Question:
The Syrian atmosphere, especially after the brutal Russian aggression on Syria, has become a military field for American, Russian, Syrian, and other aircraft, in addition to the military conflict on the ground... At the same time, political talks have escalated in Vienna 1, Vienna 2, and Vienna 3, in addition to side talks... My question is: Why has there been no military collision between these aircraft in the air, even though they belong to different countries? Why did this military escalation accompany a political escalation? Finally, what is the expected solution for the Syrian issue? Do the Paris attacks on Friday, 2015/11/13, just hours before the Vienna 3 talks on 2015/11/14, affect the expected solution for Syria? Or are they unrelated, and the timing was a coincidence? I hope for an answer without drowning in political analysis, but a simple answer that is easy for me and the general public to understand. May Allah reward you with goodness.
Answer:
I will begin where you ended in your question. If the intention of simplifying the answer is to be clear by putting the dots on the letters without confusion or ambiguity, and using words with illuminating significance that are not surrounded by any tawriyah (allusion) or the like... then this is what characterizes our publications, whether it is a leaflet, a statement, or an answer to a question... But if the intention of simplification is not to study the premises and backgrounds of the issues, and not to delve into the depths of their reality and causes... then this is not possible in political crises. This is because the answer must be built on data that is most likely to be correct or accurate, and this cannot be sound if the reality, its motives, causes, and related evidence are not studied well... otherwise, the answer would be superficial or temperamental, and this is what we avoid in our publications. Rather, we are keen for the answer to be correct and upright as much as possible. Perhaps by reading this answer of ours, you will see the sincerity and correctness of our opinion, Allah willing. This is the answer to the branches of your question:
First: The issue of non-collision:
Yes, the countries are different in their names and locations, but their "teacher" (mastermind) is one regarding the Syrian crisis. Therefore, the lines and even the threads are disciplined. Here is the explanation:
1- Regarding the regime in Syria, it is a loyal agent (amil mukhlis) of America during the eras of Bashar and his father. It preserves America's interests and the interests of the Jewish state... Hafiz's withdrawal from the Golan and the Jews taking it over, then making it a safe zone for the Jews for nearly forty years; then the regime's participation in the American alliance during the second Gulf War in 1991; then the talks and conspiracies managed by America in the region where the regime is one of its tools that are completely submissive and disciplined by American policy... All of this makes the Syrian air force's aggressive operations against the people within American policy. Thus, it does not approach American aircraft; rather, it performs its tasks within a drawn line. What was published last year at the start of the American military coalition operations in Syria—that the regime was notified of them—all this makes further explanation unnecessary.
2- As for the Russian aggression on Syria and that it is by agreement with America and with coordination between the aircraft of both sides, we clarified it in our publication dated 2015/10/11 regarding the subject. I will quote some relevant parts for you: [...And here was the calamity; America shows itself with the rebels and it was difficult for it to fight them openly, as they have caused damage to the regime, and the American alternative has not matured yet. So, it was that dirty fire game where Russia performs the task. Its role is to support the regime openly and against the rebels openly, and the war against them is justified for it. The regime is ready to call upon Russia by order from America, and this is what happened... Russia agreed to play this evil and dirty role in Syria to serve America! ...The Russian air raids from the air, sea, and even from the land with their bases and advisors are in coordination with America... Every sane person realizes that if the warplanes of two countries are flying in one sky, it is either by coordination between them as friends or in a war between them as enemies, and thus they would collide and exchange shells like any war. Otherwise, they are friends coordinating the atmosphere of the sky to achieve one goal, not two. The statements of both parties prove this coordination: ("The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement published on its website Thursday, 2015/10/8, that 'In accordance with the assignment of Russian President Putin and his American counterpart Barack Obama at the end of their meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session, the two foreign ministers completed discussing ways to settle the situation in Syria, including from the perspective of the need to avoid incidents in the airspace over Syria, and to promote the political settlement process in Syria in accordance with the Geneva Communiqué of 2012/6/30.' The statement added that the two ministers 'also reviewed steps to implement the Minsk agreements on Ukraine signed on February 12...'") Al-Hayat: Digital version, Wednesday, 7 October 2015... etc.] End quote. I add:
a- Russia's aggression on Syria on 2015/9/30 was immediately preceded by the meeting of Obama and Putin on 2015/9/29, which lasted 90 minutes... The Ukrainian crisis occupied the first part of it, while the two presidents focused on the situation in Syria in the remaining part. The results of this meeting appeared immediately (and on 2015/9/30, the Russian Federation Council unanimously approved Putin's request to use the Russian Air Force in Syria). (Russia Today 2015/9/30)...
