Posted on 12/26/2019 8:27:42 AM PST by mac_truck
Maaret al-Numan (Syria) (AFP) - Thin mattresses, children's toys, a gas heater: Abu Ismail packed a pick-up truck with scant belongings before fleeing a northwest Syria town nearly emptied of residents by recent regime attacks.
"I don't know where I am going, if I will find a house for my family, or what will happen to us," the 42-year-old father of seven told AFP, plumes of smoke rising around him.
Tens of thousands of people like Abu Ismail have fled the Maaret al-Numan region, located in jihadist-held Idlib province, since December 16, following a rise in air strikes, according to the United Nations.
Thousands more are still trying to leave violence-plagued southern Idlib towards safer areas further north, but steady bombing has made the exit both dangerous and difficult, the UN says.
"I don't even wish this on our enemies," Abu Ismail said of the air strikes pummelling his hometown.
The Damascus government, which controls nearly 70 per cent of Syria, has repeatedly vowed to take back Idlib from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a jihadist alliance led by Syria's former al-Qaeda affiliate.
Despite a ceasefire announced in August, it has intensified attacks in recent weeks and more than 280 civilians have been killed -- over 40 just in recent days.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
First rule of self defense: don’t be there.
Don’t be where you’ll need to defend yourself.
Syria is such a place.
Second rule of self defense: don’t be there.
When violence breaks outs, get out.
Those who disregarded the first rule are now piling into trucks and fleeing, having finally (!) figured it out.
Third rule of self defense: don’t be there.
Dodge, duck, block, cover.
If you’re stupid enough to still be in Syria, get out of the action.
And if you still haven’t followed any of the first three rules, then you actually need to fight - having significantly reduced chances of survival by ensuring being a target.
Islam is.
a war plan
A reason for evil
A reason for murder
A reason for suppression
A reason for enslavement
The list goes on
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