What's funny is Ukraine getting flack for their small role. But no one mentioning turkey literally funding the entire operation, supplying weaponry and training the soldiers.
It literally did not, it even held back the faction under its control (SNA) from helping in the fight until Assad's lines crumbled and they began handing out land to the YPG/PKK It also have previously stopped drone parts shipments from reaching the rebels, shut down internet, froze funds etc You people should really learn who is who and who's with who before spewing bullshit
The Turks and the US are not on the same side in Syria. Its very possible Turkey is right now bombing US special forces, since they are embedded with the SDF. The recent US red line and threats were meaningless, as Turkey does what it wants, even if US soldiers could be killed. But strangely y'all Americans haven't noticed
It's pretty obvious. Now that they've pulled out of Syria, they have much more ability to concentrate on the Ukrainian conflict. Syria was a good distraction for Russia and now it's out of the cards.
Because Ukraine opted to support the WORST group in Syria, a group which makes Taliban look like liberals; one that does not believe in freedom of expression, religion, democracy, and every value which Ukraine itself is fighting to maintain. HTS has done all sorts of war crimes, suppressed the population in territories under its control, and murdered its own civilians. Ukraine's action can be compared to supporting Malaria because Malaria unalives Russian soldiers, but then again Malaria is a disease & also unalives everyone else.
Sometimes it blew in the US face - see the Mujahidin in Afghanistan and later the Taliban that grew from it. Need to be careful, who you work with and how.
@eliadbu Afghanistan has been a group of tribes fighting for ages..Russia would have been defeated without our help. America should have never even fought the Taliban with boots on the ground. How many Afghanis planned and executed 9-11??
@@bdunk914 The question you should ask is how many Al-Qaeda terrorist they were harboring in their controlled areas. I don't want to go in details about the war in Afghanistan and what should have been done (as it's not relevant), but something is for sure - helping the Mujahidin and sending them weapons definitely backfired on the US in the long run.
It is bad. The enemy of your enemy is not necessarily your friend, specially when you’re dealing with a radical Islamic group. The US already did that in Afghanistan and you know how that ended.
I live in Syria in Damascus specifically and i love how people around the world continue to make speculations and assumptions about HTS and keep referring to them as a terrorist group, It's been 4 days since they got here to Damascus and I've interacted with many of the fighters personally and I've heard stories from my relatives and so far these fighters are behaving in a very civilised manner and not once we've seen any action that may hint that they might be extremists quite the opposite actually people here view them as saviours the people who rid us of Assad's regime and tyranny. We started to feel hope and people already started rebuilding Syria so please we wouldn't mind positivity. Note: Talal Daqaq is one of assads officers who committed war crimes DID NOT HANG that footage online was fake and Talal later confirmed that he was alive you can go check it, still he will be prosecuted tho.
As an American I am still skeptical of HTS at the moment because all the evidence I've seen of them fully disavowing extremist beliefs amounts to them saying 'trust me, bro.' That said, I am also very happy that Assad finally got booted out of Syria and Syrian citizens finally feel safe returning home. It's been a long time coming.
Sorry, but Turkey funded the SNA, not the HTS, Northern Front, SPR, FSA nor the SDF. HTS, Northern Front and the FSA as the main leading faction in the offensive are mostly independent rebel groups. SNA is recruit by Turkey to combat Kurdish SDF which funnily enough, SDF is being funded by the US.
@@andriandrason1318Greece bought s-300 too, why it's ok with them and ignored, and if it's Turkey - sanctions, hate towards them and stopping from F-35. Like Europe doesn't buy oil, gas from Russia that gives them money to keep the war going.
@@vocatusk407 Erm, um. Just a helping hand and a slap on the face maybe? But who know how long they've been there? Personally I think Preston leaves a lot of deliberate questions hanging in the air -- 'how _did_ they get there from Ukraine?'
I am in Syria right now Technology is really helping us a lot I am in like 25 plus telegram and what's app channels That are basically the government now But hopefully the government will be in full normal action in less then a week We are currently writing the constitution and there is aloot of hope and it is a little scary we Syrians were hurt Alot by ISIS we Muslims most know what isis is The thing is I have talked to many many many htc members already and I have extensively studied ISIS Talaban yaman Libya even Egypt If you see conflict and middle east in the same sentence I have studied It's very positive the HTC members are very educated I was extremely surprised to be honest they know exactly what why how in everything they do What this means is even if there leader suddenly want to be a dictator they will immediately see that and reject Infact many HTC members openly pointed out mistakes of there leader andor said they have a red line like if he talks about christians or minority I would immediately resign Unlike ISIS were there members are 19 year olds how never went to school and are just do what there leader said no matter what This might be an act because us Syrians are very educated people SPECIALLY when it comes to dictatorships we have literally seen every single dictator act in history We have also lived as other dectaters rose in other countries Remember this has been since 1982 when the Assad family killed 40000 peaceful protestors in one day just (search hama 1982 on Google) **English is not my first language
The problem lies in the people in charge knowing and trying to get somewhat of a democratic voting in a system of cooperational government Type body installed for an all inclusive of for the people ,I’m afraid that a dictator of sorts may happen and those type get worse as time goes on
Ukraine has taken the gloves off,no such thing as a sketchy move when you’re fighting for your existence. They have operational secrecy,brilliant military leaders,highly motivated fighters, when this is over they’ll be a fighting force ,that nobody will want to mess with. And how hard could it be for Ukrainian fighters to reach Syria? They’ve been in Africa,turkey is an ally. Not a hard feat to accomplish
Come on Preston......we can't sit here and pretend WE as in The United States have done our fair share of supplying or giving questionable groups the tools they need to defeat a mutual foe brother. Now I WOULD find it scary and questionable to fully train these groups in how to be ACE Drone Operators
I seem to remember the CIA having a little role in Afghanistan way before 9/11 so it would be a little rich for us to criticize Ukraine who is literally fighting for their continued existence.
