Moscow: US-backed SDF faces “destruction.” Pro-Iranian Iraqi force crosses into Syria

Israel’s strategic situation took several steps back in the first week of the New Year, chiefly: The US pulled back from E. Syria under Russian threat, allowing Iran to move in.

In just one week, the dire perils, which many military and political experts warned against for years, are suddenly looming on Israel’s northern border.

  1. From Sept.15-17, Syrian and Hizballah forces crossed the Euphrates to the eastern bank on pontoon bridges provided by Russia.
  2. Last Saturday, Sept. 16, Russian jets bombed the US-backed Syrian Defense Forces (SDF) in the Deir ez-Zour region, as a warning against their obstructing the eastward impetus of those Syrian and Hizballah units.
  3. On Monday, Sept. 18, US Marines began blowing up buildings at the Zaqaf military base in eastern Syria and then retreating to the Jordanian border. The US set up Zaqaf early this year in the Syrian Desert as a barrier against this very Syrian/Hizballah crossing to impede their advance to the Syrian-Iraqi border.
  4. The following day, on the heels of the US withdrawal, Hizballah troops took charge of the Zaqaf base.
  5. On Wednesday, Sept. 19, the Iraqi Hashd Al-Sha’abi (Popular Mobilization Units – PMU) crossed into Syria and linked up with the Syrian-Hizballah force. The PMU is under the direct command of Gen. Qassam Soleimani, head of Iranian military operations in Syria and Iraq.
  6. Iran, through its Iraqi, Lebanese and other foreign Shiite pawns, is now in control of 230km of the Syrian border, from Abu Kamal (still held by ISIS) in the north, to Al Tanf in the Syrian-Iraqi-Jordanian border triangle in the south – where, too, US and coalition special forces have begun packing up ready to exit.
    Iran in recent years imported some 20,000 Afghan and Pakistani Shiite fighters to reinforce the Syrian army and Hizballah in their battles for Bashar Assad. The new Iraq arrivals boost that figure by tens of thousands and more are coming in all the time.
  7. On Thursday, Sept. 21, the growing disconnect between Moscow and Washington over Syria suddenly erupted into an open breach with a crude threat from the Kremlin: “Russia has officially informed the United States via a special communications channel that Russian forces will strike immediately US-backed forces if they attack or shell Syrian or Russian task forces operating near the Deir Ez-Zour city. Any attempts at shelling from the areas where the militants of the Syrian Democratic Forces are based will be immediately curbed. Russian forces will suppress firing points in these areas using all means of destruction.”

A threat of this degree of ruthlessness has not been encountered in the Middle East for decades, it may recall Moscow’s threat to Israel in 1956 to end its invasion of the Sinai without delay or else…

Where do these menacing steps leave Israel?

  • The US has washed its hands of central and southeastern Syria.
  • Russia is wholly, unreservedly and openly in lockstep with the Syrian army, Iran and Hizballah in all their objectives in the war-torn country, and moreover, willing to threaten any pro-American entity with total military punishment. Is this an indirect message to Israel too?
    Iraqi Shiite forces are surging into Syria; they have given Tehran the gift of control of a 230km segment of the border.

And what does the IDF chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Gady Eisenkott have to say about all this?  In an interview to Israeli media as recently as Wednesday, Sept. 19, when it was all happening, he said: “If Iran  does entrench itself in Syria, that will be bad news for the entire region, including the moderate Sunni camp, and even more for the countries of Europe.”

He went on to explain: “That is why we have given the Iranian threat and halting its expanding influence very high priority as an issue to be dealt with.”

Gen. Eisenkott underlined the IDF’s focus as being to prevent [Israel’s foes] from obtaining weaponry, i.e. missiles – of high targeting precision.

The trouble is that, while the IDF focuses on this objective, commendable in itself, Russia and Iran are focusing and in full flight on a far wider-ranging goal, the precise and systematic deepening of Iran’s military presence in Syria. Iran and Hizballah have already established military commands at Arnaba just 6 km from Israel’s Golan border.

Yet the IDF chief is still talking about this as an untoward event that may – or may not – come some time in the future.

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26 thoughts on “Moscow: US-backed SDF faces “destruction.” Pro-Iranian Iraqi force crosses into Syria

  • Sep 21, 2017 @ 16:21 at 16:21
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    Isn’t it so that the farther Iranian forces push into Syria, and the closer they come to Israel, the easier it will be for Israel to destroy them? The Iranian forces will get farther from their bases of operations while Israeli forces will get closer to their bases. It seems to me that the IDF outnumbers all the effective combatants in the vicinity and is better armed and better trained and better equipped. If I were commanding the IDF, I would mobilize my forces, but I would wait until the enemy had penetrated far into Syria but before they could dig in on the Israeli border to meet them on the battlefield. Cut their supply lines. Surround their forces facing Israel. Destroy them.

