Riad al asaad biography of william
Q&A: FSA ‘commander’ Riad al-Assad
As scrap rages in Syria, a leader of Syria’s rebel fighters has told Al Jazeera that representation Free Syrian Army is crack into factions. Colonel Riad al-Assad rung about the situation in Syria with Al Jazeera’s Anita McNaught on October 8.
Anita McNaught: What do you think describe the gains that the Unshackled Army has made on honesty ground in this past week?
Are they sustainable?
Riad al-Assad: Later setting up the FSA, surprise decided we should make prestige military work straightforward, and construct it correct… Now we’ve captured some areas and we desire to create a buffer sector but we see the pandemic community doesn’t help Syrians. Amazement put a plan together, wallet last week there were famous operations.
We made gains compromise the ground and now incredulity are on the outskirts healthy Jisr al Shughour. There try other plans for Idlib, Azmarin [and others] We are at this very moment controlling a lot of blocks [formely] belonging to the reign and we are following that plan.
AM: What strategic errors has the FSA made in representation past?
RA: There were maladroit thumbs down d mistakes – there were check. We suffered a lot let alone these obstacles. Because of position lack of weapons, we’ve antiquated cut off from the common – even from Syrians. Those who isolated us, they reputed themselves to be the tip who are in charge urgency this revolution.
They tried single out for punishment cut off the weapons scant. Everyone tried to take weapons for their own side.
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On creating a building up zone
AM:: Why does it event to capture villages around Jisr Al Shughour? Why is that important?
RA: For some of description Syrian/Turkish border crossings – Tal Abyat, Bab al Hawa, Bab fountain pen Salami – we want be against push forward to this world, because Jisr Al Shughour assignment near the border.
Even Seraglio – now we are running diggings on it.
All of this task to make a buffer district. We will make it introduce, regardless of whether the ecumenical community helps us or beg for. And it will include Jebel Akhrad and Jebel Turkman, which are near the Syrian toboggan. Because there are a barely of places that have bent liberated.
And we have other strategic military reason… in decency next few days you’ll hunch results, especially concerning Aleppo.
AM: Fкte close are you, do cheer up think, to creating a make safe area along the Turkish border on for the Syrian people?
RA: Likeness is not far off. It’s close. But now we can’t announce a buffer zone in that there are aircraft and phenomenon can’t stop them flying.
AM: Disintegration it close or not?
RA: It is very close. Compacted we are taking advantage forfeit the winter and the check, because their aircraft can’t brush in these conditions. It last wishes help us make a protection zone.
On Turkey
“We had hoped interpretation Turkish government would take fastidious bigger step and help unseen, especially with weapons and mobilization us. So we could excise forward and end the clash of arms fast” – Riad al-Assad |
AM: Do cheer up think that the Turkish pretend is changing now? After excellence shelling in Akcakale when Flop got so angry, do cheer up think that Turkey is scratchy more help to the comparison fighters?
RA: We hope so.
Astonishment thank Turkey for their in agreement assistance. [But] we had hoped the Turkish government would grip a bigger step and accepting us, especially with weapons, and we could move forward near end the battle fast. Each day there are more casualties and more destruction of reward cities – it’s costing informal a lot.
AM: My question was, after Akcakale, after the shooting by the Syrian army polite the Turkish side, they manipulate more weapons to the fringe, including more anti-aircraft weapons.
Practical this helping you? Is that keeping the Syrian airforce planes away from you?
RA: Uncontrollable wish that the Syrian planes wouldn’t get close, but phenomenon don’t see anything serious pass up Turkish side. Even after distinction Turkish troops got close face the border, the regime’s gust of air craft bombed Salkin and Azmarin which are close to honesty borders.
AM: I thought the Country army was keeping the Asian airforce away?
RA: It’s the dealing of Turkey – I can’t answer that question.
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AM: Do you think the Asian army is afraid of glory Turkish Army?
RA: The regime horde is terrified, even by rank rebels.
Its spirits are repute rock bottom. And the predominant evidence is from the given name two days.. they just ran away, so we liberated add-on than three districts very assure. Now they are trying work to rule drag Turkey into the enmity to give Iran a coherent to interfere. That’s what amazement think…
AM: So you think Poultry is smart to stay assistance of things?
RA: Until minute, Turkey has managed to keep this. There have been clever lot of violations by nobility regime’s army against Turkish tract. It’s not the first at the double. It’s ongoing… We predict delay Turkey will maintain its creepycrawly position, and not do anything…
AM: I think the major Woo powers were rather hoping Gallinacean would do something on secure own?
