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Why is the U.S. targeting the Syrian Armed Forces?
On June 6th, 2017 the US coalition conducted an airstrike against the Syrian Army on a road leading to the town of at-Tanf in eastern Homs province. The airstrike aided ISIS advancement.
The Syrian Army was cutting off ISIS supply lines and halting ISIS advancement. The US coalition's airstrike enabled ISIS to advance and keep their supply line open.
The following are battles fought against ISIS by the Syrian Armed Forces in the last 48 hours. It would fill several pages if I gave a full account of one week of battles against ISIS, there are too many to report on, but this will give you an idea of what the Syrian forces are dealing with -- and why the US coalition should not be hindering them.
Keep in mind that these are only battles against ISIS, and not battles against al-Qaeda's coalition army, nor the other nine terrorist armies inside Syria (for list see: Syrian Opposition Groups Defined ).
June 7th
Hama Province
After monitoring ISIS vehicle movement leaving from their command center in the town of Uqerbat, Syrian forces were able to carry out air strikes and conduct intensive attacks on their positions. Large numbers of ISIS members were killed and their armored vehicles destroyed.
An army unit shot down ISIS reconnaissance aircraft near the oil line near the town of Aqareb. Terrorist Qasem al-Sharkas was identified among the dead ISIS members.
The Syrian Army prevented an attempt by ISIS to advance into the Ithriyah district of the eastern Hama countryside. Two ISIS vehicles tried to enter Ithriyah while escaping from east Hama to Raqqa. All ISIS fighters in the vehicles were killed.
Homs Province
The Syrian Armed Forces made gains against ISIS in eastern Homs near Palmyra and liberated Al-‘Alb, Bi’r Dahlon and Sharat Dahlon. The Syrian forces also recaptured the Mustadirah mountain chain from ISIS.
Syrian Army units established control on the Tal al-Fara region in the eastern countryside after killing a large number of ISIS members and destroying their vehicles.
Army units re-established control over the Zenobia Resort, killing members of ISIS and destroying their weapons.
Raqqa Province
The Syrian Air Force destroyed ISIS positions and their armored vehicles in the villages of Deir Mleihan, Debsi Afnan and al-Qadisiya. Dozens of the terrorists were killed.
Several ISIS vehicles were destroyed during hits on ISIS positions near Wahiba Kabira village on the border with Raqqa.
Aleppo Province
The Syrian Army liberated Maskana from ISIS, but ISIS fighters who survived the battle were able to escape into Raqqa.
Sweida Province
Syrian Army units foiled an attack by ISIS at al-Zoluf Dam.
Deir Ezzor
Army units foiled ISIS attacks on the southern axis of Deir Ezzor city, inflicting heavy losses on ISIS members.
Army units foiled an ISIS attack at Umm Abboud and Syriatel leaving most of the terrorists dead.
A number of ISIS vehicles and gatherings were destroyed in airstrikes at Talet Brouk and Talet al-Rasad.
June 6th
Deir Ezzor Province
ISIS launched an intense attack on the Syrian Army's defense lines. Approximately 50 ISIS militants were killed and several of their vehicles were destroyed. One of the Islamic State's top field commanders was killed in the battle. The dead commander was a Belgian national, Abu Omar Al-Belgiki, who was responsible for planning terrorist attacks in Europe and training terrorist elements to conduct those attacks.
Deir Ezzor city
ISIS sent waves of young adolescent males across several points in an attempt to capture the eastern part of Deir Ezzor. Fighting between the adolescents and Syrian forces was intense for close to 24 hours. Though a difficult battle emotionally, due to the ISIS members being so young, the Syrian forces were able to hold onto Syriatel Hill, Sannoof Hill, Barook Hill and the Panorama rotary. Approximately 50 ISIS members were killed and six trucks equipped with machine guns were destroyed.
Hama Province
The Syrian Armed Forces launched an assault on ISIS in an attempt to secure a main supply route. In the battle, Syrian forces liberated the towns of Rasim el-Teneh and aL-Maksar al-Shamali.
Homs Province
Syrian Armed Forces were able to hold their positions against a surprise ISIS attack. Five ISIS members were killed, two 32mm gun mounted vehicles were destroyed and weapons and ammunition were confiscated. Syrian Forces also expelled ISIS from hills northeast of the ancient city of Palmyra.
Syrian Forces defended roads surrounding Palmyra that lead to the city of Deir Ezzor, where Syrian Forces are attempting to repel non-stop attacks by ISIS. Syrian forces were able to liberate al-Alb, Bir Dahlon and Sharat Dahlon along the main road to Deir Ezzor. Approximately 30 ISIS members were killed and five heavy combat vehicles were destroyed.
