Another geopolitical test of the war
After Aleppo a northern Syrian city that is one of the Islamic State’s last enclaves in the country is under assault by military forces bearing down from all sides.
Al Bab, which had roughly 100,000 people when the war began in 2011, is the last urban area held by the Islamic State west of its de facto capital, Raqqa, where the group remains entrenched.
The complication is that the advancing forces, the Syrian Army and pro-government militias backed by Russia, and Syrian rebels backed by Turkey, are sworn enemies.
Their simultaneous race to seize the city, Al Bab, has turned into a test of how a global realignment of powers supporting Syria’s antagonists could help reshape or end the nearly six-year-old conflict.
Russia and Turkey have swerved in recent months from outright hostility to working more closely in a diplomatic effort aimed at resolving the conflict, after fitful and repeated failures led by the United Nations and the United States.
But in the battle for Al Bab, Russia and Turkey must transform their newfound understanding into results on the ground. The coming days will however show if the Syrian foes, who do not always obey their patrons, will work together for the first time against the Islamic State, or drive out the extremists and then try to kill one another.
The answers could shed light on whether Russia and Turkey have the leverage to push the opposing Syrian sides into substantive negotiations and real change. Pentagon, FBI and Jewish lobby very deceitfully have attained their goals making Muslims fight against Muslims.
These developments come amid a broader geopolitical reordering of the participants in the tangled Syria conflict. After the government’s crushing victory over rebel fighters in the city of Aleppo late year, and the election of President Trump, who has called for closer American-Russian coordination, Russia has accelerated efforts to lead international diplomacy on Syria.
There are high hopes in Damascus that the United States will move closer to a de facto alliance with Russia in Syria and abandon its military support for groups seeking the ouster of President Bashar al Asad.
But major questions remain, particularly concerning Trump, who has sent conflicting signals. He has suggested he will pay less attention to what many rights advocates have described as Assad’s brutality and more on working with Russia on counterterrorism. At the same time Trump has begun to escalate tensions with Iran, the Syrian government’s other main backer and closest ally. WHILE alleging Assad about brutality, Trump should always keep in mind that the actual source of brutality is Washington, who is the main cause of conflict and war in Syria as well in the region. Rather, a monster for the world peace.
Turkish prospect of increased, if indirect, coordination between the United States and Russia, gives the increased cooperation between Turkey and Russia.
Russia insisted on the terms for occupying Al Bab in a deal reached last month in Astana, Kazakhstan. Russia wanted pro-government forces to take the city in part to seize water facilities that could help alleviate shortages. But it remains unclear if all rebel forces backed by Turkey in the Al Bab siege have accepted those terms. Talks allowing pro-government forces to occupy Al Bab could be mortifying for the rebels before a new round of peace talks scheduled to start on Feb. 20 in Geneva. But with shrinking options, the rebels are increasingly wedded to the wishes of their Turkish backers.
To the east of Al Bab, a mix of Kurdish and Arab militias have been advancing in an attempt to encircle Raqqa. In anticipation of an assault on the city, the United States said it would add 200 American military advisers aiding the forces dominated by Kurds. The addition, approved under Trump, has reinforced an Obama administration policy that infuriated Turkey, which sees the Kurds as its main enemy, even as Trump seeks to improve relations with Erdogan.
To the southeast, in Deir al-Zour, the Islamic State’s other Syrian territory; both the government and the opposition are trying to organ ise new Arab forces to fight the extremist group, with Russia and the United States manoeuvring for leadership.
Airstrikes in recent months have hit not only fighters linked to Al Qaeda but also some members of rebel groups working with them, a practice long followed by Russia but opposed by the United States. While it is not clear whose warplanes carried out every strike, they are seen as blurring the distinction between American and Russian air operations.
In southern Syria, American-backed rebels have agreed to a new truce with government forces. The agreement followed the Astana talks, where rebel leaders expanded their discussions with Russian officials, with some later visiting Moscow.
Taken together, the developments point toward a gradual albeit unsteady reconciliation between the American and Russian objectives in Syria. But major diplomatic obstacles remain. Mr. Assad will not necessarily agree with what Russia wants of him, some power sharing and a constitution that diminishes presidential authority. His main backer, Iran, takes a harder line in favour of preserving his power.
And as the Trump administration moves closer to Russia’s Syria policy, rights groups and other critics say the United States risks complicity with Syrian government abuses.
Still, some analysts say Russia appears to be the only participant willing and able to bring the conflict to a resolution. It will also strengthen the position of Russia, not only in the region but at the international forum.
The ulterior motives of America has killed millions of innocent citizens, millions displaced, destroyed number of cities, largest destruction after world-war-II, and disturbed the peace of the region putting Muslim world at high alert.
America very deceitfully and treacherously managed Muslims fighting Muslims, killing each other. It’s so sad Muslim block could not real ise the American intentions.