@@dcimedic Some folks have already forgotten how the USA funded the Muhajadine (spelling?) when it was the Soviet Union in Afghanistan. Like 1980 or thereabouts? USA supplied Stinger missiles that crippled the USSR's helicopter fleet. Then later the word "blowback" began to get used. Brave freedom fighters turned into terrorists overnight. We have always been at war with Eurasia!
Solid reporting as usual P, thanks for the insights and POV. Fascinating that Ukraine did this, but not surprising; they're smart and creating noise for Russia... as much noise as possible. Schrodinger would be proud, and so would his cat.
@@Jeka655g apparently my youtube premium subscription is paying off! No seriously, I just got a notification when he published it about 30 minutes ago (and watched).
Excellant video Preston, answers a lot of questions I have had in the last few days- so many other videos only cover the basics, you cover the specifics and I applaud you for it!
Unfortunately, that's par for the course of these kinds of uprisings. Rebel groups are very rarely centralized enough to control what happens on the fringes of the main force.
Why didn't the Alawites try to create an independent state now that the state of Syria no longer exists? There are mountains there, which would allow for a strong defense.
@@Robert6889 They controlled the entire country, from a position in power it looks pointless to create a state for a minority, now that the power has been broken you wanna create a new country 😂
Excellent journalism and analysis. Post revolution periods are chaotic, especially with so many armed factions.There will be retributions against individuals, but hopefully not against communities.Armed irregular militias have always had issues maintaining discipline and chain of command and can devolve into warlordism.Rebuilding Syrian society after 50+ years of brutal dictatorship and 13 years of civil war will take time and resources(financial and human). The news cycle will move on, but the Syrian people are experiencing joyful optimism for the first time in generations.I share their hope for the future.we'll see however.Thanks again ,Preston.👍BTW,I wonder what the Houthis are thinking.🤔
It's the middle east, you can't really expect US level human rights and institutions. I'm of a non Muslim minority from Lebanon, and my view on things is we need to be pragmatic. Trials in the Middle East are notoriously unreliable, remember how Mubarak was released out of prison in Egypt? 6 years for a 30 year dictator is a joke. Swift justice here is unfortunately often necessary, or we could risk them getting out through corruption or other means. I doubt anyone is expecting a beacon of human rights regime in Syria after, but I am hoping it could be a government that pursues economic development and prosperity, and a reliable justice system, like the one in the UAE for example. That would be excellent.
@@paddington1670 The prior agreement was done deal when the UN position 500 meter from Majdal(the biggest town in Golan) was attacked from Syria and needed IDF support,you could play the game of trust in highest position anywhere between Euphrates and Suez being in the hands of many Jihadi grouos or you could take the buffer and be there until it safe(and dont make me start talking about the useless UN).
They bombed chemical weapons. Anyone with half a brain knows you don't bomb chemical weapons factories unless you want a humanitarian disaster. Sounds like just an excuse to me.
Yes grenades. Now it's thermobaric grenades. rpg-7 shape charge. Good Lord. there's even a drone armed with a anti personnel rifle firing dumdum ammunition. And must of all,today's drones are faster and more silent. 👍
Russia is already the largest country on earth. They’re close to 1 million casualties for what? A couple more miles of land. GTFOH somebody in Russia needs to step up and take the country back from this mad man.
Listen brother, if you believe the numbers of deaths on any side you would be wildly ignorant. Months ago Zelensky himself said only 33,000 deaths on the Ukrainian side since the start of the invasion. And we already know russia lies constantly. Zelensky’s statement implies falsifying reports of dead Ukrainians. No one knows the numbers of either side and we might never know but I can promise you with 100% certainty that a country at war for almost 3 years against the biggest country in the world, has lost more than 33,000 troops. I’m not here to argue. These are the facts we know I just want you to be more educated and stop regurgitating this propaganda you hear while sitting safe at home
Could see Ukraine making a drone training deal in exchange for access to captured Russian equipment such as radar & air defense. Equipment which other Western intelligence groups would also like to "inspect".
Thank you Preston. Always well put! As you have said before too. Ukraine has worked with similar groups to defeat Russia in Africa. Makes total sense to spent 20 men and a 100 drones to through Russia out of another country. Great value!
I feel like Ukraine might have done this because the West wouldn't want to say that their ally is supporting a terrorist group and Russia wouldn't want to say that Ukraine is beating them in Syria.
I have been following syria for now 10 years with of course huge breaks and came right around mid November, your video is truly mindblowing, well explained ( the difference between SNA and HTS around 15:00 is quite amazing turned out). Thanks you preston! For anyone not following closely, please don't start, twitter is full of revenge killings, executions or showing prisonners. You dont have to watch that to understand the war. Truly, I have seen those footages as a very young age and it disturbed me for some years. From Luxembourg.
