Large US Marine force lands in Aqaba to deploy on Jordanian-Syrian border
DEBKAfile Exclusive Report June 5, 2013/A large American military force disembarked Tuesday, June 4, at the southern Jordanian port of Aqaba - ready for deployment on the kingdom’s Syrian border, debkafile’s exclusive military sources report. The force made its way north along the Aqaba-Jerash-Ajilon mountain road bisecting Jordan from south to north, under heavy Jordanian military escort.
Our sources disclose that this American force numbers 1,000 troops, the largest to land in Jordan since the Syrian civil war erupted in March 2012. They are members of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Force carried aboard the USS Kearsage amphibious assault ship, which has been anchored off neighboring Israeli Eilat since mid-May. Upon landing, the marines took to the road in a convoy of armored vehicles including Hummers.
Washington and Amman have imposed a blackout on their arrival. The Pentagon has only let it be known that the annual joint US-Jordanian “Eager Lion 2013” military exercise is due to begin later in June and last two months, with the participation of US F-16 fighter jets and Patriot missile defense systems.According to our US sources, the arrival of the US force in Jordan was not directly related to the regular exercise but decided on at an emergency meeting at the Pentagon on May 31, which was attended by top military and civilian Defense Department officials. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, who is away from Washington, took part by video conference.The meeting decided that the military situation evolving in Syria and threats it posed to Jordan – including widening evidence of chemical weapons use in Syria - were urgent enough to warrant the dispatch of extra American military strength to Jordan, over and above the contingents participating in the joint exercise. The Israeli Air Force will provide air cover for the force until the F-16 jets are in place for the drill. The US Central Command spokesman Lt. Col. T.G. Taylor in a statement to the US media said only: “In order to enhance the defensive posture and capacity of Jordan, some of these assets may remain beyond the exercise at the request of the government of Jordan.”That request, according to our sources, was for the US to leave behind when the exercise ended and the troops departed - not just some of the weapons systems but all of the equipment which arrived with the marines Wednesday, as well as the F-16 fighters and Patriot missiles.There is no official word about Washington’s response to this request. However, the Obama administration is not expected to turn it down.

EU Kickstarts Discussions on Blacklisting Hizbullah Military Wing
Naharnet/European Union countries mulled on Tuesday placing Hizbullah's military wing on its list of terrorist organizations ahead of a wide meeting for EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg on June 24.
According to As Safir newspaper, several EU countries, including Austria are questioning the “motives behind blacklisting Hizbullah.” A source told the newspaper that Hizbullah's military wing will be probably enlisted on the list for “it's terrorist behavior.” However, diplomats say that the EU fears that enrolling Hizbullah's military wing on it's list of terrorist organizations could impact stability in Lebanon.
The 27 EU members states should agree on adding Hizbullah to the list. Britain already has Hizbullah's military wing on its terror list, while the Netherlands blacklists the whole organization. An Nahar newspaper reported that several EU countries rejected a request by Britain during Tuesday's closed-door meeting to impose sanctions on the party's military wing, arguing that such a decision would have negative repercussions on stability in the region.
Britain debates that there is “concrete” evidence that Hizbullah is responsible for the July 2012 Burgas attack.
Earlier in May, France sought to call for the military arm of Hizbullah to be added to an European Union terror blacklist due to its backing of the Syrian regime.
Both Israel and the United States have pressured the 27-member bloc to follow their example and designate Hizbullah as a terrorist group but the issue remained sensitive and divisive.