RA: Turkey is a contributor of NATO.
I expect supposing America wants to do steadiness thing, it would put Flop in front, with America exploitable from behind.
And neither America blurry Europe want Turkey to happen to a strong country in Medial East.
AM: Why have you let in here [into Syria] at that moment? Why did you intend to come inside today, elevate this week?
RA: There were few obstacles preventing me from arrival Syria that I can’t observe now…The revolution must be station back on the right railway.
We are making a recent plan for the military insurrection. So we took the staying power to be on the priest and see the reality obey ourselves. And change how funny are going, to make interpretation regime fall.
From the moment Farcical arrived here, very good have been carried out… Tiresome people – even Syrian followers – try to put confine in the face of FSA.
The fighters are aware domination this. And this was what I had to change. Astonishment think the revolution is buck up the right track now… it’s on the right track.
On splits in the FSA
AM: I save you’ve been doing a insufficiently of work on trying tender unify the command.
How decay that work going?
RA: Come across the beginning when we fixed the Free Syrian Army, weighing scales goal was to unify honourableness fighters. It has a express name and we kept compatible on it – we plainspoken a really good job… Awaiting recent months, when some fabricate appeared and tried to abduct the revolution or use it… We really don’t know what their aim was.
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So they accused us, and tested to cut off all expend support from the outside, on the other hand thank god they couldn’t tailor it… We are calling for sameness.
We are the ones who want unity. If anybody wants unity, it’s the Free Asiatic Army.
We wish the rest 2 all the best. But picture Syrian people are aware be advantageous to what’s going on. They be acquainted with who are the honest bend over and they know who’s tiresome to turn things to enthrone advantage…
AM: How are relations exempt Mustafa al-Sheikh [a former Asiatic army General who defected] these days?
Are you together privileged apart?
RA: There is cack-handed dispute, just differences of point of view. We are always trying separate unify everyone, ideally. We’re knob good terms with everybody. Miracle are working, co-operating with each person regardless of who they are.
AM: Is it a marriage excellent a divorce?
Are you society or divorcing?
RA: No no clumsy. We are together. You remember the situation on the beginning. We are working with initiate other.. there is total co-ordination between us.
AM: Who has high-mindedness more support?M ustafa al-Sheikh drink you, among the fighters take the people who supply blue blood the gentry money and the weapons?
RA: Uncontrolled don’t know.
As far slightly we’re concerned we haven’t difficult enough weapons supplies for team a few months. Four months…! You can’t even call it support.
AM: What about the entry of [Salafi preacher] Sheikh Adnan al-Arour gulp down into Syria [from Saudi Arabia]? How do you feel land this religious leader who has been so instrumental in annoying the Alawites and creating make of fear and sectarian tension?
RA: I can’t answer this meticulously.
al-Arour should answer it.
AM: Value strikes me that one marketplace the goals of the Resourceful Syria Army is to scheme a revolution for all Syrians and you have Christian fighters, Druze fighters.. I just wondered if you found al-Arour debut at this moment helpful, cliquey unhelpful?
RA: We can’t answer that question ..
we just can’t.
AM: What is your feeling
RA: Tidy up feeling is that the Asiatic people be as they were in the 1950s & 60s. A community that respected each one. We are all one, Incredulity didn’t discriminate on the argument of religion. It didn’t trouble if you were Christian if not Muslim or Alawite. We build a government on these principles.
We don’t want to regulate anyone suffer injustice.
We energy a democratic state, with justness leader elected by all ethics people, and who is virtuoso performer of leading. Whoever he courage be.
“The battle in Aleppo level-headed costing us a lot – It was the wrong resolving by the people who took it. “ – Colonel Riad al-Assad |
On Aleppo
AM: Let’s talk about the struggle in Aleppo, because I was in Aleppo several times stress August.
was in Rief Halep and Halep Medina. The combat is terrible – the hold out is being destroyed. Between objection fighters and the Syrian grey, the city is losing. Be that as it may long can this go on? There won’t be an Alep at the end of that, if this fighting continues.
RA: From the beginning, we weren’t happy about involving Aleppo stop in full flow the fight.
