Several Syrian rebel groups unleashed a wide-scale offensive in northwestern and central Syria on Monday.

In a corresponding statement the leaders of about a dozen armed factions announced the formation of a so-called “joint operation room” to coordinate new attacks on government forces.

The statement came just hours after the chief negotiator of the Syrian opposition delegation in Geneva called to ignore the months-long ceasefire and resume the fighting.


Comment: This was predictable. The ‘moderate rebels’ were never interested in peace, only domination by force. The only reason for peace talks and a ceasefire was because they were suffering great losses on the battlefields. Now, having had time to regroup and receive some more weapons from their state sponsors (e.g., anti-aircraft missiles), they’re ready to try again. Good luck, guys, because you’re going to need it.

Following the announcement, there were reports that rebels launched a fierce attack against the Syrian army in Latakia province and made separate advances in nearby Hama. The recent development casts further doubt on the future of fragile peace talks due to resume in Geneva and any possibility of a peace resolution to the years-long crisis.


Comment: From FARS:

The top commander of Jeish al-Islam terrorist group urged all militant groups across Syria to leave their positions and gather in a united front in Lattakia border with Idlib, warning that their territory near the border with Turkey and Idlib will soon be completely lost if fresh forces do not join them.

The Emir of Jeish al-Islam called on the leaders of at least nine terrorist groups of Ahrar al-Sham, Faylaq al-Sham, Ansar al-Sham, Sham al-Islam, Jeish al-Nasr, Jeish al-Eza’ah, Jeish al-Mujahidin, al-Firqa al-Shamaliyeh and al-Ferqa al-Owla Saheliyeh to forward more forces to Lattakia battlefronts to take part in a large-scale operation against the Syrian government forces.

Local sources announced that the coalition of these ten terrorist groups has launched a joint operation in Lattakia codenamed Rad al-Madhalem which has thus far been repelled by the strong defense of the pro-government forces.

And fresh reinforcements keep puring in from Turkey:

Informed sources said that a large number of terrorists, with different nationalities, have crossed the Turkish border with Syria’s Northern province of Aleppo to join their comrades in al-Nusra Front.

“Foreign-national terrorist, trained and supplied in Turkey, have entered the territories of Northern Aleppo in groups to join the al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Nusra Front,” the sources said, adding, “The fresh terrorists have brought with them a large volume of ammunition and weapons.”

Earlier on Monday, a representative of the Syrian opposition group, High Negotiations Committee, told Sputnik that a new round of talks might not yield any results.

In particular, he said that there’s still a gap between the Syrian government and the country’s opposition regarding the understanding of political transition in the country.


Comment: In other words, the HNC is making absurd, unreasonable demands, which have the (desired) effect of blocking any possible political solution.

Syria’s opposition groups are not interested in a political resolution of the crisis, said Dr. Taleb Ibrahim, Deputy Director of the Damascus Center for International and Strategic Studies, in an interview with Radio Sputnik.


Comment: They can’t even put up a good show of being interested in pace. Head of the HNC Riad Hijab said this today:

We want the US to shoulder responsibility and to use its influence as a superpower. We need action on the ground. Allies of the regime are fighting on the ground with it. The truce can’t be sustained by preventing rebels from getting weapons. On the contrary, they must be strengthened.

According to him the future of Geneva talks lies in the hands of Russia and the United States.

“Syrian rebel groups were preparing for a new round of the war and we have witnessed that in nearby Aleppo, Latakia and Damascus those men don’t believe in political solution, they believe only in war and they are still gambling the future of Syria as they want only power and military action in the country.”

Ibrahim further spoke about how there are some countries such as Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar and Israel that are supporting these rebel groups in Syria and how their only aim is to topple Assad. He said that these countries just want to impede any political resolution in Syria by implementing military power in the country.

Looking at the future of this conflict, Ibrahim said that two countries can play a vital role in the resolution of Syrian conflict.

“The agreement between Russia and the United States is the most important thing.”

The analyst further spoke about the role Russia and the United States play in settling the crisis in Syria.