Palmira: Syrian counter-offensive ready to oust ISIS

(To Giampiero Venturi)
27/12/16

When the militants of the Islamic State recaptured Palmira on 12 December, amazement and dismay prevailed. The much-heralded liberation of Aleppo by the Syrian forces seemed affected by the ugly figure remedied by the government and shared with the Russians: the self-styled Caliphate, given by many for dying, was suddenly able to prevail, even threatening to continue west.

The scarce strategic weight of the city and above all the absolute political priority given by Damascus to the zeroing of the northern rebels, in reality they had immediately given to the defeat of Palmyra a value more than anything moral and symbolic. Only the defense of the Tyas airbase to the west of the city and the reconquest of the Shaer gas and oil fields (to the east of the archaeological sites) still seem to have primary importance.

In light of this, the counter-offensive of the Syrian land forces appears to be near, from 15 days in continuous numerical growth along the entire axis of the 32 road.

Between 5000 and 7000 soldiers from Damascus would be in battle gear, assisted by paramilitaries and Hezbollah units. Units of the Tiger Forces symptom of a resumption of the imminent offensive.

Much depends on the developments of the main open fronts and the need to channel resources:

  • the region east of Aleppo (towards the Kuweires airbase)
  • the region west of Aleppo towards the Governorate of Idlib;
  • the urban area west of Damascus;
  • the area north of Hama.

From the Daraa front, in the extreme south of Syria, news of the surrender of the forces of the country continue to arrive Free Syrian Army to the regular Syrian troops, who in exchange for the cessation of hostilities grant the safe passage to the former deserters. The loosening of fighting in the south allows Damascus to reposition fresh forces elsewhere.

(photo: SAA)