  • Sep 21, 2017 @ 17:42 at 17:42
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    The Iranians and Russians are spread thin on many boarders And are hemoraging money. 230km is nearly impossible to control without extremely heavy costs.

  • Sep 21, 2017 @ 18:11 at 18:11
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    i dont like israel anymore because they created isis that slaughtered thousands of Christians!!

    • Sep 24, 2017 @ 10:30 at 10:30
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      Where did you come up with this absurd idea that Israel created ISIS? If you really belive that to be true I question your sanity.

  • Sep 21, 2017 @ 19:12 at 19:12
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    Firstly congratulations on the lovely new format you have created.
    Regarding the article… I reckon America and Israel will wait to see what exactly will be the achievements of Iran, Assad and Russia, before they do make a serious move. Not a rosy proposition.

  • Sep 21, 2017 @ 20:03 at 20:03
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    https://www.facebook.com/?stype=lo&jlou=AffFsgKCnBJf0wgewSdm8PRPsshGI1dLDzXyLvuGxxFk4_XgyTL3tUnOhdEqQUF3vsax7rfhFS0T2TSCRxdfkD91&smuh=27003&lh=Ac9ekZp8ZbY_PYxo

    i”ll have to think about it, what it means, and what to do next, besides reading (about) Holy Scripture
    ( sure hope the General’s daughter is not a lesbian ! ) BTW: am more into Korea problem now, but that is linked. it is all linked: Ukraine, the Rusian Bear, the Iranian Bear, Korea, Russia Gate, EU Amalekites, Gog U Magog, Gog W Busha. JP Balkenende, bring pere Adam democracy? Hurricanes ( believe it or not) unstable independent intermediary haiti b’kibutz ?

  • Sep 21, 2017 @ 22:09 at 22:09
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    ashkenazi=khazar converts

    • Sep 25, 2017 @ 8:08 at 8:08
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      Nothing in the Bible against converts!

  • Sep 21, 2017 @ 23:14 at 23:14
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    Israel should consider registering public protest against NATO’s stationing of troops and missiles in countries bordering Russia. This would be consistent with the sentiments expressed in the article above as well as in the article linked below from The Washington Post citing Israeli sources about the same concerns.

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/world/middle_east/with-sharp-words-and-stealth-strikes-israel-sends-a-message-to-hezbollah-and-us/2017/09/20/168282e4-98e2-11e7-af6a-6555caaeb8dc_story.html

  • Sep 21, 2017 @ 23:18 at 23:18
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    Israel should register public protest against NATO’s movement of troops and missiles eastward into countries bordering Russia. This would be consistent with the views expressed in the article above as well as the views of Israelis cited in the following article linked below from The Washington Post:

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/world/middle_east/with-sharp-words-and-stealth-strikes-israel-sends-a-message-to-hezbollah-and-us/2017/09/20/168282e4-98e2-11e7-af6a-6555caaeb8dc_story.html

  • Sep 21, 2017 @ 23:28 at 23:28
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    PLEASE bring back the LinkedIn link to broadcast your News!

  • Sep 22, 2017 @ 3:39 at 3:39
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    I invite the people of Israel to read the book “Outline Of Prophetic Events” showing from the Holy Scriptures of the old and new testaments (Daniel, Ezekiel, Revelation, and others) the different confederacies of nations aligning themselves for the final battles of indignation.
    The forming of these confederacies can be seen today in the increasing involvement and rapprochement of Turkey and Iran, who will be part of the king of the north, and the high interest Russia (GOG & MAGOG) has, and others is converging all these nations and huge armies to this small geographic region encircling Israel and eventually turning their attention to attack and try to destroy it!
    The apparent progress of events in this direction and its pace, in spite of Israel’s strong relations with the U.S.A., major international powers, should make Israel think differently!
    But again what scriptures say is that Israel will depend on their own strength trying to escape using their own means till at the end, after great losses and destruction, find out that their own intelligence and power will never save them so return to their Lord and know their Messiah Jesus Christ whom they crucified.
    And in that will be their only and total salvation from all tribulations!

  • Sep 22, 2017 @ 4:16 at 4:16
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    Israel should register public protest against NATO’s movement of troops and missiles eastward into countries bordering Russia. This would be consistent with the views expressed in the article above as well as the views of Israelis cited in the following article linked below from The Washington Post:

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/world/middle_east/with-sharp-words-and-stealth-strikes-israel-sends-a-message-to-hezbollah-and-us/2017/09/20/168282e4-98e2-11e7-af6a-6555caaeb8dc_story.html

    This is the second time I’ve posted this comment here. If debka or its readers can’t handle these kinds of ideas, Israel is doomed to repeat the errors of the past. Unless it can’t admit it ever made any.

