MEMRI June 16, 2016 Special Dispatch No.6482
Tension Between Assad Forces, Hizbullah Sparks Intense Battles Between Them
In Aleppo Area
http://www.memri.org/report/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/9267.htm
In the recent hours, there have been increasing reports in the Arab media
and on social networks that intense battles are taking place between
Hizbullah forces and Syrian regime forces in the rural area north of Aleppo.
Confirmation of the reports can be found in Facebook posts by regime
supporters who blamed Hizbullah for the fighting and rebuked the
organization, saying it that it had come to help the Syrian army, not
control it. Websites proposed several possible reasons for the fighting
between the two allies: Hizbullah's insistence on running battles on its
own, without coordinating with regime forces; Hizbullah's opposition to the
ceasefire in Aleppo, which Russia announced early this morning with the
regime's consent; and anger on the part of Hizbullah that regime forces had
failed to defend military positions that Hizbullah had won in very costly
battles.
The following is a review of reports on the fighting between Syrian regime
forces and Hizbullah:
Reports: Intense Fighting Between Hizbullah, Assad Forces
At 02:30 am on June 16, 2016, the Lebanese website Janoubia, which is known
for its opposition to Hizbullah, cited "Syrian sources" in a report stating
that "real battles are taking place in Tel Al-Maysat and Al-Bureij in the
Aleppo area between Assad's army and Hizbullah troops," and that "the Syrian
air force bombed Hizbullah positions on three separate occasions." According
to the sources, "this is not the first clash [between the sides] in the
recent days," and "the reason for the conflict is the Assad's army rapid
withdrawal from positions that Hizbullah had won in very costly battles."
The report stated further that both sides have sustained dozens of losses in
the fighting. Several hours later, the site reported that there had been
heavy fighting between the sides since 01:30 that night in the region of the
Shi'ite villages Nubl and Al-Zaharaa north of Aleppo, and that seven regime
soldiers and officers had been killed. [1]
Syrian Opposition Website: "Yesterday's Friend Is Today's Enemy"; Assad Army
Gave Russian Air Force Coordinates Of Hizbullah Positions
The oppositionist Syrian website "Shaam" reported under the heading
"Yesterday's Friend Is Today's Enemy" that "intense fighting involving heavy
weapons and artillery" had started during the night between Hizbullah and
Assad forces along several routes in the rural area north of Aleppo, and
that a major road in that area had been blocked. The report added that
Russian jets had bombed Hizbullah positions in the area, having received the
coordinates from the Assad forces, and that dozens of Hizbullah troops were
killed and injured in these air strikes. According to the website, battles
also broke out south of Aleppo between the Iraqi Al-Nujaba militia and
Hizbullah on the one hand, and regime forces on the other.
The website noted that the clashes started as brawls and escalated into
gunfights and eventually into battles involving heavy weapons and even jets,
adding that officials from both sides intervened to stop the hostilities.[2]
Syrian Oppositionist Website: Hizbullah Members Insisted On Fighting
Independently Of Regime Forces
Several possible reasons for the schism between Hizbullah and the regime
forces were proposed. The Syrian website Aletihadpress.com, which describes
itself as "neutral," reported that conflict had erupted in the town of
Al-Haylan in the northern rural area of Aleppo after Hizbullah members
refused to obey the orders of the liaison officer and insisted on running
the battle independently of the regime forces. In response, regime forces
fired at Hizbullah troops, and the skirmish escalated into an artillery
exchange. The website noted that Hizbullah's position in the area had also
been bombed from the air, but it was unclear whether by Syrian or Russian
jets.[3]
The Syrian oppositionist website Orient News cited sources as saying that
the reason for the fighting may be Hizbullah's opposition to the ceasefire
in Aleppo that Russia had unexpectedly announced several hours after
midnight with the regime's consent.[4] Another speculation pointed to
Hizbullah's complaints about incompetence on the part of the Syrian army,
namely its claims that regime forces had failed to defend positions that
Hizbullah had won with great difficulty north of Aleppo, and had also failed
to assist Hizbullah forces south of the city.[5]
Regime Journalist On Facebook: Hizbullah Came To Help Us, Not Control Us
Evidence of the schism between regime and Hizbullah forces could be seen in
comments made on Facebook by Syrian journalist and former MP Sharif Shhade.
He wrote: "National sovereignty is a red line. The decision always rests
with the Syrian [military] brass. We must quickly resolve any disagreement
with the assisting forces, since there is no room for conflict at this
stage. Sons of Hizbullah, you have come to help us, not to control us.
Please rethink your position."[6]
Kinana Allouche, a pro-regime Syrian journalist, held Hizbullah responsible
for the incident. She wrote on her Facebook page: "This afternoon, Hizbullah
elements attacked the men of resistance in Nubl and Al-Zaharaa as well as
officers in the Syrian Arab army. Intense clashes erupted as a result. This
is a message from a Syrian citizen to all the forces assisting the Syrian
Arab army: The Syrian Arab army is the pride of the ummah. You are here to
assist it against terrorism and not to control it. The Syrian Arab army
stood by you in your war against Israel. Do not toy with us. Stop doing
harm."[7]
Endnotes:
[1] Janoubia.com, June 16, 2016.
[2] Shaam.org, June 16, 2016.
[3] Aletihadpress.com, June 16, 2016.
[4] Orientnews.net, June 16, 2016.
[5] Shaam.org, June 16, 2016.
[6] Facebook.com, June 16, 2016.
[7] Facebook.com/984704858291665, June 16, 2016.
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