> Amaq News Agency ?

The video is posted on Youtube: geolocate it if you like, and you’ll see it’s genuine (I’ve been to Palmyra and have photographed it…

> Amaq News Agency ? You mean ISIS propaganda. Sure, they would not dig through trash bins for their propaganda video…

The video is posted on Youtube: geolocate it if you like, and you’ll see it’s genuine (I’ve been to Palmyra and have photographed it extensivelly, which is why I’m sure it is).

> Leaving behind weapons ? I’m sure these weapons and ammunitions where meant to be used by the defenders against ISIS.

You’re ‘sure’? Based on what? I.e. what is the source making you sure?

> If these are “sectarian militias” then what about the all the rebel units which are like 100% purely Sunni mixed with Sunni jihadists from all over the world (TIP for example)?

Like the Liwa Jesus Christ, consisting of Christians and active in Dera’a area since 2011…?

BTW, can you cite any of native Syrian insurgent units that’s accepting foreign volunteers — Jihadists or whatever else?

> Goddamn Cooper you know very well that the SAA had pretty much to be rebuild after the mass defections. These combatants, if they are Syrian, operate under the SAA umbrella. Pretty simple isnt it ?

Not the least. Reason is that soldiers of the SAA are receiving a pay from which they can barely survive a week, and certainly not a whole month. This is one of reasons for continued (and still quite massive) defections. Then, once they are ‘out’ (illegally, of course), and as far as they didn’t flee abroad, they are either caught, arrested and imprisoned and then forced — or ‘attracted’ — to join various sectarian militias, which in turn offer a much better pay and amnesty from all previous ‘sins’ (including defection from the SAA). Means: the regime is intentionally criminalizing members of the military.

Of course, why should you care about such ‘details’…?

And re. ‘operating under the SAA umbrella’: as can be seen from the composition above — not the least. Sure, they are nominally subjected to the HQ of such ‘SAA units’ like the 11th and 18th Division. But, actually, they all listen either to the command of the Quwwat Nimr or the IRGC. This means they are not even subjected to the Ministry of Defence (except in regards of their supplies and pay — which they seem not to have received since five months). And that means: they are no ‘SAA’.

> Whats your source for that ?

Source for that and all other of your questions was clearly stated. Thus, please, read more carefully.