A U.S.-backed operation near Raqqa aims to “block any advance by Syrian government forces from the west”. The Balkanization of Syria begins The road to Raqqa is now blocked by U.S. forces and their allies. The chances that Raqqa (and the surrounding region) will be returned to Syria are now slim to none. Foreign armies and…
Moscow has questioned the Western coalition’s optimism about soon recapturing Raqqa from Islamic State, saying only international cooperation can help liberate the city. However, it is exactly coordinated partnership on various fronts that is lacking. The “very hard but essential” battle for Raqqa is just days away, French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian claimed on…
Writing about upcoming battles, making predictions is a dangerous thing. Saddam and his “mother of all battles” is a case in point. However, the complex situation in Northern Syria in the 2nd week of March, 2017 has all the earmarks of a wartime comedy farce. The battle for Raqqah against whoever is there claiming to…
Any foreign forces, including those from the US, that enter Syria without invitation are invaders, Syrian President Bashar Assad told Chinese media in an interview, noting that no one had given the US troops currently in Manbij permission to be there. “Any foreign troops coming to Syria without our invitation or consultation or permission, they…
After six years of constant conflict between the great powers in and around Syria, the US, Russia and Turkish military leaders have gathered in Antalya, Turkey to discuss how best to coordinate their operation to drive the Islamic State of Iraq and Sham/Levant (ISIS/ISL) from Raqqa. Discussions also include operations in Iraq. Some are calling this summit…
Commander of the US Central Command (CENTCOM), General Joseph Votel, has secretly visited the Syrian Arab Republic in order to meet with leaders of US-backed militant groups. The visit was made just two days after it was announced that Washington is going to dispatch more US troops to the Arab country. On Friday, Votel, who…