Raqqa Province
The Syrian Army re-entered Raqqa province after liberating six villages from ISIS.
Aleppo Province
The Syrian Army gained full control over the eastern countryside of Aleppo. The operation took almost two weeks to conclude and ended with removing ISIS strongholds from the Aleppo-Raqqa border. This large-scale advancement and removal of ISIS on this day concludes the liberation of more than 3,000 square kilometers of territory in eastern Aleppo.
On June 6th, 2017 the US coalition conducted an airstrike against the Syrian Army on a road leading to the town of at-Tanf in eastern Homs province. The airstrike aided ISIS advancement.
The Syrian Army was cutting off ISIS supply lines and halting ISIS advancement. The US coalition's airstrike enabled ISIS to advance and keep their supply line open.
The following are battles fought against ISIS by the Syrian Armed Forces in the last 48 hours. It would fill several pages if I gave a full account of one week of battles against ISIS, there are too many to report on, but this will give you an idea of what the Syrian forces are dealing with -- and why the US coalition should not be hindering them.
Keep in mind that these are only battles against ISIS, and not battles against al-Qaeda's coalition army, nor the other nine terrorist armies inside Syria (for list see: Syrian Opposition Groups Defined ).
June 7th
Hama Province
After monitoring ISIS vehicle movement leaving from their command center in the town of Uqerbat, Syrian forces were able to carry out air strikes and conduct intensive attacks on their positions. Large numbers of ISIS members were killed and their armored vehicles destroyed.
An army unit shot down ISIS reconnaissance aircraft near the oil line near the town of Aqareb. Terrorist Qasem al-Sharkas was identified among the dead ISIS members.
The Syrian Army prevented an attempt by ISIS to advance into the Ithriyah district of the eastern Hama countryside. Two ISIS vehicles tried to enter Ithriyah while escaping from east Hama to Raqqa. All ISIS fighters in the vehicles were killed.
Homs Province
The Syrian Armed Forces made gains against ISIS in eastern Homs near Palmyra and liberated Al-‘Alb, Bi’r Dahlon and Sharat Dahlon. The Syrian forces also recaptured the Mustadirah mountain chain from ISIS.
Syrian Army units established control on the Tal al-Fara region in the eastern countryside after killing a large number of ISIS members and destroying their vehicles.
Army units re-established control over the Zenobia Resort, killing members of ISIS and destroying their weapons.
Raqqa Province
The Syrian Air Force destroyed ISIS positions and their armored vehicles in the villages of Deir Mleihan, Debsi Afnan and al-Qadisiya. Dozens of the terrorists were killed.
Several ISIS vehicles were destroyed during hits on ISIS positions near Wahiba Kabira village on the border with Raqqa.
Aleppo Province
The Syrian Army liberated Maskana from ISIS, but ISIS fighters who survived the battle were able to escape into Raqqa.
Sweida Province
Syrian Army units foiled an attack by ISIS at al-Zoluf Dam.
Deir Ezzor
Army units foiled ISIS attacks on the southern axis of Deir Ezzor city, inflicting heavy losses on ISIS members.
Army units foiled an ISIS attack at Umm Abboud and Syriatel leaving most of the terrorists dead.
A number of ISIS vehicles and gatherings were destroyed in airstrikes at Talet Brouk and Talet al-Rasad.
June 6th
Deir Ezzor Province
ISIS launched an intense attack on the Syrian Army's defense lines. Approximately 50 ISIS militants were killed and several of their vehicles were destroyed. One of the Islamic State's top field commanders was killed in the battle. The dead commander was a Belgian national, Abu Omar Al-Belgiki, who was responsible for planning terrorist attacks in Europe and training terrorist elements to conduct those attacks.
Deir Ezzor city
ISIS sent waves of young adolescent males across several points in an attempt to capture the eastern part of Deir Ezzor. Fighting between the adolescents and Syrian forces was intense for close to 24 hours. Though a difficult battle emotionally, due to the ISIS members being so young, the Syrian forces were able to hold onto Syriatel Hill, Sannoof Hill, Barook Hill and the Panorama rotary. Approximately 50 ISIS members were killed and six trucks equipped with machine guns were destroyed.
Hama Province
The Syrian Armed Forces launched an assault on ISIS in an attempt to secure a main supply route. In the battle, Syrian forces liberated the towns of Rasim el-Teneh and aL-Maksar al-Shamali.
