The Syrian government reached a deal with Kurdish forces to end two sieges on government-controlled cities in northeast Syria. As part of the agreement, which was brokered by Russia, Syria agreed to allow supplies to enter Kurdish-held areas in the northern province of Aleppo.
Kurdish police said in a statement that they ended sieges on the city of Qamishli, located along the border with Turkey, and on the northeastern city of Hassakeh. Syrian state media reported on Tuesday that procedures were taken to end the sieges.
The deal came after Kurdish forces fired on pro-government protesters in Hassakeh, killing one person and wounding several others. Moscow had been attempting to mediate between the two sides for the past few weeks.
The US supports the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Syria, which control most of the northeast. With the changing of administrations in Washington, the new Biden administration was quick to say they will continue supporting the SDF.
The US also maintains a small occupation force in northeast Syria to control the country’s oil fields. The exact numbers of US troops that are in Syria are hard to come by, as US officials have admitted to hiding the real figures. The latest estimate puts the number of US soldiers in the country at 600, after the Trump administration sent an additional 100 troops there back in September.
This article is an all-around embarrassment, Dave. Try harder.
“…the new Biden administration was quick to say they will continue supporting the SDF.”
It really doesn’t make any difference what the administration of demented Joe says. US soldiers aren’t stupid enough to risk their lives for some guy who stole their votes to win the ‘election’.
Most US soldiers presumably also aren’t stupid enough to believe that he did any such thing. After all, they wouldn’t have made it through boot camp if they needed assistance to cross the street and hadn’t mastered potty training yet.
Just because you’re stupid enough to believe that 80 million Americans voted for a demented old warmonger who rarely came out from his bunker, does not mean soldiers are, Tommy.
As a matter of fact, arrests were made in Italy over military Trump votes switched to Biden.
https://iotwreport.com/italy-did-it/
https://nationsinaction.org/2021/01/press-release-voter-fraud/
And I did NOT vote for Trump, btw.
Well, Mr Knapp, I have reviewed your commenting history on this and other sites and I apologize for suggesting you are stupid, although I did not appreciate your implications about potty training and assistance crossing the street for those who question the ‘election’ (which I did not participate in).
In particular, I liked a comment you made about Leonard Peikoff having ‘re-defined Objectivism as “whatever Ayn Rand said that I liked, and whatever I say about it.” ‘
I do not believe Trump could have been a peaceful president even if he wanted to be. He was under the threat of removal the entire time he was in office. The entire Congress-funded NSC was against him and the Senate would never approve Cabinet members who wanted peace.
I did agree with Trump’s ‘America First’ policy as he defined it in his inaugural address:
“We will seek friendship and goodwill with the nations of the world, but we do so with the understanding that it is the right of all nations to put their own interests first.
We do not seek to impose our way of life on anyone, but rather to let it shine as an example.”
That’s Ayn Rand’s moral philosophy as it would be applied to a president.
Surprisingly, Trump said the unsayable about the MICC back in September:
“The top people in the Pentagon probably aren’t [in love with me] because they want to do nothing but fight wars so that all of those wonderful companies that make the bombs and make the planes and make everything else stay happy”
I vowed never to vote for Trump in 2000 (Reform Party) because of his eminent domain seizures. I haven’t voted since the 2012 primaries as I’m tired of being an accessory to USG misdeeds.
I’m glad Trump isn’t president because I want the rest of that Washington bunch to take the blame for whatever economic mess is overdue. But I’m glad Trump was ‘president’ and I hope he runs again because that bunch in Washington is even worse, IMAO.
Have a nice day and keep on blogging and commenting.
“I do not believe Trump could have been a peaceful president even if he wanted to be.”
On that, you are almost certainly correct.
But the evidence that he wanted to be is scant. Even more so than most politicians, he had a tendency to say two mutually incompatible things (depending on which audience he was talking to), then go do a third completely different thing (for reasons not always obvious).
I doubt that Rand would have agreed that “nations” have “interests.”
“But the evidence that he wanted to be is scant.”
Scant, yes. But he did order a halt to arming terrorists in Syria although the Brits kept doing it. He tried to get a deal on Korea but Bolton sabotaged it.
I suspect that the hit on Soleimani was rogue because Trump fired anti-Iran NSC warhawk, Richard Goldstein, the next day and, according to some things I read (but can no longer find), he worked with Khameini to limit the retaliatory strike to a face-saving one that didn’t kill anyone (so far as we know). True, Trump claimed ‘credit’ for the murder but a president cannot be seen as not being in control of the massive US military, especially when he’s under impeachment.
Nations do not have interests but their people do as individuals, although its hard to say what the interests are of people you don’t even know. One must look after himself and family first, then friends, then neighbors, city, state, country, etc. Gen – “it’s good to kill a few people” – Mattis resented ‘America First and resigned over Trump’s attempt to get US out of Syria.
What is the point in writing an article — without addressing the key issues. First, Kurds had to accept Russian deal — had no choice.
Russian strategy in every battle in its history is — wherever possible — to let bullies expose themselves. In this case, Kurds, the mythical US supported SDF, thought of putting pressure on Syrian contingent in Qamishli and Hassakah.
As Syrian forces were in those cities ever since US withdrew its checkpoints — Kurds have no real power. This was the case of Kurds testing the waters and incoming Biden administration.
But learned HARD way, that when population is NOT on their side — they lost by shooting on Syrian protestors. They learned now that US talk of support is pleasing, but the anger of population is irreversible. SDF had to back down in both cities, in return for face-saving access to aid. Aid which THIS TIME — will not include weapons shipments as in good old days when US maned those checkpoints.
The bottom line is — Kurds have accepted Syrian -Russian protection when Turkish offensive on its borders was on its way. Now -/ they thought they could stiff their protectors.
Majority population — not being Kurds — showed their distaste at being pushed around by US sponsored Kurds. As it stands — Qamishli being on the border, will have an aid checkpoint, but this time being controlled by Turkey and Russia.
In Qamislli, Russia has it base at the airport. In Hassakah, Syrian forces were there throughout the war.
I would like to know where is the author getting the information about SDF controlling most of North-Easf? Kurds are the majority population only in Kobane city. In Kobane province they are only plurality . Outside of province they are a small minority. Syrian forces and Russian military police are in charge of Kobane. All other major towns in the region are in Syrian hands – from Manbij to Raqqa. SDF have not been disarmed or defeated as YPG was. Kurdish population had to gain confidence in Syrian government, thus a non-secessionist force like SDF were allowed to remain in otherwise Damascus controlled area.
SDF forgot by whose indulgence they were allowed to stay armed. They forgot that the only purpose they served was to give comfort to Kurdish populace. especially where feeling endangered as a minority, or on Turkish border.
But they have shown their aggressive side, and permanently alienated Arab population. This is not doing US any favors — as SDF was not supposed to be Kurds only. This fantasy “multinational” force is now exposed – as friendly SDF attacked Syrian-Arab protesters, city population.
As for US forces – on the border with Iraq any number goes. This is also true in Al-Tanf area, as it straddles border with Jordan.