The ISIS-linked news agency Amaq has released a photo report showing clashes with Syrian government forces near Humaymah village in the border area with Iraq.
The photo report is aimed to show that the terrorist group still has a strong presence in the border area despite the recent losses in Deir Ezzor province.
However, it’s clear that soon the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and its allies clar the Deir Ezzor countryside from ISIS units and will push towards the town of al-Bukamal in order to retake this ISIS stronghold on the border between Syria and Iraq. This will put an end to the official ISIS presence in the border area.
Shiny propaganda pics, like they are still winning. Just like the Germans did in the last year of WWII.
i dont think they dare to come out in the open just like that…..in the desert???come on….target practice for the airforce
AMN claimed it was SAA retreating and afterwrds IS retreated towards the E. Valley where they have cover.
One thing is clear. SAA has been beaten, but has not disappeared and the fight must be fought to the end. In north eastern Syria, both SAA and SDF have to avoid real clashes as those will only enable IS to regroup.
SDF has a clear priority, taking on IS to the east of the river. SAA has, or seems to have, a bifocal priority, taking on IS everywhere and take oil wells, even on the risk of clashes with SDF.
Seems to me SAA has to make a choice here as it cannot have both, at least not without a high risk of confrontation.
We will soon know the choice of SAA.
If a confrontation happens, SAA would just withdraw from Manbij area and give the Turks the green light. SDF is not as strong as they are portrayed to be. They have no social backing by the local population.
The Turks risk a confrontation with the US if they attack Manbij.
https://www.voanews.com/a/us-troops-in-manbij-to-deter-skirmishes-between-turks-kurds/3752065.html
Seems like this is a good idea to let them have a few goodies and track their locations and hide outs Then you can target all their munitions and also them. Looks like a brilliant strategy and we will expect those positions to be hit soon by bombardment.