The United States can no longer hide the existence of their first operational outpost in Syria. The satellite images obtained by IHS Jane show an airstrip in the north-east of Syria, expanded over the past few months. Located southeast of the city of Raylan, in the province of Al-Hasakah, the runway has been extended from 700 to 1.320 meters and extended from 25 to 58 meters.
Airbus Defense and Space who made the images, confirms that the 18 work was completed last December. No support infrastructures, housing for personnel or security implementations have been built yet. Despite fromUnited States Central Command (CENTCOM) denied "the control of any base in Syria", the satellites confirm the opposite. Even the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) confirmed that the United States has taken control of Rmeilan airport to support Kurdish fighters against the Islamic state.
The YPG controls much of northeastern Syria, including the Rmeilan area, although Al-Qamishli airport is still under the control of President Bashar al-Assad's forces. The People's Protection Unit (YPG), would have granted the US use of the airport.
Last November, Obama took the decision to send 50 green caps supported by an autonomous battle group formed by F-15, A-10, Apache helicopters and armed drones in Syria to coordinate efforts against the Islamic State. Sending green caps, also called multipliers, was a clear sign of the new White House strategy against the Islamic State. A little less than two months, the Pentagon statement on the redeployment of green caps in Syria "will come into action in northern Syria", takes on a precise meaning. From the beginning we hypothesized it was a beachhead for a real contingent of Special Operations Force. The main air support, still today operates from the Incirlik base in Turkey.
The American tactic of advanced redeployment of special operators in enemy territory is particular. The function of multipliers (green caps) has long been known. What the Pentagon does not say is that for particular mission profiles, the US prefers to integrate other departments as well. The presence of the 24 ° Special Tactics Squadron, assigned to the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), in Syria, in addition to the green caps, could implement both elements of the Delta Force and units of the Naval Special Warfare Development Group, Also known as SEAL Team Six.
The first report of the use of the landing strip dates back to last December 3, when the site of Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, reported (recklessly) the presence of US special units to train the Syrian Kurdish forces fighting the Islamic State.
The US military said last November that it would start supporting the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), allied with thePopular Protection Unit. The Pentagon confirms the sending of weapons to the Arab component of the SDF, but not to the YPG units. The YPG, in fact, is closely linked to the PKK, a Kurdish communist party leader in the fight against independence within the Turkish territory.
