ISIS is back, but the influx of militants continues from Turkey

(To Giampiero Venturi)
18/02/16

The progress of the Syrian Armed Forces continues in the direction of the Governorate of Raqqa. While the Republican Guard paratroopers hold the south-east front towards Iraq in the Deir ez-Zur region, the forces that had advanced along Route 42 in recent days have begun to tighten (albeit slowly) towards the Euphrates . It would be a few tens of km to conquer the main oil supply road of the Caliphate.

The final race to conquer the so-called capital of the Islamic State seems close. And everyone seems to have understood this. According to official statements, the allied forces of the US-led coalition, namely Saudi Arabia and especially Turkey, continue to send signals to participate in the reconquest of the symbolic city of ISIS.

It is clear that if the Islamic State and the Islamist factions connected to it were driven out of Syria only by government forces (supported by Russians, Hezbollah and Iraqi paramilitary Shiites), the future of Syria would exclude subsequent foreign "pacification" interventions. In other words, if Damascus will reconquer all the territories under the Syrian sovereignty recognized before the war, the accounts would be settled with those who had at least a nebulous role with the jihadist factions. In this sense, the relations between Damascus and the Ankara-Riad-Washington triad are all to be imagined.

In this regard, the situation is almost grotesque. Arab media sources claim that what remains of the terrorists of the FSA (Free Syrian Army) are employing American-made TOW countercharging systems against Kurdish armored vehicles (YPG militias) engaged in east-to-Aleppo advance. Alongside them there are, as we know, the militia linked to Al Nusra, supported directly by Turkey.

The same weapons would have fallen into the hands of jihadist groups such as Ahrar Al-Sham through Saudi channels (the passage would take place from Iraqi territory). Having the Kurds of the YPG similar systems for direct contacts with Washington, it seems that on the north-eastern outskirts of Aleppo there are very heavy clashes between factions with the same type of weapons. 

Paradoxes aside, the situation on the ground is rapidly changing.

The special units Qawat Al Nimr (Tiger Forces) commanded by General Suheil Al Hassan would have taken the area of ​​the Power Station east of Aleppo cutting another slice of direct connections between northern Syria and Raqqa. 

The goal is to prevent fresh reinforcements from arriving for ISIS (or allied militias) through Turkey. In fact, the Syrian army (supported by Hezbollah) will encroach upon Anadan, km 12 northwest of Aleppo on the road to Anatolia.

Apparently, however, unacknowledged sources damage for entered from the border with Turkey to the north of Azaz (not controlled by the army of Damascus) 500 heavily armed militia ready to fight the Kurds and prevent the fall of Azaz itself. Within a week there is talk of almost 1000 men flocking to the fighting area.

On the front of Latakia the 103a Republican Guard Commando Brigade took Kinsibba yesterday. The terrorists of Al Nusra, FSA and Ahrar Al-Sham would be on the run. The victory would open the way to Jisr al-Shughur, a strategic center in the Idlib region. We continue to give information on all fronts that would confirm the black month for the Caliphate and for the entire galaxy of Islamist groups that gravitate around it.

Meanwhile, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Akdogan declares that Turkey will insist on having a buffer zone of 10 km inside the Syrian territory, including the same town of Azaz "In order not to change the demographic balance of the area". Needless to say, Damascus regards these statements as inadmissible.

The Turkish unease about the progress of the war in the north (whether the Syrian army or the Kurdish militias prevails, for Ankara would be a defeat the same) is also due to the flow of refugees that could be piled up at the borders. This is overlaid by the general confusion for the war, which, being not eternal to someone, will sooner or later ask for the bill.

Meanwhile, according to a report by Al Jazeera, the first humanitarian convoys of the United Nations are about to start in a thousand controversies. The first 80 vehicles would leave Damascus for Moadimayet in Sham Zabadani and Madaya, in the hands of terrorists but besieged by government forces.

(Photo: القوات المسلحه السورية)

Read also:

The army attacks the oil of the Caliphate 

Ankara in trouble, Riad slips away 

Turkey and Saudi Arabia ready to enter Syria