HTS Leader must be listening to the Ukrainians who are helping...My opinion is that Ukraine just went through something and they know if they say all the right things and show all the right things My country America will help. We will help in some type of way.....HTS Leader knows that Syria can be a prosperous country. Thats my thoughts....
I think about it more and USA is in the country already fighting terrorist protecting something.......So favor is definitely on the Syrian side to say all the right words....
8:19 The comment that ‘….he’s not stupid….’ has definitely been playing in my mind the past few days checking out what’s happening in Syria. The way he seemed to have planned the successful offensive over a period of around two years prior, suggests that HTS’s Al-Jolani is a far sighted leader. We, the rational, peaceloving and hopeful members of the world hope that Al-Jolani is truly the reformed great leader that an ancient land badly needs.
Makes sense. Turkey supports the SNAA (maybe the acronym is wrong) who were coordinating with HTS. Turkey has also provided UA equipment and drones. Makes sense that UA would assist. Just a few could pass along nuance knowledge to HTS and cause significant degradation of Russian forces and prestige. - If they were in Mali, then of course.
It's interesting seeing Turkey getting no flak from Russia, they really are masters of "playing both sides" Turkey can strangle the exit of the Balck Sea so they have alot of leverage, and Turkey helps Russia do sanction busting
@@Nathan-jh1ho Some folks complain about Turkey playing both sides. With regards to the West, they really haven't hurt it, just being more of pain, the crazy uncle or eccentric cousin. As to Russia, yeah, they have hurt many of Russia's international goals. If they get a pipeline from Qatar/Saidi Arabia up through Turkiye then both Russia and Iran are hurt significantly.
@@abeeceedee1842 Yeah, that is a complicated relation between Turkey and Kurds that goes back to at least the end of WW1. The US is allied with the SDF against ISIS not against Turkey. I believe the US is trying to help mediate some understanding between them, but I don't think it will result in anything long-lasting until HTS and the new Syrian government gets settled in.
7:00 israeli news has reported that some of the IAF airstrikes are aimed against C/B weapon stockpiles and factories and facilities for the manufacture of such agents and weapons. i'll try to find you a few quick references. Obviously, take with a grain of salt- but they are making that claim
-statement by the foreign minister on 9th of Dec. to foreign media. -on further examination, I see that other than the statement above, most other accounts are mere hints, and the rest are the tried and true Israeli media shtick of "according to foreign press..."
Geezus… What a fucked up mess… Time will tell… Let’s watch and see…I’ll give it 30 days, then we will know a ton more about what’s comming. Great video Preston! Thanks cat! 😎👍
I love how everyone keeps quoting this "OPINION" piece in the Washington Post claing unnamed sources as proof Ukraine helped HTS as if it were fact. I'm not saying it isn't true but using an OPINION piece as fact is quite misleading. There is a reason this article was printed as an opinion piece and not as an actual news article.
The entire logistics around the drones is not easy at all... They are affordable but are very far from plug and play so the entire experience around using them as a weapon that can take out multiple targets non stop is not something you will learn from videos, at least not quickly. Operating a Javelin or Nlaw is a lot simpler and easier.
Preston, it would be cool if you can talk more about what makes a group a designated terrorist group. Sometimes (as someone who knows nothing) it feels like that label is thrown at groups in a way to completely discredit everything about them. Sorry if you mention it in this video, just wanted to add the comment before finishing because I know earlier comments are easy to see. Love the videos! Thanks!
@stevewapner9061 Because she met with Assad and justified his atrocities against the Syrian people. Because she spread disinformation about the Syrian opposition.
They already started lynching the surrendered soldiers who they'd promised amnesty to. Don't be fooled by pretty words when it's Jihadists speaking. The Taliban also promised they've moderated. Look what happens there now.
Where? I've only seen the Turkish "proxy" SNA doing this to Kurds. I wouldn't be suprised if HTS goes back to their roots but haven't heard of any reports about this
Somebody was always going to get crunched. Debts get settled at times like this, right or wrong, and Arabs are not famous for their tender mercies. But are they doing it as policy/large-scale, or is it a temporary/limited thing? I don't know where you draw a line on that, but it is a reality of a post-revolution environment. Preston makes that point himself.
Those are the two questions facing Syria. 1) Is Jolani serious about rebuilding Syria as a pluralistic, tolerant, democratic society? and 2) If he is, how long will he live?
When was democratic mentioned, he specifically claimed there would be no democracy. But there doesn't need to be democracy to be an upgrade from Assad or to be tolerant.
For number 1 then there's a possibility that it could be yes consider his time governing the city of Idlib (he's seem to be as moderate as Saudi Arabia which is good news) For number 2 then unless something un-natural happened to him then probably another 40 years (more or less as he's 42 years old according to Wikipedia)
The Syrian conflict has drawn in various international players, and Ukraine's participation could have been driven by a desire to strengthen its relationship with Western powers, particularly the U.S. However, the perceived secretive or unacknowledged nature of some partnerships might make these alliances more contentious in the long run.
You need to take a look at a topological map. That exclave outside buffer zone taken by IDF are just a continuation of mount Hermon. So basically controlling the higher grounds.
Gotta give Ukraine kudos here for thinking outside the square. They can only wait so long for international assistance, and granted, that’s not guaranteed.
This makes sense. Doing so applies asymmetric pressure and presents Russia with the dilemma of choosing to divert resources meant for Ukraine to instead prop up Assad.