Italy leads charge against EU move to blacklist Hezbollah
By Mirella Hodeib /The Daily Star
BRUSSELS: France and Germany maintained their support Tuesday for a proposal by the United Kingdom to place Hezbollah’s military wing on the European Union’s terror list during a meeting in Brussels, European diplomatic sources told The Daily Star. But representatives of several European governments, led by Italy, challenged the British request, arguing that it threatened Lebanon’s already fragile security situation, said the sources, who spoke on anonymity. Representatives of the 27 EU member states are expected to meet in the coming two weeks to issue a final decision on the matter, but a date for the next meeting has yet to be announced.
Last month, the U.K. proposed blacklisting Hezbollah for its alleged involvement in a July 2012 bombing in the Bulgarian city of Burgas, which claimed the lives of five Israelis and their Bulgarian driver.
Britain says that its request to put Hezbollah on the EU’s list of terror organizations was also motivated by a Cypriot court’s decision to sentence a Lebanese-Swedish national to four years in prison for plotting attacks against Israeli tourists visiting the Island. U.K. diplomats in Brussels said their country had a “strong case” for the proposal. Although the results of the initial enquiry into the Burgas bombing that implicated Hezbollah came out in January, the British petition was put forth only in May, amid reports of the Lebanese party’s growing involvement in the conflict in Syria. Despite Paris’ and Berlin’s long-standing resistance to pressure exerted by both the United States and Israel over the idea of blacklisting the party, the two European countries seem to have experienced a sudden change of heart, with their foreign ministers endorsing the British proposal in late May.
But Tuesday’s meeting of the committee tasked with looking into the issue prompted a heated discussion, with representatives of several European governments opposing the British request, the diplomatic sources said.
“All I can say for now is that France and Germany have stuck to the stances voiced by their foreign ministers,” one source said. Italy’s stance, however, echoed that of its Foreign Minister Emma Bonino, who said last week that blacklisting Hezbollah’s military wing would have repercussions on Lebanon’s stability, citing its “fragility.” Bonino also requested “more evidence” from Sofia regarding Hezbollah’s implication in the bus bombing. Italy, France and Germany all have contingents serving as part of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon. Several European governments fear that blacklisting the Islamic party would affect the safety of peacekeepers stationed in south Lebanon, a Hezbollah stronghold. But divergence among EU member states over blacklisting Hezbollah does not rule out consensus and their arrival at a unified stance, the diplomatic sources said. The decision would require the approval of all 27 EU member states.“This is the first meeting held to discuss the blacklisting of Hezbollah and we will have another one in the next couple of weeks,” one source noted. “It is going to take some time to come up with a final decision.”

Syrian Air Raid Targets Arsal, Suleiman Urges Respect of Lebanon's Sovereignty
Naharnet/Syrian regime forces carried out an air raid on the northeastern town of Arsal on Wednesday, with a report saying that helicopters targeted a house owned by a man from al-Hujairi family. The attack drew the condemnation of President Michel Suleiman, who urged Syria to “respect Lebanon's sovereignty and not to endanger its citizens." Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3) said that two rockets targeted the house but only one exploded. The raid did not cause casualties. The state-run National News Agency said three other rockets landed in the town's outskirts, causing material damage only. Other border areas in the north and east have also been struck by frequent cross-border shelling and clashes, while the Syrian regime has told Lebanon to better control its porous border to prevent the smuggling of fighters and arms. Lebanon is sharply divided over the war in Syria and Arsal is a particular flashpoint as refugees from the uprising and fighters and smugglers hostile to the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad traverse the border.

Hizbullah: Qusayr's Accomplishment a Blow to American-Israeli-Takfiri Scheme
Naharnet /Hizbullah stated on Wednesday that the party's “accomplishment” in the Syrian border town of al-Qusayr is “blow to the American-Israeli-Takfiri scheme.”
"The withdrawal of the opposition's fighters from al-Qusayr is a knockdown to the scheme of the United States, Israel and the Takfiris,” the party's deputy chief Sheikh Naim Qassem expressed after a meeting with Syrian Social National Party Vice President Toufiq Mhanna. He added: “The battle today has one goal only which is to face Israel and those serving its interest. Hizbullah's stances are based on this.”"Today it has been proven that betting on the fall of a Syria that supports the resistance is a delusion and a failure, so is choosing political stances based on the achievements of the American-Israeli scheme.” Qassem reiterated calls for finding a political solution to the Syrian crisis, rejecting international powers' “attempts to take over lands in the Arab world and support Israel.”“The region's people have set their minds on recovering their lands and their rights,” he assured. Syria's rebels conceded on Tuesday they had lost the battle for the strategic town of Qusayr but vowed to fight “thousands of Lebanese mercenaries” after the army seized total control of it and the surrounding region. The main opposition National Coalition shrugged off the defeat, declaring the "revolution will continue". Tuesday's development comes after the military support of Hizbullah has helped Syrian regime forces gain the upper hand in the battle for control of Qusayr, where an army assault began last month, amid a Lebanese, regional and international outcry. Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah had previously justified the group's involvement in Syria by saying they were defending Lebanese-inhabited border villages inside Syria and Shiite holy sites.But during a May 25 speech marking the 13th anniversary of Israel's military withdrawal from Lebanon, Nasrallah said the Takfiris are the “most prevailing group in the Syrian opposition,” warning against a defeat against them in the ongoing war in Syria. He said: “If Syria falls in the hands of the Takfiris and the United States, the resistance will become under a siege and Israel will enter Lebanon. If Syria falls, the Palestinian cause will be lost.”