b- Even the sites that Russia was striking in Syria were mostly by agreement with America. CNN reported on 2015/10/4: (General Andrey Kartapolov, a military official in the General Staff of the Russian Army, said on Saturday evening 2015/10/3, that the areas targeted by the Russian Air Force in Syria had been previously defined to Moscow as areas housing terrorists only by the US military command. The official continued, according to what was reported by the Russian TASS agency: "The United States of America notified us through joint contacts that there is no one but terrorists in these areas.")
c- The strong coordination between Russian and American aircraft in the Syrian sky was even described as training: (The US Department of Defense "Pentagon" announced Tuesday 2015/11/3 that the Americans and Russians successfully tested a mechanism that allows their pilots performing operations in Syrian airspace to communicate directly to avoid any incidents. Pentagon spokesman Jeff Davis said an American fighter "conducted on Tuesday a communication test that was prepared with a Russian fighter" in Syrian airspace, noting that the test lasted "three minutes" and "achieved its goals".... For its part, Russian news agencies, quoting a general in the Russian armed forces, said that the US and Russian air forces conducted joint training in Syria today, Tuesday). (Al-Arabiya Net: 2015/11/3).
Therefore, American and Russian aircraft move in safe skies from all sides: the American air force bombs in Syria with the knowledge of the tyrannical regime, and the Russian air force bombs in Syria also with the knowledge of the Syrian regime... and the Russian air force roams the skies in Syria by agreement with America, and with full coordination between the American and Russian air forces... Thus, a collision is out of the question because those roaming the Syrian skies are harmonious friends, their plot is one directed against Islam and Muslims.
قَاتَلَهُمُ اللَّهُ أَنَّى يُؤْفَكُونَ
"May Allah destroy them; how are they deluded?" (At-Tawbah [9]: 30)
As for if the harmony between them disappears, then a collision would be possible.
Second: Political actions accompanying military actions:
As is known, the regime in Syria is a subservient, humiliated agent (amil) of America, and America considers Syria a zone of influence for its interests. It now realizes that Bashar has fallen or is about to, and that he is in a state that does not enable him to serve America's interests. So, it is looking for an agent replacement to succeed him, and it fears that he will fall before it finds his successor... This is why it supports him in various ways, including these military actions, to achieve two things:
First: Supporting the tyrant Bashar so that he does not fall before America finds the subsequent agent alternative to the previous agent, and thus no vacuum occurs that is filled in a way that is not according to America's calculations... And second: Continuous pressure on the people of Syria to accept the alternative created by America from the Coalition and from the factions it calls "moderate" and from some of the regime's assistants.
For this reason, the methods of military actions led by America in Syria have varied, whether they belong to Iran, its party (Hezbollah), its followers, or the Russian forces recently. All of them pour into this side, i.e., preparing the atmosphere for a political action that achieves America's interest in the first degree, and satisfies Russia regarding the easing of sanctions and the issue of Ukraine... Thus, military actions escalate to prepare the political atmosphere. By following what is happening, this matter becomes clear, as meetings have followed one another while military actions continue:
On October 23, 2015, the first quadrilateral meeting "Russia, the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey" was held (Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said, "The participants in the Russian-American-Saudi-Turkish quadrilateral meeting in Vienna on Friday, October 23, agreed on the formula for external support for the political process in Syria... and he mentioned that all ministers agreed on the need to maintain Syria as a unified secular sovereign state."... Kerry described the meeting of the four ministers in Vienna as "constructive and productive," and Kerry mentioned that Tehran might receive a proposal to join the negotiations for settling the Syrian crisis, as reported by Bloomberg from the American minister...) (Russia Today 2015/10/23).