Preston you were a field artillery officer? Were you ever at Fort Sill? My uncle retired from Fort Sill as Command Sgt Major. Powell. Did you ever meet my uncle?
The way Syria names provinces after the province capital has confused me in the past. Even knowing about the problem it is often hard to determine which a report is talking about.
What's funny is Ukraine getting flack for their small role. But no one mentioning turkey literally funding the entire operation, supplying weaponry and training the soldiers.
Still mostly funded the SNA, FSA was funded by the US, HTS and the southern front were mostly independent I believe
Nobody that actually matters is giving them flack. Just common Russian L's stacking up they can't handle.
Its mostly one sided and biased for the ‘audience’ in the ‘West’.
It literally did not, it even held back the faction under its control (SNA) from helping in the fight until Assad's lines crumbled and they began handing out land to the YPG/PKK
It also have previously stopped drone parts shipments from reaching the rebels, shut down internet, froze funds etc
You people should really learn who is who and who's with who before spewing bullshit
@@eeeertoo2597funded by all the western extremist mosques I bet
“Everything is more complicated when-“
*BMP doing donuts*
I highly doubt The Turks, and by extention the U.S didn't know about Ukrainians in Syria.
The Turks and the US are not on the same side in Syria.
Its very possible Turkey is right now bombing US special forces, since they are embedded with the SDF. The recent US red line and threats were meaningless, as Turkey does what it wants, even if US soldiers could be killed. But strangely y'all Americans haven't noticed
I highly doubt that anyone cares. since the Russians get help from Iran, North Korea, and China.
It would explain why Turkey sends so many weapons to Ukraine, despite their usual diplomatic hostility.
Of course they didn't....they didn't sent anyone there...😂😂😂
Bro they dont know jack about drones flying over the us, the intelligence service is third rate these days.
Um... Why wouldn't Ukraine be helping? It's not like everyone else kept their hands out of Syria.
Go Ukraine
It's pretty obvious. Now that they've pulled out of Syria, they have much more ability to concentrate on the Ukrainian conflict. Syria was a good distraction for Russia and now it's out of the cards.
Because Ukraine opted to support the WORST group in Syria, a group which makes Taliban look like liberals; one that does not believe in freedom of expression, religion, democracy, and every value which Ukraine itself is fighting to maintain. HTS has done all sorts of war crimes, suppressed the population in territories under its control, and murdered its own civilians.
Ukraine's action can be compared to supporting Malaria because Malaria unalives Russian soldiers, but then again Malaria is a disease & also unalives everyone else.
Also Russia was recruiting mercenaries from Syria while threatening Ukraine with nukes for taking help
slava ukraina..!!
Um...
Because Europe and the US is paying them to defend Ukraine?
Not fart about in Syria.
Come on homey, we in the US and others around the world have worked with our enemies to take out bigger enemies for many decades. :)
did american ever work with terr*rists? if yes then that's wild...cuz i dunno abt it
Sometimes it blew in the US face - see the Mujahidin in Afghanistan and later the Taliban that grew from it. Need to be careful, who you work with and how.
@eliadbu Afghanistan has been a group of tribes fighting for ages..Russia would have been defeated without our help. America should have never even fought the Taliban with boots on the ground. How many Afghanis planned and executed 9-11??
@@bdunk914 The question you should ask is how many Al-Qaeda terrorist they were harboring in their controlled areas. I don't want to go in details about the war in Afghanistan and what should have been done (as it's not relevant), but something is for sure - helping the Mujahidin and sending them weapons definitely backfired on the US in the long run.
@@eliadbuthe taliban and the muj are not at all the same or a descendant of one another lol
Thanks! Keep up the amazing work!
If Ukraine pulls this war off. They deserve their own Call of Duty campaign.
They already do, honestly
Yes, they do. Remember all the military analysts that told us Ukraine would fold within a month.
Storming Bashar Palace while Ukrainian Spec ops fight Russian Spetnaz ? Typical COD moment
Wasnt cod 4 technically a Ukrainian cod
@@capturedflame100%
Oh gosh Ukraine helped the enemy of their enemy? And that’s apparently bad?
Better tell the Turks then.
Must’ve struck a nerve
Ree! Nobody but the US is supposed to do that!
It is bad. The enemy of your enemy is not necessarily your friend, specially when you’re dealing with a radical Islamic group. The US already did that in Afghanistan and you know how that ended.
Don’t complain when jihadis get their state and it is a huge mess. Middle East is raising to fundamentalism
@@pointerish the US was not fighting for their survival, so that's not a relevant example.
I live in Syria in Damascus specifically and i love how people around the world continue to make speculations and assumptions about HTS and keep referring to them as a terrorist group,
It's been 4 days since they got here to Damascus and I've interacted with many of the fighters personally and I've heard stories from my relatives and so far these fighters are behaving in a very civilised manner and not once we've seen any action that may hint that they might be extremists quite the opposite actually people here view them as saviours the people who rid us of Assad's regime and tyranny.
We started to feel hope and people already started rebuilding Syria so please we wouldn't mind positivity.
Note: Talal Daqaq is one of assads officers who committed war crimes DID NOT HANG that footage online was fake and Talal later confirmed that he was alive you can go check it, still he will be prosecuted tho.
As an American I am still skeptical of HTS at the moment because all the evidence I've seen of them fully disavowing extremist beliefs amounts to them saying 'trust me, bro.'
