Syrian Regime Achievements Proudly Announced

"I can say, from the achievements for our armed forces ... that we are now on track to end the conflict. Like it or not, our battlefield achievements indicate that we are headed toward the end of the crisis."
"[Possibility of Saudi ground troops in Syria, unlikely but] with the crazy Saudi leadership nothing is far-fetched."
"Any ground intervention in Syria, without the consent of the Syrian government, will be considered an aggression that should be resisted by every Syrian citizen.
"I regret to say that they will return home in wooden coffins."
Walid al-Moallem, Syrian foreign minister

ibTimes.com -- Russia Bombs Islamist Rebel Group Al Nusra, Battle For Aleppo

The Syrian opposition group, the Syrian National Coalition, has stated that Russia is guilty of crimes against humanity. As proof one need look no further than the mass displacement of Aleppo's citizens. The group called on the UN Security Council to unequivocally denounce the actions of the Russian military in Aleppo. That civilian Sunni Syrians have responded to the ongoing attacks cannot be denied; an additional 100,000 have gathered at the Turkish border begging to be admitted.

Turkey, inundated with over three million Syrian refugees, has stated it will meet its humanitarian obligation to aid the new refugees, but in new camps within Syria at the border, supplying the refugees with tents against the winter cold and food, partially paid for by the European Union, and certainly with United Nations financial assistance, but bearing on the Turkish treasury as well. There are now seven informal camps close to the Turkish border.

Syrians carry belongings as they arrive at the Bab al-Salam border crossing with Turkey, in Syria, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016 | AP

The Norwegian Refugee Council addressing the emergency, stated that even before the arrival of the latest refugees those camps were already at capacity, with aid groups working ceaselessly to deliver tents and essential items to a people mercilessly attacked by their own government. It is a government that has newly come under even closer scrutiny and condemnation by human rights groups, including the United Nations', with scathing reports of regime wholesale arrests, torture and extrajudicial murder.

Even while Syria's foreign minister warned that Saudi or other foreign troops daring to enter Syria would "return home in wooden coffins", while at the same time triumphantly broadcasting Syria's new triumphs on the field of battle, thanks to Russian airstrikes and ground military, aligned with Hezbollah and Iranian Shiite militias, Russia itself is warning that Turkey has massed troops along the border with the intention of marching into Syria.

©AFP

Syrians fleeing Aleppo gather in front of the Bab al-Salama border crossing with Turkey

A Kurdish enclave to the north of Aleppo controlled by the YPG militia has given  some of the Syrian refugees haven, in hopes of preventing a humanitarian disaster, according to Idris Naasan, a Kurdish official. The Russian airstrikes enabling government and pro-government troops to challenge the rebel groups holding parts of Aleppo and gaining ground, have established with supreme clarity that the regime has no intention whatever of sitting at a negotiating table with Syrian rebels.

The Syrian regime of Bashar al Assad is now in the ascendancy; what need can they see to sue for a ceasefire and peace. And the rebel factions know of a certainty that no promises leaning in the direction of a cessation of barrel bombing and sieges to starve out the rebels and the civilian population can be trusted coming from the mouth of a totalitarian tyrant who sees benefit in stilling dissent by slaughter.