'15,000 strong' army gathers to take on Syria

UK Telegraph

An insurgent army which claims to be up to 15,000 strong is being coordinated from Turkey to take on President Bashar al-Assad of Syria, which risks plunging the region into open warfare.

The national "Syrian Free Army" aims to be the "military wing of the Syrian people's opposition to the regime", its leader told The Daily Telegraph from a heavily guarded camp in eastern Turkey.

Confirmation of an armed force operating with the covert approval of the Turkish authorities follows evidence that attacks inside Syria are causing high levels of casualties in the security forces. It also shows the anger of Recep Tayipp Erdogan, the Turkish premier, with Mr Assad, a former ally whose failed promises of reform have caused a deep rift.

"We are the future army of the new Syria. We are not in league with any particular sect, religion or political party. We believe in protecting all elements of Syrian society," the Army's leader, Col Riad al-Assad, said.

Made up of defectors from the regime's army, SFA fighters are conducting "high quality operations against government soldiers and security agents," Col Assad said.

Last week the SFA claimed responsibility for the killing of nine Syrian soldiers in battles in a town in central Syria. On Friday a further 17 regime soldiers were reported killed in violent clashes with defected former comrades in the city of Homs, a hotbed of resistance....

Col Assad appealed to the international community to impose a 'no fly zone' and a 'no sea zone'.

"We don't have the ability to buy weapons, but we need to protect civilians inside Syria," he said. "We want to make a 'safe zone' in the north of Syria, a buffer zone in which the SFA can get organised." With a small weapons supply, his movement is not yet in a position to pose a serious threat to the regime, but its presence marks a definitive change to the original unified opposition policy of peaceful protest.

Now this is interesting. I knew there were defectors from the Syrian military fighting in support of the protests but didn't know there was such an organised 'army' in formation? And it seems they are being assisted by Turkey, who I thought were also planning a military confrontation against the Syrian regime as well.

Hmmm talk of a military build up from Israel and the UK against Iran and amassing an army against Syria. This is getting interesting.

reply to post by surrealist


Al' Assad, didn't he die in Call of Duty 4?

Wow! So kinda like al cia da when they took on the lybian army. And they renamed them "the rebels"

reply to post by MegasAlexandros


That game takes place in 2011 so theres still time for him to die. And remember in the game Al-Assads death and war in the middle east ultimate lead to World War 3...hint hint

This is bad,very bad. If they are beeing helped by Turkey (in whatever Form) and engage Syrian Soldiers,Assad´could take this as a Declaration of War from Turkey.

If this goes out of Hand and both Turkey and Syria start shooting each other,which is likeley going to happen if that Articel is true,then Israel can engage Iran without worrying about Irans last (officially) remaining Ally...

So, War Games in HDVD in Play Station 3 are predicting the future strategic combat moves?

We can predict the outcomes for all the govenments before they make a move, in a game?

How cool is THAT?

Wow.

Can we end it peacfully too? Or not as cool?

Wow.......and we know that this "oposition" has the backing of al queeda

As was stated, if ANYONE backs these terrorists then it is a decloration of war with syria.

I thought Syria just went into agreement with the Arab League just yesterday to cease the hostilities (even though they murdered dozens today). Maybe the Arab league is seeing that Assad was lying no?

This could end up a genecide, or possibly the fuze that could light the whole area up.