On the evening of 2015/10/29, the second quadrilateral meeting was held (it ended in Vienna on Thursday/Friday night 2015/10/30, a quadrilateral meeting that brought together the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Russia, and the United States on ways for a political solution to end the crisis in Syria, without the four ministers making any statements to the media after the end of the meeting... US Secretary of State John Kerry had met his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif and considered that the Vienna talks would not lead to an immediate political solution, but they might be the best opportunity to save Syria from hell). (Al-Arabiya Net 2015/10/29)
It is noted here America's keenness that the meetings be between it and its allies and followers: Russia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Iran, in order to complete the group and then carry out American plans without European interference! It was keen on inviting Iran to the meetings: (America announced on 2015/10/27 that it had invited Iran to attend the conference in Vienna. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham immediately announced, saying: "We have received the invitation, and it has been decided that the Foreign Minister will participate in the talks." Asharq Al-Awsat 2015/10/28). Not only that, but America tried to exclude Europe from the first meetings to get rid of European interference during the negotiations, and thus continue negotiations in the presence of its allies and followers. Therefore, France was annoyed, and as a reaction, its Foreign Minister called for a working dinner on 2015/10/27. Fabius said that a "working dinner" would be held at the Foreign Ministry headquarters in the presence of "France's partners in dealing with the Syrian crisis," adding that those gathered would discuss ways for a political transition for a unified and democratic Syria, respecting all components of the people, as well as "supporting our war on terrorism." But America did not pay him any attention, as it sent the Deputy Secretary of State, Tony Blinken, instead of John Kerry. (BBC 2015/10/27). It is obvious that the French meeting was just an attempt to reserve a seat in the negotiations in Vienna.
America almost succeeded in continuing to exclude Europe were it not for the explosion of the Syrian refugee crisis and the transfer of its effects to the heart of Europe, to the extent that it was said that the refugee crisis made the Europeans forget the Greek crisis... It was focused on by the media in Europe during the last four months, especially by Britain and France, then the crisis escalated until it became an outlet for Europe, especially France and Britain, to cross towards the Syrian crisis. It became inevitable for European presence in the Syrian crisis meetings. Nevertheless, it is clear to the observer that the serious discussions are between America and its allies and followers "Russia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Iran."
- On October 30, 2015, an expanded meeting of seventeen countries was held, with Europe and some other countries participating... in addition to representatives of the United Nations, the European Union, and the Arab League... but it was known that the actual controller of the course of the meetings was America and then its allies and followers!
One of the most prominent things mentioned about this meeting was:
(The new negotiations on the Syrian crisis in Vienna began this morning with the participation of about twenty... including Iran, in an effort to reach a political solution that ends the crisis and ensures Assad's departure through a transitional phase.. Delegations from the United States, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, China, Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Lebanon, Iran, Jordan, Qatar, Egypt, Oman, Iraq, and the UAE, alongside the United Nations and the European Union, are participating in the meeting. This is the first talk on Syria in which Iran participates alongside world and regional powers seeking to solve the Syrian crisis) (Al Jazeera Net 2015/10/30). This meeting was closer to a satisfaction meeting, especially for Europe... and it was announced that the next meeting would be held after two weeks.
- On 2015/11/14, the meeting was held and its statement mentioned: (The statement said that representatives of the 17 countries, in addition to the European Union, the United Nations, and the Arab League, agreed during the Vienna meeting on a specific timetable for forming a transitional government in Syria within six months and holding elections within 18 months despite their continued disagreement over the fate of Bashar al-Assad. The international Vienna meeting began today, Saturday, with the presence of the United States and Russia, seeking to find a political solution to the conflict in Syria against the background of unprecedented attacks in Paris and disagreements regarding the fate of Bashar al-Assad, according to a diplomatic source. This is the second international meeting within 15 days, and it comes hours after the Paris attacks that left at least 128 dead). (Al-Arabiya Net 2015/11/14 Vienna - Agence France-Presse).
