INTERNATIONAL: Syrian people are still suffering from the misery of the crisis which lasted for more than a decade due to intervention of external forces, losing their families and worrying about their living.
The Syrian crisis has lasted for 11 years. Although the Syrian government has recovered most of its territory, the situation in Syria continues to be turbulent due to the intervention of the United States and other external forces.
Veteran Mohammed, 42, joined the army with his four brothers to defend their homeland when the Syrian crisis erupted in 2011. He was sent to the front line against extremist groups in the northern province of Idlib.
He said in 2017, they almost wiped out the extremist groups. But the militants managed to escape to the U.S.-controlled areas in Syria and got protection, which jeopardized the Syrian government's operation.
"We were trying to keep chasing but the extremists fled across the Euphrates River, some by swimming and some by taking boats. There was no way we could continue the chase as the United States controls the area across the river. We received no orders to proceed attacking. Otherwise they would retaliate against us," he said.
In the ensuing battles, the extremist groups which had received U.S. protection, retaliated even more fiercely, inflicting heavy losses on Syrian government forces.
Mohammed and one of his brothers were maimed by the bombs of the extremist groups.
Mohammed said angrily that the so-called anti-terrorism of the United States is a lie and their purpose is to aggravate the chaos in Syria and steal its resources.
"The U.S. is here to take over our Omar oil field and other oil fields. But Omar is the biggest oil field in Deir ez-Zur province. They're not here to fight extremist groups but to support them. The U.S. is giving them all support including heavy and light weapons and is protecting them," said the veteran.
At the end of 2020, his 32-year-old brother was killed on a military bus detonated by an extremist group. Muhammad hurried to the scene, only to get the news of his brother's death.
"I held my brother in my arms. I was insane in that period of time. I spent a lot of time talking to myself, which lasted about three months. I didn't go to see a doctor as what I saw was beyond words. People were burned to ashes," he said.
At present, due to years of war and the harsh sanctions imposed by the United States and other Western countries, the Syrian economy continues to be sluggish. Its currency is devalued and inflation is high.
Due to disability, Mohammed cannot find a job. His two sons have to drop out of school and collect rubbish to support the family.
"I work every day to help my family. I collect some things from the ruins to sell, earning some 4,000 Syrian pounds a day. I want to go to school but I need to help my family," said Mohammed's son.
