When is a terrorist a rebel ?

[mouthpipette]

Just that really.

Lots of different connotations for each word, so it makes a difference which is used.

Link from 2017 from FBI about this “rebel”

https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/washingtondc/news/press-releases/up-to-10-million-reward-offered-for-information-on-the-leader-of-the-al-nusrah-front

You might be interested in this OP

https://news.sky.com/story/syrian-rebel-group-hts-could-be-removed-from-uks-banned-terror-organisation-list-13270232

I can remember when Asser Yarafat was a terrorist.

Also the picture of Martin McGuinness and Ian Paisley sharing a joke as they walked out of Stormont.

You'd never guess I was born in the 60s.

There are a lot of groups called ‘terrorists’ in the Middle East at the moment. And a few terroristic states not called terrorists.

So there is some reason to wonder.

Apparently the US overflew and bombed some IS positions to help the rebels - and possibly send a message to the incoming power that they are "watching".

Apparently this is what a "Special Military Operation" looks like.

https://www.airandspaceforces.com/us-b-52-f-15-a-10-massive-airstrikes-isis-syria/

The Pentagon said the attacks were precision airstrikes and it does not believe there were any civilian casualties. The U.S. military is still conducting a battle damage assessment, according to U.S. Central Command.

"Its founder, Abu Muhammed al Jolani, cut ties with al Qaeda in 2016 in an effort to appear moderate and in 2021 he said he had no desire to wage war against Western countries."

Ex terrorist? Cut ties with Al Qaeda. More moderate in future. There are ex terrorists from Northern Ireland who became more moderate after Good Friday agreement

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/12/10/analysis-al-assads-downfall-has-upended-the-regional-balance-of-power

"The Syrian conflict took the lives of more than 350,000 Syrians and displaced at least 13 million. Brutal repression by the al-Assad regime turned a peaceful revolution into an internationalised civil war with Russia, Iran, Turkiye and the United States as the key players."