Sweets Distributed in Dahiyeh in Celebration of 'Qusayr's Fall'
Naharnet/..Social networking websites were buzzing on Wednesday with pictures of young men distributing sweets in Beirut's southern suburbs in celebration of the “fall” of the Syrian town of Qusayr in the hands of Syrian regime forces and Hizbullah fighters. Banners reading “Qusayr has fallen” and Hizbullah's yellow flags were erected on trees planted in a road median, next to which supporters of the party were distributing sweets to the passengers of the passing cars. Meanwhile, activists on social networking websites circulated a picture of Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah with the slogan “Qusayr welcomes you … the Sayyed always fulfills his promises” on it.The Syrian army vowed on Wednesday to trounce rebel fighters across Syria hours after recapturing Qusayr with the help of Hizbullah following a more than two-week assault on the strategic town on the border with Lebanon. Both sides in the conflict value Qusayr, which lies along a land corridor linking two Assad strongholds, the capital of Damascus and an area along the Mediterranean coast that is the heartland of his minority Alawite sect. For their part, Syria's rebels conceded they had lost the battle for the strategic town but vowed to fight “thousands of Lebanese mercenaries.”
Earlier, Syria state television said the army "totally controls" Qusayr, with the Britain-based Observatory, which relies on a network of activists and medics on the ground, also confirming that Qusayr had fallen.
Syria's main opposition group said that the armed uprising against the regime of Assad will carry on despite Qusayr's fall. Later on Wednesday, Hizbullah deputy chief Sheikh Naim Qassem said “Qusayr's achievement dealt a severe blow to the American-Israeli-Takfiri scheme.”Hizbullah chief Nasrallah had previously justified the group's involvement in Syria by saying they were defending Lebanese-inhabited border villages inside Syria and Shiite holy sites. But during a May 25 speech marking the 13th anniversary of Israel's military withdrawal from Lebanon, Nasrallah said the Takfiris are the “most prevailing group in the Syrian opposition,” warning against a defeat against them in the ongoing war in Syria. He said: “If Syria falls in the hands of the Takfiris and the United States, the resistance will become under a siege and Israel will enter Lebanon. If Syria falls, the Palestinian cause will be lost.”

Syrian, 2 Lebanese Charged with Deadly Assault on Army
Naharnet/State Commissioner to the Military Court Judge Saqr Saqr charged three people on Wednesday for killing Lebanese soldiers in the northeastern town of Arsal last month. Saqr charged in absentia Mashhour Abdul Mawla al-Rifahi al-Wazir, a Syrian, for the premeditated attack on an army checkpoint in Arsal and for the murder of three soldiers on May 28. The judge also charged two Lebanese, Ahmed Hussein Mohammed and Iman Shmaytiyeh, who are in detention, for taking part in the assault. The suspects face the death penalty if convicted. Saqr referred the file to the first Military Examining Magistrate.As Safir daily reported on Monday that the Syrian suspect had fled to Syria.

Suleiman Considers Filing Lawsuit against Kabbara
Naharnet /President Michel Suleiman is considering filing a lawsuit against Tripoli MP Mohammed Kabbara, who is a member of al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc.
Informed sources told Naharnet that “Suleiman is mulling with his legal advisers the possibility of filing a lawsuit against MP Mohammed Kabbara on charges of insulting the Presidency and the Army Command.”
On Tuesday, Kabbara voiced “regret” that Suleiman, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati, Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji and the military institution “seem to be colluded with the Syrian regime.”
He was reciting a statement issued by the National Islamic Gathering following a meeting that was held at his residence to discuss the clashes between the rival Tripoli neighborhoods of Jabal Mohsen and Bab al-Tabbaneh.
Kabbara called on Suleiman, Miqati, Qahwaji and the army to “shoulder their responsibilities” and prove that they are “seriously entrusted with the country's unity and the safety of its people.” Seven people were killed and more than 40 wounded in clashes that erupted Sunday in Tripoli. Sniper activity is still ongoing in the conflict zone despite a heavy deployment by the army.

