Al Qussayr 13 05 2013 OTV Report

The battle for Qussayr is crucial and a turning point in the Syrian conflict. The city is between Damascus and Homs and is home for thousands of terrorists coming through the nearby Lebanese borders. The Syrian Arab Army launched an offensive to recapture this city, supported by National Defense Army and Hezbollah from the Lebanese side. Capturing this city will allow the Army to control all the remaining parts in Homs especially Al Khalidiyah neighborhood, and also the suburbs of Damascus as the supply routes to the terrorists will be cut. May God be on our side…

hizbullahtwerkteam:

As usual, the Islamic Republic of Iran (as is the case with other leftist regimes of resistance around the world) is continually stigmatized by the Western media- and President Ahmadinejad, who is supported by the vast majority of Iran’s poor (75%) and citizens in general (66%) has been a key…

(Source: dreamingofhalab)

thoughtsofdamascus:

justanotherpalestinian:

If it’s true that ‘Syrian rebels’ threatened to blow up the shrine of Setna Zaynab (A.S.), I hope God damns them to hell. I don’t care if you don’t believe the school of thought that the Shia people do. The Syrian rebels claim they’re all good Sunni Muslims when in…

Bismillah ar rahman ar raheem.

Alright, I just have to say this much. 

“I always go on the “Syria” tag and then tell myself I’ll never go on again because there are non-Syrian idiots who clutter it up and it gets on my nerves, but I always manage to come back.”

Yes, there are many non-Syrian idiots on the “Syria” tag on Tumblr, both idiots who support the dictatorship of Bashar al Assad, and idiots who blindly support the Free Syrian Army. It’s an extension of the real world, where non-Syrians who have no background in Syria, nor do they have family there, feel the need to discuss the ongoing political repression/terrorism/crisis which the country is currently experiencing. You already know. We all do.

“The Syrian rebels claim they’re all good Sunni Muslims…” First of all, the FSA does not claim such a thing. 

The Free Syrian Army is not a monolithic entity, it is composed of numerous different groups, many of which have drastically different motives from others, and different visions of what they would like for Syria, if and when the dictatorship of Bashar falls. There are, in fact, many groups within the FSA (who are too many to count) which do claim to be Sunni Muslims (many claim to follow Salafi ‘aqeedah, but as I am not Salafi, I am not sure how accurate this claim is), and which have forced Christians, ‘Alawis, and Shi’ahs from their homes, and committed atrocities against them. Of course, there are many brigades of the Free Syrian Army which do not harm civilians, and which are genuinely fighting against a brutal regime which the majority of the Syrian people have been negatively affected by, in one way or another (I could go on for days about the political repression of the regime, as well as its economic policies).

“If you knew anything about Syria, you would know that. Christians, Sunnis, Druze, and yes, Shias, are part of the FSA.”

Yes, there are many Sunnis as well as religious minorities fighting with the Free Syrian Army, just as there are in the Syrian Arab Army. This is absolutely true, and it is asinine when pro-Assad individuals try to cast the armed opposition as “Salaafi” or “Khawaarij” when many are not even Sunni, or Muslim.

However, it is incredibly misleading and inaccurate to make this statement in such a way that it seems as if there is equal representation of all these groups in the FSA. This is simply not true. The vast, vast majority of the FSA adheres to Sunni/Salaafi schools of thought, and while there certainly are minority groups fighting in various groups in their ranks, they are far and few between, and do not have a notable presence in the armed opposition.

Secondly, there are not Shi’ah brigades fighting in the Free Syrian Army- if there are (which I have never heard of, correct me if I’m wrong) they are only individuals, and have a minimal presence. You are referring to ‘Alawis, who are not Shi’ah (let alone Muslim), and they are not considered to be upon the path of Ahlulbayt (as) even by the Shi’ahs themselves. There are ‘Alawi groups in the FSA, but they are an extreme minority and the vast majority of ‘Alawis stand against the armed opposition (although many do not necessarily support Bashar al Assad’s regime).

“The Syrian Revolution, never was, and never will be, a sectarian war. There are Sunnis with the regime and Sunnis against. Shias with the regime and Shias against. Christians with the Regime and Christians against. For you to make such an absurd claim just shows everyone how limited your knowledge is on what is going on in Syria.” 

