{"id":12865,"date":"2011-11-30T07:51:11","date_gmt":"2011-11-30T12:51:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/joshualandis.com\/blog\/?p=12865"},"modified":"2011-11-30T12:08:32","modified_gmt":"2011-11-30T17:08:32","slug":"12865","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/joshualandis.com\/blog\/12865\/","title":{"rendered":"Free Syrian Army getting attention"},"content":{"rendered":"

Turkey has slapped<\/a> sanctions on Syria and floated the idea of a cross-border military operation, shortly after the Arab League imposed its own sanctions on the Syrian regime.
\nFrom China Hand at China Matters<\/a><\/p>\n

According to Milliyet, as cited by IRNA<\/a>, France has sent its military training forces to Turkey and Lebanon to coach the so-called Free Syrian Army — a group of defectors operating out of Turkey and Lebanon — in an effort to wage war against Syria’s military.<\/p>\n

The report added that the French, British, and Turkish authorities \u201chave reached an agreement to send arms into Syria.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Turkish daily said that the three have informed the US about training and arming the Syrian opposition.<\/p>\n

According to Milliyet, a group of armed rebels are currently stationed in Turkey’s Hatay Province near the border with Syria.<\/p>\n

The report comes as an earlier report had revealed that the British and French intelligence agencies have reportedly tasked their agents with contacting Syrian dissidents based in the northern Lebanese town of Tripoli in order to help fuel unrest in Syria.<\/p>\n

Reports also said that French intelligence agents have been sent to northern Lebanon and Turkey to build the first contingents of the Free Syrian Army out of the deserters who have fled Syria.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

ASAD’S ARMED OPPOSITION: THE FREE SYRIAN ARMY<\/a>
\nBy Jeffrey White at WINEP<\/p>\n

The growing armed opposition movement against the Asad regime is becoming an increasingly important element in the Syrian equation.<\/p>\n

The Free Syrian Army (FSA), the armed opposition group that has emerged to confront the Asad regime, appears to be gaining in strength and effectiveness, and Damascus now faces both peaceful and armed resistance. So far, the FSA has proven resilient in the face of regime measures to suppress it.<\/p>\n

ORIGINS IN DEFECTION<\/p>\n

The FSA was formally announced on July 29, but it can trace its origins to well before that. The group’s formation was a reaction to regime brutality against peaceful mass protests. Desertion from the Syrian army increased as individual soldiers and small units refused to obey orders to shoot unarmed demonstrators or simply decided to abandon the regime. Although not all of these soldiers have joined the FSA, numerous media reports indicate a steady flow of defectors into the group’s ranks.<\/p>\n

Defectors include individuals of all ranks, from conscript to brigadier general, and from a wide variety of combat units and organizations, including key regime props such as the Republican Guard and the intelligence services. Some small units have defected as a group, and several battalion-size defections have been reported but not confirmed. In at least some cases, the defectors took their weapons with them. And in most cases, they appeared to join local FSA elements.<\/p>\n

Easing the process of defection and FSA unit creation is the fact that the personnel in question are moving from a military organization to a fairly well organized quasi-military force. Based on available evidence, the FSA has a chain of command, organizational and rank structures, and named units.<\/p>\n

ORGANIZATION AND FORCES<\/p>\n

The FSA appears to be a relatively flat organization, with a command and headquarters in Turkey, possibly a set of regional or area commands with subordinate groups in Syria, and, according to media reports, one or two combat elements in Lebanon.<\/p>\n

Command and control appears to be relatively loose, with the Turkish headquarters providing general direction and the units in Syria exercising largely independent control over their operations. Earlier this month elements of two units in the Damascus area — the Abu Ubaydah al-Jarah Battalion and the Muawiyah bin Abi Sufyan Battalion — reportedly cooperated in an action against regime forces, suggesting at least some degree of coordination. Command and control is exercised through a variety of means, including cell phones, email, Facebook, and, presumably, couriers. The regime has reportedly captured a number of sophisticated communications devices from “armed terrorists,” including Thuraya satellite mobile phones, very high and ultra-high frequency (VHF\/UHF) devices, and Inmarsat mobile communication satellite systems.<\/p>\n

