A flurry of attacks overnight in eastern Syria’s Deir Ezzor Province left at least 15 fighters dead. The slain included Kurdish fighters, and a number of pro-government forces, including three soldiers.
The soldiers were killed in a landmine explosion, while other
pro-government forces were militia members from Afghanistan and Iran,
who were operating checkpoints that ISIS forces hit.
Indeed, ISIS is being accused of all of these strikes in the east on
Sunday night, which is coinciding with expectations that ISIS would
start carrying out attacks, and interest in blaming Turkey’s invasion
for the return of ISIS.
While some ISIS fighters are reported to have managed to escape former
Kurdish prisons, it’s not clear how many, nor how operational ISIS is at
this point. There is a vested interest in presenting ISIS as very
operational and very dangerous, but attacks in eastern Syria happen
sometimes anyhow, and Turkey-backed Islamists mean there are other
forces who might launch such attacks.
“There is a vested interest in preserving ISIS as very operational and very dangerous”
There, fixed it.
But here is the problem. This time it is US taxpayers’ funded. No Gulf money any more.
IF we had a government working for us — by now we would know precisely the location of ISIS detentions under Kurds. Because WE WOULD HAVE PAID FOR THEM. Kurds have NO independent funding sources.
I’m not sure the US physically preserves ISIS, just calls people ISIS when need be, like wherever a US bomb lands. Not unlike creating money at whim.
US has indeed preserved ISIS by maintaining a safe haven for them within the territory it occupies in eastern Syria. Outside of that, they don’t exist as such. US is also regularly whisking away ISIS leaders and combatants from war zones in Syria whenever they meet overwhelming force, i.e the Syrian/ Russian anti terrorist coalition.
Complete rubbish. There is no ISIS, but somebody is trying hard to revive it. The ONLY ISIS known location — Rukban refugee camp within Al-Tanf zone, straddling Syria-Jordan border. Last time was mentioned as ISIS refuge following the fall of Raqqa. The camp is guarded by US taxpayer funded Revolutionary Commando Army.
It is also bizarre combination of fighters. Pro-Government Afghans and Iranians? Fighting with Kurds?
What is very likely to happen — and US cannot wait for it to happen, is the uprising of Deir Azzor population against Kurd military control — North Syria is now under Government control, while South-East is still under Kurds!! Will US then declare these uprisings as ISIS?
A new a weird situation has been created — in majority Kurdish area close to Turkey border — Syrian Government is protecting Kurds against Turkey. But in US controlled East — Kurds are controlling Arab towns subjugated to US. Those Kurds are working AGAINST Syrian Government. Those Kurds working with US now must be from Iraq or Turkey, not from Syria. Because they cannot come back home without repercussions. Or SDF or YPG — how can they now ask for Syrian protection – while occupying Arab region under US command.