Idlib Liberation Marks End to US Regional Influence: Expert

According to the field sources, the zero hour for the battle for the liberation of Syria's terrorist-controlled city is nearing, despite the strong Western opposition to the government and its allies' move to cleanse the city of militiamen.

Idlib is the last major stronghold of the terrorists fighting the Syrian government and experts say its recapture can heavily influence the course of developments in the war-hit nation. Over the past few days, the Western countries launched a heavy blackening campaign under the excuse of the risk of a humanitarian crisis to handicap the imminent assault.

While the West is making last attempts to prevent the offensive against the terrorists, a three-party meeting is expected later this week in Iran, where the Iranian president will host his Russian and Turkish counterparts to discuss Syria and specifically Idlib. Analysts suggest that the meeting will determine the fate of Idlib.

Alwaght talked to Hadi Mohamadi, an Iranian expert of the West Asia affairs, asking him about Idlib developments, the powers' stances on the battle, and the future of the city.

Idlib liberation marking the defeat of the biggest Western-designed geopolitical reshaping project

Touching on the significance of liberating Idlib Mr Mohamadi told the northern province is the last major safe haven of the terrorist under various flags and brands and holds a big place in finishing the fight against terrorism in Syria.

“In fact, the terrorists' life ends in Idlib and the terror spread plan, which is a complicated American-Israeli-Arab project will end there. The Syrian victory will mean the defeat of the biggest contemporary plan to reshape West Asia. The terrorists' defeat means the waste of billions of dollars of the Western countries' cash in the region. The opposite side, the Axis of Resistance, now makes it clear to the West that it is impossible to make the desired geopolitical changes in the region.”

Idlib liberation consequences

Asked about the way Idlib reclaiming will affect the future of the war-torn country, Mr Mohamadi said that the first outcome of obliterating the terrorists in the northwestern city will be the return of the central government's rule and expansion of its legitimacy. The victory over the armed groups will also turn the tide to the Resistance front’s advantage because it will strengthen their alliance and allow them to play a bigger role in the future regional equations. “In the future, any events will not be possible without the effective involvement of the Resistance Axis. This, furthermore, means that the several-decade Westerners' hegemony in the region has collapsed,” he maintained.

The Iranian pundit continued that the second result of the liberation will be increased cooperation between the Resistance components and Russia. Over the past years, the Russians cooperated with the Resistance camp that bore huge achievements. The Idlib operation, likewise, can realize the two sides' common interests. “The battle for Idlib can formulate a model for future cooperation,” the expert noted.

Mr Mohamadi drew Israeli links to the Syrian conflict, saying since 2006 Tel Aviv has strived to transform the region geopolitically through helping terrorism spread. He added that Idlib retaking will put the Israeli regime in the weakest position in several decades. The Resistance front’s victory in Idlib and other regional hot spots will solidly close the Israeli hands for taking unilateral measures against the Palestinians. “The Zionists will no longer be capable of proceeding with Trump-sponsored arrogant plans in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

Idlib liberation marks end to US regional sway

Another question was about the reasons behind the US, Turkey, and other parties’ opposition to the attacks against the Idlib-based extremists under the ruse of the possibility of a humanitarian crisis. Mr Mohamadi answered that destroying thousands of terrorists in Idlib is a severely grave news for their supporters and the sides who created the anti-Damascus groups. “The defeat of the terrorists in Idlib means the end of US power to sway the West Asian developments. So, the US and other Western powers pursue a stage-by-stage strategy to save the terrorists,” he added.

The Iranian expert also pointed to the Turkish policy in Syria, saying “Since the beginning, Turkey adopted a wrong policy in relation to the Syrian crisis. Turkey thought that by means of the Salafists it can establish a kind of Muslim Brotherhood empire. But things changed now and it behaves positively in partnership with Russia and Iran. It still has not abandoned hope on the terrorists but we cannot draw a similarity between the Turkish and American behavior. Because the nature of the two sides' opposition to the impending offensive is completely different.

Tehran summit

Mr Mohamadi pointed to the expected meeting of the Iranian, Russian, and Turkish presidents in Iran and its impacts on the Idlib future, and said “The Iran summit is one of the important meetings and as a sequel to the Astana and Sochi conferences. Making decisions on Idlib can be the core point of Iran meeting’s focus. A deal on Idlib is likely if Turkey be open to working with Russia, Iran, and Syria. Turkey has no other way than cooperation with Damascus. Ankara will try to use Idlib cause to wrest privileges from the Americans. It also intends to shift its status in the game, changing from a loser to an influential actor with share and sway in the regional equations.