The FSA’s order of battle (command structure, units, deployment, strength, and equipment) is becoming somewhat clearer over time. The group claims to have as many as twenty-two “battalions” operating against the regime; media reports indicate sixteen such battalions are active, with four additional battalions probably active. Yet the number of fighters associated with each battalion — assuming the term is even used in a consistent way — is uncertain. FSA battalions are reportedly led by junior officers, in most cases lieutenants and captains, suggesting formations with 100 to 200 or even fewer personnel. The battalions appear to be independent formations, although higher-level formations may exist. In the Homs area, for example, the Khaled ibn al-Walid Brigade appears to comprise several subordinate battalions.<\/p>\n

FSA membership appears to consist largely of experienced military personnel — a cadre of officers and noncommissioned officers with, in some cases, social connections to local families and clans, towns and neighborhoods. In other words, they know how to use weapons and are fighting on terrain they know.<\/p>\n

The total number of FSA personnel is uncertain. The group’s leadership has claimed ten to fifteen thousand, but this seems too high. A more likely range is in the low thousands, consistent with the number and likely size of the battalions.<\/p>\n

FSA weapons seem to be mostly small arms (rifles, light machine guns), rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), some heavy machine guns, and various explosive devices. RPGs are being used effectively against the regime’s armored vehicles, especially the relatively lightly armored BMP infantry fighting vehicle variants that have been heavily employed by the government. These types of weapons are generally well suited to the primarily urban fighting waged so far in Syria. Weapons sources include the defectors, reported smuggling (especially from Lebanon, but also Turkey), and capture of materiel during engagements with regime forces.<\/p>\n

DEPLOYMENT AND OPERATIONS<\/p>\n

The FSA is operating throughout Syria, both in urban areas and in the countryside. Forces are active in the northwest (Idlib, Aleppo), the central region (Homs, Hama, and Rastan), the coast around Latakia, the south (Deraa and Houran), the east (Dayr al-Zawr, Abu Kamal), and the Damascus area. The largest concentration of these forces appears to be in the central region (Homs, Hama, and surrounding areas), with nine or more battalions reportedly active there.<\/p>\n

Most FSA operations seem to be small-unit actions involving anywhere from a few to a few tens of personnel. The fighting in Rastan and Homs in September and October appears to have included somewhat larger actions. Operations have included defense of local areas, ambushes of convoys and vehicles, attacks on regime positions and facilities, attacks on regime security forces and militia elements, attacks on regime officials and military officers, intervention against regime forces attacking demonstrators, and road closings.<\/p>\n

The FSA has also fought at least three serious “battles”: for Rastan\/Talbisah (September 27-October 1), for Homs (October 28-November 8), and for Kherbet Ghazalah (November 14). These actions featured sustained engagements with regime forces, and although the FSA broke off the fighting in each case, it was able to inflict losses and generate more defections. The regime was also forced to deploy large combat formations (division or brigade equivalents) in serious combat operations. The FSA’s actions are compelling the regime to deploy forces throughout the country and fight, not just continue to shoot unarmed civilians.<\/p>\n

OUTLOOK<\/p>\n

The Asad regime cannot survive without killing, and the FSA has changed the game from one in which the regime was free to kill its citizens at will and without cost, to one in which it faces an armed opposition and is suffering losses. Increased demands on government forces and further civilian deaths will produce more defections, and these processes will in turn escalate the fighting.<\/p>\n

Because the FSA is an increasingly important player that will likely influence the outcome of events in Syria, the United States and its partners should make contact with its members and learn as much as possible about the group. Questions concerning its nature, its potential as an armed force, and the role of Islamists can be resolved through such contact as well as intelligence work. If the results are positive, then the FSA should be assisted wherever outside aid would be both possible and effective. Arms, advice, training, and money could be provided through clandestine channels, if nothing else. These modest steps could help provide the Syrian people with a means of self-defense, give the United States additional influence on the situation, and put further pressure on the regime and its forces, perhaps hastening the conflict’s end.<\/p>\n

* Jeffrey White is a defense fellow at The Washington Institute, specializing in military and security affairs. The Washington Institute for Near East Policy<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Last exit for Syria: Alawite coup<\/a>
\nBy Abdullah Buzkurt, Wednesday, 30 November 2011<\/p>\n