Homs Province
Syrian Armed Forces were able to hold their positions against a surprise ISIS attack. Five ISIS members were killed, two 32mm gun mounted vehicles were destroyed and weapons and ammunition were confiscated. Syrian Forces also expelled ISIS from hills northeast of the ancient city of Palmyra.
Syrian Forces defended roads surrounding Palmyra that lead to the city of Deir Ezzor, where Syrian Forces are attempting to repel non-stop attacks by ISIS. Syrian forces were able to liberate al-Alb, Bir Dahlon and Sharat Dahlon along the main road to Deir Ezzor. Approximately 30 ISIS members were killed and five heavy combat vehicles were destroyed.
Raqqa Province
The Syrian Army re-entered Raqqa province after liberating six villages from ISIS.
Aleppo Province
The Syrian Army gained full control over the eastern countryside of Aleppo. The operation took almost two weeks to conclude and ended with removing ISIS strongholds from the Aleppo-Raqqa border. This large-scale advancement and removal of ISIS on this day concludes the liberation of more than 3,000 square kilometers of territory in eastern Aleppo.
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The number of civilian areas liberated by the Syrian Army since January 2017 has reached 239.
As well as liberating towns and neighborhoods via combat, many important agreements have been made to release civilians held captive by terrorists. The Syrian Army and Jaish al-Islam (The Islamic Army), negotiated an agreement in which hundreds of civilians in Ghouta, in northeastern Damascus, were released from captivity. |
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Jaish al-Islam is a large coalition army who fights in collaboration with other terror groups and is mostly funded by Saudi Arabia.
Jabhat al-Nusra (al-Qaeda) and the Free Syrian Army (created by the Muslim Brotherhood, armed by the U.S.) joined Jaish al-Islam in several areas of Syria, one of which is the Ghouta region of Damascus.
The civilians released had been captured by al-Qaeda and the Free Syrian Army in 2013. Then in November 2015, the civilians were placed in cages in visible areas in order to prevent Syrian forces from conducting strikes. In 2016, Jaish al-Islam joined with al-Qaeda and the Free Syrian Army to fully control Ghouta.
After months of fighting, Syrian forces were able to fully encircle Ghouta thus forcing Jaish al-Islam to negotiate and release civilians in exchange for being allowed to leave Ghouta.
The Syrian government has a long-held policy of allowing terrorists who give up their weapons the opportunity to vacate without harm. A similar negotiation took place at the end of last year in Aleppo when civilians were liberated from the hands of al-Qaeda and the Free Syrian Army. Terrorists who put down their weapons are allowed to vacate and are given free transportation out.
The civilians of Ghouta were taken to hospitals where their conditions were monitored. Civilians who have been held by various terrorist groups are kept at near starvation and are not allowed humanitarian aid or medicine.
Many of the released civilians had been captured just northeast of Douma, where a massive massacre of civilians by al-Qaeda and the Free Syrian Army took place in 2013.
Jabhat al-Nusra (al-Qaeda) and the Free Syrian Army (created by the Muslim Brotherhood, armed by the U.S.) joined Jaish al-Islam in several areas of Syria, one of which is the Ghouta region of Damascus.
The civilians released had been captured by al-Qaeda and the Free Syrian Army in 2013. Then in November 2015, the civilians were placed in cages in visible areas in order to prevent Syrian forces from conducting strikes. In 2016, Jaish al-Islam joined with al-Qaeda and the Free Syrian Army to fully control Ghouta.
After months of fighting, Syrian forces were able to fully encircle Ghouta thus forcing Jaish al-Islam to negotiate and release civilians in exchange for being allowed to leave Ghouta.
The Syrian government has a long-held policy of allowing terrorists who give up their weapons the opportunity to vacate without harm. A similar negotiation took place at the end of last year in Aleppo when civilians were liberated from the hands of al-Qaeda and the Free Syrian Army. Terrorists who put down their weapons are allowed to vacate and are given free transportation out.
The civilians of Ghouta were taken to hospitals where their conditions were monitored. Civilians who have been held by various terrorist groups are kept at near starvation and are not allowed humanitarian aid or medicine.
Many of the released civilians had been captured just northeast of Douma, where a massive massacre of civilians by al-Qaeda and the Free Syrian Army took place in 2013.
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Map: In green is the area that has been held by al-Qaeda and the Free Syrian Army since 2013. Douma, in the small red circle is where the massacre took place. Damascus, in the large red circle, is where rescued civilians were taken and placed in hospitals. |
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