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Two Sides Claim Victory as Syrian Troops Flee Hospital Two Sides Claim Victory as Syrian Troops Flee Hospital
(about 4 hours later)
BEIRUT, Lebanon — Scores of Syrian government soldiers and civilians besieged by insurgents for nearly a month in a hospital in northern Syria fled on Friday in a dramatic exit that both the army and its opponents promptly claimed as a victory. BEIRUT, Lebanon — Scores of Syrian government soldiers and civilians besieged by insurgents for nearly a month in a hospital in northern Syria fled on Friday in a dramatic exit that both the army and its opponents promptly claimed as a victory.
Videos posted by each side showed lines of uniformed soldiers trotting away across a field as what sounded like rifle and artillery fire echoed in the background; the government claimed that they reached safety, while insurgents claimed that many were killed or captured.Videos posted by each side showed lines of uniformed soldiers trotting away across a field as what sounded like rifle and artillery fire echoed in the background; the government claimed that they reached safety, while insurgents claimed that many were killed or captured.
The scene unfolded almost a month after President Bashar al-Assad, in a rare public speech, had vowed to send reinforcements to rescue the holdouts, declaring, “The army will arrive soon to these heroes.” Afterward, insurgents, including members of the Nusra Front, which is affiliated with Al Qaeda, captured the gutted hospital, completing their takeover of the town of Jisr al-Shoughour, a crucial location on the road from the mostly insurgent-held province of Idlib toward the government’s strongholds on the coast.The scene unfolded almost a month after President Bashar al-Assad, in a rare public speech, had vowed to send reinforcements to rescue the holdouts, declaring, “The army will arrive soon to these heroes.” Afterward, insurgents, including members of the Nusra Front, which is affiliated with Al Qaeda, captured the gutted hospital, completing their takeover of the town of Jisr al-Shoughour, a crucial location on the road from the mostly insurgent-held province of Idlib toward the government’s strongholds on the coast.
The loss of the hospital came two days after Islamic State militants drove government forces out of the desert town of Palmyra in central Syria in a lightning attack that has shocked the country. In addition, on Friday, the Islamic State group, also known as ISIS or ISIL, seized a military outpost near Palmyra, after its takeover on Thursday of a border crossing between Syria and Iraq farther east.The loss of the hospital came two days after Islamic State militants drove government forces out of the desert town of Palmyra in central Syria in a lightning attack that has shocked the country. In addition, on Friday, the Islamic State group, also known as ISIS or ISIL, seized a military outpost near Palmyra, after its takeover on Thursday of a border crossing between Syria and Iraq farther east.
The day’s events were a reminder that government forces are on the defensive on multiple fronts. Even before the sudden and striking advance by the Islamic State group in the east, government forces were already reeling from a new series of setbacks in the north at the hands of a rival set of opponents.The day’s events were a reminder that government forces are on the defensive on multiple fronts. Even before the sudden and striking advance by the Islamic State group in the east, government forces were already reeling from a new series of setbacks in the north at the hands of a rival set of opponents.
Last month, the government lost Idlib, a northern provincial capital, to a coalition of insurgents including the Nusra Front, a jihadist rival of ISIS, and a collection of other mainly Islamist groups that call themselves the Army of Conquest. Those fighters quickly moved on to Jisr al-Shoughour and have been gradually chipping away at the small strip of remaining territory in the province that the government still controls.Last month, the government lost Idlib, a northern provincial capital, to a coalition of insurgents including the Nusra Front, a jihadist rival of ISIS, and a collection of other mainly Islamist groups that call themselves the Army of Conquest. Those fighters quickly moved on to Jisr al-Shoughour and have been gradually chipping away at the small strip of remaining territory in the province that the government still controls.
The approach of two sets of insurgents from the north and east have increased alarm in major cities like Homs and the capital, Damascus, where fears are growing among loyalists that the government cannot protect them, and the army and security forces have had increasing trouble replenishing their ranks.The approach of two sets of insurgents from the north and east have increased alarm in major cities like Homs and the capital, Damascus, where fears are growing among loyalists that the government cannot protect them, and the army and security forces have had increasing trouble replenishing their ranks.
In that context, the government seized on the hospital retreat as a great achievement. The official Twitter account of Mr. Assad’s presidential office congratulated the commanding officer, declaring, “You, the steadfast, you resist because you know neither defeat nor surrender.”In that context, the government seized on the hospital retreat as a great achievement. The official Twitter account of Mr. Assad’s presidential office congratulated the commanding officer, declaring, “You, the steadfast, you resist because you know neither defeat nor surrender.”
