Battle for Manbij shows Syria’s civil war is almost over – and it looks like Bashar Assad has won

[don-o]

Battle for Manbij shows Syria’s civil war is almost over – and it looks like Bashar Assad has won

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/isis-syria-civil-war-bashar-al-assad-raqqa-manbij-turkey-russia-us-coalition-a7614706.html

Winners and losers are emerging in what may be the final phase of the Syrian civil war as anti-Isis forces prepare for an attack aimed at capturing Raqqa, the de facto Isis capital in Syria. Kurdish-led Syrian fighters say they have seized part of the road south of Raqqa, cutting Isis off from other its territory further east.

Isis is confronting an array of enemies approaching Raqqa, but these are divided, with competing agendas and ambitions. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), whose main fighting force is the Syrian Kurdish Popular Mobilisation Units (YPG), backed by the devastating firepower of the US-led air coalition, are now getting close to Raqqa and are likely to receive additional US support. The US currently has 500 Special Operations troops in north-east Syria and may move in American-operated heavy artillery to reinforce the attack on Raqqa.

This is bad news for Turkey, whose military foray into northern Syria called Operation Euphrates Shield began last August, as it is being squeezed from all sides.
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and America shows the flag

Pentagon: US troops play new role in Syria

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/pentagon-us-troops-play-new-role-in-syria/2017/03/06/a92a948e-029b-11e7-9d14-9724d48f5666_story.html?tid=ss_tw-bottom&utm_term=.e91b07cddc51

A Pentagon spokesman, Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, on Monday said the U.S. troops are on the western outskirts of Manbij to “reassure and deter,” and are making themselves visible by flying American flags. It is neither an offensive nor defense role, he said, but a mission designed to keep a lid on tensions that risk creating new levels of violence in northern Syria.

snip

The White House, in consultation with Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, is considering options for accelerating the fight against Islamic State militants in Syria. Key to that decision is the role of Turkey and the Syrian Kurdish force known as the YPG. The Pentagon considers the YPG its most effective local partner in Syria and has suggested arming them directly, despite Turkish government opposition.

[TomSea]

Battle for Manbij shows Syria’s civil war is almost over – and it looks like Bashar Assad has won

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/isis-syria-civil-war-bashar-al-assad-raqqa-manbij-turkey-russia-us-coalition-a7614706.html

Winners and losers are emerging in what may be the final phase of the Syrian civil war as anti-Isis forces prepare for an attack aimed at capturing Raqqa, the de facto Isis capital in Syria. Kurdish-led Syrian fighters say they have seized part of the road south of Raqqa, cutting Isis off from other its territory further east.

Isis is confronting an array of enemies approaching Raqqa, but these are divided, with competing agendas and ambitions. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), whose main fighting force is the Syrian Kurdish Popular Mobilisation Units (YPG), backed by the devastating firepower of the US-led air coalition, are now getting close to Raqqa and are likely to receive additional US support. The US currently has 500 Special Operations troops in north-east Syria and may move in American-operated heavy artillery to reinforce the attack on Raqqa.

This is bad news for Turkey, whose military foray into northern Syria called Operation Euphrates Shield began last August, as it is being squeezed from all sides.
snip
-----------------------------------
and America shows the flag

Pentagon: US troops play new role in Syria

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/pentagon-us-troops-play-new-role-in-syria/2017/03/06/a92a948e-029b-11e7-9d14-9724d48f5666_story.html?tid=ss_tw-bottom&utm_term=.e91b07cddc51

A Pentagon spokesman, Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, on Monday said the U.S. troops are on the western outskirts of Manbij to “reassure and deter,” and are making themselves visible by flying American flags. It is neither an offensive nor defense role, he said, but a mission designed to keep a lid on tensions that risk creating new levels of violence in northern Syria.

snip

The White House, in consultation with Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, is considering options for accelerating the fight against Islamic State militants in Syria. Key to that decision is the role of Turkey and the Syrian Kurdish force known as the YPG. The Pentagon considers the YPG its most effective local partner in Syria and has suggested arming them directly, despite Turkish government opposition.

Intriguing post and with a lot of variables, Raqqa still needs to be conquered, a few other loose ends.

[TomSea]

I am no expert and I never would say such a thing but some have said the war helps out Assad, there is a chance that continual war will be his best option to stay in power actually. I would be surprised to see if this will be over by Christmas and many demand a transition.