Rudaw
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Syria’s armed opposition groups called Russia “an enemy of the people” and expressed distrust of Moscow’s intention of aiding rebels fighting the Islamic State group (ISIS).
Comments by various Syrian opposition groups followed a declaration by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, saying this week that his country was “ready to help not only the Syrian army, but all opposition units confronting terrorists on the ground in Syria."
“We do not trust them (Russians),” said Ahmed Joaiwir, a military leader of Liwa’ Ahrar al-Sham, one of the groups fighting ISIS. He said that was because Russia had first tried to fight the opposition to President Bashar al-Assad.
“But they failed, and our mujahideen were able to destroy them. They (Russia) got the opposite of what they aimed for. Now they want to work with those who Russia calls terrorists, but {ISIS} is a creation of Russian intelligence,” he added.
Among the several influential armed Syrian opposition groups, some have united under the banner of the Supreme Military Council of Free Syrian Army, while others act independently.
Abu Yusuf al-Adnani, a military leader of the al-Jabha al-Shamiya opposition, called Russia “an enemy of the Syrian people.”
“We don’t want Russia’s help and they are not welcome,” he declared. “Russia had not even recognized the Syrian opposition, but after its major loses Russia decided to recognize the Syrian opposition,” al-Andnani said.
Russia’s first airstrikes in Syria were on opposition groups opposed to Assad. The rebel groups accused Russia of targeting the opposition instead of ISIS.
According to Yassir al-Ta’I, head of public relations at the Free-fighters
Movement of Levant, “Lavrov’s statement is the best evidence of the mess the Russia has got itself into.”
“Before, they used to say that there is no free army and no revolution, but now they offer to provide air cover for the revolutionaries against ISIS. We tell Mr. Lavrov: your interests are protected with the Syrian people and not al-Assad’s regime,” he said.
Abu Ammar, a military leader at the First Regiment armed group, told Rudaw that “Russia is a terror state and aids terrorists worldwide.”
Russia officials have reported they have begun contacting the Syrian opposition.
Russian statements about working with the opposition are seen as a change in policy. Only two weeks before the start of Russian airstrikes in Syria, President Vladimir Putin named the Syrian army and Kurdish forces as the only forces ”truly fighting ISIS.”
Comments by various Syrian opposition groups followed a declaration by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, saying this week that his country was “ready to help not only the Syrian army, but all opposition units confronting terrorists on the ground in Syria."
“We do not trust them (Russians),” said Ahmed Joaiwir, a military leader of Liwa’ Ahrar al-Sham, one of the groups fighting ISIS. He said that was because Russia had first tried to fight the opposition to President Bashar al-Assad.
“But they failed, and our mujahideen were able to destroy them. They (Russia) got the opposite of what they aimed for. Now they want to work with those who Russia calls terrorists, but {ISIS} is a creation of Russian intelligence,” he added.
Among the several influential armed Syrian opposition groups, some have united under the banner of the Supreme Military Council of Free Syrian Army, while others act independently.
Abu Yusuf al-Adnani, a military leader of the al-Jabha al-Shamiya opposition, called Russia “an enemy of the Syrian people.”
“We don’t want Russia’s help and they are not welcome,” he declared. “Russia had not even recognized the Syrian opposition, but after its major loses Russia decided to recognize the Syrian opposition,” al-Andnani said.
Russia’s first airstrikes in Syria were on opposition groups opposed to Assad. The rebel groups accused Russia of targeting the opposition instead of ISIS.
According to Yassir al-Ta’I, head of public relations at the Free-fighters
Movement of Levant, “Lavrov’s statement is the best evidence of the mess the Russia has got itself into.”
“Before, they used to say that there is no free army and no revolution, but now they offer to provide air cover for the revolutionaries against ISIS. We tell Mr. Lavrov: your interests are protected with the Syrian people and not al-Assad’s regime,” he said.
Abu Ammar, a military leader at the First Regiment armed group, told Rudaw that “Russia is a terror state and aids terrorists worldwide.”
Russia officials have reported they have begun contacting the Syrian opposition.
Russian statements about working with the opposition are seen as a change in policy. Only two weeks before the start of Russian airstrikes in Syria, President Vladimir Putin named the Syrian army and Kurdish forces as the only forces ”truly fighting ISIS.”
Comments
Rudaw moderates all comments submitted on our website. We welcome comments which are relevant to the article and encourage further discussion about the issues that matter to you. We also welcome constructive criticism about Rudaw.
To be approved for publication, however, your comments must meet our community guidelines.
We will not tolerate the following: profanity, threats, personal attacks, vulgarity, abuse (such as sexism, racism, homophobia or xenophobia), or commercial or personal promotion.
Comments that do not meet our guidelines will be rejected. Comments are not edited – they are either approved or rejected.
Post a comment