CHECHENS IN SYRIA, JABHAT AL NUSRA, SAYFULLAKH SHISHANI, SYRIA FIERCE CLASHES CONTINUE BETWEEN JAN, ASSAD AT HANDARAT OCTOBER

26, 2014 JOANNA PARASZCZUK LEAVE A COMMENT Seyfullakh Shishani’s jamaat (part of Jabhat an-Nusra) are reporting more losses as heavy clashes continue at Handarat in Aleppo between various rebel factions and Syrian government forces backed by Iranian and Lebanese Hezbollah militias. The Syrian Arab Army, backed by foreign pro-Assad forces, have stepped up their offensive in Handarat and other areas of Aleppo, aiming to cut off the road to Aleppo city from the Aleppo countryside, and besiege the rebel groups (including Free Syrian Army factions as well as JAN) inside Aleppo.

The increased government offensive comes amid U.S. and allied air strikes against IS militants. (U.S. air strikes have also targeted JAN fighters — which the U.S. said belonged to the “Khorasan Group” — in Aleppo). It is not clear what the United States’ intentions are regarding funding and backing “moderate” rebels: the U.S. recently announced that it was not co-ordinating with FSA rebels in Syria — but it has been hypothesized that by taking out IS, moderate rebels will replace IS militants in Aleppo. If Assad manages to take Handarat and besiege JAN and the Free Syrian Army factions inside Aleppo, it is surely doubtful at best that vetted, moderate rebels could retake the area. LOSSES AMONG SEYFULLAKH’S JAMAAT Seyfullakh’s jamaat have reported a number of losses, the latest being a sniper named only as Kamil. Seyfullakh’s jamaat is fighting alongside other JAN units: The jamaat’s Emir, Abu Ubayda Al-Madaniy was injured in the fighting, and posted this photo of himself on October 24, reporting that he can now walk: The exact role of Seyfullakh’s jamaat in the Handarat offensive is unclear, although the group has supplied snipers and has also been involved in guarding a checkpoint near Handarat and close to the Elegance Factory in Aleppo. The jamaat found time to post this video of the group before one of the Handarat offensives, in which the group’s emir asks Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov why he has not yet come to Syria (i.e. to track down and confront the Chechen members of the jamaat):

Fierce clashes continue between JAN, Assad at Handarat | From Chechnya To Syria