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Islamic State: Syria rebels warn of backlash over US air strikes | Islamic State: Syria rebels warn of backlash over US air strikes |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Syrian rebel fighters backed by the West have told the BBC that the US-led coalition faces a backlash in their country over its bombing campaign against Islamic State (IS). There have been protests against the air strikes and a warning that they are turning people against the West, as the BBC's Ian Pannell reports from the Turkish-Syrian border. | Syrian rebel fighters backed by the West have told the BBC that the US-led coalition faces a backlash in their country over its bombing campaign against Islamic State (IS). There have been protests against the air strikes and a warning that they are turning people against the West, as the BBC's Ian Pannell reports from the Turkish-Syrian border. |
With one knee on the ground and an eye locked on a Syrian government tank in the distance, a rebel soldier opens fire. | With one knee on the ground and an eye locked on a Syrian government tank in the distance, a rebel soldier opens fire. |
A high-tech, wire-guided missile launches, twisting and turning through the air, slamming into its target. | A high-tech, wire-guided missile launches, twisting and turning through the air, slamming into its target. |
The is one of more than a hundred American-made anti-tank weapons given to a select few rebel groups in Syria this year. | The is one of more than a hundred American-made anti-tank weapons given to a select few rebel groups in Syria this year. |
Although the systems are made in the US, they are widely believed to have been supplied by a third country in the Gulf and distributed under the umbrella of the Friends of Syria group of nations that oppose President Bashar al-Assad, which includes the US, UK and Saudi Arabia. | Although the systems are made in the US, they are widely believed to have been supplied by a third country in the Gulf and distributed under the umbrella of the Friends of Syria group of nations that oppose President Bashar al-Assad, which includes the US, UK and Saudi Arabia. |
Since Islamic State made rapid gains in Iraq and Syria this year, these rebel groups have been urged to turn their weapons towards the jihadist militants. | Since Islamic State made rapid gains in Iraq and Syria this year, these rebel groups have been urged to turn their weapons towards the jihadist militants. |
When President Barack Obama said in an interview last month that "the boots on the ground need to be Syrian" these are the fighters he meant. | When President Barack Obama said in an interview last month that "the boots on the ground need to be Syrian" these are the fighters he meant. |
The US has promised much more support as it vows to "degrade and destroy" Islamic State. | The US has promised much more support as it vows to "degrade and destroy" Islamic State. |
Speaking at the UN General Assembly last month, Mr Obama said: "America is training and equipping the Syrian opposition to be a counterweight to the terrorists of [IS] and the brutality of the Assad regime." | Speaking at the UN General Assembly last month, Mr Obama said: "America is training and equipping the Syrian opposition to be a counterweight to the terrorists of [IS] and the brutality of the Assad regime." |
Tensions | Tensions |
But a number of armed groups vetted by the US to help fight against the militants say the support they have been given is not enough. | But a number of armed groups vetted by the US to help fight against the militants say the support they have been given is not enough. |
And there are growing warnings that the international coalition faces a backlash over its bombing campaign in Syria. | And there are growing warnings that the international coalition faces a backlash over its bombing campaign in Syria. |
For the past few weeks US and Arab aircraft have been flying regular missions over Syria, seeking out targets and trying to destroy militant bases and storage sites. | For the past few weeks US and Arab aircraft have been flying regular missions over Syria, seeking out targets and trying to destroy militant bases and storage sites. |
But the ground strategy is still barely formed. | But the ground strategy is still barely formed. |
There have been tensions between the new allies since the air strikes began. | There have been tensions between the new allies since the air strikes began. |
Support | Support |
It has emerged that when coalition planes launched their mission in Syria on 23 September, no-one saw fit to tell President Obama's new allies on the ground. | It has emerged that when coalition planes launched their mission in Syria on 23 September, no-one saw fit to tell President Obama's new allies on the ground. |
The US administration says it is training and equipping the opposition, but the view from the ground is certainly that it is too little and risks being too late. | The US administration says it is training and equipping the opposition, but the view from the ground is certainly that it is too little and risks being too late. |
Major Ahmed Al Saud leads the 13th Division, one of the more moderate rebel groups that have been vetted by America. He says only a fraction of the promised weapons and support has been supplied. | |
"No war can be won solely from the air. It needs fighting on the ground," he adds. | "No war can be won solely from the air. It needs fighting on the ground," he adds. |
"This requires support. If we don't have it, then we can't fight inside." | "This requires support. If we don't have it, then we can't fight inside." |
