https://southfront.org/syrian-war-report-may-18-2017-competition-for-syrian-iraqi-border/
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Voiceover by Harold Hoover
The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and its allies, backed up by Russian warplanes and attack helicopters, have made fresh advances against ISIS terrorists in the province of Homs. They have liberated the Tafaha hills area within about 20 km northwest of the Tiyas Airbase and engaged ISIS units near the Arak gas field near Palmyra.
ISIS claimed that its members had been able to hit two SAA battle tanks with anti-tank guided missiles near the Palmyra silos. The fate of the crews is unknown.
According to pro-government sources, some 15 ISIS members were killed in the recent clashes.
In the province of Aleppo, government forces, led by the SAA’s Tiger Forces, have liberated Jarah Kabir, Durubiyah al-Kabirah, Nafiiyah, Atira, Atira Cattle Farm, Mazyounat al-Humur, Tall Hassan, and Jubb al-Ali from ISIS terrorists.
The SAA is advancing towards the strategic ISIS-held town of Maskanah. Multiple airstrikes against ISIS targets were reported in this countryside.
Meanwhile, reports appeared that the Desert Hawks Brigade had arrived the Ithriyah-Aleppo road area in order to support the SAA’s efforts against ISIS in central Syria.
The SAA has repelled several fierce ISIS attacks in the city of Deir Ezzor. According to the Syrian Defense Ministry, 28 terrorists were killed and 30 others were wounded during the clashes. The SAA also managed to destroy a tank, a BMP-1 vehicle, and 2 technicals armed with 23mm guns.
As ISIS is collapsing in Syria and Iraq, sides involved in the conflicts have increased their efforts in the area of the Syrian-Iraqi border. Western-backed militant groups, supported by the US-led coalition’s special forces and airpower, increased their activity in southern Syria.
US-led forces are pretending to control the whole Syrian-Iraqi border area south of the Euphrates. However, while al-Bukamal remains under the ISIS rule, this is not possible.
Another important target is Deir Ezzor. The Deir Ezzor countryside is full of oil fields and if US-backed forces reach it they would impose control over these important assets. Deir Ezzor and Raqqah remain the only cities, which US-backed forces can capture under a pretext of combating terrorists.
At the same time, Syrian government forces also increased operations in the southeastern Syria desert and the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) have expanded efforts aimed at combating ISIS near the border with Syria.
According to Iraqi sources and some experts, the PMU is a force having the potential to come to power in Iraq after the defeat of ISIS. The PMU consists mostly of Arabs who share a regional vision similar to that of the Damascus government.
The main goal of the US and its allies is to prevent a situation where the PMU could dominate in Iraq or to build a large buffer zone between Iraq and Syria dividing potential allies.
The global elites are successively opposed to the creation of a united Arab entity in the Middle East. In this light, the US-backed militant advance “against ISIS” along the Syrian-Iraqi border is just a tool to achieve some geopolitical goals in the Middle East.
US Air Force Attack and Destroys Syrian army at Syrian-Iraqi Border.
Actually it was an attack on pro-Syrian government forces. But yes its a disgrace either way. And I can almost guarantee there will be no response by Russia about it. The Syrian government if they are able to (doubtful) will have to respond on their own. Their “allies” are constantly “found lacking” when it comes to helping then against the US’s aggression. A total disgrace.But a perfect example of why North Korea’s is the only “sane” method to deal with US aggression. Any country that doesn’t have nuclear (or any other WMD) weapons,and is not willing to use them if threatened. Needs to put on their “slave collar”. Because as sure as the sun rises and sets,they will fall to the empires aggression,sooner rather than later.
https://www.rt.com/usa/388864-us-led-coalition-confirms-strike-syria/
Why doesn’t Russia protect pro-Syrian government forces or even regular Syrian government armed forces?
Are they not allies of Russia ?
Is there no possibility of embedding Russian troops or to retaliate against US backed rebels to dissuade the Americans from bombing Syrian troops ?
How can Russia be seriously considered an ally by any one on Earth if they are not willing to protect anyone ?
How long will this global process of purely selfish economic and geo-strategic realpolitik last ?
When will the time return where people, nations and tribes intermarried, created meaningful alliances and actually went to battle and actually died for one another and for their common ideological, moral and ethical beliefs.
If you are not willing to truly commit to your allies as one of the most powerful nations on Earth, how do you expect for smaller, weaker or corrupter nations not to side with the Western-Zionist Empire who is willing to commit and use their armed forces around the globe ?
Sometimes I truly believe that the nations of this Earth truly deserve the nuclear war they are probably heading towards at the moment.
Just the fact that the other regional powers (Russia, China, Pakistan, India, Brazil, etc.) have all accepted and participated in the dollar economic monetary system, is the greatest crime they have committed onto themselves and the entire world.
Here is what one of the “militants” (a PC word for terrorists) told the press about the US air force attack on Syrian forces yesterday:
“We notified the coalition that we were being attacked by the Syrian Army and Iranians in this point and the coalition came and destroyed the advancing convoy,” Reuters cited a militant representative as saying.”
So the important question to be asked now is. If the Syrian forces are being attacked by pro-US terrorists. Can they contact the Russians and their air force come and destroy the US backed terrorists? There is only one right answer to that question. And if the answer is “no”,the wrong answer . Then the Russian forces in Syria are useless and need to leave and stop making the Syrians thing they are their allies.Because a “no” answer,says they aren’t.
https://www.rt.com/news/388888-us-strike-syria-forces/
US-led Coalition Carried Out Airstrikes On Syrian Army Convoy Advancing Towards Iraqi Border
A Jordanian warplane operating under the US-led coalition carried out airstrikes against a Syrian Arab Army (SAA) convoy advancing along the Al-Tanf-Damascus-Baghdad international road. The airstrikes targeted Syrian forces in Al-Shuhaimi area, 50 km from the town of Al-Tanf located at the Syrian-Iraqi border.
The airstrikes destroyed two battle tanks, and damaged a Shilka vehicle, several pickups and trucks. Six SAA fighters lost their life and 3 were injured.
According to some US defense official, cited by the Russian state-run news agency Sputink, the US coalition commander considered the Syrian army as a threat to coalition troops.
https://southfront.org/us-led-coalition-carried-out-aairstrikes-on-syrian-army-convoy-advancing-towards-iraqi-border/
“A Jordanian warplane operating under the US-led coalition ”
So a Jordanian pilot under the cover of being part of the “US-led coalition “. Dropped bombs on troops in his neighboring country.That actually is worse than if it had been a US pilot. And directly calls for retaliation from the Syrian government. Whether they will is another story. But that they “should” is beyond question. Sooner or later those fellow Arab states that join the US against their neighbors need to be “dealt” with in the harshest measures possible.I hope if Syria can triumph against the aggression they are suffering now. That they deliver the retribution to Jordan that is called for.