MESOP NEWS INSIGHT: PUTIN FINISHED WITH PKK/PYD SDF & ASSAD plus HEZBOLLAH ADVANCE CONTRA KURDS

Hezbollah Claims Pro-Assad Advance Towards Kurds-Led SDF

By – Scott Lucas – June 14, 2017 – eaworldview -Hezbollah’s media outlet claims that pro-Assad forces have made a significant advance in northern Syria, setting up a possible confrontation with the US-supported, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. The outlet of Hezbollah, a leading element in the pro-Assad military, said the offensive has moved from eastern Aleppo Province into Raqqa Province, where the SDF has been pushing back the Islamic State and is now attacking ISIS’s central position in the city of Raqqa.

The immediate achievement of a 20-mile move to the south, capturing seven villages, was to reach the road from Ithriya to SDF-held Tabqa and secure a supply route to regime-held Aleppo from ISIS attacks. The route can also be used for a drive into Raqqa Province.

The pro-Assad forces, which also include Iranian-led foreign militia, are also poised to retake al-Rusafa oil field, one of the many taken by ISIS since 2014 to put pressure on the Assad regime over energy supplies. The pro-Assad forces and SDF, created in late 2015 and led by the Kurdish militia YPG, have largely avoided conflict. However, the advance of both groups against a weakening ISIS has raised the prospect of a fight for territory, as the YPG and the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Party (PYD) pursue an autonomous Syrian Kurdistan and the Assad regime tries to block partition or even a federal Syria.

On Monday, Russia tipped off a shift in its line through its outlet Sputnik. The website continued a developing attack on the SDF as “terrorists” just like the Islamic State. It accused the Kurdish-led force of working with ISIS, even as the SDF advanced inside Raqqa city to reach the walls of the Old City.  www.mesop.de