Eid Has Reservations Over Army Raids, Berri Hints 5th Column Involved in Tripoli Fighting
Naharnet/The head of the Arab Democratic Party, Rifaat Eid, has expressed reservations over raids carried out by the Lebanese army in his stronghold in the northern city of Tripoli as Speaker Nabih Berri hinted that a fifth column was seeking to create tension in the area. In remarks to An Nahar daily, Eid said the army made unusual steps in the neighborhood of Jabal Mohsen on Tuesday by “raiding our homes and ransacking them and we haven't made a move against it.”But Eid accused the military of not taking similar measures in the Sunni neighborhood of Bab al-Tabbaneh. “We have reservations on such a behavior although we understand the way the army is acting.”Eid, who is from the Alawite sect of Syrian President Bashar Assad, also lashed out at the National Islamic Gathering, a group of politicians and religious figures headed by MP Mohammed Kabbara.
The Gathering gave the army and security forces on Tuesday 48 hours to respond to the snipers and control the situation in the city which witnessed in the past days the 17th round of fighting that has left scores of casualties.
The violence is tied to the war in Syria, where a Sunni-led uprising is fighting to overthrow the regime of Assad, who is an Alawite. An Nahar said that Eid has held phone conversations with Berri and leaders in the speaker's Amal movement in addition to Hizbullah. It quoted him as saying that his party was ready to cooperate with the army in its deployment in Jabal Mohsen.
The military's move in entering buildings that are housing snipers in the neighborhood is expected to be followed by similar measures in Bab al-Tabbaneh. But Berri warned in remarks to As Safir newspaper that a fifth column might be behind the sniper attacks and the gunbattles with the objective of creating tension as soon as a cautious clam reigns in. The situation in the capital of the North “is no longer acceptable,” he said. The speaker's remarks came as Caretaker Interior Minister Marwan Charbel said the gunmen in both neighborhoods were acting on their own and no longer taking orders from politicians. An Nahar quoted sources as saying that 90 percent of armed men were working independently after Salafist groups entered the city and engaged in the battles. They said the army's raids of the apartments housing the snipers were not part of a new plan. Soldiers “are using the appropriate weapons to avoid endangering the lives of people” in the city, the sources added.

Army Vows Decisive Measures in Tripoli Away from Political Meddling
Naharnet/The Army Command issued a statement on Wednesday stressing that it will take decisive measures to address the thorny situation in Tripoli away from any political interferences, following the escalating tension in the northern city. “In light of the escalating tension in Tripoli and taking into consideration the number of casualties and injuries reported, the Army saw it better to address the issue wisely with patience and precision,” the statement said. It also denounced what it called a “campaign of unjust accusations,” fired against the army, saying “some politicians launched a campaign of defamation against the military and fired unfair accusations without any right.”
Head of the Arab Democratic Party, Rifaat Eid, has expressed reservations over raids carried out by the Lebanese army in his stronghold of the Jabal Mohsen neighborhood in Tripoli. Eid said the army made unusual steps on Tuesday by “raiding our homes and ransacking them and we haven't made a move against it.” He also accused the military of not taking similar measures in the Sunni neighborhood of Bab al-Tabbaneh. The military entered buildings that housed snipers in the neighborhood, a move that is expected to be followed by similar measures in Bab al-Tabbaneh. “The Army will strongly deal with the sources of gunfire no matter to what side they belong to in order to suppress sedition,” the statement concluded.Tripoli clashes erupted in May between Bab al-Tabbaneh, which supports the Syrian uprising, and Jabal Mohsen, which supports the Syrian regime.The bloody clashes have left scores of casualties.

Berri Calls for Intense Efforts to Consolidate Stability
Naharnet/ Speaker Nabih Berri called on Wednesday for intensified efforts to strengthen stability in the northern city of Tripoli and support the military's role there. Berri's stance came during his weekly meeting with lawmakers. “There should be intense endeavors to consolidate stability and support the Lebanese army in its role in keeping security in Tripoli and the rest of the regions,” the MPs quoted him as saying. The speaker stressed the importance of adopting “calm political rhetoric away from the disputes that are reflecting negatively on all parties.”Berri made his comments after he hinted to As Safir daily that a fifth column might be behind the sniper attacks and the gunbattles that are rocking Tripoli with the objective of creating tension as soon as cautious clam reigns in. The situation in the capital of the North “is no longer acceptable,” he said. A 17th round of gunbattles erupted in Tripoli on Sunday, leaving scores of casualties. The violence is tied to the war in Syria, where a Sunni-led uprising is fighting to overthrow the regime of President Bashar Assad, who is an Alawite.