That said, I am also very happy that Assad finally got booted out of Syria and Syrian citizens finally feel safe returning home. It's been a long time coming.
Thank you for commenting
Muslim military age males in a group is a good group to take precautions against - with all their history.
Very glad to hear all of this, thank you for sharing and helping us see through the “fog of peace” we need to hear from more people on the ground.
Memory only lasts 4 days in Syria?
Make a video like this for turkey a literal NATO member that has given 1000 more things and support to hts.
Turkey also does its own thing remember the s400 that let the US to pull Turkey out of the development of the f35
Sorry, but Turkey funded the SNA, not the HTS, Northern Front, SPR, FSA nor the SDF. HTS, Northern Front and the FSA as the main leading faction in the offensive are mostly independent rebel groups. SNA is recruit by Turkey to combat Kurdish SDF which funnily enough, SDF is being funded by the US.
Well, PKK is a designated terrorist group by Turkiye and that didn't stop the US from funding and aiding them.
@@andriandrason1318Greece bought s-300 too, why it's ok with them and ignored, and if it's Turkey - sanctions, hate towards them and stopping from F-35. Like Europe doesn't buy oil, gas from Russia that gives them money to keep the war going.
Well, PKK is a designated terr***st group by Turkiye but that didn't stop the US from aiding them.
Damnnnnn a Ukraine & Syria video at the same time???
Must be my lucky day
May God bless you with mountains of gold and silver
Proxy wars, am i right lol
@@vocatusk407 Erm, um. Just a helping hand and a slap on the face maybe? But who know how long they've been there? Personally I think Preston leaves a lot of deliberate questions hanging in the air -- 'how _did_ they get there from Ukraine?'
Not gonna lie we here in the US do this all the time to reach our end goal
It typically doesn't go very well
An abandoned navy base free for the bombing seems to easy to not be planned
@@SwaggyScallywagpov you don’t read military history, nonsense happens all the time
you say "not gonna lie" like you are the keeper of the secrets.
@@SwaggyScallywag PS Sorry about some grammatical errors but I can't correct them now. YT won't let me. 😊😊
I am in Syria right now
Technology is really helping us a lot
I am in like 25 plus telegram and what's app channels
That are basically the government now
But hopefully the government will be in full normal action in less then a week
We are currently writing the constitution and there is aloot of hope and it is a little scary we Syrians were hurt Alot by ISIS we Muslims most know what isis is
The thing is I have talked to many many many htc members already and I have extensively studied ISIS Talaban yaman Libya even Egypt
If you see conflict and middle east in the same sentence I have studied
It's very positive the HTC members are very educated I was extremely surprised to be honest they know exactly what why how in everything they do
What this means is even if there leader suddenly want to be a dictator they will immediately see that and reject
Infact many HTC members openly pointed out mistakes of there leader andor said they have a red line like if he talks about christians or minority I would immediately resign
Unlike ISIS were there members are 19 year olds how never went to school and are just do what there leader said no matter what
This might be an act because us Syrians are very educated people SPECIALLY when it comes to dictatorships we have literally seen every single dictator act in history
We have also lived as other dectaters rose in other countries
Remember this has been since 1982 when the Assad family killed 40000 peaceful protestors in one day just (search hama 1982 on Google)
**English is not my first language
your English is very good. it's good to hear from people who are there going through it. stay safe and work hard to get your country back!
Good luck and hope for a peaceful future as well as in Ukraine!!!
The problem lies in the people in charge knowing and trying to get somewhat of a democratic voting in a system of cooperational government Type body installed for an all inclusive of for the people ,I’m afraid that a dictator of sorts may happen and those type get worse as time goes on
Peace for Syria! Please let us know how we can support from the US!
Good luck! We are wishing you the best luck to not end up with another crappy dictator after all you’ve been through.
Ukraine has taken the gloves off,no such thing as a sketchy move when you’re fighting for your existence. They have operational secrecy,brilliant military leaders,highly motivated fighters, when this is over they’ll be a fighting force ,that nobody will want to mess with. And how hard could it be for Ukrainian fighters to reach Syria? They’ve been in Africa,turkey is an ally. Not a hard feat to accomplish
Yeah they’re so tough an serious off of our money.
They are doing everything they can to weaken the enemy that seeks to destroy them. Ukraine is smart.
@@mosthole ok vladimir
@@TreeGod. you’re nuts
@@TreeGod. you’re about as uninformed as they get
Ukraine is fighting Russia, nothing more.
Training and helping Al Qaeda, there, I fixed it.
Come on Preston......we can't sit here and pretend WE as in The United States have done our fair share of supplying or giving questionable groups the tools they need to defeat a mutual foe brother. Now I WOULD find it scary and questionable to fully train these groups in how to be ACE Drone Operators
This so much
I seem to remember the CIA having a little role in Afghanistan way before 9/11 so it would be a little rich for us to criticize Ukraine who is literally fighting for their continued existence.
@@dcimedic Some folks have already forgotten how the USA funded the Muhajadine (spelling?) when it was the Soviet Union in Afghanistan. Like 1980 or thereabouts? USA supplied Stinger missiles that crippled the USSR's helicopter fleet. Then later the word "blowback" began to get used. Brave freedom fighters turned into terrorists overnight.
We have always been at war with Eurasia!
Fake news
@@dcimedic Especially coming from a nation that last had to do that back in the 1700s
One day there'll be a free Syria and a free Ukraine
No Syria's doomed to radical islam now...
