Syrian Democratic Forces. Raqqa: why Russia rejects the agreement between ISIS and the democratic forces of Syria

14.08.2019

Syrian Democratic Forces or Syrian Democratic Forces(SDS) or Syrian Democratic Army(Arab. قوات سوريا الديمقراطية‎ ‎, Kurdish. Hêzên Sûriya Demokratîk, English. Syrian Democratic Forces, SDF) - an alliance of armed opposition forces in Syria, formed on October 10, 2015. Includes the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG and YPJ), various Arab opposition groups included in Syrian Arab Coalition, as well as Assyrian, Armenian and Turkmen troops. Operates in the northern regions of Syria. The main stated goal is the fight against the Islamic State. The unification into the Syrian Democratic Forces was a continuation of the joint operations of the Kurdish self-defense and part of the moderate forces of the Free Syrian Army within the framework of “ Euphrates Volcano" The US government announced support for the alliance within the framework of new strategy fight against ISIS. As of the spring of 2016, the SDA forces numbered about 25 thousand Kurdish militias and about 5 thousand Arabs.

US support

During a confidential visit to Syria on May 21, 2016, Joseph Votel, head of the US Middle East Command, met with SDA leaders. Votel approved the training of local self-defense forces by US military advisers. Representatives of the SDA, as well as local tribal leaders, for their part, expressed a desire for more assistance from the United States, including in terms of supplies heavy weapons.

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Excerpt characterizing the Syrian Democratic Forces

An hour later the whole hunt was at the porch. Nikolai, with a stern and serious look, showing that there was no time to deal with trifles now, walked past Natasha and Petya, who were telling him something. He inspected all parts of the hunt, sent the pack and hunters ahead to the race, sat down on his red bottom and, whistling the dogs of his pack, set off through the threshing floor into the field leading to the Otradnensky order. The old count's horse, a game-colored mering called Bethlyanka, was led by the count's stirrup; he himself had to go straight in the droshky to the hole left for him.
Of all the hounds, 54 dogs were bred, under which 6 people went out as handlers and catchers. In addition to the masters, there were 8 greyhound hunters, who were followed by more than 40 greyhounds, so that with the master's packs about 130 dogs and 20 horse hunters went out into the field.
Each dog knew its owner and name. Each hunter knew his business, place and purpose. As soon as they left the fence, everyone, without noise or conversation, stretched out evenly and calmly along the road and field leading to the Otradnensky forest.
The horses walked across the field as if walking on a fur carpet, occasionally splashing through puddles as they crossed the roads. The foggy sky continued to descend imperceptibly and evenly to the ground; the air was quiet, warm, soundless. From time to time one could hear the whistling of a hunter, the snoring of a horse, the blow of an arapnik, or the yelp of a dog that was not moving in its place.
Having ridden about a mile away, five more horsemen with dogs appeared from the fog to meet the Rostov hunt. A fresh, handsome old man with a large gray mustache rode ahead.
“Hello, uncle,” Nikolai said when the old man drove up to him.
“It’s a real march!... I knew it,” said the uncle (he was a distant relative, a poor neighbor of the Rostovs), “I knew that you couldn’t stand it, and it’s good that you’re going.” Pure march! (This was my uncle’s favorite saying.) - Take the order now, otherwise my Girchik reported that the Ilagins are eagerly standing in Korniki; You have them - pure march! - they will take the brood under your nose.
- That's where I'm going. What, to bring down the flocks? - Nikolai asked, - get out...
The hounds were united into one pack, and uncle and Nikolai rode side by side. Natasha, wrapped in scarves, from under which a lively face with sparkling eyes could be seen, galloped up to them, accompanied by Petya and Mikhaila, the hunter who was not far behind her, and the guard who was assigned as her nanny. Petya laughed at something and beat and pulled his horse. Natasha deftly and confidently sat on her black Arab and with a faithful hand, without effort, reined him in.
Uncle looked disapprovingly at Petya and Natasha. He did not like to combine pampering with serious matter hunting.
- Hello, uncle, we're on our way! - Petya shouted.
“Hello, hello, but don’t run over the dogs,” the uncle said sternly.
- Nikolenka, what a lovely dog, Trunila! “He recognized me,” Natasha said about her favorite hound dog.
“Trunila, first of all, is not a dog, but a survivor,” thought Nikolai and looked sternly at his sister, trying to make her feel the distance that should have separated them at that moment. Natasha understood this.
“Don’t think, uncle, that we will interfere with anyone,” said Natasha. We will remain in our place and not move.
“And a good thing, countess,” said the uncle. “Just don’t fall off your horse,” he added: “otherwise it’s pure marching!” - there’s nothing to hold on to.

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Operation "Wrath of the Euphrates" led by Syrian democratic forces(SDF), supported by the International Coalition, has reached the final stage in the operation to liberate Raqqa, which is the de facto capital of the Islamic State ( prohibited in the Russian Federation - approx. ed.).