  • Sep 22, 2017 @ 5:09 at 5:09
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    The chaos in the region is mostly due to the West’s greed for oil. USA was not invited to Syria to help with ISIS and besides before Russia joined the fight, the US led 60 member coalition was helping ISIS expand and work with Al-Qaeda and Al-Nusra to carry out regime change. Turkey helped USA a lot by channeling foreign fighters into Syria. Jordan helped too in training the jihadists to destroy Syria.
    Israel has been arming , bombing Syria positions , treating and sending back injured fighters and under the disguise of destroying weapons to Hezbollah destruction of infrastructure . It is race to grab land, oil, oil routes and install puppets. The wish is to suffocate Syria like Israel has done to Palestinians in Gaza, sad. Syria and allies need to expel US backed Jihadists from all of Syria. UN should hasten the talks and ensure un-invited players leave Syria.

  • Sep 22, 2017 @ 5:44 at 5:44
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    General Eisenkott must ask himself what General Sharon would have done,ie:Blow them off the face of the earth.
    or sit back and wait until there are too many of them.

  • Sep 22, 2017 @ 5:52 at 5:52
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    There is a lot of angst here about Hezbollah & Iran forces approaching the Golan. But there may be another interpretation. Take a look at Google Maps ‘Terrain’ feature. The Lebanese home turf of Hezbollah is mountainous with twisting roads and Shiite villages all of which favors the guerilla tactics they favor and leads to easy ambush of IDF entering there. But if the Hezbollah are so foolish as to come out from their cover into east Golan they are exposed in flat “tank country’ that favors the classic IDF armored advance and entrapment. An armored IDF thrust to the northeast can cut off a Hezbollah expieditionary force at the Golan from its home bases and subject it to encirclement and destruction (as Stalingrad). Similarly, Iranian forces , up to now, safely far away from the IDF in Iran, will expose themselves to an armored attack by coming close to the Golan. Perhaps Israel should encourage these actors to venture there. Maybe that is what is really going on??

  • Sep 22, 2017 @ 16:26 at 16:26
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    So is the IDF chief talking the way he is as a decoy? If the US had any brains they would send a full US Marine division to Israel immediately. Israel, with it’s interior lines of communications is central to control of the entire area

  • Sep 23, 2017 @ 2:30 at 2:30
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    The convergence of great armies to this small geographic region, the forming of new confederacies e.g. Russia & Iran, and the unfolding of the scene against the planning and will of Israel in spite of its power, alliance with the greatest powers, is pointing that something grave is being shaped.
    I recommend the book “OUTLINE OF PROPHETIC EVENTS by Bruce Anstey” based on prophesies from the Word of God in the Old (Daniel, Ezekiel, etc.) & New Testament (Revelation, etc.) how different armies will attack the land of Israel trying to annihilate it.
    Sadly Israel as usual will try to win using it’s great power, wealth, alliances, etc. as we are seeing now but will not succeed, again in a small measure like what we are seeing now things continue to degrade.
    It is only after huge destruction and great massacres that some of Israel will recognize their Messiah and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ whom they crucified to get the salvation from their enemies.

  • Sep 23, 2017 @ 3:48 at 3:48
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    Once can only applaud President Assad and his allies Iran and Russia !

  • Sep 23, 2017 @ 8:53 at 8:53
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    You can feel the Great War getting ever closer. Soleimani is light years ahead of his American counterparts, as well him and the Ayatollahs seeks nothing short of the total annihilation of said US/Israel from the Arab world. Their Russian/Chinese counterparts seek nothing short of the end of the Petrodollar. Determined to win US/ISRAEL will use ALL weaponry at their disposal. The chance these wars don’t engulf the war gets slimmer by the day.

  • Sep 24, 2017 @ 12:39 at 12:39
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    The United States will not capitulate the massive Iranian-led move in the region.The current panetration of the Shia led forces near to Isrealian border is the fruit what was the US provided the Iranians in JACOPA. I think the US very well knows what is the red line for Iran in the region. By and large,the US will not see any Israelian national security exploitation at the hands of Iran or any other its strong backer.

  • Sep 24, 2017 @ 12:40 at 12:40
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    The United States will not capitulate the massive Iranian-led move in the region.The current panetration of Shia led forces near to Isrealian border is the fruit what was the US provided the Iranians in JACOPA. I think the US very well knows what is the red line for Iran in the region. By and large,the US will not see any Israelian national security exploitation at the hands of Iran or any of its strong backer.

  • Sep 24, 2017 @ 14:27 at 14:27
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    The war in syria is almost over and its too late to prevent russians or iranians to achive their goals.
    Every war has a winner, and the winner will take it all

    • Sep 27, 2017 @ 17:44 at 17:44
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      Yes it is happening before our eyes.
      The winner will be Jesus Christ who will destroy the Northern Invader. Ezek. 38:22 etc.

  • Oct 15, 2017 @ 7:57 at 7:57
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    Only one group promotes so much evil. The self chosen.

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