Salam Calls on Political Foes to Facilitate Formation of Cabinet
Naharnet/Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam said on Wednesday that all parties should exert efforts to facilitate the formation of his cabinet. “The delay in the formation is caused by the constitutional challenge,” Salam's visitors quoted him as saying. They pointed out that Salam is keen to form a cabinet the represents the nation's best interest and has the consent of the rival parties. Salam also warned that the economic situation has reached “alarming levels.”The PM-designate's efforts to form a new government came to a halt in recent weeks in light of the dispute over the extension of parliament's mandate and the political powers' failure to reach an agreement over a new parliamentary electoral law. Salam will launch new consultations with various political powers to garner their views over the new government after the legislature extended its term for 17 months.The extension decision comes after rival blocs in the legislature failed to agree on a new elections law. Free Patriotic Movement led by MP Michel Aoun and President Michel Suleiman submitted an appeal to challenge the parliament's decision to extend its mandate.

Sawan Questions Arsal's Municipal Chief, Substitutes Bail for Arrest
Naharnet /Military Examining Magistrate Fadi Sawan questioned Arsal's municipal chief Ali al-Hujairi against the backdrop of an army assault in February, and substituted an arrest warrant for a LL 300,000 bail, the state-run National News agency said on Wednesday. Sawan, who questioned al-Hujairi for three hours, obtained a permission from caretaker Interior Minister Marwan Charbel to prosecute the suspect.
An army patrol was ambushed by Arsal gunmen in February as it was hunting a man wanted for several terrorist acts. Clashes between the armed groups and army left an officer and a sergeant dead in addition to several military personnel wounded. State Commissioner to the Military Court Judge Saqr Saqr charged 34 people then, and summoned al-Hujairi to question him. Al-Hujairi and his son have appeared on a video broadcast by a local channel showing the town's residents encircling the soldiers wounded in the ambush.

Zasypkin Backs Stability in Lebanon, Rejects Meddling in its Affairs
Naharnet /Russian Ambassador to Lebanon Alexander Zasypkin reiterated on Wednesday that his country supports stability and security in Lebanon, stressing that Moscow rejects any intervention in the country's local affairs. “We back stability and security in Lebanon. The members of the U.N. Security Council all voiced their support to maintaining stability and security in Lebanon,” the ambassador said. He pointed out that Russia firmly rejects any meddling in Lebanon's affairs. Lebanese parties are sharply divided over the crisis in Syria as the March 8 alliance continuously expresses its support to Syrian president Bashar Assad, while the March 14 camp backs the popular revolt. Lebanon has witnessed recently the most dangerous security situation since 2005 after a series of incidents engulfed the northern city of Tripoli in battles between pro- and anti-Syrian President Bashar Assad regime. The international community and analysts have expressed fears that the conflict in Syria may spill over into Lebanon.

Syrian Ambassador Says Battles in Tripoli Linked to Syria
Naharnet/Syrian Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Abdul Karim Ali said on Wednesday that the ongoing battles in the northern city of Tripoli reflect the developments in Tripoli, pointing out that the final result will be in favor of Lebanon, Syria and the whole region. “All those who strategically read the developments in the region said that the countries are integrated and the attack on Syria will have an impact,” Ali told reporters after talks with Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun at his residence in Rabieh. The violence in Tripoli is tied to the conflict in Syria, where a Sunni-led uprising is fighting to overthrow the regime of President Bashar Assad, an Alawite.
The fighting in Tripoli, which has flared sporadically since the beginning of the Syria conflict in March 2011, has largely been confined to Jabal Mohsen and Bab el-Tabbaneh. But the repercussions of the Syria conflict have also been felt elsewhere in its neighbor Lebanon. Ali expressed hope that the two countries would cooperate to end sedition. The diplomat said that Aoun expected that the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad would triumph the conspiracy. The latest confrontations come after a brief lull in the violence between the two sides, following a flare-up last month that left 31 people dead and more than 200 hurt.

