After expelling ISIS forces from virtually all towns in eastern Syria, the Syrian government’s forces have had an uneasy coexistence with US-backed Kurds in Deir Ezzor Province. Fighting erupted on Sunday threatening that, however, as Syrian troops seized four villages near the provincial capital.
Syrian state media reported the four villages fell quickly, and six members of the pro-US SDF were killed. Syrian officials provided no indication as to why they suddenly pushed into the villages, but they have controlled the Deir Ezzor capital city since taking it from ISIS, and may be looking to expand into the surrounding area.
That’s risky, however, as the SDF has been given a large amount of weaponry by the US over the course of the war. The Kurds wasted no time in counterattacking, either, with Syrian Observatory reports saying all the villages were retaken.
The US-backed Kurds were allies with the Syrian government recently, with the two fighting side-by-side against a Turkish invasion in Afrin District. The split may facilitate more Turkish pushes against Kurdish territory, and may also have the US attacking Syrian forces in the east. Already, US officials are complaining the Syrian offensive is threatening anti-ISIS offensives, even though there is no sign that the anti-ISIS push has been launched yet.
Fantasy reporting. . TOO Much fiction to
analyse. SDF is now an imaginary category, as they left Deir Azzor to regroup at Kobane. Arab villages all across Deir Azzor, anong Euphrates and Raqqa region want to be under control of Damascus. Syrian forces have nobidy to fight there — so no hardshipp tsking any place where there are no US special forces. But without US having any clear position on what exactly it id doing there, it is not wise for Syrian forces to move into areas abandoned by Kurd overlords. It is much better to leave local government handle affairs. The idea that somehow Kurds are a force tobreckon with is fantasy. They have no numbers, and outside Konane/Hassakah regions do not have population above 3%. What is the offensive sgainst ISIS goingbto accomplish — spread more ISIS into Syria from the Iraqi border? This is all getting stale. Syrian firces never fought with Kurds against Turkey. Kurds of Afrin, or better put, YPG — had a proposal by Dsmascus which they spurned, and got Turkish occupation instead. Prople fighting withnzKurds were local mobilization forces, nominnally working with Damascus, but in Afrin region majority were Kurds. They chose side, nothing to do with Damascus. Dust is settling — and if no results, Turkey will move on Kurds. By dragging the US pressence in the region, US is signaling its willingness to wait Turkey out. It willl not happen. Turkey cannot afford to have US/Israel controlled entity on its border, drawing into it, Turkish PKK. Turkey will continue operations — following a better read of US real intentions. Arab army is not coming along as planned, so some other plan is needed. All is fluid, except one fact — Kurds are a disappearing force as they continue pulling back to counter any Turkish advances. The only constant is Israel’s on-going provocation, trying desparately to keep US on the ground.
But this is getting risky, ssvthe whole world now gets it. Syria could have achieved peace long time ago, except for the ever more shrill support for the remaining terrorists by Western countries and Israel.
Too early for SAA to Fight Syrian Kurds, i suggest. Best is to wait for a political settlement between Syrian legal govt and the opposition[s] to it or until all of the takfiris and oppositions’ fighters are totally defeated or driven out the Syria and sent, preferably, to Gulf States.
Dear Anti-war.com:
I so admire what this website aspires to do and yes, like many other things, it is imperfect but I do believe hearts (and minds) are mostly in the right place…
Having said that, I do not understand why last night’s bombing in Syria, in Hama and Aleppo did not make a major headline. (?)
While the jury is still out on who did these bombings, the most likely culprit is Israel, as they have done four bombing raids this month alone and the most likely targets are anyone fighting ISIS… In this case, there are numerous reports of dozens of Iranians injured and killed and probably many civilians as well. (If it is not Israel, it would be another ‘coalition’ attack but that seems unlikely as Trump would have tweeted his ass off, by now, about how great America is and how wonderful our missiles are…)
We can expect many more such unjustified attacks as the days, weeks and months progress.
We must ask ourselves: why do our ‘allies’ continue to bomb those fighting against the real enemy? (ISIS, Al Qaeda…)
Russia: it is time to deliver the S-300 and maybe even the S-400 hundred.
Best-DV
DV,
You write:
“Having said that, I do not understand why last night’s bombing in Syria, in Hama and Aleppo did not make a major headline. (?)”
Short answer: I don’t know.
Longer answer: I expect that it WILL make a major headline. As nice as it would be for us to have multiple news writers working in overlapping eight-hour shifts, what we actually have is Jason Ditz constantly working himself to exhaustion trying to keep up on the straight news end, with help from others when they’re available — which they try to be, but there are occasionally going to be times when it takes a few hours to get the story. My guess is that Jason is working on it as we speak, and possibly awaiting confirmation that it was (or, less likely, was not) the Israelis behind the strike.
Hi Thomas:
That seems a reasonable response and I certainly understand staff limitations. We all appreciate the efforts of Jason Ditz.
But it is an important news event and a sign, so soon after the coalition strike, of further escalation.
best-dv
Thanks to Anti-war.com and Jason Ditz for the Al Jazeera link to the story. best-dv
“no sign that the anti-ISIS push has been launched yet” – and will they ever? The US and allies can’t exactly finish off ISIS in Syria, or they lose their excuse to occupy Syria indefinitely.
Israel’s Netanyahu will make a speech soon about how Israel has ‘evidence’ that Iran has violated the nuclear deal. (How bloody convenient.)
https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-04-30/israel-closes-airspace-near-syria-border-ahead-significant-netanyahu-speech-iran
Israel is closing their airspace, on the Syrian border, prior to the speech and oil prices are surging.
DV
Bibi is live now:
Take care! “Syrian Observatory reports” are about as reliable as the famed White Helmets.