MESOP NEWS TODAYS EXPERTS COMMENTARIES ON SYRIA / IRAQ – BORDERS – Today’s Insight – 27 June 2017

As ISIS Falls, Border Battles Loom | Fritz Lodge, The Cipher Brief

 As ISIS’ territorial footprint shrinks, a new battle for control over liberated areas is brewing. Two strategic areas along the Iraqi-Syrian border – Sinjar in northwestern Iraq and the regions of Raqqa and Deir al Zour in eastern Syria – are set to play a vital role in this burgeoning power struggle.

The Fight for the Northern Iraq-Syria Border | Michael Knights, Lafer Fellow, Washington Institute

 For real control of the border, Iran’s proxies will need to establish permanent bases and logistical arrangements to sustain their forces, on both sides of the border, astride the key trade routes. This will not be an easy task in the face of competition from the Iraqi government, Syrian Sunni oppositionists, and the Syrian Kurds.

 

The Complex State of Play in Eastern Syria | Aron Lund, Fellow, The Century Foundation

 “In Mosul, U.S. coalition and Iraqi army forces surrounded the city completely, but in Raqqa, there was still an opening to the south until very recently – so that makes things a bit different. But ISIS is still fighting very hard in the city, so we will have to wait and see what happens.”