The key to unlock the way to a palace coup is the breakup of the \u201cAlawites unity\u201d as they dominate the army, intelligence, security, business elite and the government — all the key pillars of the regime. Just as the Alawites co-opted Sunni military leaders during their rise to power in the ’60s, the Sunnis need Alawite leaders to ensure the fall of the Assad family from power. The army was dominated by the Alawite officers who compose some 80 percent of the officer corps. In the last nine months, Assad has also engaged in a purge campaign of Sunni officers on a wide scale, fearing that they might revolt. Some of these joined the Free Syrian Army operating bases in Turkey and have launched attacks against Assad’s army.<\/p>\n

Conscripted soldiers are mostly Sunnis and make up a 300,000 strong force in the Syrian army. Sunnis dominate the second corps in the army and are led by Circassian Sunni Muslim, while the remaining two corps in the land forces are led by Alawite commanders. Even if the ranking officer is Sunni in one division, the deputy is always an Alawite who has the real power and say in that division. The elite force called the Republican Guard is an all-Alawite force led by Assad’s younger brother Maher al-Assad, who has been cracking down on the opposition. He also commands the Fourth Armored Division and the Presidential Guard. The bulk of the security and intelligence apparatus in Syria is controlled by Bashar al-Assad’s uncle, cousins, brothers-in-law and nephews.<\/p>\n

Assad knows that once the unity among Alawites is in disarray, his fate will be sealed. That is why he has even called upon retired Alawite generals to work for him in order to secure their support and to prevent them from joining forces with the opposition. Assad’s nightmare scenario comes from the amplification of tribal and sectarian fighting within the Alawite community. The secretive community is divided along sectarian and ethnic lines, with four major sects as well as four main tribes. They are further divided into clans. For example, Assad comes from the Numaylatiyya clan of the Matawira tribe. The historical bitterness and rivalry among tribes and clans may potentially produce figureheads to challenge Assad’s family.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Landis Commen<\/strong>t: Bashar al-Assad is not “from the Numaylatiyya clan of the Matawira tribe,” as the Abdullah Buzkurt asserts. Rather, he is from the Kalbiyya tribe. Hanna Battatu claimed that Assad was from the Numaylatiya section of the Mutawira, but he was incorrect. Patrick Seale straightened this out. Nikolaus van Dam has also confirmed this. Talk to people from the region and they will confirm it as well. One has to be leery of assertions about the number of Alawi officers in the top ranks of the military, and other such specialized knowledge. These numbers do not exist and are based on guesses.<\/p>\n

Syrian foreign minister in Saudi Arabia for crisis talks<\/strong>
\n2011-11-30 12:16:09.830 GMT<\/p>\n

Beirut (DPA) — Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem arrived Wednesday in the Saudi city of Jeddah to attend an emergency meeting on the violence in his country, the broadcaster Al Arabiya reported. The meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, to be held later Wednesday, was “to urge the Syrian authorities to stop bloodshed, halt targeting civilians, and implement political reform,” the grouping said in a statement.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Der Spiegel: Syria’s Christians Side with Assad Out of Fear<\/a>
\n2011-11-30<\/p>\n

Print E-Mail Feedback 11\/30\/2011 The Tolerant Dictator Syria’s Christians Side with Assad Out of Fear By Bastian Berbner AFP Two Syrian Orthodox priests wait for the arrival of Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill in Damascus on Nov. 12, 2011. A …<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Qatar suspends Syria flights<\/strong>
\n2011-11-30 Ramadan Al-Fatash<\/p>\n

Damascus (DPA) — Qatar’s state-owned airline, Qatar Airways, said it was stopping its flights to and from Syria starting Wednesday as part of a package of sanctions imposed by the Arab League on Damascus over its violent clampdown on its opposition. The airline said in a statement released in Damascus that the suspension would be in effect until November 28, 2012.<\/p>\n

“Travel companies have to make the necessary changes and notify passengers as of today,” it added. On Sunday, the Arab League slapped sweeping economic sanctions – including halting trade links – on the Syrian government for failing to endorse a plan to allow Arab monitors into the country to observe the situation, a move some say might convince the government to stop its crackdown.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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