US-led forces expanded their zone of control from the village of al-Hamrat in the eastern Raqqa countryside to the village of al-Salhabiya in the west. She also advanced 25 kilometers into Raqqa, liberating many settlements in the northern countryside, thereby blocking the militants from the north. The city is surrounded on three sides, with the exception of the southern direction, which remains open towards the desert.

The Syrian Democratic Forces are located three kilometers north of the city of Raqqa. Syrian elite forces, together with the SDF, seized control of a gas processing plant in the north-west of the city. The Raqqa Revolutionary Front, part of the SDF, raised the flag of the Syrian revolution on Al-Bayya Hill in the northeast of the city. In addition, the SDF managed to expel ISIS militants from the village of Kdeiran in the west, and also took control of Al-Mansour in the north, as a result of which all roads to the city of Raqqa were cut off for militants. ISIS fighters have no choice but to try to cross the river in the south in boats in search of support and supplies, which means a delay in their movements. In addition, drones monitor 24/7 routes through which terrorists could exit Raqqa, including the Euphrates River.

As the month of Ramadan began, the Wrath of the Euphrates campaign, with the help of American B-52 bombers, fired dozens of missiles into the city, causing Raqqa to become a living hell. American and British artillery stationed at the sugar refinery north of the city strike the city. The civilian population of Raqqa is in a state of panic, fear and confusion. Civilians are caught in the trap of war as ISIS prevents them from leaving the city and the international coalition attacks missile strikes. The humanitarian situation in Raqqa has deteriorated significantly due to the lack of medical personnel, medicines and a complete power cut two days ago, as well as a lack of fuel and flour.

Civilians were killed in airstrikes during Ramadan. Many were injured and more than 35 people died, including entire families, due to the collapse of buildings. People began burying the dead in public parks due to the difficulty of accessing the cemetery, which is located in the line of fire.

The Islamic State is trying to deny defeat and last attempt To boost the morale of its fighters, on the first day of Ramadan, it executed two people in a city market, claiming that they were soldiers of the Syrian Democratic Forces. In addition, ISIS militants staged a march through the city streets with shooting to celebrate the capture of the city of Marawi in the Philippines by Islamic State militants, believing that this victory was given by Allah, who would compensate for their losses.

ISIS reminds shopkeepers to only deal in dirhams and dinars, warning them to beware paper money, although at the same time it is allowed to deal with dollars when it comes to oil and taxes.

According to information received from Raqqa, a deal has been struck between SDF and ISIS forces under which Islamic State fighters and their families will be given safe passage to leave Raqqa and head to the south of the country. A spokesman for the Syrian Democratic Forces denies the existence of any agreement. Nevertheless, data from the scene indicate its existence, especially since transactions of this kind already existed before. Islamic State fighters will hand over the Euphrates River dam and the city of Tabqa to the Syrian Democratic Forces after the deal.

This will facilitate the start of the negotiation process. Local tribal leaders are fleeing areas liberated by SDF fighters. There are rumors that some influential tribes who joined ISIS militants have laid down their arms and shaved their beards because they were guaranteed safety. In addition, there is information about surveillance of ISIS fighters in areas controlled by the SDF and camps for internally displaced persons.

In turn, Russia issued threats to destroy a convoy of ISIS militants heading south. Since Russia is not a party to this agreement, it will continue to fight terrorism.

The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that on May 25 Russian aviation attacked columns of ISIS militants moving from Raqqa towards Syrian Palmyra after concluding an agreement with the SDF. Thus, Russia made it clear that it does not recognize the agreement between ISIS and the SDF, and also showed its reluctance to give the United States an easy victory in Raqqa. However, Russia does not want the war to be fought at the expense of civilian casualties. However, Moscow does not want to hear about agreements between the SDF and ISIS that guarantee the exit of ISIS militants from the city and is seeking to get rid of them in Raqqa so that they do not gain a foothold in the Syrian desert.

The spread of ISIS in the desert will cause another war, and the Russians do not want to fight in the desert because they are looking for an easy victory over the militants. In warfare in the desert there can be no winners and losers. It will be more like a war of attrition for government forces and units people's militia, as it has happened before. Thus, ISIS became " hot potatoes”, which the parties pass to each other. All these data suggest that Raqqa acts as a playing field for regional and international forces, whose actions could lead to the destruction of the city and the destruction of its inhabitants as the price of victory. This area is open for scoring in this game.

US Defense Secretary James Mattis said the casualties included civilian population in Syria are inevitable. This goes against every value that Americans said they would fight for. The horror of this statement is that it opens the way for the unhindered destruction of people under the pretext of “vital factor” and “collateral damage”.

ISIS has little time or options left: either continue fighting an already lost battle or head south along a safe passage towards the desert, which International coalition and the SDF was deliberately left for the militants. In addition, they may head towards other Syrian areas or Iraqi Al-Anbar to create a new headquarters for the organization. In any case, the Al-Badiya region will be the site of concentration of the Islamic State’s forces if the militants lose control of Raqqa.

The US needs to take action decisive action and then, perhaps, within a few days they will be able to complete the operation in Raqqa.

InoSMI materials contain assessments exclusively of foreign media and do not reflect the position of the InoSMI editorial staff.