Drone Attack on Syrian President’s Ancestral Town of Qardaha
A drone attack targeted Syrian President Bashar Assad’s ancestral town of Qardaha on Friday, killing one person and injuring another. The strike comes amid a flare-up in fighting in the northwest, with shelling between Syrian government forces and rebels on some front lines. Qardaha is about 10 km from Russia’s Hmeimim air base, and Russian warplanes have targeted rebel-held areas recently, according to the Syrian opposition.
The attack on Qardaha follows a similar drone attack on Salhab, another government-held town in northwest Syria near rebel territory, that killed a woman and a child. The strikes on Qardaha and Salhab, which are around 35 kilometers apart, suggest an escalation in the conflict in the region.
Syrian Government Forces and Rebel Enclave
Major warfare has mostly stopped in Syria, with front lines largely stable in recent years after Assad’s government regained control over most of the country with help from his allies Russia and Iran. However, rebels against Assad still hold an enclave centered on Idlib province in the northwest, close to Qardaha and Salhab, with backing from Turkiye. There are sporadic bouts of fighting between them and Syrian government forces.
Increased Deployments by Syrian Government Forces
Sources on both sides report that Syrian government forces have increased deployments in some front line areas. This suggests that the government is preparing for a possible escalation in the conflict. The drone attacks on Qardaha and Salhab may be part of a broader strategy by the rebels to test the government’s defenses and provoke a response.
Russian Involvement in the Conflict
Russia has been a key player in the Syrian conflict, providing military support to Assad’s government. Russian warplanes have targeted rebel-held areas recently, according to the Syrian opposition. The proximity of Qardaha to Russia’s Hmeimim air base suggests that the drone attack may have been an attempt to target Russian forces or assets.
Implications for the Conflict in Syria
The drone attacks on Qardaha and Salhab suggest that the conflict in Syria is far from over. Despite the government’s control over most of the country, rebels still hold a significant enclave in the northwest. The recent escalation in fighting suggests that the rebels are testing the government’s defenses and may be preparing for a larger offensive.
The involvement of Russia in the conflict also complicates matters. Russia has been a key supporter of Assad’s government, and any attack on Russian forces or assets could lead to a broader escalation of the conflict.
Conclusion
The drone attack on Qardaha is a worrying development in the Syrian conflict. The attack suggests that the rebels are testing the government’s defenses and may be preparing for a larger offensive. The involvement of Russia in the conflict also complicates matters, as any attack on Russian forces or assets could lead to a broader escalation of the conflict. The situation in Syria remains volatile, and it is unclear how the conflict will develop in the coming weeks and months.