Tulsi Gabbard’s chilling prophecy about Syria has proven terrifyingly accurate, as al-Qaeda-linked forces wreak havoc across the region. The former presidential candidate and current Director of National Intelligence warned us, but the Biden administration didn’t listen.
At a glance:
- Over 1,300 people have been killed in 72 hours of violence in Syria following Assad’s fall
- Alawite and Christian minorities are being systematically targeted in revenge killings
- Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an al-Qaeda offshoot, has gained significant control in Syria
- Tulsi Gabbard previously warned the Senate about terrorists taking over if Assad fell
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio has blamed “radical Islamic terrorists” for the bloodshed
Gabbard’s Warnings Come True
Syria has descended into unprecedented bloodshed with reports of at least 830 civilian deaths in the past few days, marking the deadliest violence since Bashar Assad’s regime fell in December. Just like Tulsi Gabbard said would happen.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) describes the massacres as “the largest collective act of revenge in the coast and its mountains,” with the death toll expected to climb even higher.
Tulsi Gabbard, now serving as Director of National Intelligence, had previously warned the Senate about exactly this scenario, cautioning that Assad’s removal would lead to terrorist control. Her warning has proven prophetic as al-Qaeda-linked forces now stand accused of slaughtering hundreds of Alawite and Christian minorities.
Minority Groups Targeted in Revenge Killings
The violence is concentrated in Syria’s coastal areas of Tartus and Latakia, predominantly home to the Alawite community that was aligned with the Assad regime. SOHR reports indicate women and children have been executed by firing squad, with verified videos showing bodies in the streets of Latakia amid explosions and intense gunfire.
“I have no love for Assad or any dictator. I just hate al-Qaeda. I hate that our leaders cozy up to Islamist extremists, calling them ‘rebels’, as Jake Sullivan said to Hillary Clinton, ‘al Qaeda is on our side in Syria’,” Gabbard stated, pointing out the dangerous U.S. policy that has contributed to the current crisis.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has condemned the violence, blaming “radical Islamic terrorists” for the atrocities and calling for accountability. The interim Syrian government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa has deployed forces to assert control, resulting in fierce clashes with armed Assad loyalists who still hold territory.
Al-Qaeda Affiliate Takes Control
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a designated terrorist group with links to al-Qaeda, has effectively taken control in the wake of Assad’s overthrow. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz exposed HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Julani’s deception, saying he “switched his robe for a suit and presented a moderate face. Now he’s taken off the mask and exposed his true face: A jihadist terrorist of the al-Qaeda school.”
The Christian community in Syria is also facing brutal attacks, with reports of families being executed by Islamist forces. One Alawite woman described the horrific situation, reporting threats and violence from Islamist militias, including the murder of an Alawite cleric and his son.
While former President Biden acknowledged that “some of the rebel groups that took down Assad have their own grim record of terrorism and human rights abuses,” his administration’s policies have failed to prevent this humanitarian disaster. The situation remains extremely volatile, with nearly 1,000 civilians from minority groups killed in what observers are calling the deadliest massacres since Assad’s removal.