(The German minister also said: "Although the matter still seems far-fetched, all parties are gathered around the table"... For his part, Kerry said in a joint press conference in Vienna with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov and the UN Special Envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura: that the five permanent members of the UN Security Council agreed to issue a resolution in favor of a ceasefire in Syria and holding elections within 18 months). (Emirates Today 2015/11/14).
Thus, military actions continue and negotiations continue, all with an American rhythm to achieve the two goals we mentioned earlier:
First: Supporting the tyrant Bashar so that he does not fall before America finds the subsequent agent replacement to the previous agent, and thus no vacuum occurs that is filled in a way that is not according to America's calculations...
And second: Continuous pressure on the people of Syria to accept the alternative created by America from the Coalition and the factions it calls "moderate" and some of the regime's assistants.
America's dilemma in Syria is that it creates multiple alternatives as it did with various types of what was called the Coalition and other followers and tools, but all of these have no acceptance internally... Therefore, it escalates its military actions, whether directly from it or from Iran and its party, and finally from Russia. All this is an attempt by it to pressure the people of Syria to accept the creations of America as a subsequent agent alternative to Bashar, the previous agent.
Third: The expected solution in Syria:
Deeply looking into the current facts in Syria and its international, regional, and local attachments casts light on the expected solution as follows:
1- The Syrian regime is an agent (amil) of America during the era of Bashar and his father before him, and this is a matter that does not need further explanation...
2- The colonialist disbelievers (kuffar) throw their agent into a deep place if he exhausts his role and becomes unable to achieve their interests...
3- But at the same time, they are keen on the subsequent agent alternative to succeed the previous agent...
4- Here is America's dilemma, for the alternatives and coalitions they created were like the plot of a magician, and the magician does not succeed wherever he goes...
5- America failed to find the next agent for the current agent, so it feared that Bashar would perish before they found the alternative, so the Muslims would fill the vacuum...
This light shows that the expected solution is one of three:
That America continues to procrastinate in the negotiations... Geneva 1-2-3... Vienna 1-2-3... and their sisters... and extending deadlines for negotiation after a month or two... and temporary rule for a year or two... and so on, waiting for an alternative acceptable to the people and capable of achieving its interests. At the same time, it continues to support Bashar so that he does not perish before his time, through various devilish means of support from it and its agents, Iran and its militias, and Russia and its associates...
That it imposes on the governance, by international force or otherwise, its creations of coalitions and "moderate" factions, and they declare a secularism that fights Allah the Almighty and His Messenger ﷺ.
That the sincere people, the people of Ash-Sham, the abode of Islam, take hold of the governance. They will trample the colonialist disbelievers, their creations, and their secularism, and establish the rule of Islam, the Rightly Guided Caliphate (Khilafah Rashidah). Thus, Islam and its people will be honored, and disbelief (kufr) and its people will be humiliated. It will be as the Almighty, the Wise said:
وَقُلْ جَاءَ الْحَقُّ وَزَهَقَ الْبَاطِلُ إِنَّ الْبَاطِلَ كَانَ زَهُوقًا
"And say, 'Truth has come, and falsehood has departed. Indeed is falsehood, [by nature], ever bound to depart.'" (Al-Isra' [17]: 81)
The people of Ash-Sham and every brother of theirs in Islam will prevent, by the power and strength of Allah, any rule in the land of Ash-Sham except the rule of Islam, and any banner except the Banner of the Eagle (Rayat al-Uqab), the banner of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, the banner of La ilaha illa Allah Muhammad Rasul Allah ﷺ. Consequently, they will purify the land of Ash-Sham from the filth of the agents and the colonialists.
