Syria’s Assad Attacks as Massive Protests Spread

 
Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad (Source: Agência Brasil, Wikipedia)
بشار الأسد

COGwriter

The are more protests in Syria and, of course, responses from the Assad regime:

Syrian Attacks Continue as Mass Protests Spread

Ed Yeranian  May 18, 2012

Syrian government troops pounded the rebel stronghold, Rastan, and parts of the flashpoint city, Homs, Friday, amid widespread anti-government protests across the country. Meanwhile, the head of the United Nations observer forces urged both the government and the opposition to engage in dialogue to end the violence.

Witnesses say Syrian security forces fired tear-gas and live rounds to break up a student protest in Aleppo Friday. The demonstration was billed as the largest of its kind in Syria’s northern commercial hub since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began in March 2011.

The protests come after Syrian security forces disrupted a student demonstration in Aleppo on Thursday. Video taken from a U.N. vehicle in Aleppo Thursday showed security forces beating student protesters.

On Friday, Syrian state television showed an empty boulevard in front of Aleppo University’s medical college, saying there were “no significant demonstrations.” But video posted by opposition groups on the Internet showed large crowds gathering in the streets.

Arab satellite channels also broadcast large protests in parts of Idlib province, Homs, Daraa and the capital, Damascus. Signs held up by the protesters called for “solidarity” with the student demonstrators in Aleppo.

Syrian government troops fired heavy artillery at Rastan Friday. Several videos showed shells hitting parts of the city. Other videos showed government troops shelling parts of nearby Homs…

Also on Friday, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he believes al-Qaida was behind twin bombings in Damascus, last week, that killed 55 people.  He says such involvement would create “very serious problems.”

A group calling itself the “Nusrat Front” claimed responsibility earlier this week for the blasts.  However, many analysts say claims of al-Qaida involvement have yet to be proven and may not be credible.  http://www.voanews.com/content/syria-fighting/727261.html

Money is also going to the opposition from outside of Syria which will strengthen the opposition and give it a better chance to eliminate the Assad regime.  Since that is unacceptable to Syria’s President Assad, he eventually will likely take more desperate steps.

What many seem to overlook is that there is another, not desirable, option for Syria, along with its ally Iran: a war involving Israel.

I have been writing for some time, I suspect that the current Syrian government may decide the best way to preserve the Assad regime is to attack Israel. If so, I have also warned that it is likely that Iran will cooperate with Syria (so may parts of Lebanon and other lands in the area). Israel in the past has indicated that it is ready should Syria attack (Israel Ready to Strike Syria). Yet, this may not turn out well for either country if this ends up in a regional war involving Israel.

Back in biblical times (cf. Isaiah 7:8) and current times, the capital of Syria has been Damascus. Notice what the Bible shows will happen to it:

1 An oracle concerning Damascus:
“See, Damascus will no longer be a city but will become a heap of ruins. 2 The cities of Aroer will be deserted and left to flocks, which will lie down,with no one to make them afraid. 3 The fortified city will disappear from Ephraim,and royal power from Damascus;the remnant of Aram will be like the glory of the Israelites,” declares the LORD Almighty. (Isaiah 17:1-3)

3 Thus says the Lord:
“For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four,
I will not turn away its punishment…5 I will also break the gate bar of Damascus,
And cut off the inhabitant from the Valley of Aven,
And the one who holds the scepter from Beth Eden.
The people of Syria shall go captive to Kir,”
Says the Lord. (Amos 1:3, 5)

Nearly four years ago, the Living Church of God reported:

What does the future hold for Syria and its capital city Damascus? God prophesied, “‘Against Damascus…. they have heard bad news. They are fainthearted….Damascus has grown feeble; she turns to flee…. Therefore her young men shall fall in her streets, and all the men of war shall be cut off in that day;’ says the LORD of hosts… ‘I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus, and it shall consume the palaces…” (Jeremiah 49:23-27). This bears watching. (Davis D, Winnail S. Damascus Gears Up. LCG World Ahead Weekly Update, June 5, 2008)

Damascus will be destroyed.

But when?

Syria’s President might decide his personal best option is to more closely support Iran and perhaps be involved in an invasion of Jerusalem and Israel. If so, this might be how Isaiah 17:1 is fulfilled. And that could be in 2012 if not soon past that. If we are near the time that Damascus is prophesied to be destroyed and for a time ceasing being a city (Isaiah 17:1), major problems may soon be upon that area (more than the current uprisings in Syria have been so far). At this time, it would seem that the destruction of Damascus could happen if opponents to the Syrian Assad regime felt that they had been harmed so much that eliminating Damascus would be necessary.

Since Israel and the USA tend to be sensitive to international opinion, such prophesied destruction of Damascus suggests that somehow Syria will first inflict significant harm to one or more of its enemies and then cause a major retaliatory strike that could fulfill Isaiah 17:1.  Syria could use chemical and/or biological weapons, dirty bombs, and/or possibly terrorist strikes and/or take other actions to infuriate the Israelis and/or the USA.  If this is involving outsiders like Israel, it seems that the Bible suggests major complications could occur if Israel does attack Iran and/or Syria and that Iran and Syria strike back.

And FWIW, perhaps I should mention that technically, Syria is still at war with Israel as it never did sign a peace deal with Israel. So an actual war involving Syria and Israel is quite feasible. If so, Israel may hit back so hard that it might eliminate Damascus as Isaiah 17:1 says will happen.

Much is going on in the Middle East.

As Jesus said in Mark 13:37, we all should watch.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

The Arab World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam? What does Islam teach about the Imam Mahdi?
Is There A Future King of the South? Some no longer believe there needs to be. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? Is he the Imam Mahdi? What does the Bible say?
End of Mayan Calendar 2012–Might 2012 Mean Something? Are there Mayan calendar predictions for change in 2012? Changes were centuries ago predicted by the Hopi Native Americans. Do Mayan/Hindu/Hopi/Buddhist/New Age/Nostradamus prophecies have any value here? Why might Satan have inspired this date? Does the Dresden codex show destruction of the earth by flood? Can the great tribulation start before 2012? How might Barack Obama and Julia Gillard be involved in 2012? Have predictions written by Bob Thiel related to Barack Obama and Julia Gillard began to come to pass?
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2012, 2013, or 2014? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000?



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