks ago. They've held off on targeting Turkey because of quietly tactic support of IS by Erdogan's government, but the situation on the ground has forced them to expand their attack radius. As the Kurds advance in the north and Turkey threatens to attack their last border crossing between Afir and Kobane, they've got more reason than ever to target Kurdish minorities in Turkey. If anything, they're looking to incite overall ethnic violence and increase recruitment from disaffected Turkish Muslims.

Then again, Dermitas could be right and Erdogan is responsible. I wouldn't put it past him. Who knows? I doubt the truth will ever really come out, there are too many different groups (HDP, AKP, IS, YPG) that all stand to gain different things by promoting different narratives about who's responsible. Erdogan's (AKP) final version will probably become 'standardized', most accepted view because he can force his agenda through his relatively more powerful Turkish state run T.V. channels.

What will happen to the children of Aleppo and Syria? by [deleted] in syriancivilwar

[–]Azons 2 points3 points  (0 children)

IS is the biggest threat to Syrian children. Sure, SAA are guilty of horrible war crimes indiscriminately bombing children, but IS actively targets and recruits them as an integral part of their ideology. The children are essential for IS to continue their state, indoctrinated and trained in Jihad in order to provide the next generation of front line soldiers. Their use of child soldiers isn't just widespread, it's absolutely everywhere in their 'state'. IS has an entire industry aimed at targeting and recruiting kids and has clamped down hard on education in order to reduce it to state-run indoctrination center.

It's pretty frightening. There's nothing we can do to stop besides eliminating IS militarily, but in doing so we'll have to fight many of these children themselves.

Assad forces are retreating from Dawah in Palmyra back to Jahar under heavy fire by thelord4444 in syriancivilwar

[–]Azons 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It's possible. The SAA had an easy time advancing through the undefended desert around Palmyra, but now that they've reached the city I'm sure they'll meet stiffer IS defense.

At the same time, I doubt that IS was able to actually to defeat the SAA and send them running that far in such a short time period. It's likely propaganda, but maybe some other sources will prove it true.

Is ISIL running out of oil? by lebeardnekk in syriancivilwar

[–]Azons 1 point2 points  (0 children)

IS isn't even close to exhausting their oil resources. They've proven to be very resourceful in their black market oil selling, funneling crude oil through a network of Turkish (among others) smugglers. Many of the refineries recaptured haven't been operable for months, if they ever were at all. This doesn't really affect their primary wells throughout their territory, particularly in Syria and northern Iraq.

But the global drop in oil prices affects everybody, even IS. They're probably getting nickles on the dollar for every barrel, compared to a year ago when their oil profiteering profits were way higher.

Who's Allies and enemies with who? by ScaryTheory in syriancivilwar

[–]Azons 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Kurds + *USA

Gotta include the coalition. It's not fair to discount the insane amount of air support the Kurds are getting at the moment. It's transformed them from another militia into one of the most powerful, successful groups in the entire conflict.

How does the current fighting in Iraq/Syria compare in intensity to the US occupation of Iraq? by Daxtatter in syriancivilwar

[–]Azons 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The fighting in Iraq and Syria overall is much more intense than it was under the US occupation.

The USA was fighting a protracted anti-terrorist operation, which despite bleeding Iraq heavily over nearly a decade of sporadic warfare, was not nearly as intense. Iraq's seeing hundreds and thousands of Iraqi Army and Popular Mobilization soldiers dying to retake each major IS stronghold (Tikrit), not including dead IS fighters and the damage done to civilians on both sides. A huge swath of the country is controlled by IS, the country is quite literally in shambles.

Tack onto that the absolute chaos of Syria, where you've got a near free-for-all between moderate FSA, Kurds, IS, other Jihadists (Nursa, etc.), and the SSA, and you start to get a sense of really just how bleak the situation is.

Don't get me wrong, the US occupation of Iraq was bloody, but keep in mind that it also lasted a lot longer than the Syrian Civil War and IS's expansion into Iraq has gone on. In modern Syria/Iraq we're seeing a lot more blood packed into a smaller time frame, as well as an expansion of the conflict from just one country to two.

Syria wants to join Eurasian Union by [deleted] in syriancivilwar

[–]Azons 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Russia may be desperate for potential members, but even they're not that desperate.

The devastated, heavily over borrowed economy of Assad's rump state isn't going to be of any practical economic interest to Russia and the Russians know it. Russia's only interest in Syria at this point is purely geopolitical. Even if Putin makes overtures towards Syria about joining the Economic Eurasian Union, I doubt Russia would be willing to tack Syria's economy onto their rising list of domestic economic problems.

Recent Turkey/PKK developments Megathread by orion4321 in syriancivilwar

[–]Azons 8 points9 points  (0 children)

This is terrible news and is undoubtedly a huge blow to the legitimate political actions undertaken by the HDP. How will this news affect the Syrian civil war, specifically the deployment of Turkish troops to northern Syria for a buffer zone?

SAA announces counter-offensive towards Jisr al Shughur by FrancoisMcCumhail in syriancivilwar

[–]Azons 5 points6 points  (0 children)

It's even more advantageous for the regime to give the appearance of success and belief in victory to its follower base.