Tendentious reporting over humanitarian aid to Idlib

Last week the Western media strove mightily to skew reports of the squabble which initially erupted between Western powers and Russia over the delivery of humanitarian aid to the northern sector of Syria’s Idlib province. The aim of the tendentious reporting was to castigate Russia for depriving poor residents of this area of essential food and medical supplies by blocking the Bab al-Hawa crossing which carries 80 per cent of UN supplies.

The issue was the expiry at mid-night on July 10 of the Security Council authorisation for the use by UN and associated agencies of the Bab al-Hawa crossing on the Turkish border to deliver aid to Idlib. Russia proposed to renew the mandate for six months. Moscow has adopted the six-month time frame since 2021, arguing that carrying on with the practice of excluding the Syrian government from control of this key border violates the country’s sovereignty. The US, Britain and France insisted on renewal for a year. Russia rejected this proposition. Switzerland and Brazil proposed a compromise resolution for a nine-month extension. This draft was circulated and voted on. While China abstained and 13 council members voted in favour, Russia used its veto to kill the compromise. Apparently, this was not expected.

Russian ambassador Vassily Nebenzia threatened, “If our draft is not supported, then we can just go ahead and close down the cross-border mechanism.” Russia and China backed Moscow’s draft, 10 members abstained, and the US, Britain and France used their vetoes. He said the council mandate for the aid operation could not be saved.

Nebenzia told the council that yearly renewal was acceptable five to seven years earlier when Syria was wracked by warfare “but looks completely anachronistic today.” He was right. Since 2017-2019 fighting has wound down, Moscow and Ankara have imposed an uneasy ceasefire in Idlib, Syrian suspension by the Arab League has ended, and President Bashar al-Assad has reconciled with Arab leaders. The skewing of media reporting was meant to suit Western leaders determined to Isolate and sanction Syria until he departs or is overthrown. He now controls 70 per cent of Syria and remains in charge.

Ignoring the change in circumstances, Western news agencies and newspapers reported that Russia was blocking aid deliveries while lorry loads of supplies remained stalled on the Turkish side of the border due to the expiry of the UN mandate. Russia had, however, agreed to maintain deliveries on its terms. Moscow was not blocking the flow of aid, the three Western permanent council members were by insisting on the nine-month extension of the UN mandate.

US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield stated, “It’s a sad moment for the Syrian people. What we have just witnessed, what the world has just witnessed, was an act of utter cruelty.” Indeed, it was “an act of cruelty” perpetrated by the trio of the US, Britain, and France.

The Syrian government promptly authorised the UN to continue with deliveries under its auspices in a bid to reestablish its sovereignty over the strategic Bab al-Hawa sector of Syria’s border with Turkey. In a letter to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, Syrian UN Ambassador Bassam Sabbagh handed said operations could resume for six months “in full cooperation and coordination with the Syrian government.”

For the US and Europe this demand is unacceptable. Furthermore, the government has committed to the six-month time frame which they tried to change.

Sabbagh told reporters that the UN should not communicate in Idlib with groups which are branded as “terrorists” by his government, the UN, the US, and others in the international community. He was referring particularly to al-Qaeda-founded Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (originally Jabhat al-Nusra), which rules north Idlib and slices of territory belonging to Latakia and Aleppo provinces. In addition to Tahrir al-Sham, there are remnants of similar religion-driven factions in this area.

Western-led media generally refers to these groups as “rebels” although they are “takfiris” who regard as apostates anyone who does not adhere to their interpretation of Islam and wage war (jihad) against unbelievers. As the “takfiri” term is not understood by many journalists or used commonly in the media, the best way to clarify the reference is to call them “jihadis,” holy warriors. Takfir al-Sham, which collaborates with Turkey, also offers sanctuary to fugitive Daesh leaders who have been tracked to Idlib and assassinated by US hit squads and drones.

Sabbagh also said that aid should be distributed by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) which, along with UN agencies operate in government-controlled territory.

The UN has rejected both these conditions. On one hand, the UN seeks to continue collaborating with Tahrir al-Sham which the UN has branded a “terrorist” entity. On other hand, the UN argued that the ICRC and SARC do not work in Idlib. Only the UN and associated agencies do. Essentially, they prop up the rule of Tahrir al-Sham and allied factions which have made of Syrian territory they occupy a “takfiri” base on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean with the aim of waging jihad.

Tahrir al-Sham has established a Salvation Government which rivals the government of the opposition also established in Idlib. Tahrir al-Sham, which is led by Abu Mohammed al-Julani, seeks to wage a “popular Jihad” against the government and form an Islamic government to take its place.

After the devastating February earthquakes in northwest Syria and southwest Turkey, the Syrian government allowed the UN to reopen two aid crossings on the Turkish border. And, since the highway through Turkey to Bab al-Hawa was torn up by the quakes, the government authorised the UN to import supplies via legal entry points and convoy aid through government-controlled territory to Idlib. Tahrir al-Sham refused to accept supplies that had been authorised by Damascus.

The media gives the false impression that all Idlib is governed by Tahrir al-Sham. The Syrian army has recaptured and retained the southern half of Idlib. The main north-south highway from Damascus to Aleppo runs through government-controlled territory. When I travelled to Aleppo in April, I was driven along this highway which is flanked by empty villages and fields and slopes covered by squat, highly prized pistachio trees which have taken their Arabic name from Aleppo (Fustuq Halabi). Since my Aleppo trip, my German friend Olga, visited village east of Khan Shaikhoun which located in southern Idlib and found 500 farmers had returned to their homes, repaired a room or two, and have begun tending their crops.