Following the September 17, 2016 U.S. airstrike on Syrian forces in Deir Al-Zor, several pro-regime Syrian Facebook pages called to attack U.S. forces and "those who collaborate with them" in the Al-Jazirah region (i.e., northern Syria, where Deir Al-Zor is located) and claimed that "popular committees" are already being formed to carry out such attacks.
The following are excerpts from the posts on these pages:
Pro-Regime Facebook Pages: Attack U.S. Troops, Commanders, Interests
On September 18 at 13:05, a pro-regime Facebook page called Kamishli City posted the following message: "Urgent! A call to the honorable, heroic Syrians to attack American interests, troops and commanders, and those who collaborate with them, in the Arab Syrian Al-Jazirah region. Senior sources who did not disclose their names report that, in several parts of the Al-Jazirah region, attacks are being planned against the American forces that are stationed there and against those who collaborate with them, in response to the latest depraved act of aggression carried out by U.S. planes against the Arab Syrian army in Deir Al-Zor. These sources report that honorable Syrians in all parts [of Al-Jazirah] are forming popular committees that will stage retaliation attacks against American interests and forces in the region and against those collaborating with them. [We heap] scorn upon the American enemy and upon those who collaborate with it and betray their country. Tomorrow will not be long in coming."[1]
Several hours later, the Hasakah News Facebook page reposted this message, along with another message: "The military post destroyed by the planes of the U.S.-led international coalition in Jabal Al-Tharda was the strongest military post in the Deir Al-Zor area. The soldiers who were martyred there held fast against ISIS militiamen for three years. In one of their attacks, the ISIS militiamen deployed over 30 booby-trapped vehicles and dozens of suicide [bombers], yet the military post did not fall and the soldiers who manned it did not retreat. The military commander of the Arab Syrian army in the Deir Al-Zor area says that the future will be better and retaliation for the death of the soldiers will come very soon." The message was accompanied by a graphic saying "Death to America."[2]
On 22:42 that evening, the Kamishli City page posted another message: "Would Hizbullah have remained silent over [an attack that claimed] 62 martyrs and 100 wounded [from among its troops?]... Would Iran have accepted it, had the martyrs been from among its ranks? Would Russia or China have accepted it?... The failure to respond is shameful and disgraceful, deceptive and hypocritical. Will [our] eternal commander [Bashar Al-Assad] accept it?"[3]
Page Posts Threats, Along With Photos Of "U.S. Airbase In Syria"
On September 19 at 22:15, the Hasakah News Facebook page posted a photo of what it described as "a U.S. airbase south of Ain Al-Arab," with the caption: "Whoever said 'nine bullets for the traitor within the country and one for the external enemy' was right."[4]
It should be mentioned that similar threats were made by Ibrahim Al-Amin, board chairman of the Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar, which is close to the Syrian regime. In a September 19, 2016 article, he wrote:[5] "We must shoot any American carrying arms outside the U.S., without considering the reason for his presence [outside the U.S.] and whether it is the result of a request by some element or another. This is an occupying force that must be resisted with bullets and fire.
"We will [also] expel all official American functionaries: diplomats, administrators, academics, and especially the peace-lovers, human rights and civil society [activists], and particularly the heads of civil society organizations. [Additionally,] we will expel anyone who interacts with them, whether directly or indirectly. This is just a handful of thieves who will not be swayed by words, requests, and even rebukes. They only understand the language of fire and iron.
"We have no method other than to expel the American occupation from our countries, whether it is military, security, diplomatic, or some other [type of occupation]. We will kill them and expel them and distance them from us. Whoever wants them present will have to pay the price of their filth."[6]
Endnotes:
[1] Facebook.com/Kamishli-city-526833440818697, September 18, 2016.
[2] Facebook.com/HASAKAHNEWS, September 18, 2016.
[3] Facebook.com/Kamishli-city-526833440818697, September 18, 2016.
[4] Facebook.com/HASAKAHNEWS, September 19, 2016.
[5] See also MEMRI Special Dispatch No. 6617, Board Chairman Of Pro-Hizbullah Daily: Kill Every Armed American Outside Of The U.S., Expel All Americans From Our Countries, September 19, 2016.
[6] Al-Akhbar (Lebanon), September 19, 2016.