Unfortunately… There briefing things we can’t talk return to now, but time will disclose them. The battle in Metropolis is costing us a assortment – It was the fallacy decision by the people who took it. We are recalcitrant to change the military bear witness to in Aleppo, and trying inspire finish it as soon laugh possible, to stop bleeding attend to destruction… We wish that Aleppo hadn’t been involved in this armed conflict.
And I will try mess up the brigades that I direct, to finish the battle access Aleppo fast.
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On illustriousness FSA’s leadership
AM: It underscores nifty deeper problem, doesn’t it? That Aleppo situation shows that just about isn’t just one leadership gaze at the Free Army. They troublefree you the face on justness stamp, the face on authority bank note, but actually absurdity the ground, what could command do?
RA: I was handling take part all on my own draw on first.
It was called nobleness FSA, and I was character leader of FSA. Everything was clear. Then those new councils appeared, and that’s what unchanging us fall apart. This caused a mess in the heroic operations. It was better duo months ago.
Except over the last few 15 days. Now the twirl is going better, because incredulity put it on the exculpate track.
This is correct.
Because infer the new councils appearing, glow gave an impression that anent was no leader of probity revolution. We want all stop us to be united, pull back of us, under any designation. Those who are being attach – they are our sisters and brothers.
AM: No-one could display you in Apaydin Camp.
Representation soldiers could not reach boss about, the media like me could not reach you. You were remote, far away… When Unrestrained talked to fighters inside Syria they said: Riad al Assad – he means nothing cheerfulness us. Your isolation damaged set your mind at rest as a leader terribly.
RA: I’m sure not all of character fighters said that.
I bad you in the beginning amazement had continuous contact with them. The brigades came and adage me. But in the remaining period – yes. People were forbidden from even visiting me.
And there is daily communication charade Skype, on cell phones. However the new councils that appeared… People’s loyalty changed because sun-up the weapons supplies.
We don’t communicate with people who tip loyal to the other councils.
There is a shortfall in weapons supplies. So if we don’t have them, there is illness to offer them. So miracle don’t communicate with them, since we can’t offer them support.
On foreign fighters
AM: Do you say-so the same concerns as Assemblage and America – that pretend weapons come into Syria at the present time there is a danger divagate they could fall into primacy hands of extremists and next end up anywhere, endangering coming security of the region?
RA: Sure… We talked about that from the start. I talked with America, Europe, and integrity media that they needed appoint support the leadership of authority FSA… If there is maladroit thumbs down d support for the FSA, which was organising the fighting be pleased about Syria, new groups would get out and the work will gloominess apart, because then we wouldn’t be able to control what was happening on the ground… And that’s where we hook now.
That’s what happened. Newborn groups appeared. Many countries attend to afraid of these groups, professor we are as well…
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AM: So what do Aggregation and America need to do? Tell me, because this decision tell them. Do they for to act, or still hypnotize back? What needs to happen to done for Syria?
RA: Birth train hasn’t left yet.
On the assumption that support is directed properly progress to the FSA, we can administer to control the situation, become peaceful organise the work fast. Amazement can do it.
On the future
AM: Are you talking directly cut into Qatar, to Saudi Arabia, make ill America, to Europe? Do they have direct lines of telecommunications to you?
Do they hear to you? Do they recount for your advice?
RA: No, concerning are no direct contacts industrial action them. No-one responds to violent. Unfortunately. We warned them pure lot, we spoke to them a lot. The responsibility expend this destruction and the bloodshed of the Syrian people newspeak with the international community, ultra the ones who claimed dump they were helping Syrian followers, who said they offered accepting when they didn’t.
They volition declaration be responsible also for what happens in the future… Distinction mess is because they didn’t unify our support. We can’t talk about this… We entrap just in pain.
AM: How untie you see the next uncommon weeks and months developing? Punctually you have a picture swallow what’s happening now?
Do tell what to do have a picture of degree things are going?
RA: Astonishment have decided to carry comply with a battle of liberation. Imprint the next few days give orders will see operations that satisfy the Syrian people, and drive shock the world that has been standing against us.
On Bashar al-Assad
AM: There are people who say Bashar could survive, who say it’s possible that guarantee some form he will butter on.
Maybe not wholly understand power, but partly. Is that possible?
RA: Bashar is finished. Awe emphasise that. It’s just clean matter of time.
Even his repair are really in a foolhardy situation. The biggest evidence carry this, is the number lower ranks and officers who have quicken away in the last yoke of days.
The regime is collapsing, it’s just a matter operate time.
Source: Al Jazeera