Syrian Opposition Sees Radicals at Work for Regime
The Free Syrian Army says terrorists are operating in Syria on behalf of the Assad regime as its military forces continue to bombard opposition cities despite United Nations condemnation.
Aref Hamoud, a colonel in the Free Syrian Army, said his units are encountering a growing number of radical elements in some parts of the country. He said the radicals are Syrians and not foreigners from al-Qaeda.
“Up until now, the al-Qaeda insurgency lacks local support of the population, which is an essential element for its guerrilla warfare,” he said. “A prolonged crisis would breed a more fertile ground for the organization, which is why we call for Arab and Western countries to provide military and financial support.
“It is clear that this regime will only be toppled by force,” he said.
On Thursday, U.S. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper told Congress that al-Qaeda, “is extending its reach into Syria.” Meanwhile, Iranian warships docked in the Syrian port of Tartus, Iranian news agency Mehr reported Sunday.
On Saturday, Syrian troops in Damascus fired on mourners at a funeral for a protester who died in a clash during a march against the regime of Bashar Assad. On Sunday, Egypt recalled its ambassador to Syria.
The Syrian regime released over a dozen members of Fatah al-Islam and al-Qaeda from prison several weeks ago, according to al-Qaeda-linked websites. Fatah al-Islam is a Palestinian terrorist organization.
Hamoud said that a more troubling development is the alleged release of Abu Mussab al-Suri, a Syrian citizen and longtime jihadist captured in Pakistan in 2005. The U.S. State Department had issued a $5 million reward for his capture and he was turned over to U.S. custody but eventually handed to the Syrians. An al-Qaeda-linked forum said he had been released, according to a translation by the SITE Intelligence Group.