Fourth: The impact of the Paris attacks and their timing with the Vienna Conference:
As for the timing of the Vienna conference and the French bombings, as the conference took place hours after the bombings, it is unlikely that this timing was intentional or that it has a dynamic impact on the Vienna conference except to the extent of America exploiting the attacks to make France stop demanding the war on Bashar's regime, but rather get busy with the war on what it calls terrorism far from Bashar. Thus, he remains in his position until America finds the alternative. France used to oppose America in restricting air attacks to what it calls terrorism and not on the regime, and now France has become focused on the label of terrorism and not the regime... All this makes America work on weaving the threads of its conspiracies in Syria to find the hidden secular solution in its pocket instead of the Caliphate (Khilafah) called for by the people of Ash-Sham... It does this while it sees that it is reassured of Bashar's remaining until it finds the alternative and finishes its conspiracies, and that is after it supported him with Iran and its party, then the associates and followers, and finally with Russia's support and removing the danger of France from the regime.
From one side and another side, Obama benefited from these attacks in improving the image of his Democratic rule electorally. It was noted that Obama's statements in standing with France in its measures against the organization and terrorism were escalating statements! It was as if Obama wanted, in the atmosphere of the American election campaigns, to show that he is firm in fighting terrorism, and not as his Republican opponents accuse him—that Obama's Democratic government does not stand in the face of terrorism strongly. This affects the electoral public opinion's support for the Democrats. In this context was the statement of US Secretary of State John Kerry on Friday 13/11/2015 in Tunisia, on the same day the Paris attacks occurred, in which he said: "The days of ISIS are numbered" in his comment on targeting the one named Jihadi John... Also, America's talk about the forces under their training and that they are achieving victories inside Syria against the State organization is in the same context.
There is a matter that must be pointed out, which is that the West has exploited the Paris attacks in "mobilization" against Islam, claiming that Islam is behind the killing of civilians, knowing that it is an established fact that targeting non-combatant civilians is considered an illegitimate act from the point of view of Islam. Throughout history and since the era of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, Islam has aimed to protect non-combatant civilians from the woes of wars. Rather, Islam commands the rescue of the oppressed (mustad'afin), who are the civilians who do not possess the tools of war to defend themselves... Even in wars when meeting the enemy, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to advise the Islamic army with that:
«وَلا تَقْتُلُوا امْرَأَةً، وَلا وَلِيدًا، وَلا شَيْخًا كَبِيرًا»
"Do not kill a woman, nor a child, nor an elderly man." (Sunan Abu Dawood)
The Rightly Guided Caliphs used to advise as well. Abu Bakr (ra) advised his army commander: ("And you will find people who have devoted themselves to these monasteries, so leave them and what they have devoted themselves to... and do not kill an elderly man, nor a woman, nor a child, nor destroy any building..."). Umar (ra) advised his army commander: ("Do not steal from the spoils, do not betray, do not mutilate, and do not kill a woman, nor a boy, nor an old man..."). This is how Muslims are even in their fighting. Their knight, while fighting his opponent, if the opponent's sword fell from his hand, he would not kill him but would wait until the opponent picked up his sword, then kill him with honor face to face... Although these are established facts in Islam and the West realizes them from the history of the Muslims and their conquests, they exploit those events to mobilize hatred against Islam and Muslims. It is a blind hatred; if they commit the crime, and how many they are, they do not stop at it and justify it, and if a Muslim does it, they persecute the Islamic community among them and even attack Islam itself as is happening yesterday and today... It is a blind hatred that will not be extinguished until after the establishment of the Caliphate (Khilafah), and then it will take revenge for every oppressed person from every tyrant. Thus, the light of the Caliphate will spread and its goodness will prevail, not only in the Muslim lands, but for every living sane person in this world...
وَاللَّهُ غَالِبٌ عَلَى أَمْرِهِ وَلَكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
"And Allah is predominant over His affair, but most of the people do not know." (Yusuf [12]: 21)