Egypt joins Russia and Iran in supporting Syrian government against NATO- backed terrorists

Finally, Egypt has taken a clear stance on Syria. This is an event of great importance to drastically change the situation. Speaking on the Portuguese TV network RTP on November 22, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi publicly affirmed his support for the forces of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. In response to the question of whether Egypt will send troops to Syria or not he stated: «Our priority is to support our Army in issues such as controlling some parts of Libya and dealing with extremist forces for establishing peace, including in Syria and Iraq».

President al-Sisi restored diplomatic relations with Syria after coming to power in 2013.

Last month, Egypt backed a Russian-backed motion calling for a ceasefire in Syria. Egypt had known the support for the Russian measure would put it at odds with the West and Saudi Arabia. Riyadh responded by suspending oil shipments to the country but the Egyptian government does not give in under pressure. For instance, it has defied the US and Saudi Arabia by refusing to get involved in the Yemen’s conflict.

Citing «well-informed Arab sources», Lebanese newspaper Al-Safir reported that 18 Egyptian pilots arrived at Hamah military airbase in Syria on November 12. The servicemen are part of a special helicopter squadron. A source «close to the Syria file» told the newspaper that a large deployment of Egyptian troops will arrive in Syria in late January to take part in military operations «not limited to air support at Hama airbase».

Last month, Syrian security services chief Ali Mamlouk met with Egyptian officials in his first public foreign visit in five years to discuss Egypt publicly backing the Syrian government. According to Middle East Observer, the first group of 4 high-ranking Egyptian officers from the Egyptian General Staff entered Syria a month ago and was deployed in the Syrian army’s base in Damascus. The military officials visited the armoured division stationed near Daraa and an airbase in Sweida province.

Also last month, Syrian National Security Bureau head Ali Mamlouk visited Cairo to meet Khaled Fawzy, the head of Egypt’s General Intelligence Service. The two sides agreed to coordinate political positions and strengthen cooperation in «the fight against terror» according to Syria’s Sana news agency.

Egypt’s open support of the Russia-backed coalition in Syria is a game changing event of fundamental importance. In the West, the war in Syria has been widely believed to be a conflict between Sunni and Shia forces – the 1400 old Islam schism. Now the largest Arab Sunni state has taken the side of the Syria’s government to become a coalition ally with Russia. The sectarian interpretation of the conflict is not valid anymore.

The conflict is about fighting terrorists. As the Egyptian president noted he believes that the national army the Syrian government forces are best positioned to combat extremists and restore stability in the war-torn nation.

Recently, Russia and Egypt have intensified their bilateral ties in many areas, including defense cooperation. Joint military exercises were held in Egypt in October. Both countries see eye-to-eye on Libya and many other issues.

There is another event to demonstrate the strengthening of the Russia-supported coalition joined by Egypt. According to Iranian Fars News Agency, Iranian Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan stated on November 26 that Tehran could allow Russia to use Nojeh airbase near Hamadan for Moscow’s aerial operation against terrorists in Syria. Also, Mr. Dehghan told reporters that purchase of Russian-made Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jets is on the agenda.

The same day, Victor Ozerov, the Russian upper house of parliament’s defense committee chair, said Russia could use Iran’s Hamadan airbase in case the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier moves away from Syria. On August 16, Russian bombers used Iran’s Nojeh to launch attacks on terrorist positions in Syria.

On November 26, Syrian armed forces and allies managed to seize control of Hanano, key district in the northwestern city of Aleppo, which has been a flash point over the past few months. After Aleppo is retaken, the Russia-supported coalition in Syria will control vast swathes of land in the country. With the government of Bashar Assad firmly in power, the post-war settlement no longer seems to be a pipe dream and the US-led coalition will hardly be the one to call the shots.

Russia’s military effort in Syria has become an operation of a much broader scope than it was back in September 2015, when the first Russian aircraft flew its first sortie. The operation has marked Russia’s spectacular return to the Middle East as a major player. New actors, like China, Egypt and others, get involved. Interaction between the coalition members gets closer as illustrated by Russia and Iran.

Egypt’s decision to support the Syria’s government provides a good opportunity to influence the events in the region in a positive way.

