LATEST: Assad Regime — $21.4 Billion Lost in Oil and Gas Industries

The Islamic Front, the largest insurgent bloc in Syria, has called for a restructured Supreme Military Council — based inside the country — to lead the fight against the Assad regime.

The statement from the Front, which was formed from a coalition of seven leading factions last November, reflects both continued frustration with the Council — based in Turkey — and hope for coordination of operations inside Syria.

In recent months, insurgents have gained territory in the northwest and southwest of Syria and resisted regime efforts to break their hold on territory east of Damascus. In recent days, opposition fighters have advanced in the northeast of the capital, undermining the narrative of an inevitable victory by President Assad’s forces.

However, the insurgency has been defeated by the jihadist Islamic State in northern and eastern Syria and is under pressure in the divided city of Aleppo. It also continues to face shortages of weapons and supplies, because of international hesitancy in support for the fight.

The Front said on Tuesday that the new Supreme Military Council “should avoid the previous mistakes that led to its failure, including backing of groups inside and outside Syria that did not work with the insurgency and “implementing marketed projects which are imposed upon the Syrian people”.

There has no response so far from the existing Council or the Syrian National Coalition, the umbrella political organization based outside the country.


Assad Regime: $21.4 Billion Lost in Oil and Gas Industries

Syria’s oil and gas industries have lost $21.4 billion since the start of mass uprisings in March 2011, Oil Minister Suleiman Abbas said Tuesday.

Abbas cited $3.5 billion direct losses — stolen and wasted oil and gas, and damage or theft of infrastructure, pipelines, and vehicles — and lost revenues of $17.9 billion.

Syrian oil production has fallen more than 95% from 385,000 barrels of oil per day to 17,000 bpd. Gas production has been halved, as the Islamic State has taken main oilfields in eastern Syria and claimed some gas fields.

Syrian National Coalition Dissolves Government-in-Exile

The Syrian National Coalition dissolved the government-in-exile on Tuesday, promising to form a new one within a month.

The Coalition said it wanted to “create new ground for work on the basis of moving the government into the interior as soon as possible, and employing Syrian revolutionary capabilities”.

A member of the Coalition, Samir Nashar, claimed interim Prime Minister Ahmad Tohme was sacked “for political reasons, but also because of his management”.

Tohme is close to Syria’s Muslim Brotherhood, which is supported by Qatar but opposed by Saudi Arabia.

Both Coalition head Hadi al-Bahra, selected on July 9, and his predecessor Ahmad Jarba are close to Riyadh.

Nashar asserted, “The Muslim Brotherhood dominated the government…and Saudi Arabia let its allies know that they needed to cut ties with the group.”

He also claimed Tohme gave political posts to allies: “Some 10 to 15 people were handed jobs as consultants.”

Tohme was weakened earlier this month when his dismissal of the head of the Supreme Military Council was reversed by the Coalition’s General Assembly.

Western Media Outlet Finally Notices Insurgent Attacks in Damascus

The week-long insurgent offensive in northeast Damascus has finally caught the attention of a Western media outlet.

Agence France Presse headlines, “Rebel-Held Damascus Hit By Fiercest Clashes in Months“.

Insurgents have moved from their “rebel-held” area in Jobar to seize regime checkpoints and buildings on the way to Abbasayeen Square. Civilians have been evacuated. The Syrian military has sent reinforcements to a complex of the Security Service, while counter-attacking with artillery and airstrikes on Jobar.

See Syria Daily, July 22: The Insurgent Push Into Damascus
Syria Developing: Insurgent Forces Attack In Damascus

The AFP report, which relies on assertions by the oft-quoted Syriah Observatory for Human Rights, claims the Arfeh checkpoint has been retaken by regime forces. However, opposition media says fighting is ongoing: