US air, artillery strike Hizballah, Iranian forces in E. Syria
The US and Russia took military action in the last 48 hours to show the bit-players in the Syrian war that they are not calling the shots for the next moves. The objects of this lesson were the Assad regime, Turkey, Iran and Hizballah.
On Wednesday night and Thursday morning, Jan. 7-8, members of the US 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit fired M777 Howitzer guns, backed by air strikes, against Hizballah and pro-Iranian Shiite militia forces operating in the Deir ez-Zour region east of the Euphrates River. Russian forces may also have been involved in the clash, say sources in Washington. According to the official US-led coalition communique, pro-Assad forces attacked a headquarters of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) east of the Euphrates, which is the deconfliction line separating the US area of operations from that of Russia and the Assad regime, and suffered 100 dead in the US counter-attack.
DEBKAfile’s military and intelligence sources disclose that the official US communique revealed a small corner of the clandestine campaign US forces are currently waging against the Assad regime’s army and its pro-Iranian allies on two fronts east of the Euphrates River.
Deir ez-Zour: Here, the US is engaged in a concentrated effort to arm and supply logistics to the SDF and the Kurdish YPG for two missions: the fight against Islamic State and a solid front to contain the Syrian, Iranian and Hizballah forces operating in the region. DEBKA Weekly’s military sources reveal that, in this sector, the US contingent is not content with delivering training and supplies; it also provides artillery and air support, labeled “preventive fire,” to help the local forces keep Assad’s army and its allies pinned down in their positions. This holds them back from continuing their easterly advance to the Iraqi border. The slightest movement outside those lines draws sustained American fire.
Al-Tanf Front, SE Syria: This is the most active front. Hardly a day goes by without pressure from Russian special forces, Syrian troops, Hizballah, or local groups. A combined Russian-Syrian-Hizballah push has long sought to drive the Americans out of Al-Tanf, because it is the key to free and safe passage from southeastern Syria into western Iraq and northern Jordan. However, the US garrison isn’t budging – even when it comes under live artillery fire and air strikes.
On Thursday, Jan. 8, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan put in a call to Vladimir Putin in Moscow in search of an understanding with the Russian president on coordination between their air and air defense forces in Syria. DEBKAfile’s military sources report that the call had become urgent, since it looked as though Russia was preparing its air force and air defense systems to hit the Turkish warplanes that were providing air support for the Turkish anti-Kurdish operation in Afrin.
On Tuesday, Russian forces took over the Syrian Abu Dhuhour Airport east of Idlib and moved in Russian planes and helicopters. Elsewhere in Syria, they deployed their air defense weapons systems to new positions in the Aleppo and Idlib regions. A Syrian military spokesman announced that all parts of northern Syria were now covered by a comprehensive anti-missile shield. Afrin air space had suddenly become an effective no-fly zone for Turkish air force operations. This was Moscow’s punishment for the downing on Feb. 3, of a Russian Sukhoi 25 Frogfoot ground attack aircraft over the town of Maasran in northern Idlib by Hayat Tahrir Al Sham rebels, firing a ground-to-air man-portable missile. The Russians believe that Turkey gave the rebel group those missiles.
The Kremlin issued a communique after the Putin-Erdogan conversation stating that they had agreed to establish a Tension Reduction Zone in Idlib. But our sources report that the main part of the conversation was far from accord. Putin’s demanded that Erdogan call off the Turkish campaign in Afrin, repeating the demand issued Wednesday by Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani. Therefore, if Erdogan decides nevertheless to carry on with his anti-Kurd campaign in northern Syria, he will find himself not only up against the Trump administration, but also his allies, Russia and Iran.
DEBKA Weekly out on Friday, Feb. 9, offers an exclusive military analysis of the state of the Turkish operation in northern Syria. Subscribe now.
Great news to see that the evil Shia are fair game.
the sunni’s are the good? Hardly.
Not true .
Putin and Iran supports Turkish actions.
That’s the most powerful counter weight yo an independent US/Israeli puppet state right in the middle of Syria which will never happen. Impossible. No Syrians will allow an enemy to steal their land.
ASSAD’s allies have more than enough fire power to stop it as sure as the sun sets tomorrow
Very stupid comment
time for Chinese peacekeeping troops?
You’re a douche but I agree with you on the Chinese troops. This will mean more Chinese food in the region and faster delivery. Never mind all the new laundry shops that the FILTHY Mudslimes will need to clean the Camel prick juice from their clothes after all their lovemaking.
