12 January 2016•Update: 12 January 2016
ANKARA
Russia could stop the advance of opposition forces in Syria, not the advance of Daesh, as it is 100 days now since the country got involved in the Syrian civil war on the pretext of "fighting against terror".
Russian support to the regime forces resulted in the deaths of thousands of civilians and the replacement of at least 100,000 people.
Initial air attacks by Russia, which started on Sept. 30, 2015, targeted Idlib, Hama, Homs, and northern Aleppo.
By October, the attacks were directed at regions controlled by Syrian opposition forces including northern and southern parts of Aleppo, southern Idlib province, and Bayirbucak region of northwestern Latakia province, a Turkmen area in Syria.
Since December, northern and southern parts of Aleppo, as well as the countryside in Idlib and Bayirbucak region, have been exposed to Russian attacks.
Russian air attacks not weakening Daesh
Russian air attacks did not weaken Daesh; on the contrary, Russia supported the advance of terror groups Daesh and PYD in an effort to build a corridor between the Turkish border and Syria's Aleppo, after Turkey shot down a Russian plane, which violated its airspace on Nov. 24, 2015.
Increasing the pressure from the east of the corridor, Daesh could advance toward Azaz district in Aleppo.
After Russia fired at Syrian opposition groups that are fighting against Daesh, the terror group could advance toward the southern part of Azaz and seized the village of Kafrah controlled by opposition forces.
Russian air attacks on Syrian opposition forces, which are actively combatting Daesh, suggest -- contrary to what Moscow claims -- Russia's priority is not Daesh indeed.
The opposition in Syria has taken a defensive position as Russian warplanes supported regime's ground forces.
Before Russia was involved in the Syrian conflict, Idlib was under the control of the opposition forces, which also held the northern part of Hama.
However, with Russian support, the regime took control of many villages in Aleppo, Latakia, and Damascus.
Civilians ignored
At least 1,000 civilians have been killed in the Russian air attacks in Syria carried out in the last 100 days and around 123,000 people were forced to leave the areas Moscow had targeted.
Air operations as well as the ground operations by Assad forces in Hama, northern Homs and southern Aleppo, caused an exodus of people into areas controlled by opposition forces around the Turkish border.
Russian support for PYD
Russia has improved relations with the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD), the PKK terror organization’s arm in Syria. Following meetings with Russian authorities in Moscow and Paris, PYD was granted Russian aerial support.
A Russian military cargo aircraft left 5 tons of ammunition in Seyh Maqsud region of northern Aleppo controlled by PYD forces on Dec. 2, 2015.
Russia also helped PYD advance toward Azaz-Jarablus line on northern Syria along the Turkish border.
On the one hand, PYD started to attack the frontlines of opposition forces in Azaz; on the other hand, it continued to fight against Daesh in Jarablus in an effort to move forward in the western part of The Euphrates River, where it took control of 12 villages.
