US warplanes pounded the town of Tabqa, west of the ISIS capital city of Raqqa, over the weekend, aiming to soften up the area as Kurdish forces announce their intention to advance into their area in their latest effort to “surround” Raqqa itself.
Tabqa is a relatively small town near Lake Assad, close to the largest dam in Syria. Videos released after the strike showed substantial damage in the commercial district of the town, but there have as yet been no reports of casualties. US warplanes also attacked and destroyed four bridges in Raqqa itself.
The Kurdish YPG has been trying to advance on Raqqa for months now, an offensive the US insisted would be concurrent with the Iraqi invasion of Mosul. Despite this, the effort to “surround” Raqqa has been of limited success, with only the northern reaches of the city blocked off, and ISIS still controls substantial territory around the city elsewhere, particularly to the east.
In Iraq, ISIS has lost so much territory that they are increasingly transitioning back to an insurgency and away from a territory-holding de facto state. In Syria, however, despite losses in Aleppo Province their territory is largely intact.
And this is the result of a vast US coalition, not making a dent in area of Syria controlled by ISIS. Not one village liberated (i am not counting Manbij where Kurds ethnically clesnsed the town to gain territory). Otherwise, the terrorists with AlQaeda have been cornered in Idlib, snd after one year and half Russia has something to show for it. But now it has tens of thousands of people to shelter, clothe and feed after Al-Qaeda was forced out. The destruction of bridges is more of a problem for Armies fighting agains ISIS, as the access to Raqqa and Deir Azzor governorates will be difficult.
But it may help with eliminating supply channels to Al-Bab and Palmyra. There is finally some real progress in quiet cooperation. Latest US bombings of Idlib are actually hurting Al-Nusra, not helping, as in the last days of Obama administration.
Thomas L. Knapp, you can’t win people over by condemning both political parties. That just kills any good work you are trying to do. Delete your first 4 paragraphs or your latest rant and you will be on target.
You understand that Trump is going to be a terrible letdown for antiwar people. Just understand along with that that antiwar people can be ignored by Trump. He’s only going to have to let them down easy in order to not cause the nearly insignificant bellowing they are getting ready to do.
Raimondo is a fucking fool, but you are there now finally. A little late but that’s o.k. because like nearly all Americans, you long for hope and change and Trump appreared to represent that.
I’ll check back from time to time to keep you on your toes and make sure you don’t backslide. Please don’t do that because there is absolutely no doubt that I am right and Raimondo is wrong. You too are so far staying on the side of right too. Later!
I am not “there now finally.” I’m where I’ve always been.
Speaking of where people are:
1) Three months ago, you were at “oh, shut up and get used to the idea of president Clinton.”
2) Three days ago, you were leaving Antiwar.com.
Apparently you can’t make up your mind where the hell you are or want to be, and when you do it turns out to be the wrong place. So forgive me if I don’t place too much weight on your travel advice.