Salim Idriss, the commander of the Syrian rebel forces, : Syria rebels ready to move battles into Lebanon
June 05, 2013/The Daily Star /BEIRUT: Salim Idriss, the commander of the Syrian rebel forces, warned Wednesday that fighters seeking to oust President Bashar Assad could target Hezbollah in Lebanon if authorities failed to put a stop to the resistance group’s activities in Syria. “The fighters are ready to move the battles into Lebanon to confront Hezbollah members fighting alongside the Syrian regime forces,” the Free Syrian Army commander told BBC. “The Syrian opposition will have to take necessary measures if the Lebanese authorities fail to end Hezbollah’s interference in Syria battles,” he added.The remarks of Idriss came as Syrian rebels conceded defeat to Hezbollah-backed regime troops in the Homs town of Qusair early Wednesday.  The Syrian commander also said that “there are now a very large number of Hezbollah fighters in Syria’s Qusair, Aleppo and Damascus.”
“I can say they are everywhere in the country,” he said. Hezbollah’s growing military intervention in Syria has raised the risks of a possible spillover of violence to Lebanon.
Last month, two rockets hit Beirut’s southern suburb, a Hezbollah stronghold, a day after its chief Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah confirmed his group’s military involvement in Syria.However, the FSA denied responsibility for the incident.

Syrian Army Vows to 'Crush' Rebels Across Syria after Regaining Control of Qusayr
Naharnet/The army vowed on Wednesday to trounce rebel fighters across Syria hours after recapturing Qusayr following a more than two-week assault on the strategic town on the border with Lebanon.
"After successive advances in the war against organised terrorists, our armed forces say they will not hesitate to crush the armed men wherever they are and in every corner of Syria," it said in a statement.
"Our armed forces have been securing and cleaning the town since dawn after a series of delicate operations," said the statement carried by state news agency SANA.
The army said the "heroic victory" sent a "clear message to all involved in the attack on Syria, headed by the Zionist enemy (Israel) and its agents in the region and on the ground. "The armed forces are ready to face any aggression against our country. "Our battle against terrorism will continue to bring security and stability to every inch of our land," said the army statement.
Earlier, state TV had said that regime troops "restored security and peace" after successfully dismantling the "terrorist networks" operating in the town over the last few days. Lebanon's al-Mayadeen TV, which has reporters embedded with Syrian troops, was reporting live from the town, showing images of damaged buildings. The reporter said there was no sign of fighting.
Government troops, backed by Hizbullah fighters, began a wide offensive on the strategic town, which lies near Lebanon's northeastern border, on May 19.
Both sides in the conflict value Qusayr, which lies along a land corridor linking two Assad strongholds, the capital of Damascus and an area along the Mediterranean coast that is the heartland of his minority Alawite sect.
For the rebels, who had been in control of the town shortly ever since after the uprising against Assad began in March 2011, holding Qusayr meant protecting their supply line to Lebanon, just 10 kilometres away.
In the past week, rebels in Qusayr called on fighters from all over Syria to come to their aid in the town, and foreign fighters were suspected to be playing a large role in the city's defense. The Qusayr battle has also laid bare Hizbullah's growing role in the Syrian conflict. The party, which has been fighting alongside Assad's troops, initially tried to play down its involvement, but could no longer do so after dozens of its fighters were killed in the town and buried in large funerals in Lebanon.
SourceAgence France PresseAssociated PressNaharnet.

Rebels Say they Lost Battle for Qusayr but Vow to Fight 'Lebanese Mercenaries'
Naharnet /Syria's rebels conceded on Tuesday they had lost the battle for the strategic town of Qusayr but vowed to fight “thousands of Lebanese mercenaries” after the army seized total control of it and the surrounding region.
The main opposition National Coalition shrugged off the defeat, declaring the "revolution will continue". At the same time, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said fighters from Hizbullah, who had spearheaded the regime's assault, were in control of the town. Control of Qusayr was vital for the rebels as it was their principal transit point for weapons and fighters from Lebanon. It is also strategic for the regime because it is located on the road linking Damascus with the coast, its rear base. "Yes our brothers, this a round that we have lost," the General Commission of the Syrian Revolution said on its Facebook page, but rebels seeking to oust President Bashar Assad "will continue to fight the thousands of Lebanese mercenaries." That was a reference to Hizbullah, a close ally of Assad's regime. Earlier, Syria state television said the army "totally controls" the strategic region of Qusayr after an offensive against rebel fighters that lasted almost three weeks.
The Britain-based Observatory, which relies on a network of activists and medics on the ground, also confirmed that Qusayr had fallen. "The army and Hizbullah have succeeded in taking Qusayr after an intense bombardment of the town overnight," it said. "The rebels have withdrawn to other areas because they were short of ammunition."
Official news agency Sana said the army had "reestablished total security in the town of Qusayr," while Hizbullah's al-Manar television, which has a correspondent on the ground, said the rebels had fled north toward the nearby villages of Dabaa and Buweida al-Sharqiya. The Observatory said fighting continued in Dabaa and in Buweida al-Sharqiya, the last village under rebel control in the area. Later, Syria's main opposition group said that the armed uprising against the regime of Assad will carry on despite the fall Wednesday of the strategic town of Qusayr."The blessed revolution will continue. Victory is on the side of the righteous, who resisted in the face of oppression and injustice," the National Coalition said in a statement. The Coalition called on "the United Nations and the great powers to fulfill their responsibility and intervene urgently to protect the civilians". It also said the world must also "put a stop to the Assad regime's vengeful practices".
Assad forces and Hizbullah fighters launched an offensive on May 19 to retake the Qusayr region, which abuts Lebanon's northeastern border.
SourceAgence France PresseNaharnet.