Ukraine is already free, but not united. Let it reunite with Crimea and Donbass one day!
@@vadymvv💯👍
You mean free new Russia. Regions….
8:11 forgot to cut this part😅
Ah the anxiety of missing something is persistent and this is why! Alright headed back in to make the correction. Thanks for pointing it out!
@@PrestonStewart It's good to see behind the scenes. Love your work!
@@PrestonStewartI see you in a completely new light now after that small mistake 😂
@@PrestonStewartYou can't post a revised version until you tell us how you cut your finger lol
I laughed. Leave it in😅
Solid reporting as usual P, thanks for the insights and POV. Fascinating that Ukraine did this, but not surprising; they're smart and creating noise for Russia... as much noise as possible. Schrodinger would be proud, and so would his cat.
how did you watch the entire video and made an opinion on it in 1 minute?
@@Jeka655g apparently my youtube premium subscription is paying off! No seriously, I just got a notification when he published it about 30 minutes ago (and watched).
Let's hear about how Israel just took out all remaining Navy, air force, air defenses, and most missiles in Syria.
The whole country got demiled
amazing! God bless Israel, a people of heros
@@ronben12 yuck. another zio propagandist.
@@ronben12yea, destroying a sovereign nation.
@@ronben12land of pedos.
Excellant video Preston, answers a lot of questions I have had in the last few days- so many other videos only cover the basics, you cover the specifics and I applaud you for it!
Thanks!
As always, good reporting. Thanks, Preston.
i am a syrian alawite. many cases of executions are reported in remote villages. big cities are safe for now.
Unfortunately, that's par for the course of these kinds of uprisings. Rebel groups are very rarely centralized enough to control what happens on the fringes of the main force.
Why didn't the Alawites try to create an independent state now that the state of Syria no longer exists? There are mountains there, which would allow for a strong defense.
@@Robert6889 because we are syrian. just because we have different believe doesnt mean we are any less of a syrian
were you an assadist?
@@Robert6889 They controlled the entire country, from a position in power it looks pointless to create a state for a minority, now that the power has been broken you wanna create a new country 😂
Excellent journalism and analysis. Post revolution periods are chaotic, especially with so many armed factions.There will be retributions against individuals, but hopefully not against communities.Armed irregular militias have always had issues maintaining discipline and chain of command and can devolve into warlordism.Rebuilding Syrian society after 50+ years of brutal dictatorship and 13 years of civil war will take time and resources(financial and human). The news cycle will move on, but the Syrian people are experiencing joyful optimism for the first time in generations.I share their hope for the future.we'll see however.Thanks again ,Preston.👍BTW,I wonder what the Houthis are thinking.🤔
It's the middle east, you can't really expect US level human rights and institutions. I'm of a non Muslim minority from Lebanon, and my view on things is we need to be pragmatic. Trials in the Middle East are notoriously unreliable, remember how Mubarak was released out of prison in Egypt? 6 years for a 30 year dictator is a joke. Swift justice here is unfortunately often necessary, or we could risk them getting out through corruption or other means.
I doubt anyone is expecting a beacon of human rights regime in Syria after, but I am hoping it could be a government that pursues economic development and prosperity, and a reliable justice system, like the one in the UAE for example. That would be excellent.
Ukraine 💙Keeping the free world free.
Defensor Fortis!
On American funds 💙
I love your joke men
Israel addressed that they destroyed chemical weapons and till now they did 350+ targets including naval fleet , Fighter jets …
which goes against their prior agreement
@@paddington1670 The prior agreement was done deal when the UN position 500 meter from Majdal(the biggest town in Golan) was attacked from Syria and needed IDF support,you could play the game of trust in highest position anywhere between Euphrates and Suez being in the hands of many Jihadi grouos or you could take the buffer and be there until it safe(and dont make me start talking about the useless UN).
@@paddington1670 any agreement signed by israel or turkey isn't worth the paper its written on.
@@paddington1670with a nonexistent government now annulled
They bombed chemical weapons. Anyone with half a brain knows you don't bomb chemical weapons factories unless you want a humanitarian disaster. Sounds like just an excuse to me.
I love the Ukraine for this.
Don't often comment...just wanted to say I thought this was really a thoughtful breakdown and informative. Good work PS 👌👌
Ukraine helped both Syria AND Mali against Russia? Ukraine is an angel tbh
Yet another great and well balanced report from a seriously complex conflict. Thanks @PrestonStewart
Also, some interesting things going on in Romania, love to hear your take, P.
Thanks for the update Preston, outstanding work as always
Well done man, you do a great job
Preston, thanks for your informative analyses & updates!
Not hard at all go to Turkey and walk across the border. It's helping Turkey out big time.
Ukraine is fight a war against Russia in its homeland so why wouldn’t Ukraine be involved in anti-Russian operations around the world.
People keep forgetting that it was Isis who the first one to use Drones to drop grenades during the peek of their power.
Yes grenades.
Now it's thermobaric grenades. rpg-7 shape charge.
Good Lord. there's even a drone armed with a anti personnel rifle firing dumdum ammunition.
And must of all,today's drones are faster and more silent. 👍
what were they peeking at?
Excellent work
Russia is already the largest country on earth. They’re close to 1 million casualties for what? A couple more miles of land. GTFOH somebody in Russia needs to step up and take the country back from this mad man.