Islamic State does not have the same supply problems. One of their videos shot last week shows groups of fighters advancing across barren ground, opening fire on a Kurdish village. | Islamic State does not have the same supply problems. One of their videos shot last week shows groups of fighters advancing across barren ground, opening fire on a Kurdish village. |
Unfulfilled promises | Unfulfilled promises |
The Syrian rebels successfully forced IS militants to retreat to their stronghold of Raqqa earlier this year in a rare moment of unity. But after their successes in Iraq, the jihadists re-emerged better armed and funded than their foes and have since pushed back. | The Syrian rebels successfully forced IS militants to retreat to their stronghold of Raqqa earlier this year in a rare moment of unity. But after their successes in Iraq, the jihadists re-emerged better armed and funded than their foes and have since pushed back. |
American officials have been meeting rebel fighters in Turkey to try to halt the march of Islamic State. | American officials have been meeting rebel fighters in Turkey to try to halt the march of Islamic State. |
The Syrian opposition is very clear on what it needs to do this - not long-term training in Saudi Arabia, but immediate supplies and support. | The Syrian opposition is very clear on what it needs to do this - not long-term training in Saudi Arabia, but immediate supplies and support. |
They are frustrated at what they say are unfulfilled promises of weapons. | They are frustrated at what they say are unfulfilled promises of weapons. |
And they and their supporters are angry because they say that coalition air strikes have done little to help them and nothing to protect civilians from ongoing government attacks. | And they and their supporters are angry because they say that coalition air strikes have done little to help them and nothing to protect civilians from ongoing government attacks. |
"There is a lot of concern," says Adam Kinzinger, a US Congressman who has been meeting rebel commanders in Turkey to try to bring about better co-ordination between disparate brigades. | "There is a lot of concern," says Adam Kinzinger, a US Congressman who has been meeting rebel commanders in Turkey to try to bring about better co-ordination between disparate brigades. |
"Sure, [IS] is their enemy and they want to crush them - but they see the biggest enemy as Assad. | "Sure, [IS] is their enemy and they want to crush them - but they see the biggest enemy as Assad. |
"There hasn't been a lot of communication between our air strikes and where they are on the ground... They are almost as surprised about the strikes as [IS]." | "There hasn't been a lot of communication between our air strikes and where they are on the ground... They are almost as surprised about the strikes as [IS]." |
Risk of alienation | Risk of alienation |
There have been some protests in rebel-held areas - partly driven by anger at the coalition strikes on groups other than Islamic State that enjoy local support, including the al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Nusra Front. | There have been some protests in rebel-held areas - partly driven by anger at the coalition strikes on groups other than Islamic State that enjoy local support, including the al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Nusra Front. |
Reports of civilian deaths have also brought people out onto the streets. The US has denied this, but what matters is how things seem on the ground. | Reports of civilian deaths have also brought people out onto the streets. The US has denied this, but what matters is how things seem on the ground. |
It is that popular perception that has some local commanders worried. | It is that popular perception that has some local commanders worried. |
Major Tayseer Darwish is a member of a secretive operations room run by the Friends of Syria group and rebel fighters. | Major Tayseer Darwish is a member of a secretive operations room run by the Friends of Syria group and rebel fighters. |
He and other opposition leaders fear their support base could not only dwindle but also become hostile because of their co-operation with the West. | He and other opposition leaders fear their support base could not only dwindle but also become hostile because of their co-operation with the West. |
"Our popular support will be seriously damaged when it sees that the West and the Friends of Syria are going in a different direction than that of the revolution," he says. "This is what we don't want to lose." | "Our popular support will be seriously damaged when it sees that the West and the Friends of Syria are going in a different direction than that of the revolution," he says. "This is what we don't want to lose." |
While the world focuses on Islamic State, gruesome beheadings and the coalition air campaign, Syria's civil war grinds on. | While the world focuses on Islamic State, gruesome beheadings and the coalition air campaign, Syria's civil war grinds on. |
Horrific daily attacks that kill and maim far more people than the jihadist militants do continue unabated. | Horrific daily attacks that kill and maim far more people than the jihadist militants do continue unabated. |
That is why there is anger on the ground. Even though coalition jets are in the skies, people are barely safer than before. | That is why there is anger on the ground. Even though coalition jets are in the skies, people are barely safer than before. |
Without a comprehensive ground strategy there is a risk of alienating the very people America and its allies should be winning over. | Without a comprehensive ground strategy there is a risk of alienating the very people America and its allies should be winning over. |
And in turn there is a risk that the threat to the West could actually grow as a result of its current tactics in Syria. | And in turn there is a risk that the threat to the West could actually grow as a result of its current tactics in Syria. |