The US-led coalition in Syria believes they have a “lot more” to do in their war against ISIS in the country, even if they manage to expel ISIS from their capital city of Raqqa, with the deputy commander saying they’ll go after the rest of ISIS territory, backing the Kurds.
ISIS still holds a substantial amount of territory outside of Raqqa, including the majority of the Deir Ezzor Province. US officials have previously even singled out Mayadin as the “next capital” for ISIS, which they’ll invade next.
That’s likely to take quite some time, as the Raqqa invasion has been ongoing since October, and still not really close to completed. While the other ISIS cities are smaller, the talk of defeating ISIS by killing every single fighter they have is likely to keep ISIS forces fighting until the last.
In Iraq, the US has styled their military presence as basically a permanent reality now, irrespective of ISIS’ status, but in Syria, where the US-led coalition isn’t authorized to be in the first place, justifying their long-term presence is going to be trickier.
Last 5 posts by Jason Ditz
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I am curious to see how will US continue to support Kurds, once they take Raqqa town. Because Raqqa region is NOT majority Kurdish territory, and they cannot act like liberators, but will be viewed as occupiers by Arabs of towns and villages of the region. Everybody will be watching what happens in Raqqa, and what will US do to insure that its majority Arab population is in charge, not Kurds. One of the reasons Assad’s army had an easy job moving into Raqqa governorate, is the support of local population. Locals would prefer to be governed by Damascus — not by US/Kurdish forces. Raqqa would tell if US intends to keep promise, that Kurds will not rule them. Now, it is clear that US is double talking. There are symbolic Arab forces in the “Democratic” forces, they are mercenaries — not locals. US probably meant to give some of those the control of Raqqa, which really would mean Kurdish control. In the name of fighing ISIS, they are likely to ethnically cleanse the town, just as they have done with US backing in Manbij. But this is what brought Turkey into Syria, and I do not think that anybody will sit by as US ethnically cleanses towns and villages to expand Kurdish territory.
But it will get worse going more to the West, as Deir Azzor region has very few Kurds living there. How will then liberating that region from ISIS be accomplished? Syrian Army is capable of doing it, and will be welcome. But US forces seem to be hell bent on preventing Syrian and Iraqi armies to reach mutual border and expel ISIS. So, it is still not resoved. What will be US role in Syria, and where. They cannot keep ISIS on artificial respiration for ever. At some point, even military loving Trump may have to ask for tasks to be accomplished and results measurable.
It is not a foregone conclusion that US will stay in Iraq. On a daily basis Iraq is asking US to leave, as ISIS mop up drows to a close. In fact, Iraq is claiming to have conquered ISIS, and that US is trying to claim credit. The constitutional battles that Kurds will go through with Damascus, may be interesting, but hardly reason for US to stay. Unless we recreate ISIS from the Euphrates mud.
Can somebody give Bianca the number to a book publishers or information to Russia Today’s publication. She clearly wants a job or a book deal or maybe she’s auditioning for this anti-America site’s contributors position. Lots of time on her hands to type over 500 words on a site that most people type in 30 words max. I guess she’s trying to win over the people on this forum but,its more like preaching to the choir.USA
We have no length limit on comments. If you don’t like Bianca’s, feel free to not read them.
Raqqa province is hardly majority Alawite either!
A Raqqa Civic Council has been set up including all minorities in the area and Sunnis in plurality. It is to be expanded to include representatives still living in ISIS territory. And, just as importantly, women.
Reports of ethnic cleansing by the SDF are most all disinformation sponsored and paid for by Erdogan. (NOTE: Turkey paid Ret Lt. General Flynn hundreds of thousands of dollars to write an article (published on US Inauguration Day) calling for the deportation of Fethullah Gulen to Turkey.)
For the real story on what happened in Manbij, see Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syrian_Democratic_Forces_military_councils#Manbij