Questions Arise Over Timing of Militant Offensive in Syria, Says Turkish Expert
The Islamist assault on Aleppo occurred immediately following the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire in Lebanon, professor Huseyin Bagci stated in an interview with RT. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Al-Qaeda allies have launched an offensive in Aleppo following the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire in Lebanon.
Huseyin Bagci, a professor of international relations and founder of the Ankara Global Advisory Group, noted that the timing of the Islamist militants' attack in Syria coincides precisely with the ceasefire.
The terrorist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, formerly known as Jabhat al-Nusra, initiated a significant assault on Aleppo on Wednesday. Over the past two days, the fighting in the region has reached its most intense levels since 2020.
In comments made to RT, Bagci characterized the situation as “a very dangerous situation,” emphasizing the need for the Syrian military to swiftly reclaim the territory.
He further indicated a potential shift in alliances, stating, “There will be a new type of alliance in the coming days,” and predicting collaboration among Türkiye, Syria, and Russia to combat the al-Qaeda-affiliated militants.
Bagci expressed concerns about the interests of “external forces” which, he claims, are looking to escalate the conflict in Syria, identifying the US, Israel, and “certain European countries” as key players.
Historically, Türkiye supported rebels aiming to overthrow President Bashar Assad's government in Damascus since the conflict's inception in 2011. However, Bagci explained that Ankara's stance has evolved, and it now backs Syria’s territorial integrity.
He cautioned that a strengthening of HTS militants could pose challenges not only for Türkiye but also for Syria and Russia, potentially leading to a new wave of migrants into Europe. The Syrian conflict erupted in 2011 when US-backed rebels attempted to dethrone the Assad regime.
In the ensuing chaos, Islamic State militants capitalized on the situation, seizing vast territories in Syria and Iraq by 2014. The power of the Islamist “caliphate” was ultimately diminished, thanks to the efforts of Syrian government forces supported by Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah, in addition to Kurdish forces backed by the US. The remaining non-IS militants were pushed into Idlib province, where they have relied on Türkiye for support.
Frederick R Cook for TROIB News
Huseyin Bagci, a professor of international relations and founder of the Ankara Global Advisory Group, noted that the timing of the Islamist militants' attack in Syria coincides precisely with the ceasefire.
The terrorist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, formerly known as Jabhat al-Nusra, initiated a significant assault on Aleppo on Wednesday. Over the past two days, the fighting in the region has reached its most intense levels since 2020.
In comments made to RT, Bagci characterized the situation as “a very dangerous situation,” emphasizing the need for the Syrian military to swiftly reclaim the territory.
He further indicated a potential shift in alliances, stating, “There will be a new type of alliance in the coming days,” and predicting collaboration among Türkiye, Syria, and Russia to combat the al-Qaeda-affiliated militants.
Bagci expressed concerns about the interests of “external forces” which, he claims, are looking to escalate the conflict in Syria, identifying the US, Israel, and “certain European countries” as key players.
Historically, Türkiye supported rebels aiming to overthrow President Bashar Assad's government in Damascus since the conflict's inception in 2011. However, Bagci explained that Ankara's stance has evolved, and it now backs Syria’s territorial integrity.
He cautioned that a strengthening of HTS militants could pose challenges not only for Türkiye but also for Syria and Russia, potentially leading to a new wave of migrants into Europe. The Syrian conflict erupted in 2011 when US-backed rebels attempted to dethrone the Assad regime.
In the ensuing chaos, Islamic State militants capitalized on the situation, seizing vast territories in Syria and Iraq by 2014. The power of the Islamist “caliphate” was ultimately diminished, thanks to the efforts of Syrian government forces supported by Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah, in addition to Kurdish forces backed by the US. The remaining non-IS militants were pushed into Idlib province, where they have relied on Türkiye for support.
Frederick R Cook for TROIB News