Listen brother, if you believe the numbers of deaths on any side you would be wildly ignorant. Months ago Zelensky himself said only 33,000 deaths on the Ukrainian side since the start of the invasion. And we already know russia lies constantly. Zelensky’s statement implies falsifying reports of dead Ukrainians. No one knows the numbers of either side and we might never know but I can promise you with 100% certainty that a country at war for almost 3 years against the biggest country in the world, has lost more than 33,000 troops. I’m not here to argue. These are the facts we know I just want you to be more educated and stop regurgitating this propaganda you hear while sitting safe at home
Great Show thank you.
There's still hundreds of prisoners underground who still needs rescuing time is running out.
Thanks Preston!! Accurate and thorough analysis as always!!
Could see Ukraine making a drone training deal in exchange for access to captured Russian equipment such as radar & air defense. Equipment which other Western intelligence groups would also like to "inspect".
What Russian equipment would syria have that either Ukraine or nato hasn't already learned about?
You know you're a real gift. Please keep up the good work. Particularly your balance, competence, and plain good work.
Thank you Preston. Always well put! As you have said before too. Ukraine has worked with similar groups to defeat Russia in Africa. Makes total sense to spent 20 men and a 100 drones to through Russia out of another country. Great value!
Thanks Preston.
Hi! I wish you all a lovely day/night!
Your profile picture made me puke. Have a lovely day
Thanks again Preston. You’re doing good work
Is nobody going to mention the BTR doing donuts in the beginning?😂
its BMP-1
Loved that vid at the opening. Doing victory donuts in a troop transport😂😂
I feel like Ukraine might have done this because the West wouldn't want to say that their ally is supporting a terrorist group and Russia wouldn't want to say that Ukraine is beating them in Syria.
Thanks, Preston.
Hey man great work great videos very nuanced. Keep up the good work brother! You should write for war on the rocks btw.
I have been following syria for now 10 years with of course huge breaks and came right around mid November, your video is truly mindblowing, well explained ( the difference between SNA and HTS around 15:00 is quite amazing turned out). Thanks you preston! For anyone not following closely, please don't start, twitter is full of revenge killings, executions or showing prisonners. You dont have to watch that to understand the war. Truly, I have seen those footages as a very young age and it disturbed me for some years. From Luxembourg.
HTS Leader must be listening to the Ukrainians who are helping...My opinion is that Ukraine just went through something and they know if they say all the right things and show all the right things My country America will help. We will help in some type of way.....HTS Leader knows that Syria can be a prosperous country. Thats my thoughts....
I think about it more and USA is in the country already fighting terrorist protecting something.......So favor is definitely on the Syrian side to say all the right words....
8:19 The comment that ‘….he’s not stupid….’ has definitely been playing in my mind the past few days checking out what’s happening in Syria. The way he seemed to have planned the successful offensive over a period of around two years prior, suggests that HTS’s Al-Jolani is a far sighted leader. We, the rational, peaceloving and hopeful members of the world hope that Al-Jolani is truly the reformed great leader that an ancient land badly needs.
Ty Preston👍👍😊
Good video. Thanks for the analysis.
Good for Ukraine. People being set free from prisons.
Kurds must be worried..West MUST support them imo..we cannot betray them again.
Don't imagine 🇹🇷 will be pleased with such an intervention
We cannot let muslims genocide another innocent race of people and ruin their culture like the countless before...
Thank you so much for your excellent analysis.
Makes sense. Turkey supports the SNAA (maybe the acronym is wrong) who were coordinating with HTS. Turkey has also provided UA equipment and drones. Makes sense that UA would assist. Just a few could pass along nuance knowledge to HTS and cause significant degradation of Russian forces and prestige. - If they were in Mali, then of course.
It's interesting seeing Turkey getting no flak from Russia, they really are masters of "playing both sides" Turkey can strangle the exit of the Balck Sea so they have alot of leverage, and Turkey helps Russia do sanction busting
SNA:Syria national army
Which fight in a different axis rn other than hts one
@@Nathan-jh1ho Some folks complain about Turkey playing both sides. With regards to the West, they really haven't hurt it, just being more of pain, the crazy uncle or eccentric cousin. As to Russia, yeah, they have hurt many of Russia's international goals. If they get a pipeline from Qatar/Saidi Arabia up through Turkiye then both Russia and Iran are hurt significantly.
@@edl653Turkey is actively shelling and striking SDF positions and ammunition hubs, who are allied to the USA
@@abeeceedee1842 Yeah, that is a complicated relation between Turkey and Kurds that goes back to at least the end of WW1. The US is allied with the SDF against ISIS not against Turkey. I believe the US is trying to help mediate some understanding between them, but I don't think it will result in anything long-lasting until HTS and the new Syrian government gets settled in.
19:00 The Town, there is footage by on ground TV crews of them being there and blocking access.
Already exporting freedom 🇺🇦 🍻
Thank you for the explanations; they are very helpful.
➕➕ well done 💙💛
7:00
israeli news has reported that some of the IAF airstrikes are aimed against C/B weapon stockpiles and factories and facilities for the manufacture of such agents and weapons.
i'll try to find you a few quick references.
Obviously, take with a grain of salt-
but they are making that claim
TBN Israel
-statement by the foreign minister on 9th of Dec. to foreign media.
-on further examination, I see that other than the statement above,
most other accounts are mere hints, and the rest are the tried and true Israeli media shtick of "according to foreign press..."
