South Front: The pushes to Raqqa and Fallujah, tensions in Iraq's Shia community

South Front
Thu, 02 Jun 2016 23:49 UTC

The Campaign for Fallujah amid Tensions in Iraq's Shia Community

International Military Review - Syria, June 2

International Military Review - Syria, June 1

International Military Review - Syria, May 31

International Military Review - Syria & Iraq, May 30

Foreign Policy Diary - Global Cyber Standoff

Comment: There's another angle to the SDF's push to Manbij in Aleppo province (coming right after Daesh took back some territory from U.S.- and Turkey-backed 'rebels' in northwestern Aleppo):

"The speed of the SDF units' movement into Manbij shows that the liberation of the area under the control of the SDF, and with it the strategically important towns of Azaz and Marea in its west, is just a matter of time," said Selcen, who was the Turkish consul in Erbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan.

"The liberation of Manbij enables the creation of a corridor between the Kurdish regions of Afrin and Kobani. Or course, this step would have a negative impact for Ankara and its Syrian politics. Nevertheless, I get the impression that Ankara has toned down rhetoric regarding Manbij."

Erdogan apparently asked the Americans about the operation on Manbij and was told that the forces are led by a majority of Arabs, not Kurds. Perhaps that will ease Erdogan's displeasure?