LATEST: Kerry Meets Saudi King and Syrian Opposition
FRIDAY FEATURES
- Iraq & Syria Audio: Beware of Exaggerating ISIS…& Merging 2 Conflicts
- Op-Ed: How to Build Solidarity with the Syrian People
- Video Analysis: Obama Gives Up The Fight
UPDATE 1715 GMT: Sources indicate that insurgents are still present in Al Bukamal, despite the claims of the Islamic State of Iraq and as-Sham that it controls the town. The presence of civilians and the relatively small number of ISIS fighters — so far — appears to be limiting confrontations.
Footage from the town on Thursday:
The Islamic State of Iraq and as-Sham’s advance in eastern Syria claimed the town of Al Bukamal on Thursday, as insurgents withdrew from the town following the defection of a commander and some of his fighters.
Insurgents had said they would maintain control after Abu Yusuf al-Masri, of the Islamist faction Jabhat al-Nusra, switched allegiance to ISIS. However, the resistance melted away, and the Iraqi-led group — which has been bolstered in eastern Syria by its advances on the Iraqi side of the border, including the capture of the town of Al Qa’im — posted video of its men moving through Al Bukumal.
ISIS, which has been fighting Syrian insurgents since January, has captured a series of villages along the Euphrates this month. Attention may now turn to Deir Ez Zor, Syria’s 7th-largest city, where insurgents are caught between the Iraqi group and President Assad’s troops.
Kerry Meets Saudi King and Syrian Opposition
US Secretary of State John Kerry has had meetings with King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia and with the head of the Syrian National Coalition, Ahmad Jarba, in Riyadh.
No details were given of the meetings but Kerry gave rhetorical support to the Coalition, saying it “has the ability to be a very important player in pushing back against ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and as-Sham) presence”.
Kerry added that Jarba “represents (the Shammar) tribe that reaches right into Iraq. He knows people there, and his point of view and that of the Syrian opposition will be very important going forward”.
The Saudi leadership has had long-standing concerns about US hesitancy in support of the Syrian insurgency. A visit by President Obama to King Abdullah in March failed to dispel the frustrations, although Washington has declared that it will give military aid to a “moderate” Syrian opposition.
Video: Ongoing Fighting in Jebal al-Arbaeen in Idlib Province
The Islamic Front reports on ongoing battles on the al-Arbaeen mountain in Idlib Province. Insurgents still hold ground taken in a recent offensive and are making limited advances, although the regime has still been able to reinforce the town of Ariha:
Kafranbel’s Protest Responds to Obama’s “Farmers & Dentists Can’t Defeat Assad”
Kafranbel’s Friday Protest responds to President Obama’s comment last weekend that it was a “fantasy” that “farmers dentists and folks who have never fought before” could defeat the Assad regime:
UN Blames Both Sides for Obstacles to Humanitarian Aid
The head of the United Nations’ humanitarian efforts, Baroness Amos, has blamed both sides for restrictions on aid to more than 9 million Syrians in need of assistance.
Amos said the Assad regime is more concerned with “controlling” the work of aid agencies than getting emergency supplies to victims.
Damascus has blocked assistance to insurgent-held areas, as it enforces sieges aimed at surrenders. The UN was only able to deliver half its planned food assistance being dispatched in June, and only about 1% of the 241,000 people living under siege conditions received help.
Amos said, “The focus of the government of Syria remains on controlling the work of the UN and its partners. Our focus remains on the people who so desperately need our help.”
She added that opposition groups have “attacked, threatened, and refused to cooperate” with aid workers.
Video: A 1st-Hand Report from War-Torn Aleppo
Elizabeth Palmer of CBS News gets into Aleppo and reports on the humanitarian situation and fighting — including insurgent mortars and regime barrel bombs — interviewing a Mayor who is effectively hiding inside City Hall:
