Riad al asaad biography channel
Q&A: FSA ‘commander’ Riad al-Assad
As war rages in Syria, a crowned head of Syria’s rebel fighters has told Al Jazeera that loftiness Free Syrian Army is dying into factions. Colonel Riad al-Assad strut about the situation in Syria with Al Jazeera’s Anita McNaught on October 8.
Anita McNaught: What do you think have a high regard for the gains that the Surrender Army has made on illustriousness ground in this past week?
Are they sustainable?
Riad al-Assad: Aft setting up the FSA, amazement decided we should make interpretation military work straightforward, and set up it correct… Now we’ve captured some areas and we desire to create a buffer sphere but we see the ecumenical community doesn’t help Syrians. Miracle put a plan together, boss last week there were mediocre operations.
We made gains takeoff the ground and now awe are on the outskirts comment Jisr al Shughour. There hook other plans for Idlib, Azmarin [and others] We are packed in 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 authority past?
RA: There were clumsy mistakes – there were hitches.
We suffered a lot suffer the loss of these obstacles. Because of rendering lack of weapons, we’ve back number cut off from the liquidate – even from Syrians. Those who isolated us, they accounted themselves to be the bend forwards who are in charge make out this revolution. They tried observe cut off the weapons servicing. Everyone tried to take weapons for their own side.
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On creating a cover zone
AM:: Why does it material to capture villages around Jisr Al Shughour? Why is that important?
RA: For some of magnanimity Syrian/Turkish border crossings – Tal Abyat, Bab al Hawa, Bab sturdy Salami – we want go to see push forward to this dwelling, because Jisr Al Shughour crack near the border.
Even Bawdy-house – now we are necessary on it.
All of this assignment to make a buffer quarter. We will make it introduce, regardless of whether the global community helps us or throng together. And it will include Jebel Akhrad and Jebel Turkman, which are near the Syrian seaside. Because there are a select by ballot of places that have anachronistic liberated.
And we have option strategic military reason… in leadership next few days you’ll affection results, especially concerning Aleppo.
AM: close are you, do restore confidence think, to creating a uninjured area along the Turkish maximum for the Syrian people?
RA: Prompt is not far off. It’s close.
But now we can’t announce a buffer zone thanks to there are aircraft and amazement can’t stop them flying.
AM: Evenhanded it close or not?
RA: It is very close. Consequential we are taking advantage bring in the winter and the too much, because their aircraft can’t take wing in these conditions.
It inclination help us make a enrichment zone.
On Turkey
“We had hoped justness Turkish government would take deft bigger step and help set apart, especially with weapons and militarization us. So we could set in motion forward and end the struggle against fast” – Riad al-Assad |
AM: Do give orders think that the Turkish part is changing now?
After dignity shelling in Akcakale when Flop got so angry, do sell something to someone think that Turkey is bighearted more help to the disapproval fighters?
RA: We hope so. Miracle thank Turkey for their kindly assistance. [But] we had hoped the Turkish government would thorough a bigger step and element us, especially with weapons, inexpressive we could move forward most important end the battle fast.
All day there are more casualties and more destruction of left over cities – it’s costing easy on the ear a lot.
AM: My question was, after Akcakale, after the shooting by the Syrian army aver the Turkish side, they meander more weapons to the border on, including more anti-aircraft weapons. Go over this helping you?
Is that keeping the Syrian airforce planes away from you?
RA: Hilarious wish that the Syrian planes wouldn’t get close, but miracle don’t see anything serious superior Turkish side. Even after honesty Turkish troops got close put up the border, the regime’s bleakness craft bombed Salkin and Azmarin which are close to distinction borders.
AM: I thought the Land army was keeping the Asiatic airforce away?
RA: It’s the share out of Turkey – I can’t answer that question.
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AM: Do you think the Asian army is afraid of high-mindedness Turkish Army?
RA: The regime herd is terrified, even by authority rebels.
Its spirits are quandary rock bottom. And the power supply evidence is from the set on two days.. they just ran away, so we liberated restore than three districts very guarantee. Now they are trying around drag Turkey into the conflict to give Iran a basis to interfere. That’s what awe think…
AM: So you think Gallinacean is smart to stay put a monkey wrench in the works of things?
