© arab-reform.netFILE: Russian and Syrian soldiers during a rehearsal for a military parade at Hmeimim Air Base, Latakia, Syria, May 2016.
Russian forces commander in Syria arrives at a base to hold talks with the SDF and the Syrian government amid heightened tensions in the northeastern part of the country.
Russian forces commander in Syria arrives at a base to hold talks with the SDF and the Syrian government amid heightened tensions in the northeastern part of the country.
The meeting is meant to end heightened tensions in the Syrian cities of al-Hasakah and Qamishli in northeastern Syria.
This comes after SDF forces sieged several areas controlled by the Syrian Arab Army in northeastern Syria, where the majority of the region is under the control of the US-backed SDF, except for a few strategic enclaves.
The SDF siege has been ongoing for the past three days and is affecting the movement of Russian forces in Qamishli.
The US-backed SDF made the move after it accused the Syrian government of backing local tribes and clans that attacked its positions in the oil-rich Deir Ezzor governorate. The SDF has also arrested several Syrian Arab Army officers and soldiers outside the enclaves, in an attempt to exert pressure on tribal forces and prevent further attacks on their positions in the countryside.
Arab tribes reject SDF US presence
Arab tribes launched a wide-scale offensive, marking the second most severe offensive by the tribes since September 2023, with the aim of gaining full control over the Deir Ezzor countryside.
Although the SDF commands a far superior force than the Arab tribes and is expected to take back control of the liberated areas, the aim of the attack is to affirm the tribes' rejection of SDF and US forces' presence in the area.
The aim of the attack "is not territorial control but to affirm the tribes' rejection of the SDF and US forces' presence in the area, their control over oil and gas, and their influence on civil and military decisions," Al Mayadeen's sources added, stressing that the attack "is a form of popular resistance against this presence, which will continue until it is completely ended."
They also revealed that the SDF has "no popular support" in the area and that the locals "deal with them as a de facto force."
Comment: In just a few weeks Russia, and China, have had an impressive number of rather consequential meetings with a variety of nations, and groups, in and from the Middle East. In addition to this, some of the US partners in the region are showing signs of flipping their allegiances.
It seems this might be one reason why the US-Israel appear to be anxious to escalate the situation, before they lose anymore, and before the fallout of their action thus far bears anymore fruit. However, this desperation may also be hastening their isolation; and, ultimately, their demise: