Daesh trying to ignite sectarian war in Syria: Pundit

Press TV has interviewed Kevork Almassian, a member of the German Center for Eurasian Studies in Hamburg, to discuss a terrorist attack on a holy shrine in the suburbs of Damascus.

A rough transcription of the interview appears below.

Press TV: Why are we still seeing these terrorist attacks pretty much on a regular basis carried out and of course we continue to see the Sayyidah Zaynab area specifically targeted?

Almassian: Unfortunately this is not the first time and it might not be the last time that ISIS (Daesh) conducts such a terrorist attack on Sayyidah Zaynab. First of all we have to remember that Sayyidah Zaynab is now a Shia shrine and ISIS is trying to ignite a sectarian war in Syria, not also in Syria but also in Iraq.

However, we all know that the Shia fighters coming from Lebanon, Iraq and Iran who are fighting in this area are not interested whatsoever in a sectarian war and they know quite well that the war in Syria is not sectarian but it is a struggle over Syria, over its resources, over its sovereignty, over geopolitical interests between different regional players. Therefore, a sectarian war cannot happen from one side. It always needs two sides. Therefore, as long as the Iranians, the Iraqis and the Syrian Shias who are fighting in this area will not retaliate on sectarian basis, the sectarian war will not happen.

Second of all, we have to remember that ISIS is now suffering huge losses in Raqqah. Therefore, [it is] in the interest of ISIS to re-expand the geography of the war in Syria. It is some sort of revenge attack against the Sayyidah Zaynab in order to distract the Syrian army and the allies from the real war which is going on now in the capital of ISIS in Raqqah.

We all know that at least in the last couple of weeks or maybe one or two months, there was a consensus between the Americans and the Russians which also includes the Iranians and the Syrians that the days of ISIS is now numbered and they have to destroy it in a way that they try to separate it geographically from the ISIS also in Iraq. That is why we all see this focus on Raqqah now and ISIS is trying also to retaliate in north Aleppo and also in Deir al-Zawr. So all these geopolitical conflicts from minor cards that we are witnessing everyday on the Syrian geography, ISIS is trying to take this ... into underground and use it against the other party.

Press TV: Do you see the situation as the beginning of the end of ISIS, or overall how do you see Daesh’s position at this point in time?

Almassian: If we only witness the defense strategy of ISIS, that they are trying to move their heavy artillery, the families of the foreign fighters and everything into safer areas, we understand that ISIS feels that there is a serious threat on its existence now.

If we succeeded as Syrians, Iranians and Lebanese, those who are fighting terrorism in the Middle East, if we succeeded to destroy ISIS in Raqqah, that means one of the headquarters of ISIS has gone, and when you separate Raqqah from Iraq, that means the geographical continuity no longer existed, and we all know that ISIS’ legitimacy or ISIS tries to promote itself as Islamic state so if there is no geographical continuity between Iraq and between Raqqah, that means this so-called state is destroyed now.

So in my opinion today there is only 19 kilometers to Tabqa air base in Raqqah and the Syrian army is advancing. I think it is a matter of days. If the Syrian army occupies, recaptures, the Tabqa air base in Raqqah, that means Raqqah city militarily will fall very soon. I mean it will be a matter of days the multinational terrorists always fighting with ISIS will try to escape to Turkey and we will see how Turkey will act with these fighters because all of them came from Turkey and we do not know how will be the reaction of Erdogan’s government when these fighters go back to Turkey.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.ir