Turkish Spring is a false analogy
Aylin Kocaman /Asharq Alawsat
There have been no great uprisings in the major cities of my country, Turkey, since the 1970s. It has wrestled with the scourge of terror for 30 years; we have always lived side by side with terror. Suicide bombings, banks being blown up and explosions on buses all happened under our very noses here in Istanbul, this lovely city where we live, study, work and walk about.
But I never saw my own people rise up. The recent protests began as a peaceful protest against the uprooting of trees in a park. Sensitivity toward trees and nature is good. Protests are also fine. Protests are necessary to declare ideas and speak freely. They are necessary for democracies. Many problems in democracies have been resolved through protests—and that is the case in Turkey, a Muslim country where 82% of people consider themselves to be religiously observant. People raise their voices freely.
But protests always attract different groups, and small, peaceful protests can turn into a propaganda opportunities for marginal groups. This poses an even greater risk in Turkey. The terror organization Turkey wrestled with for 30 years was a communist one. Some parts of the terror organization cannot bear the idea of withdrawing from the country and the subsequent period of peace.
The action in Taksim Square was a cover for such groups. The events even began very oddly. Right after the peaceful protest, insulting messages began being sent to government supporters. Everyone was organized and incited to “violence.” These calls, made on the basis of new calculations, made it clear this was not going to be an ordinary protest.
The real protesters were peaceful, and a healthy sign of democracy. But because of other groups, violence quickly followed the protests. There was no more talk of trees and parks. Instead, the banners of various communist organizations began to be seen. The trees the show was meant to protect began to be uprooted, and furniture was burned. Had the fire department not arrived in time, the whole park would have burned. But was the whole point of the action not to protect that park?
Political parties’ responses to the protests and the violence were interesting. The Republican People’s Party, the main opposition party, originally agreed with the project and then took part in the protest against it! The opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) said, “We oppose the action,” but some of the protesters were supporters.
False reports suddenly began spreading on Twitter. A picture of an American injured by the propeller of a yacht in Florida was sent all over as “a youngster murdered by the police.” A picture alleged to be of an action “on the Bosporus Bridge” actually came from the Eurasian marathon of 2012! A picture of a police officer firing pepper spray at a dog clearly showed the word “policia” on his back—not the Turkish “polis.” The first picture of the start of the protest actually came from Tahrir Square.
Balls studded with nails were prepared before the demonstration and paving stones were torn up. Do you know what use balls studded with nails or paving stones have? They kill. Do you think people who want to protect for trees would prepare weaponry intended to kill? Of course not. It was not peaceful protesters who did this; neither was it peaceful protesters who stoned the police while they were pulling back from Taksim Square and damaged police cars with sledgehammers. Many artists who arrived on the scene intending to take part in the protest turned back at once and took to Twitter to warn against serving the ends of those wishing to incite provocation. A great many protesters understood and went home. The scene was left in the hands of communist provocateurs.
I witnessed the events in Taksim with my own eyes. And I also witnessed the false reports that reached the foreign papers: “Tens of deaths” and “attacks using tanks.” How the foreign press was provoked so quickly! Twitter was at the center of that provocation.
No, nobody died. There were no tank attacks. Pepper spray? It is true that was used. Should that have been used in such quantities? Of course not: the government itself said as much immediately after the event. But that was not the only mistake. It was announced a few days after the protests that no trees in the park had been cut down, they had been replanted in another part of Istanbul. The government said that the new construction project involved a park area with trees, and that it has reforested an area of 900,000 hectares to date. Nobody knew that. It would have been good if the government could have announced this, nicely, beforehand!
Those who describe this uprising as a “Turkish Spring” are being naive. Turkey is neither Mubarak’s Egypt nor Assad’s Syria. More than 20 parties take part in elections in Turkey: 22 will take part in the 2014 elections. These include communists, Maoists, Kurds, leftists, rightists and parties of all shades of opinion. The public chooses the party that forms the government; they elect the government once every four years. It is our election. If we wish, a leader stays. If we do not so wish, he goes. Unlike in the Arab Spring, our leaders in Turkey do not step down when paving stones are torn up and flung. That happens through elections. The opposition parties have also been raising their voices very powerfully and excitedly. They criticize the government freely, because we have democracy in Turkey. Leaders come and go through elections. The foreign press needs to be more sensible about this and see the true danger.
Let me remind people that such provocation can only be resolved with love. What I expect of my own government and police and people is for them to find more room for love in their hearts. They must try talking and mutual understanding before becoming angry. There is a lack of love in the world. Turkey has received its share. Those who applaud this are doing wrong. They fail to see the danger, and they unknowingly support the hatred. It will be a shame.

