Did Russia Betray the Islamic Resistance and What to Expect next?

Mohamed Ousman

Zionist Israel is busy destroying Syria' military equipment and installations but the takfiri terrorists are busy dancing in the streets of Damascus. They have issued no word of condemnation against zionist war crimes.

Russia has two non-negotiable strategic interests in Syria irrespective of who runs it.

First, the naval port at Tartus in Syria; second, the one million Russian-speaking Israelis who pursue Russia’s national interests.

It has perfectly transparent ties with Israel.

Russia is fully committed to Israel.

It is not a member of the axis of resistance or the Islamic Resistance.

It is an ally that pursues its own strategic interests in Syria.

It tolerates Iran to the extent that these two strategic interests are not compromised.

Hence, when Iran and its strategic allies get too powerful, the Israelis re-impose their power structure that acknowledges Russia’s interests.

Moscow views Iran as a strategic threat that has to be managed in the short to medium term.

Iran cannot be allowed to become politically, economically and militarily powerful lest Muslims believe in themselves, constitute and Ummah and become a consolidated power bloc from West Africa to China.

Russia had a limited mission based on close cooperation and agreement with the Syrian government.

In terms of that agreement, it had to remain in its military base and defend Syria against insurgents.

Russia was not involved in the “Israeli-Palestinian conflict”.

An expanded mission for that purpose would have required a new defense pact.

After the escalation in Ukraine in 2022, the Russian Defense Minister said that Syria would have to hold the frontline against US imperialism until after Moscow’s war in the Ukraine.

It is, therefore, unreasonable to accuse Russia of betrayal although this has implications for the hopes of those in the Global South.

It would be more useful to reflect on internal blind spots.

Before reflecting on some of these blind spots, a comment on Israel is necessary.

Netanyahu has welcomed the toppling of Bashar al Asad and even claimed to have played a role in his downfall.

This has resulted in Israel smoothly entering Syria for the first time in 51 years.

Israel has since destroyed Syria’s military capability and occupied strategic, elevated lookout zones.

One could further expect that within a few years, an Israeli embassy will be opened in Damascus unless the zionists decide to occupy the whole of Syria.

This cannot be ruled out.

Henceforth, US weapons will replace Russian weapons, courtesy of Turkey and Hay’at Tahrir Al-Shaam (HTS).

The toppling of Bashar al Asad was led by Turkey, a NATO member.

Ankara commanded the terrorist outfit, HTS. HTS is also supported by Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Israel, and their master, the US.

Ukraine also delivered drones which HTS used in the attack on Hama.

It appears that the Syrian military went to sleep after the Sochi Agreement, thinking the war was over.

Despite the agreement, Turkey has again proved its treachery and instead of ensuring that Aleppo remained a demilitarized buffer zone, it supported HTS terrorists until they finally broke out in the open about two months ago.

It is likely that Erdogan embarked on this venture in order to strengthen his position prior to Donald Trump coming into the White House. Trump has stated that he will pull US troops out of Syria.

Qatar, a major non-NATO ally, where the US sent strategic bombers in order to deter Islamic Iran, hosts and finances Al Jazeera.

Since its formation in 1996, it has championed the Palestinian cause to win over the Arab audience, heretofore un-exposed to “freedom of expression”.

In subsequent years, it gained credibility as it produced wonderful documentaries and breaking news highlighting the Palestinian plight.

It used this tactic to simultaneously drive a wedge between the true supporters of the Palestinian struggle and the Islamic Resistance.

Its role in setting back the Islamic Resistance against Israel has to go down as probably the most damaging psy-op to the Palestinian struggle.

Al Jazeera exploited its “credibility” to broadcast HTS takeovers even before some of the cities enroute to Damascus fell.

Memories of ISIS beheadings and organ eating caused many young conscripts in the army to surrender without a fight.

This surrender without a fight appears to be the result of a deal struck elsewhere.

Thus, a command was issued to surrender without resistance.

Reviewing the manner in which HTS has maneuvered enroute to Damascus, it appears that the strategy was to encircle Lebanon, there-by cutting off supplies to Hizbullah.

It is more than likely that supplies to Hizbullah will be strangulated by HTS to benefit Israel.

Finally, the role of Iran must be assessed.

It appears that after the likely assassination of President Ibrahim Ra’isi, the Pezeshkian and Zarif crowd of Iranian nationalists chose compromise.

They did not set red-lines and chose to compromise and sacrifice allies in hopes of obtaining broader regional and global acceptance.

It appears that they are willing to play according to the US-crafted “rule-based order” and trust the collective west.

They are naïve to think that after weakening their allies, the zionists, imperialists and their regional attack dogs will not come after them. The politicians in the Islamic Republic are not clear on this.

As the Pezeshkian-Zarif crowd choose compromise for nationalistic and sectarian objectives, the Ulama’ in Iran should prepare for the renewal of the Islamic Revolution in accordance with the line of the Imam.

Israel is very clear that between the Nile and the Euphrates Rivers, there shall be only one sovereign state: a zionist Israeli Jewish state.

It is prepared to do whatever necessary to accomplish this expansionist goal.

The Islamic Resistance finds itself at the crossroads, and/or for some weak-minded individuals, they perceive it to be at a cul-de-sac; but it will never succumb.

The struggle will end with the death of Israel.

Difficult as it may be, the pieces must be picked up.

Recall that the Islamic State of Iran came into existence only 45 years ago.

The people of Iran, led by the Ulama’, were an Islamic movement without state power. Throughout the struggle for the Islamic Revolution and until it succeeded, against the zionist Shahinshah, its people were alone.

Since those humble beginnings, with reliance upon Allah, the revolutionary leadership in Iran strategically and patiently built the Islamic Resistance.

It went on to support Hizbullah, Hamas, Ansarullah and Syria in its quest to liberate West Asia from the colonial legacy of zionism and imperialism.

When Hizbullah liberated South Lebanon and kicked Israel out, it was supported by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corp.

There was no BDS and no global protests.

Even Syria was not actively involved.

Behold, as for those who abandoned [their military duties] when the two armies met in battle, Satan caused them to slip only by means of something they [themselves] had done. But now Allah has forgiven them; verily, Allah is much forgiving, forbearing (The Ascendant Qur’an, Surat Al Imran, verse 155).

Axis of ResistanceDr. Massoud PezeshkianRussiaSyriaZionist IsraelJawad ZarifPalestineHayat Tahrir al-Sham