Today, May 18th, 2017, the International Coalition for Operation Inherent Resolve confirmed that US forces conducted an air strike against pro-Assad’s regime in Syria. This airstrike occurred in al-Tanf Syria, a location where US Special Forces are located to help vet and train members of the Arab Free Syrian Army (FSA). The FSA is made up of rebels fighting against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
US special forces along with British special forces have been in al-Tanf for quite some time, helping the FSA expel ISIS from this area. Al-Tanf is located in southeastern Syria and borders Iraq. This area is a vital border crossing between Iraq and Syria, because it is along virtually the only route linking the two country’s capitals of Baghdad and Damascus.
This attack struck members of pro-regime forces who had entered a de-confliction zone close to the base where US special forces were located. It was reported that warning shots were fired, Russia was notified, and that Russia even tried to persuaded the pro-regime forces not to advance toward al-Tanf base.
Once the warnings were not heeded and the forces entered the de-confliction zone, US conducted air strikes against the forces. The air strikes destroyed 4 tanks, troop transports, pick up trucks, and one Shilka. After the air strike, FSA troops followed up by attacking from the ground, showing collaboration between the US and the Syrian rebels.
These pro-regime forces consisted of Syrian army, Lebanese Hezbollah forces, and an Iranian backed group named Kataib Imam Ali. This Kataib Imam Ali group is interesting because they are part of coalition forces that the US is backing to help rid ISIS in Iraqi cities such as Mosul. So groups are being utilized in some countries, but seen as aggressors in others.
The reason groups such as these are seen as aggressors in Syria is due to the US’s plans in Syria vs. the Iranian’s plans in Syria. As stated previously, the US is using this area to train FSA troops. This is also in an effort to train tribal militia’s in the area with the capabilities to take over once ISIS is expelled from the surrounding towns and areas. Also with this being such a critical border point to Iraq. Iran has also been focused on this area as a vital point to link Iranian backed Shia troops from Iran to Iraq to Syria to Lebanon. They are not pleased with the US building forces along this border. They also want to cut off any Sunni Arab FSA expansion into the area as the US is training them to take over.
This strike today is very important. It is the first time that the US has backed the Syrian rebels with air support in their ongoing civil war against the Assad regime. So you can see that the US has taken on a policy shift and picked a side in this struggle, with force and action. Therefore this event today should be paid attention to and monitored. This strike is a great example that just because ISIS won’t hold ground in Syria for much longer, the US is slowly creeping towards being involved in a war in Syria that will last much longer than expelling ISIS. Other prominent issues will remain once they are gone. It will be interesting to see what type of Assad, Iranian, or Russian action comes out as a result of today’s air strikes.
Sources:
Browne, Ryan, “US-led coalition airstrikes targeted Syrian regime”, CNN.com, 5-18-17
Cafarella, Jennifer, Institute for the Study of War, via Twitter, 5-18-17
Hassan, Hassan, Tahrir Institute, via Twitter, 5-18-17
Lister, Charles, Middle East Institute, via Twitter, 5-18-17
Al-Mudiq, Qataat, via Twitter, 5-18-17
Operation Inherent Resolve, via Twitter, 5-18-17
Schneider, Tobias, Independent Middle East Researcher, via Twitter, 5-18-17
Woody, Christopher, “ISIS fighters got inside the wire during hellish firefight with US Special Ops in Syria”, Businessinsider.com, 4-11-17