Monat: Oktober 2015

Yemen: In „liberated“ Aden Al Qaeda roams the streets

radioyaran Yemen , , , , ,

BBC on July 17th, 2015:
„Yemen’s southern province of Aden has been „liberated“ from Houthi rebel forces, the country’s exiled vice-president has declared.“
…
„The Saudi leadership is feeling triumphant over today’s announcement of what it calls „the liberation of Aden“. “
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-33563190

BBC on October 6th, 2015:
„Jihadist militants have reportedly been seen on the streets of Aden since southern militiamen backed by coalition forces drove the Houthis out of the city“
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-34451549

More interesting and shocking is the fact that BBC changed this report later. In the original version which I saved the text was this:
„Residents have complained that the city has descended into chaos and lawlessness, with jihadist militants affiliated to al-Qaeda and Islamic State seen on the streets. “

It´s a mystery why BBC chose to omit the complaint of the residents. Probably it does not fit well into the farce of the liberated happy city.

How „moderate“ is the FSAs „Southern Front“

radioyaran Syria , , , , , , ,

When confronted with the fact that there is no relevant moderate rebel faction going by the name of „Free Syrian Army“, still some people disagree pointing to the so called „Southern Front“ as a supposed success model of a secular/liberal force fighting against the Syrian government.

The more interesting then to zoom deeper into the Southern Front:

„The simultaneous claims of success indicate that the Southern Front’s fighters likely participated in the battle alongside the jihadists, even though the FSA’s southern alliance has repeatedly rejected cooperation with Al Nusrah.“
…
„Just days after Al Reis’ [Southern Front commander] public rejection of any cooperation with al Qaeda’s arm in Syria, Ahrar al Sham, Al Nusrah and their allies in the region announced the creation of a southern wing of Jaysh al Fateh (“Army of Conquest”).“
…
„Some FSA groups rejected cooperation with “Jaysh al Fateh in the South,” but others reportedly joined it. Adding to the battlefield confusion, the Southern Front apparently fought alongside Ahrar al Sham just days before publicly rejecting any collaboration with Al Nusrah (Ahrar’s closest ally in Syria)“
…
„According to a recent account, FSA groups operating under its umbrella are peeling off and joining Ahrar al Sham.“
http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2015/10/al-nusrah-front-free-syrian-army-battle-assad-regime-for-un-hill-in-southern-syria.php

So much about the Southern Front being a reliable „moderate“ rebel faction and so much about it´s leaders credibility when they claim they will not cooperate with Jabhat al Nusra, Al Qaedas Syrian branch.