Arab, Chechen, European Fighters...Who Kidnapped the Two Bishops?

Ali Obani

Who Kidnapped the Greek and Syriac Orthodox Bishops in Syria?

The big question was raised after the emerge of reports, stating that a Chechen group named the "Nourdine Zrcelli Brigade" confirmed its responsibility for kidnapping the two bishops, Boulos Yaziji and Yohanna Ibrahim in Kfar Daal, near the Turkish border.

The mentioned group is well-known for operating under "al-Nusra Front" as well as al-Qaeda flag.

The question branches into others, wondering about the real reason behind the flood of Chechen, Arab and European fighters from all over the globe to fight in Syria. Is this a real Syrian opposition?

And if so, what do they oppose? Is this opposition in the interest of the Syrian people?
Are freedom and revolution; born from the womb of the people, exported and imported through reckless mercenaries, who care for nothing but to fulfill their regional and international masters' orders?

Such groups neither care if the entire country [Syria] is destroyed over the heads of its people sons, nor if they committed the most heinous massacres and genocides.
Moreover, the fire fueled by these fighters in Syria do not care for religion or sects. It only rages more and more through suspected kidnapping and murder for both Muslim and Christian clerics, to feed the sectarian strife and alter the sense of Syrian patriotism.

These groups work on escalating the hateful sense of sectarianism, as well as changing demographics through the uprooting of entire ancient communities from their roots, villages, and cities to neighboring countries [the Qustul al-Bourj village in the rural province of Hama].

Is there any other explanation for the bombing of mosques, monasteries, and churches [the bombing of the Syriac Orthodox Church in Deir ez-Zor, the bombing of the Kabboushi Church of Christ, known as the Latins' Church in Deir al-Zour, and the failed attempt to blow up the Sidyana Church]?

These groups seek only to attack the sanctities of the Syrian people so that they would lack determination or ability to steadfast in their homes.

Who are the Chechen Militants in Syria?

It is well-known that the bombing of churches and monasteries is an approach followed by al-Qaeda and al-Nusra Front. This is explicitly manifested in the statements of Deir al-Zour's Emir earlier this year. In parallel, the groups continued targeting the clergy, especially Christians. In this context comes the kidnapping of the two bishops, Yazigi and Ibrahim.

As the information revealed that the abducting group is from the Chechen, contradiction appeared regarding the number of these fighters in Syria.
However, all sources agreed that the Chechens are flooding by forged passports through the Turkish borders and under the facilitation of the Turkish intelligence services.

In addition, information indicates that the Chechen fighters cross Turkey towards Syria from Azerbaijan, Georgia and even Britain.
In this context, information published last year talked about a group of thirty-nine terrorist Chechens, who entered Syria through Heathrow Airport in London. From there, they moved to Istanbul in Turkey and infiltrated into the Syrian territory across the border line with Antioch.

Recently, the estimated total number of Chechens in Syria reached 3000 fighters divided between new adherents in the process of training and trainers of Arabs and other Chechens.
A video posted via "YouTube" showed the training as well as the quality of weapons and military and physical drills under the supervision of "Abdullah The Chechen."

The last recording showed men vowing allegiance to the Emir of the so-called "Immigrants battalion, Omar The Chechen". The groups, meanwhile, announced their merge under the leadership of the Emir.

It is worth mentioning that the units of the Syrian army had recently announced a hunt for "Abu Bara The Chechen", the commander of the so-called "Brigade of the Nation" under the flag of al-Nusra Front.

Source: Al-Ahed news, Translated and Edited by moqawama.org