Which Erdoğan do you see?
By: Abdul Rahman Al-Rashed/Asharq Alawsat
When protests suddenly kicked off at Taksim Square in the Turkish city of Istanbul, many thought the situation was akin to that in Tunisia, Egypt and Syria at the beginning of their revolutions. Hastily formed opinions made themselves heard; an Egyptian said that he hoped Erdoğan would fall, while Syria’s information minister offered sarcastic advice to the Turkish premier.
Newspapers circulated photos of famous Turkish actors participating in the protests. Publications affiliated with the new Islamist parties said that the protests in Turkey were the result of an Iranian–Israeli conspiracy. Erdoğan himself said that the protests were being mobilized by his Republican Peoples’ Party rivals.
We did not anticipate a revolution erupting in Egypt when it did, and we never could have imagined the events that have taken place in Syria. As such, we have learned to observe such events in much the same manner as we would football games and horse races: we wait for the end to see the result.
Taksim Square in Istanbul is not Tahrir Square in Cairo or Irada Square in Sana’a. However, the attention given to what is happening there is precisely the same as to those other places. Some were preoccupied with looking for a reasons that justify the “environmental uprising” against Erdoğan.
Each person analyzes what is happening through his or her political stance. Iran and the Syrian regime think it is divine help that comes at a crucial time to save embattled Syrian president Bashar Al-Assad. If a revolution erupts in Turkey, suppressing the revolution in Syria will be easier—this is what they wish.
There are also the Israelis. Despite the reconciliation and despite Turkish officials’ subsequent visits to Tel Aviv, the Israelis think that Erdoğan represents a problem, and that he will continue to seek popularity at their expense.
Arab liberal parties also have a stance. In truth, they do not oppose Erdoğan, but rather the Arab Islamists who are seeking to promote him as a model and claim that his political success is a result of their ideology. Arab liberals see the Turks’ uprising as an important and symbolic collapse. They see it as an uprising against the religious camp that rides the wave of democracy to achieve its aims. The Islamists in Tunisia and Egypt seized power by exploiting liberal ideas and democracy. After seizing power, they began to oppose their ideas and change the revolutions in order to suit their own extremist and autocratic views of power. The truth is that the Turkish Islamist party and Arab Islamist camps are different on a philosophical and practical level. We do not have any real evidence that the Islamist government in Turkey has any intentions of carrying out a coup. The practices of Erdoğan’s party and its government are much closer to the ideas espoused by Arab liberals than they are to those of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and elsewhere.
So, is there anything to fear in the youth opposition movement in Istanbul? Turkey is not Egypt, and it is certainly not Syria. Erdoğan’s government is not Ben Ali’s government in Tunisia, or Saleh’s government in Yemen. Turkey is a country governed by elections, and Erdoğan came to power through the ballot box. He was re-elected with a majority of votes. No one questions his legitimacy. On the other hand, Erdoğan is not the prime minister of Britain or the chancellor of Germany, who are committed to the democratic rule of law. He has imprisoned journalists, pursued media outlets that oppose him and sought to restrict people’s freedoms. Perhaps this is what led his rivals to gather against him in Taksim Square, under the pretext of an environmental protest.