Since taking power in 1970, Syria’s genocidal regime led by Haffez al-Assad and later his son Bashar, enjoyed the support, friendship, and guidance of Cuba’s communist Castro dictatorship. Vultures of a feather will always flock together.
John Suarez in Notes from the Cuban Exile Quarter:
The genocidal Assad regime in Syria was ideologically inspired by Cuban dictator Fidel Castro
A reflection on the 54-year alliance between the Assad and Castro regimes.
Hafez al-Assad seized power in November 1970 in a bloodless coup, and remained in power through brutal means until his death on June 10, 2000. The Syrian dictator ruled his country for over 30 years, and when he died in power, was succeeded by his equally brutal son Bashar al-Assad who ruled Syria for another 24 years. Throughout these 54 years, the Castro brothers maintained a close relationship with the Assad regime.
Fidel Castro broke relations with Israel on the eve of the Yom Kippur War in 1973. This was required for all Soviet-aligned regimes, as the international communist line defined Israel as a colonial state and an arm of U.S. imperialism. However, the Cuban dictatorship went above and beyond in their hostility to the Jewish state. Noticias de Israel (News of Israel) provided a more in-depth description of what took place next.
From the highest levels of power in Havana, a secret operation was orchestrated to send military support to Syria. A tank brigade, helicopter pilots, communications agents, and intelligence and counterintelligence officers were meticulously selected for this mission. It was imperative that these men did not arouse suspicion and that they were perfectly prepared for the task entrusted to them.
The Military Brigade of Senén Casas Regueiro was mobilized, and under the command of General Leopoldo Cintra Frías, a recognized name in military circles, this surreptitious plan was put into action. In a carefully planned diversionary maneuver, the soldiers left Cuba dressed in civilian clothes, with forged passports that identified them as university students. They traveled on separate flights to East Germany, where they made a technical stopover, before reaching their final destination: Syria.
Once on Syrian territory, Soviet military equipment, including modern T-62 tanks and SAM rocket artillery, was ready for operation. Figures vary, but it is estimated that between 1,800 and 4,000 Cubans were present in Syria during the 1973 confrontation.
The surprise of this operation resulted in a series of significant losses for Israel, both in human lives and military equipment. Some civilian areas were also hit during the clash.
On March 31, 1974, Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Dayan announced on US television that 3,000 Cuban troops had been dispatched to support Syria during the Yom Kippur War. The Economist published two articles in its Foreign Report in 1978 that highlighted Cuba’s role in Syria beginning shortly after the 1973 Arab-Israeli war. Cuban tank crews fought with Syrian troops. According to Foreign Report, 180 Cubans were killed and 250 were injured.
Cuban combat troops remained in Syria until 1975.
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Vogue magazine once ran a glossy, gushing profile of Assad’s wife, calling her “a rose in the desert.” It deliberately shunned Melania Trump while she was First Lady (unlike Jill Biden). Do the math.