The conflict (I have no use for references to it as a “revolution”, nor as a “war against terrorism”) has already become a sectarian war in many aspects, and to deny this is absolutely absurd. Houses of worship are being targeted by the regime (mostly Sunni mosques in rebel-controlled areas), as well as by the armed opposition (the majority of these have, of course, been churches, hussainiyahs, Shi’ah mosques, Sunni mosques whose khaatib is suspected of being pro-regime, and ‘Alawi houses of worship, as well).

The presence of minority groups (and Sunnis) on both sides of the political divide does not alter this, nor will it ever, unless you are reporting for Al Jazeera or CNN.

“Blowing up Ahlul-Bayt’s shrines?” Let’s go over some basic fundamentals of Islam. The daughter of Ali (as), Sayyidna Zaynab (as), is part of Ahlul-Bayt and respected by ALL Muslims. I have never came across a Sunni that claims that they dislike Zayyidna Zaynab (as). So for you to say that they’re targeting “Shia people” is again, quite absurd.”

This doesn’t really make sense or follow any sort of logical thinking pattern. You are trying to establish the credibility of the FSA by referencing the high status of Sayyida Zaynab (as), the latter of which is absolutely true. Yes, she is respected by all Muslims, she is our own mother (as). May God’s (subhaanahu wa ta’aala) eternal blessings be on the Holy Family, Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘aali Muhammad.

This does not change the fact that the Free Syrian Army has targeted the holy shrine on numerous occasions, and is currently doing so again.

I could link all the murders and utter destruction which were caused by the opposition, but it would be pointless, and I am sure that all of us know (insha’Allah) the existence of such crimes. The Free Syrian Army and allied groups such as Jabhat al Nusra, Ahrar ash-Shaam, etc. have in fact, been targeting the shrine and the town of Sayyida Zaynab- due to, in addition to the obvious reasons, the presence of IDP (internally displaced) families, who fled to the safety of the town from districts of southern Damascus, which were captured by the armed opposition.

The threat to the shrine of Zaynab al Kubra (as) was so great that Shi’ahs (and some Sunnis) from other countries (Lebanon and Iraq, mostly) have come to Damascus in order to defend the shrine of Zaynab (as) from destruction and desecration, as well as to protect the population of the surrounding town.

May Allah’s blessings be upon Muhammad and his thoroughly purified Ahlulbayt (as), whom all believing Muslims love and respect, and may Syria find peace and genuine hurriyeh soon.

Salaam ‘alaykum wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh.

My comments on this article:

1-      1-The Shrine of Set Zaynab was frequently targeted for more than a year now by FSA terrorists. Their motive behind the attacks is purely sectarian. Most of the men defending the Maqam were Christians and Alawites from the suburbs of Damascus, and Shiites.

2-FSA mostly consists of Islamists and extremists. Now you will say: Oh no this Al-Nusra Front, not FSA. Same thing actually, long before Al-Nusra became famous, FSA was committing crimes against minorities especially in Homs where Al-Farouq Brigade is a great example (Check This Article). Over 10,000 Christians were forced out of their homes in Homs and Qusair city (Same story goes in Aleppo after Al-Nusra attacked it) The Shiite villages of Nubul and zahra near Aleppo are still under siege by Al-Nusra Front till now. Also, many massacres against Alawite and Christian villages in the provinces of Hama, and Homs were committed; unfortunately this is not interesting media for the West to talk about.

3-NO, vast majority of armed opposition forces are radical Sunnis who just kill anyone who opposes them. All in the name of Jihad and religion. Religious minorities and a large amount of Sunnis in Syria are supporters of President Bashar and the Army. Nusra and Opposition repeatedly expressed their aim of applying Shariaa Law in Syria. Ever heard of that famous slogan they used to shout in their “PEACEFUL PROTESTS”: “Christians to Beirut and Alawites to the grave”? I did, and this is just one out of many.

4-I don’t know why is all this arguments about Alawites being Shiaa or Muslims!! First, we are all Syrians regardless of religion or ethnicity, Syria is a secular country. Second, YES Alawites are Muslims whether you like it or not. Alawites believe in all pillars of Islam and Faith. They read the Quran, and follow most of the traditions of Islam. Lebanese Shiite Imam Musa Al-Sadr himself acknowledged Alawites as Shiite Twelver Muslims.

5-The Syrian conflict has turned into a sectarian conflict; but not necessarily a civil war. Most of Christians, Alawites and Druz, and lots of Sunnis are supporters of the President. The brutal crimes of the Nusra and FSA did not encourage them to join the so-called “revolution”. It is not an absurd claim sadly (I wish it was). I have witnessed and seen personally many evidences and stories about that issue.