After
the terrorist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a rebrand of Jabhat
al-Nusra, which is the Syrian al-Qaeda affiliate, claimed
responsibility for the dramatic downing of a Russian Su-25 fighter
jet over Idlib in northwest Syria on Saturday – the first Russian
plane downed in Syria since 2015 – a number of analysts have
published articles asking the obvious million dollar question: where
did al-Qaeda get the portable anti-aircraft missile system used in
the attack?
Once
such article in Al-Monitor speculates on the following: “The
three immediate questions that arose from the attack were how the
downing was made possible, how the militants acquired the arms and
whether there was a bigger-level player behind the attack.”
And
Al-Monitor seems to answer its own question in the following when
listing the array of allied groups now operating under the leadership
of al-Qaeda (HTS) – among them, groups previously “vetted” and
approved to receive advanced weaponry by the CIA (specifically the
TOW anti-tank missile): “Dozens of miles of Idlib province are
contested among an array of groups, including the terrorist Hayat
Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a rebrand of Jabhat al-Nusra, which was
affiliated with al-Qaeda; the Free Syrian Army; and its affiliate
Jaish al-Nasr, which is considered a “moderate opposition group”
that received weapons from the United States. Minutes after the
downing of the Su-25, Alaa al-Hamwi, the military commander of Jaish
al-Nasr’s aid defense battalion, claimed responsibility for the
attack. Alaa argued that Jaish al-Nasr’s command supplied weapons
to protect against the Russian air assault. Later, however, HTS
claimed responsibility for downing the plane.”
Though
U.S. intelligence and defense officials have long denied that
so-called “vetted” groups in Syria were recipients of
anti-aircraft systems, rumors to the contrary have been persistent
for years. The latest denial came immediately on the heels of
Saturday’s Russian jet shoot down, which resulted in the death of
the pilot on the ground as he came under fire by jihadists. Pentagon
spokesman Maj. Adrian J.T. Rankine-Galloway told Russia’s TASS:
“The United States has not provided any of its allied forces in
Syria with anti-aircraft weapons.”
The
Pentagon spokesman further said, according to RT, that the US-led
coalition is currently not engaged in any operations in the area
where the jet was downed Saturday, indicating the coalition’s
combat efforts are “geographically orientated on the current
fight with Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS, ISIL) in eastern Syria.”
Yet the statement clearly avoided any reference to past U.S. programs
to arm so-called “moderates” – whether through the secretive
CIA program or DoD program. And this is to say nothing of allies like
Saudi Arabia who worked closely with U.S. intelligence for years in
supplying weapons to anti-Assad militants.
But does
anyone remember this? …from The Wall Street Journal all the way
back in February of 2014, headlined Saudis Agree to Provide Syrian
Rebels With Mobile Antiaircraft Missiles – U.S. Also Giving
Fighters Millions of Dollars for Salaries: “Washington’s Arab
allies, disappointed with Syria peace talks, have agreed to provide
rebels there with more sophisticated weaponry, including
shoulder-fired missiles that can take down jets, according to Western
and Arab diplomats and opposition figures. Saudi Arabia has offered
to give the opposition for the first time Chinese man-portable air
defense systems, or Manpads, and antitank guided missiles from
Russia, according to an Arab diplomat and several opposition figures
with knowledge of the efforts. Saudi officials couldn’t be reached
to comment. The U.S. has long opposed arming rebels with antiaircraft
missiles for fear they could fall into the hands of extremists who
might use them against the West or commercial airlines. The Saudis
have held off supplying them in the past because of U.S. opposition.”
And also
this March 2014 report from U.S. government-funded Voice of America
News: “Saudi Arabia reportedly is offering to provide Syrian
rebels more sophisticated weapons, including shoulder-fired
anti-aircraft missiles that can take down fighter planes and
helicopter gunships. They could be a game changer in the Syrian civil
war. Known as MANPADS or man-portable air defense systems, the
shoulder-fired missiles are a highly-effective weapon. Now, Saudi
Arabia is offering to supply moderate rebels with these weapons. That
could tip the balance on the battlefield. [...] President
Barack Obama is said to be rethinking U.S. strategy toward Syria. No
doubt arming the Syrian rebels will be on the agenda when Obama
travels to Saudi Arabia in late March.”
Meanwhile,
in February 2018 there’s this to consider. al-Qaeda controls a
strip of land (Idlib province) not far from the Mediterranean coast
and has now clearly demonstrated the capability of shooting down
aircraft.
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