|
by Salah Takieddine
BEIRUT, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- The recent break of understanding between Russia and the United States over the Syrian crisis in general and over the devastated city of Aleppo in particular, raised fears about serious repercussions in the Middle East as the relationship between the two great powers reached its lowest levels, and could turn the whole region into a scene of confrontation.
While the military confrontation between the Syrian regime and its allies on one side and the rebels on the other side is still heated in Aleppo, reflecting the regional and international tensions, the Syrian refugees in Lebanon expressed their concern and fear over the repercussion of this confrontation on Lebanon, the country most affected by the Syrian crisis.
About 200 Syrian families erected a refugee camp in the Qaraon plain in eastern Lebanon, about 40 km from the borders with Syria.
Some refugees were gathering around a TV watching the latest development of the military confrontation in Aleppo and the news related to the escalated debate between Russia and the United States.
"The situation is going towards a major military escalation and it is looking very dangerous," Amed Aboul Foutouh, a 60-year-old Syrian displaced from the Damascus neighborhoods told Xinhua.
Another refugee, who declined to reveal his identity, pointed to the news about the airstrikes launched by the Syrian and Russian air forces on the eastern parts of Aleppo, shouting with relief.
"Yes. Those strikes should be intensified against the terrorists who are occupying the eastern parts of the city. They are strangers who came from various countries to invade our country with the support of the United States."
Samia al-Jezzini, a 50-years-old housewife who lost her husband during the war two years ago, watched the destruction of her three-story building in Aleppo before fleeing to Lebanon.
She told Xinhua that "the total destruction is a war that was imposed on the Syrian army and its allies, and there is no other solution to liberate the city but through military means."
"What was the fault of children, women and the elderly dying in the tragedy of Aleppo?" Hassiba al-Hamdi, for her part, said with tears.
She added "the war has no mercy and all we can do is to pray to God to help those innocent people."
Adel Aboul Alam, displaced from Aleppo, told Xinhua that "the United States and the western countries are not honest in dealing with the Syrian crisis. Every time the Syrian regime forces achieve a progress on the ground, those countries search for every pretext to protect the rebels."
Abdo Alian, for his part, believes that the way the confrontation is going "shows that the destruction of our country is the aim of the United States. It is going to be a long war. We can do nothing but continue to manage our lives here, and try to go through this."
Hassan al-Zaini, on the other hand, considers that "the news broadcasted by the stations opposing the Syrian regime and those backing it during the last hours, particularly those related to the U.S.-Russian dispute, indicate that the war in Syria is entering a new serious phase that will have dangerous repercussions."
He added that "we as refugees are watching the military and political development with fear and concern, as it would not only affect our country, but also affect the neighboring countries. This is truly what we fear as our fate would be uncertain."
According to the United Nations Higher Commission for Refugees, Lebanon hosts more than 1.1 million Syrian refugees.