In broad terms, the teaming up of large countries indicates that a regional anti-terrorism entity or even a military block independent from the US might emerge at some point in future.

ALEX GORKA | 27.11.2016 | WORLD

http://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2016/11/27/syria-egypt-joins-fray-support-russia-backed-coalition.html

President-elect Donald Trump has promised to drastically change the US foreign policy, including regional conflicts. In his interview with The Wall Street Journal he said that his administration’s top priority in Syria would be to defeat the Islamic State (IS) group, rather than ousting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

According to him, «My attitude was you’re fighting Syria, Syria is fighting ISIS (IS), and you have to get rid of ISIS. Russia is now totally aligned with Syria, and now you have Iran, which is becoming powerful, because of us, is aligned with Syria… Now we’re backing rebels against Syria, and we have no idea who these people are». The statement indicates a complete reversal of the previous policy. If the US attacks Mr. Assad, the president-elect said, «We end up fighting Russia, fighting Syria».

With all the Russia’s attempts to coordinate the efforts spurned, the policy of Obama’s administration aimed at regime change in Syria has pushed the US to the brink of confrontation with Russia. Obviously, Donald Trump has understanding of the folly of this policy.

During the election campaign, Mr. Trump stated that regime change in Syria would only cause more instability in the region and shoring up the Assad’s government is the most efficient way to stem the spread of terrorism and extremism. Summing up the president-elect’s statements, it all boils down to the US getting out of the war in Syria, stop destabilizing more Middle Eastern countries, and working together with Moscow to defeat terrorist groups such as IS.

Last summer he said, «Wouldn’t it be nice if we got together with Russia and knocked the hell out of ISIL (IS)?» It particular, he has suggested putting an end to the support for Syrian rebels.

Donald Trump also expressed a desire to hold a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin soon. According to him, he had received an «excellent» letter» (meaning a congratulatory telegram) from the Russian President Vladimir Putin, expressing a desire to work «to return Russian-American relations to a stable path of development».

It is normal that during presidential races candidates say a lot of things to make them forgotten, swept under the rug or reversed afterwards. It is a matter of prime importance that Mr. Trump confirmed his position on Syria right after the election victory. In a new turn of events the Syria’s government led by President Bashar Assad said it was ready to cooperate with the US president-elect. This is a development that can lead to drastic changes.

The battles raging in Mosul, Raqqa and Aleppo are putting the issue to the fore. It’s not about «de-confliction», but rather crisis management efforts after IS is defeated and eastern Aleppo moves under the control of Russia-supported government forces. There is not much time left till the pertinent actors have to do so something to address the situation and make decisions that may lead to either confrontation, or cooperation.

Now when President Trump is in office, the parties could make first steps by sealing a deal on coordinating efforts. Joint air strikes against Jabhat al-Nusra (Jabhat Fatah al-Sham) and IS would be a good start.

With IS pushed out of Aleppo and Raqqa, the parties could make arrangements to define the zones of influence and mutual obligations till UN-brokered international negotiations produce results. Iran, Turkey and Saudi Arabia have influence among the groups, which have armed formations operating in the country. Russia has good working relations with these countries as well as Syria’s government. The US also has influence with some groups, especially the Syrian Kurds. Joining together, the parties could gradually move forward within the framework of International Syria Support Group.

Russia and the US should cooperate on Syria and gain experience of working together in the Middle East and North Africa because the there is a big chance they will soon need such an experience while tackling the problems of Libya, Afghanistan and, may be, Iraq and Yemen within the framework of international effort.

The president-elect’s stance on this issue is sound and sensible. After all, unlike IS, Syria President Assad poses no danger to the US. The extremists threaten Russia and America and they make no distinction. It would be a folly to confront each other in Syria instead of joining together against the common enemy. With the enormous combined power of the two countries, they are bound to prevail soon with tangible results for the whole world to see.

The president-elect’s stance on the Middle East and Syria, in particular, opens new opportunities for fruitful cooperation with Russia. The Syria war cannot last forever and Russia-US cooperation is key to achieving progress on peaceful settlement.

This cooperation could spread to other areas as part of broader process. The interview of Mr. Trump and the planned phone conversation between the two leaders could be harbingers of positive changes. President Trump will have got his presidency off to a strong start. It is up to him not to miss the opportunity.