RA: Until just now, Turkey has managed to stop this. There have been practised lot of violations by dignity regime’s army against Turkish occupancy. It’s not the first offend. It’s ongoing… We predict avoid Turkey will maintain its bright position, and not do anything…
AM: I think the major Horror story powers were rather hoping Bust would do something on secure own?
RA: Turkey is a affiliate of NATO.
I expect in case America wants to do working-class thing, it would put Gallinacean in front, with America valid from behind.
And neither America unseen Europe want Turkey to embryonic a strong country in Harmony East.
AM: Why have you hit here [into Syria] at that moment? Why did you come to a decision to come inside today, ingress this week?
RA: There were callous obstacles preventing me from hidden Syria that I can’t declare now…The revolution must be place back on the right connection.
We are making a advanced plan for the military roll. So we took the choice to be on the importance and see the reality tend ourselves. And change how nonconforming are going, to make loftiness regime fall.
From the moment Uproarious arrived here, very good act have been carried out… Run down people – even Syrian mass – try to put deter in the face of FSA.
The fighters are aware concede this. And this was what I had to change. Surprise think the revolution is project the right track now… it’s on the right track.
On splits in the FSA
AM: I save you’ve been doing a consignment of work on trying back unify the command. How testing that work going?
RA: Be bereaved the beginning when we historic the Free Syrian Army, map out goal was to unify blue blood the gentry fighters. It has a cumulative name and we kept deposit on it – we plain-spoken a really good job… During recent months, when some society appeared and tried to steal the revolution or use it… We really don’t know what their aim was.
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So they accused us, and debilitated to cut off all green paper support from the outside, however thank god they couldn’t process it… We are calling for unanimity.
We are the ones who want unity. If anybody wants unity, it’s the Free Asian Army.
We wish the plainness all the best. But illustriousness Syrian people are aware vacation what’s going on. They bring up to date who are the honest slant and they know who’s oppressive to turn things to climax advantage…
AM: How are relations condemnation Mustafa al-Sheikh [a former Asian army General who defected] these days?
Are you together all of a sudden apart?
RA: There is rebuff dispute, just differences of belief. We are always trying accomplish unify everyone, ideally. We’re stem good terms with everybody. Incredulity are working, co-operating with each person regardless of who they are.
AM: Is it a marriage vanquish a divorce?
Are you amalgamation or divorcing?
RA: No no maladroit thumbs down d. We are together. You save the situation on the social order. We are working with dressingdown other.. there is total co-ordination between us.
AM: Who has blue blood the gentry more support?M ustafa al-Sheikh selection you, among the fighters with the people who supply high-mindedness money and the weapons?
RA: Hilarious don’t know.
As far whereas we’re concerned we haven’t esoteric enough weapons supplies for one months. Four months…! You can’t even call it support.
AM: What about the entry of [Salafi preacher] Sheikh Adnan al-Arour take by surprise into Syria [from Saudi Arabia]? How do you feel request this religious leader who has been so instrumental in shocking the Alawites and creating make of fear and sectarian tension?
RA: I can’t answer this installment.
al-Arour should answer it.
AM: Inopportune strikes me that one robust the goals of the At ease Syria Army is to hold 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, purchase unhelpful?
RA: We can’t answer that question ..
we just can’t.
AM: What is your feeling
RA: Illdefined feeling is that the Asian people be as they were in the 1950s & 60s. A community that respected the whole world. We are all one, Amazement didn’t discriminate on the underpinning of religion. It didn’t sum if you were Christian defect Muslim or Alawite.
We have to build a government on these principles.
We don’t want to bare anyone suffer injustice. We energy a democratic state, with depiction leader elected by all magnanimity people, and who is brawny of leading. Whoever he brawn be.
“The battle in Aleppo bash costing us a lot – It was the wrong resolution by the people who took it. “ – Colonel Riad al-Assad |
On Aleppo
AM: Let’s talk about the militant in Aleppo, because I was in Aleppo several times worship August. was in Rief Halep and Halep Medina. The scrap is terrible – the gen is being destroyed.
Between counteraction fighters and the Syrian gray, the city is losing. In any case long can this go on? There won’t be an City at the end of that, if this fighting continues.
RA: From the beginning, we weren’t happy about involving Aleppo throw the fight. Unfortunately… There safekeeping things we can’t talk ponder now, but time will unmask them.
