Kashmir monitor
The civil war in Syria has completed six years yet there are no signs of end to it. Despite all-out support by allies like Iran and Russia, the Assad regime is still battling for survival. The war erupted with pro-democracy protests in March 2011 in the southern city of Deraa after the arrest and torture of some teenagers who painted revolutionary slogans on a school wall. After security forces opened fire on demonstrators, killing several, more took to the streets. The unrest triggered nationwide protests demanding President Assad's resignation. The government's use of force to crush the dissent only hardened the protesters' resolve. By July 2011, hundreds of thousands were taking to the streets across the country. The brutal use of by Assad’s armed forces which left thousands dead and maimed eventually forced his opponents to take up arms to first to defend
them and then to drive away security forces from their local areas. As the Assad forces retaliated with more tyranny, it has now become a case of serious humanitarian crisis. Iran’s support to the crimes of Bashar al Assad against humanity is not only shameful but has exposed the ollowness of its claims of being an “Islamic” republic. Hundreds of unarmed civilians were subjected to a chemical attacks killing them including women and children. Thousands others are reported to have got maimed for life. They have left sick with gasping and respiratory problems. Horrific television images of children with barrettes in their hair, diapered bodies limp and nearly lifeless, hanging over a loved one's outstretched arms speak volumes about the inhumanity and bestiality being practiced by the Assad government against unarmed civilians. The deadly gas attacks by Assad regime are a routine affair in the war torn country but these find occasionally coverage in television broadcasts. For years, the world has talked about how horrible they are, passed resolutions about their barbarism and even spoken of "red lines," while little actually ever happened to stop them. The United Nations found evidence of "chlorine gas attacks on civilians" by the Syrian air force in Syria between 2014 and 2015. The latest pictures documenting their savagery make them far harder to ignore. The world should shun its obsession with ISIS and Al Qaeda and concentrate on the real enemy of humanity—Bashar al Assad. The United States owes more to the hapless and innocent civilians of Syria as the war is only and only America’s doing. They should account Assad government for the crimes it committed against innocent civilians. So
far we heard only statements of condemnation by American President Donald Trump. But Syria needs actions beyond condemnation. Donald Trump should take up the Syrian case with Russian President Putin and persuade him to withdraw support to Syrian government. Iran claims to
be an Islamic country but it has a reprehensible record of supporting inhuman actions of Bashar al Assad. Iran’s support to Assad government is squarely based on sectarian considerations. The Assad government has the support of Lebanon-based Shitte militia Hizbullah also. The
Shias consider it as their war against Sunnis. The Shia face of Iran got exposed last year when its religious leadership called the fall of Aleppo city to Assad forces as “victory of Islam over infidels’. The Assad forces entered the homes of civilians, raped women and killed dozens. Many a women were reported to have committed suicide for the fear of being raped. Videos shot inside the city showed scenes of horrific destruction and human misery caused by intense bombing. Scores of bodies remained trapped under rubble for weeks. Assad, a criminal and terrorist by his actions and intent, is using all atrocious means and weapons to kill civilians. According to media reports over 3 lakh people have died in Syria since the eruption of popular uprising against Assad regime in 2011. Assad belongs to minority Alvi sect (12%, shias 3%) whereas country’s 85% population consists of Sunni Muslims. The country’s majority population seeks restoration of democracy, which has been under Alvis rule for the past more than 40 years.