If you've been following the most recent news, Syrian forces going to help the YPG (Kurds) in Afrin against Turkey, it seems contrary to what the Western media portrays of Assad seeking the destruction of his Syrian people.
Why do I say this? Well, let me rewind a number of years. Before I became more acquainted with what was going on, I just bought into the line that Assad was a dictator and the like. I really didn't care much, it was "all over there", the Middle East is just messed up, that's generally what I felt and thought. Then as ISIS started slaughtering people, and I became more aware of the Christian plight (and Syrians in general), what happened in Libya, revisiting what happened in Iraq and the like, I felt sympathy for the people (given Australia is a close US ally) and just wanted to know the truth more.
Over time, it became more obvious to me that the West would run certain narratives, ignoring others to do with US-Western meddling, arming of certain groups and the like. We always like to think we, our countries, always take the moral highground, but that didn't seem to be the case to me. The narrative that Assad used chemical weapons on his own people, such made zero sense, he always denied, and really there were only negatives for Assad and the current Syrian government. It seemed more likley that it was a "false flag" instigated to try inspire civil unrest in the people, strengthen external militant groups who were entering into Syria to overthrow the Syrian government. Many of these groups were affiliated with Al-Qaeda, yet
seeing a recording of an Al Nusra leader saying they were trained and armed by the US really cemented that the US was fighting proxy wars via different militant groups, dealing the the "devil" so-to-speak, in order to try topple Assad. In fact, the pattern of what was happening in Syria seemed to be a re-play of Libya and Iraq before.
Now, Mattis has admitted the U.S. has
no evidence of Assad using sarin gas at any time, which covers both Assad's alleged use of chemical weapons in 2013 as well as the 2017 incident that Trump struck back with missiles for.
France too recently admitted that there is no tangible evidence of a Syrian chemical attack. In fact, the sources which said Assad did use chemical weapons, were likely those same groups wanting to topple Assad. That these were simply "false flags" used, seems to be the most plausible scenario.
Now, we know how much the Kurds (YPG and SDF) hate the Syrian army right? I mean the Syrian army recently lost over a 100 men or the like to them, as
the US supported the SDF against the Syrian forces. Yet, the SDF (YPG groups rebranded under a new name) are also now going north to help their YPG comrades against Turkey. So then, what do we think Assad would do? I would have thought the best move would have been to let Turkey wipe out the YPG entirely from the north, and then after, reclaim the Syrian territory. HOWEVER, in a move of diplomacy that I think is both brilliant and forgiving, the Syrian forces it has been said have gone to support the YPG in Afren against Turkey. I believe this open hand has been offered before by the Syrian government, but was previously rejected.
Why would Assad do this? It really goes against the dictator narrative of Assad we have in the West. You know, the one of Assad being like Satan, a tyrant who doesn't care about his people and will do everything to destroy those in opposition. Actions to me speak louder here. There are many Syrian people in Afrin, and other areas, and the Syrian army going there to help the YPG/SDF will help stop many Syrian people dying. The benefits though, are also great as I see diplomacy-wise. For, the US has been supporting the YPG (aka Kurds in Northern Syria) this whole time. The Kurdish-led
SDF have spoken about coming for Assad. So for Syria to side with the YPG is a REALLY BIG change in alliances. I'd have thought if anything, Syria would have enjoyed seeing Turkey clear their northorn territrories, and then just reclaiming the likes of Afrin thereafter. BUT no, the Syrian government appears to have acted in the best interest of its people.
Syria's intervention will likely also allow many YPG to escape with their lives, and Turkey will likely withdraw provided the YPG are disarmed and the Syrian government assumes control (for the threat Turkey sees will have been neutralised, and I think Turkey does wish to respect Syria's territory). Further, the US' last card to be played (although perhaps there is one I've missed), of utilising the Kurds to help topple Assad has been neutralised. Funny, it wasn't the US who ended up coming to the aid of the Kurds in their time of need, but rather an enemy who they had been seeking to destroy.
While I dislike many things the YPG have done, in using child and women soldiers, disarming and then disbanding Syrian towns who were then left at the "mercy" of ISIS, and various other stories people are likely unaware to here, the Syrian government here is really showing themselves, in my opinion, as taking the higher moral ground. Who knows, it may even lead, finally, to peace coming to the region, although such is probably too much to hope for.
If any part of what I've written above is believed to be inaccurate or wrong, please provide references so I can read and evaluate. I'm always open to revising my beliefs on these matters, being challenged, for such is how I learn more about the truth.