After daily reading of this site for the past few years, I am still saddened by the immature and offensive comments that are posted. Clearly there is more to growing up than just turning another year older. A good place to start is to keep the commandments given by God (the God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob). Pray for the peace of Israel.
yes, for many years there were no comments… now we get to see there’s a plethora of hate-filled xenophobes reading these articles
This won’t go bad, at all. No siree.
It is dificult to believe that an attack by the Syrian army and pro Iranian militias caused zero casualties, suffering 100 deaths in retaliation… Obviously such attack never happened. The houndred (?) Syrian victims were the outcome of American bombs, dropped without previous provocation.
Israel and the USA often kill many more than the number of casualties suffered, as they are both pioneers and and expert practitioners at terrorizing populations.
You know, to pretend that Israel and the USA are always innocent is foolish. Their sins are up to high heaven. But to read comments like yours regarding these countries when Islam roams the earth with a book that enshrines terrorism as a service to its moon god is sickening.
Yes, I agree. Israel is easy prey. Much too much emphasis on Israel and its shortcomings , when even if all Jews and Israel were to disappear overnight – the world would still be left with the regressive, aggressive cancer known as islam. Not enough focus on islam and its worldwide jihad that has been going on for centuries and has resulted in over 30,000 terror incidents since 9/11…this is the bigger picture…never mind the Jews and Israel, I’ll take them any day (USA too), warts and all…
911 was demolition. Controlled demolition. Whatever the rights and wrongs of all the religions and peoples of the earth, 911 is a false flag created by the allies to ignite this next phase of YINON.
Sure it’s not really “Canuckian Jew Hater” ? Maybe “Canuckian Islamist Sympathizer”? Sounds like it.
Canuckian my ass!
2018 – Feb 16th, 17th comes folks, hope you all are ready. YHWH ELOHIM is a bit ticked off over the whole kit and kabbuta. http://nephos.com/shaft.html
http://nephos.com/shaft.htm
Wait… why is Turkey still a NATO country? LMAO! Erdogan better just lick his wounds and take his toys back home. Nobody is putting up with his crap. Get back hom Erdogan, your mamma is calling you.
they control the bosphoros
I am not to sure you can call the Assad regime, Iran and Turkey ‘bit-players’, but I am glad that the Americans are standing firm. The Kurds are our natural allies, and should be supported. The Anti-Asssad anti- Islamisist groups are also worth of our support and protection.
Someday, Assad will be gone, and these groups (Kurds and the SDF) will become part of a pluralistic democratic nation. The Iranians and ISIS types are the enemies, along with Assad.
THE SDF had Islamists in their ranks,and now even the KUrds pay ex-ISIS fighters…and rob children and send them to the front.
Assad is not an angel,but we all know that he is only a friend of Iran because if not the Sunnis had killed them all long before(Alawites exists longer than Islam!So how can they be Muslims?also their woman dont know anything about the religion).Why they lived in the hills,like the Druze and Christs in this area?Because they fleed from Muslims!
How great great is it this have an actual President/Commander-In-Chief/Leader!
Yes, unlike the politically correct, Islamist pandering sissy Canuckian Prime Minister.
Russia will use Turkey against American interests in north of syria. This is crystal clear.
A qual dizia ao sexto anjo, que tinha a trombeta: Solta os quatro anjos, que estão presos junto ao grande rio Eufrates.
E foram soltos os quatro anjos, que estavam preparados para a hora, e dia, e mês, e ano, a fim de matarem a terça parte dos homens.
E o número dos exércitos dos cavaleiros era de duzentos milhões; e ouvi o número deles.
E assim vi os cavalos nesta visão; e os que sobre eles cavalgavam tinham couraças de fogo, e de jacinto, e de enxofre; e as cabeças dos cavalos eram como cabeças de leões; e de suas bocas saía fogo e fumaça e enxofre.
Por estes três foi morta a terça parte dos homens, isto é pelo fogo, pela fumaça, e pelo enxofre, que saíam das suas bocas.
Apocalipse 9:14-18 and E o sexto anjo derramou a sua taça sobre o grande rio Eufrates; e a sua água secou-se, para que se preparasse o caminho dos reis do oriente.
E da boca do dragão, e da boca da besta, e da boca do falso profeta vi sair três espíritos imundos, semelhantes a rãs.
Porque são espíritos de demônios, que fazem prodígios; os quais vão ao encontro dos reis da terra e de todo o mundo, para os congregar para a batalha, naquele grande dia do Deus Todo-Poderoso.
Apocalipse 16:12-14
Allah raped the dirty pig(Mohamad) in the cave of Hira