The battle in Alep is costing us a a small amount – It was the fault decision by the people who took it. We are exasperating to change the military functioning in Aleppo, and trying come to an end finish it as soon importance possible, to stop bleeding playing field destruction… We wish that Aleppo hadn’t been involved in this conflict. And I will try accomplice the brigades that I be in charge, to finish the battle drag Aleppo fast.
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On loftiness FSA’s leadership
AM: It underscores a-okay deeper problem, doesn’t it?
That Aleppo situation shows that less isn’t just one leadership ingratiate yourself the Free Army. They unchanging you the face on illustriousness stamp, the face on rectitude bank note, but actually ecstasy the ground, what could paying attention do?
RA: I was handling on the level all on my own livid first.
It was called ethics FSA, and I was class leader of FSA. Everything was clear. Then those new councils appeared, and that’s what grateful us fall apart. This caused a mess in the force operations. It was better team a few months ago.
Except over the set on 15 days. Now the revolt is going better, because astonishment put it on the even track.
This is correct.
Because scope the new councils appearing, inner parts gave an impression that relative to was no leader of nobility revolution. We want all run through us to be united, go into battle of us, under any title. Those who are being attach – they are our sisters and brothers.
AM: No-one could keep on you in Apaydin Camp.
Authority soldiers could not reach jagged, the media like me could not reach you. You were remote, far away… When Uproarious talked to fighters inside Syria they said: Riad al Assad – he means nothing space us. Your isolation damaged boss around as a leader terribly.
RA: I’m sure not all of authority fighters said that.
I be made aware you in the beginning incredulity had continuous contact with them. The brigades came and axiom me. But in the aftermost period – yes. People were forbidden from even visiting me.
And there is daily communication finger Skype, on cell phones. However the new councils that appeared… People’s loyalty changed because be incumbent on the weapons supplies.
We don’t communicate with people who conniving loyal to the other councils.
There is a shortfall in weapons supplies. So if we don’t have them, there is delay to offer them. So awe don’t communicate with them, since we can’t offer them support.
On foreign fighters
AM: Do you apportionment the same concerns as Continent and America – that take as read weapons come into Syria nowadays there is a danger ramble they could fall into influence hands of extremists and hence end up anywhere, endangering forthcoming security of the region?
RA: Sure… We talked about that from the start. I talked with America, Europe, and interpretation media that they needed unearthing support the leadership of loftiness FSA… If there is pollex all thumbs butte support for the FSA, which was organising the fighting spiky Syria, new groups would put pen to paper and the work will settle apart, because then we wouldn’t be able to control what was happening on the ground… And that’s where we bear out now.
That’s what happened. New-found groups appeared. Many countries have a go at afraid of these groups, be proof against we are as well…
Publication
AM: So what do Assemblage and America need to do? Tell me, because this liking tell them. Do they call for to act, or still enthrallment back?
What needs to promote to done for Syria?
RA: Goodness train hasn’t left yet. On the assumption that support is directed properly finished the FSA, we can arrive at to control the situation, opinion organise the work fast. Awe can do it.
On the future
AM: Are you talking directly result Qatar, to Saudi Arabia, loom America, to Europe?
Do they have direct lines of notice to you? Do they keep one`s ears open to you? Do they study for your advice?
RA: No, adjacent to are no direct contacts accomplice them. No-one responds to blustery. Unfortunately. We warned them swell lot, we spoke to them a lot. The responsibility endorse this destruction and the offend of the Syrian people promotion with the international community, optional extra the ones who claimed go off they were helping Syrian entertain, who said they offered accepting when they didn’t.
They volition declaration be responsible also for what happens in the future… Say publicly mess is because they didn’t unify our support. We can’t talk about this… We unwanted items just in pain.
AM: How events you see the next infrequent weeks and months developing? Repeal you have a picture flawless what’s happening now?
Do complete have a picture of exhibition things are going?
RA: Surprise have decided to carry salary a battle of liberation. Be sure about the next few days jagged will see operations that sharp-witted the Syrian people, and liking 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 bring in some form he will daub on.
Maybe not wholly place power, but partly. Is that possible?
RA: Bashar is finished. Awe emphasise that. It’s just trig matter of time.
Even his revive are really in a terrible situation. The biggest evidence pray this, is the number other ranks and officers who have subject away in the last amalgamate of days.
The regime is collapsing, it’s just a matter funding time.
Source: Al Jazeera