Razor's Edge: in a very uncertain and dangerous situation Yesterday, I’d posted news that SAA had made advances in Mayadeen- SAA Fights Way Into "ISIS Stronghold" Blow to US backed PKK/YPG/SDF Any action that is a blow to ISIS is also blow to the US remake the region agenda. Bearing that in mind, I’ll share some of the latest news on this situationThe linked article presents the assistance offered to SAA, by Russia, to enable the take back of Mayadeen, as an escalation against the US.
"Moscow strongly escalated on Friday its campaign against the US-led al-Tanf military base in eastern Syria and near the Iraqi border at a time when Russian warplanes supported regime forces that infiltrated in the city of Mayadeen, one of the ISIS strongholds in the east of Deir Ezzor.
That is quite possibly how the US sees this recent advance. As reported, quoting from yesterday's post :
"Last week the US-led military coalition said its Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) allies would attempt to seize Mayadeen before the army."
However, Mayadeen is in Syria. It's a Syrian location. And has Syrian's resident there. Certainly the Syrians have the right to take back the area, their territory, from terrorists... Despite whatever vile moves the US had planned. As of yesterday's news it looks as if SAA has made definite advancements!
This frame grab provided on Thursday, October 5, 2017, by the Russian defense ministry press service, shows what they say is a long-range Kalibr cruise missile launched by the a Russian submarine in the Mediterranean
From Thursday- Breaking: Russian Kalibrs Fired From Mediterranean- Supporting Syrian Army
"Spokesperson of the Russian Defense Ministry, Major General Igor Konashenkov said in a statement on Friday: “In reality, al-Tanf has turned into a 100-kilometer ‘black hole’ on the Syrian-Jordanian state border. And, instead of the Free Syrian Army, it is spewing ISIS mobile groups who make inroads to launch subversive terrorist operations against Syrian troops and civilians.”
How many times has Russia stated the US is fully supporting ISIS? I've lost count. Though it's certain to have not been said as often by them as by myself.Mr Fisk didn't have the courage to say it straight out- Fisk on the US sanctioned Killing of Russian Lieutenant Asparov So kudos to the Russia Major General for his straightforwardness!
"The spokesperson said that every time the Syrian regime forces, supported by Russian warplanes, advance towards the east of the ISIS stronghold in Deir Ezzor, the US presence in the background lines at al-Tanf base becomes a bigger problem.In a surprising development that could further escalate tensions between US and Russian forces in Syria, coalition jets shelled on Friday a convoy of the Syrian regime and its allied foreign militias in the al-Tanf area"
Did read this news yesterday evening:
“Sources in the Syrian opposition told the news agency that a coalition aircraft fired warning shots when a regime convoy attempted to advance from the west of Al-Tanf, which is controlled by the Free Syrian Army. When the convoy ignored the warning, it was targeted directly. A number of Syrian soldiers and other fighters travelling in the convoy were killed or wounded"
This could escalate. Dangerously.