Syria Sees Retaking Saraqeb as a Strategic and Symbolic Victory
Early rebel stronghold was out of govt control for eight years
Jason Ditz
Last week, the Syrian Army reclaimed the small town of Saraqeb, chasing out al-Qaeda from an area that was one of the earlier rebel strongholds and had been out of government control since 2011.
That’s a very important symbolic victory, reflecting the outright collapse of a secular rebellion that had finally lost the town to al-Qaeda, and the growing collapse of al-Qaeda as the military reclaims territory.
Even better than the symbolism is the practical use of the area, as Saraqeb is along the vital highway connecting Aleppo and Damascus. The highways winds through Idlib, and it is now almost entirely government-controlled parts of Idlib.
Locals weren’t happy with al-Qaeda’s Sharia courts, and may not be entirely comfortable with the return of the military. Still, many are hopeful that the ouster of the Islamists will eventually give way to post-war reforms.
That’s a very important symbolic victory, reflecting the outright collapse of a secular rebellion that had finally lost the town to al-Qaeda, and the growing collapse of al-Qaeda as the military reclaims territory.
Even better than the symbolism is the practical use of the area, as Saraqeb is along the vital highway connecting Aleppo and Damascus. The highways winds through Idlib, and it is now almost entirely government-controlled parts of Idlib.
Locals weren’t happy with al-Qaeda’s Sharia courts, and may not be entirely comfortable with the return of the military. Still, many are hopeful that the ouster of the Islamists will eventually give way to post-war reforms.
posted by Satish Sharma at
10:43
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