@@mi.k.2776 not exactly mainstream Israeli media.
Geezus…
What a fucked up mess…
Time will tell…
Let’s watch and see…I’ll give it 30 days, then we will know a ton more about what’s comming.
Great video Preston!
Thanks cat!
😎👍
I love how everyone keeps quoting this "OPINION" piece in the Washington Post claing unnamed sources as proof Ukraine helped HTS as if it were fact. I'm not saying it isn't true but using an OPINION piece as fact is quite misleading. There is a reason this article was printed as an opinion piece and not as an actual news article.
Yeah always trust everything that sounds bad instantly, everyone keeps doing that
Thank you for your open reporting on this
After 8:31 I think we need a blooper special Preston 😆
No kidding.. what was that?
What was it?? I missed it
fantastic analysis as always
doh preston... my enemy's enemy is my friend...
good update !
The entire logistics around the drones is not easy at all... They are affordable but are very far from plug and play so the entire experience around using them as a weapon that can take out multiple targets non stop is not something you will learn from videos, at least not quickly. Operating a Javelin or Nlaw is a lot simpler and easier.
8:10 made me laugh preston was like 😐🤨😑 thank you for the work as always dude!
Preston Hts members sre already saying they want Jerusalem and Mecca so they want a huge caliphate
Preston, it would be cool if you can talk more about what makes a group a designated terrorist group. Sometimes (as someone who knows nothing) it feels like that label is thrown at groups in a way to completely discredit everything about them. Sorry if you mention it in this video, just wanted to add the comment before finishing because I know earlier comments are easy to see. Love the videos! Thanks!
As far as sketchy ties to Syria are concerned, Tulsi Gabbard deserves an honorable mention IMO.
Bc she visited Syria and warned about the Syrian rebels being Al Qaeda? Wow - very sketchy.
@stevewapner9061
Because she met with Assad and justified his atrocities against the Syrian people. Because she spread disinformation about the Syrian opposition.
@stevewapner9061
Because she visited Assad, and justified his atrocities against the Syrian people.
They already started lynching the surrendered soldiers who they'd promised amnesty to. Don't be fooled by pretty words when it's Jihadists speaking. The Taliban also promised they've moderated. Look what happens there now.
Where? I've only seen the Turkish "proxy" SNA doing this to Kurds. I wouldn't be suprised if HTS goes back to their roots but haven't heard of any reports about this
Somebody was always going to get crunched. Debts get settled at times like this, right or wrong, and Arabs are not famous for their tender mercies. But are they doing it as policy/large-scale, or is it a temporary/limited thing?
I don't know where you draw a line on that, but it is a reality of a post-revolution environment. Preston makes that point himself.
Source?
They said conscrips lol
Blinker has been a fantastic Secretary of State.
Thanks for the update
Thanks will be interesting to see how HTS will move forward and keep Syria free.
Israel has already aslo broken the Lebanon ceasefire 100+ times
thats what happens if hushballes does not do what was agreed upon.
Each time enforcing initial Hezbollah violations. Now Hezbollah stopped
but you don't say why. it is in response to other actions. they had stated that its only valid if specifics are held to.
every time you say "Julani" I think of Christopher waltz interrogating Brad Pitt 😂
Those are the two questions facing Syria. 1) Is Jolani serious about rebuilding Syria as a pluralistic, tolerant, democratic society? and 2) If he is, how long will he live?
When was democratic mentioned, he specifically claimed there would be no democracy. But there doesn't need to be democracy to be an upgrade from Assad or to be tolerant.
For number 1 then there's a possibility that it could be yes consider his time governing the city of Idlib (he's seem to be as moderate as Saudi Arabia which is good news)
For number 2 then unless something un-natural happened to him then probably another 40 years (more or less as he's 42 years old according to Wikipedia)
@@G.A.C_Preserve What we Americans consider "unnatural" is SOP in the middle east.
A lot of captagon customers very worried atm 😂
The rebels are all Captagon smugglers and users, don’t worry.
The Syrian conflict has drawn in various international players, and Ukraine's participation could have been driven by a desire to strengthen its relationship with Western powers, particularly the U.S. However, the perceived secretive or unacknowledged nature of some partnerships might make these alliances more contentious in the long run.
13:04 What is it with my brain today, lol.
who needs mainstream news when we have Preston!
Possibly there to obtain some of the old regime's arsenal?
Preston your music at the end of the video is scary. But I like it! Lol
Ukrane now getting mixed up in the middle east is wild. 🔥😂
You need to take a look at a topological map. That exclave outside buffer zone taken by IDF are just a continuation of mount Hermon. So basically controlling the higher grounds.
Gotta give Ukraine kudos here for thinking outside the square. They can only wait so long for international assistance, and granted, that’s not guaranteed.
1:32 A bo... a boat? Through the Dardanelles? Seems you can draw a line from Ukraine to Syria without getting out of the water. What?
This makes sense. Doing so applies asymmetric pressure and presents Russia with the dilemma of choosing to divert resources meant for Ukraine to instead prop up Assad.
Preston you were a field artillery officer? Were you ever at Fort Sill?
My uncle retired from Fort Sill as Command Sgt Major. Powell. Did you ever meet my uncle?
The way Syria names provinces after the province capital has confused me in the past. Even knowing about the problem it is often hard to determine which a report is talking about.