USA TODAY International Edition
Syrian opposition sees radicals at work for regime
Colonel says few are from al- Qaeda
BEIRUT — The Free Syrian Army says terrorists are operating in Syria on behalf of the Assad regime as its military forces continue to bombard opposition cities despite United Nations condemnation.
Aref Hamoud, a colonel in the Free Syrian Army, said his units are encountering a growing number of radical elements in some parts of the country. He said the radicals are Syrians and not foreigners from al- Qaeda.
“Up until now, the al- Qaeda insurgency lacks local support of the population, which is an essential element for its guerrilla warfare,” he said. “A prolonged crisis would breed a more fertile ground for the organization, which is why we call for Arab and Western countries to provide military and financial support.”
“It is clear that this regime will only be toppled by force,” he said.
On Thursday, U. S. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper told Congress that al- Qaeda “is extending its reach into Syria.” Meanwhile, Iranian warships docked in the Syrian port of Tartus, Iranian news agency Mehr reported Sunday.
On Saturday, Syrian troops in Damascus fired on mourners at a funeral for a protester who died in a clash during a march against the regime of Bashar Assad. On Sunday, Egypt recalled its ambassador to Syria.
The Syrian regime released more than a dozen members of Fatah alIslam and al- Qaeda from prison several weeks ago, according to al- Qaedalinked websites. Fatah al- Islam is a Palestinian terrorist organization.
Hamoud said that a more troubling development is the alleged release of Abu Mussab al- Suri, a Syrian citizen and longtime jihadist captured in Pakistan in 2005. The U. S. State Department had issued a $ 5 million reward for his capture and he was turned over to U. S. custody but eventually handed to the Syrians. An al- Qaeda- linked forum said he had been released, according to a translation by the SITE Intelligence Group.
“The Syrian regime is willing to take any risk to stay in power by playing up the West’s fears, especially those of the U. S. and Israel,” Hamoud said. “They believe such reckless measures will relieve some of the pressure.”
The regime blamed recent bomb blasts in Damascus and Aleppo that resulted in about 100 deaths on alQaeda. Assad blames the uprising against him on terrorist groups and U. S. and Israeli interference. The U. N. has said his troops have killed thousands of people, most of whom were civilians protesting peacefully or in rebellious cities hammered by Syrian artillery.
Several demonstrations took place recently in Aleppo, Syria’s largest city and its biggest trading and industrial center. Aleppo had been calm during months of uprisings. Home to Syria’s merchant class, Aleppo has generally supported the regime.
“The situation in Aleppo was relatively calm due to the strong military presence of Syrian security forces,” Hamoud said. “However, this week, they seem to be slowly losing their grip on the city.”
Meanwhile, Syrian troops continued their assault on the city of Homs, an operation that has gone on for two weeks. The U. N. General Assembly last week approved a non- binding resolution that condemned Assad’s humanrights violations in Homs and elsewhere.