A cleric with the insurgents, Abdullah al-Muhaysini, offered “the holy warriors” equally flowery congratulations in a video posted on a Nusra-affiliated Twitter account, which also claimed that the soldiers fled because they were “dejected by the intensity of the siege.”A cleric with the insurgents, Abdullah al-Muhaysini, offered “the holy warriors” equally flowery congratulations in a video posted on a Nusra-affiliated Twitter account, which also claimed that the soldiers fled because they were “dejected by the intensity of the siege.”
What happened to more than 150 soldiers who had been in the hospital, along with several dozen civilians, was unclear. The state news agency, SANA, said they were “reunited with their comrades,” while insurgent groups contended that many had been captured or killed.What happened to more than 150 soldiers who had been in the hospital, along with several dozen civilians, was unclear. The state news agency, SANA, said they were “reunited with their comrades,” while insurgent groups contended that many had been captured or killed.
There were also competing versions of what prompted their flight. State news media portrayed it as a planned escape carried out with the help of air and artillery strikes in “a successful tactical operation.” Insurgents said the troops fled when they heard the sounds of their opponents digging a tunnel underneath the hospital to blow it up.There were also competing versions of what prompted their flight. State news media portrayed it as a planned escape carried out with the help of air and artillery strikes in “a successful tactical operation.” Insurgents said the troops fled when they heard the sounds of their opponents digging a tunnel underneath the hospital to blow it up.
A video had been posted online earlier of a fighter called Abu Mosaab, who is known for tunneling under government positions, and a commander with his group, Ahrar al-Sham, issued a statement saying: “The psychological war might have a bigger impact than traditional war. This is what Allah bestowed on us by leaking the news of Abu Mosaab’s arrival to Jisr al-Shughour.”A video had been posted online earlier of a fighter called Abu Mosaab, who is known for tunneling under government positions, and a commander with his group, Ahrar al-Sham, issued a statement saying: “The psychological war might have a bigger impact than traditional war. This is what Allah bestowed on us by leaking the news of Abu Mosaab’s arrival to Jisr al-Shughour.”
What was clear was that those trapped had been living in difficult conditions. Video shot by insurgents entering the grounds showed the hospital building in rubble, with dismembered or decomposing bodies strewn about. Food and water had been airdropped to the those trapped inside.What was clear was that those trapped had been living in difficult conditions. Video shot by insurgents entering the grounds showed the hospital building in rubble, with dismembered or decomposing bodies strewn about. Food and water had been airdropped to the those trapped inside.
Graffiti on the walls read, “Assad or we damn the country.”Graffiti on the walls read, “Assad or we damn the country.”
In one video posted by insurgents, voices can be heard, apparently those of insurgents watching the escape.In one video posted by insurgents, voices can be heard, apparently those of insurgents watching the escape.
“Their numbers are hundreds, hundreds running away,” one says. His comrade replies, “Haram, haram, I swear, haram,” using an expression that can be translated as “It’s a shame” and seemed to denote a measure of sympathy. “Their numbers are hundreds, hundreds running away,” one says. His comrade replies, “Haram, haram, I swear, haram,” using an expression that can be translated as “It’s a shame.”
Because the escaping troops seemed not to come under fire, some speculated that the evacuation of the hospital might have taken place under a deal between the Syrian government and foreign backers of the insurgents.Because the escaping troops seemed not to come under fire, some speculated that the evacuation of the hospital might have taken place under a deal between the Syrian government and foreign backers of the insurgents.
A person in Idlib with knowledge of the episode, who asked not to be identified for safety reasons, said that the insurgents had pulled back from the hospital’s outer walls and given the soldiers a chance to flee and a head start, before pursuing them.A person in Idlib with knowledge of the episode, who asked not to be identified for safety reasons, said that the insurgents had pulled back from the hospital’s outer walls and given the soldiers a chance to flee and a head start, before pursuing them.
A Nusra fighter who identified himself as Bilal Abu Ahmeh laid out another version in a video interview. He said the pullback was a trick to coax those inside the hospital to run, so they could be hunted down.A Nusra fighter who identified himself as Bilal Abu Ahmeh laid out another version in a video interview. He said the pullback was a trick to coax those inside the hospital to run, so they could be hunted down.
Pictures later circulated on social media claiming to show captured soldiers, but could not be independently verified.Pictures later circulated on social media claiming to show captured soldiers, but could not be independently verified.