Bridgehead against Iran: 15 US bases deployed in Syria
Already the third base was created by the United States in Syrian territory, in the Manbij area. But Turkey had its own plans for this piece of Syria: Recep Tayyip Erdogan wanted to send his army there to fight the Kurds.
After the Americans repulsed this territory from the militants of the Islamic State (a terrorist organization banned in the Russian Federation) by the hands of the Kurdish "People’s Self-Defense Forces", they, of course, are in no hurry to transfer it to the control of the state to which this land belongs by right. Already 15 American bases have been created in the north of Syria, which proves that the mythical “fight against terrorism” is not the true goal of the United States. Americans equipped most of these bases with the help of Kurdish units. The exception is At-Tanfa, where militants of the so-called “moderate opposition” (such groups as the Syrian Free Army and others) train under US control.
The participants in the Astana format of the Syrian settlement - Russia, Iran and Turkey - cannot but worry about this state of affairs.
As for Russia, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has repeatedly said that the United States does not fight against terrorists, but prepares them for use later against the legitimate Syrian leadership. In particular, a few days ago during a joint press conference with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi Lavrov expressed concern about the situation in Al-Tanf and the Rukban refugee camp. He noted that militants are trained there who will conduct military operations in violation of all ceasefire agreements.
Iran constantly reminds that the presence in Syria of any force without the consent of official Damascus is illegal. Tehran is also unhappy with Washington’s alliance with Kurdish factions. There is something to worry about, if you recall that in Iran itself there are many Kurds, and it is possible that the Americans use this factor to destabilize the situation.
Turkey, as you know, is the US ally in the NATO bloc, but it also has serious questions for Washington about the same Kurdish issue. While Ankara is conducting military operations against the Kurds, calling them terrorists regardless of groupings, the US is gaining ground in territories formally controlled by Kurdish troops.
Yes, Washington did not really object when Turkish troops drove the Kurds out of the Syrian city of Afrin, but Manbij is a completely different matter. There, the United States provided loyal Kurdish troops with security guarantees and sent about three hundred special forces there. Now there is the construction of an American military base. In addition, there are French soldiers, as reported by the spokesman for the Syrian Democratic Forces, Saffron Darvish. Americans and French are on the line that divides the territories captured by Turkey and those controlled by the Kurds.
Contradictions around the Kurdish question drive a bigger wedge between Washington and Ankara. Thus, the US military base could be a tool to intimidate Turkey if it finally dares to get out of control.
All these events take place against the backdrop of aggravation of relations between Iran and Israel. As you know, Donald Trump not only supports Israel in its anti-Iranian aspirations, but also announced the severance of a nuclear deal with Tehran. In this light, American bases illegally created on Syrian territory could become a springboard for a possible strike on Iran.
What will be the position of Turkey if a conflict breaks out between Washington and Tehran? In this case, most likely, Erdogan will simply “forget” about his disagreements with the American leadership and take the side of the United States. Moreover, the “Turkish Sultan” himself often said that he was concerned about the creation of a “Shiite network” in Iran, Iraq and Syria.
If Erdogan does not actively support the United States, then he will be forced to do so. Washington has a lot of opportunities for pressure on Ankara - these are obligations related to NATO membership, and possible sanctions for the purchase of Russian S-400 systems, and the strengthening of the American presence in Syria, and more active support for the Kurds.
In addition, the United States repeatedly expressed dissatisfaction with the Astana format. There, they would not mind breaking up this already fragile alliance between Russia, Iran and Turkey. In the case of attacks on Iran, Washington will achieve its goal - Turkey itself, for its own reasons, will support the United States, or it will force it to do so. After that, there will be no talk of any Astana format.
After the Americans repulsed this territory from the militants of the Islamic State (a terrorist organization banned in the Russian Federation) by the hands of the Kurdish "People’s Self-Defense Forces", they, of course, are in no hurry to transfer it to the control of the state to which this land belongs by right. Already 15 American bases have been created in the north of Syria, which proves that the mythical “fight against terrorism” is not the true goal of the United States. Americans equipped most of these bases with the help of Kurdish units. The exception is At-Tanfa, where militants of the so-called “moderate opposition” (such groups as the Syrian Free Army and others) train under US control.
The participants in the Astana format of the Syrian settlement - Russia, Iran and Turkey - cannot but worry about this state of affairs.
As for Russia, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has repeatedly said that the United States does not fight against terrorists, but prepares them for use later against the legitimate Syrian leadership. In particular, a few days ago during a joint press conference with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi Lavrov expressed concern about the situation in Al-Tanf and the Rukban refugee camp. He noted that militants are trained there who will conduct military operations in violation of all ceasefire agreements.
Iran constantly reminds that the presence in Syria of any force without the consent of official Damascus is illegal. Tehran is also unhappy with Washington’s alliance with Kurdish factions. There is something to worry about, if you recall that in Iran itself there are many Kurds, and it is possible that the Americans use this factor to destabilize the situation.
Turkey, as you know, is the US ally in the NATO bloc, but it also has serious questions for Washington about the same Kurdish issue. While Ankara is conducting military operations against the Kurds, calling them terrorists regardless of groupings, the US is gaining ground in territories formally controlled by Kurdish troops.
Yes, Washington did not really object when Turkish troops drove the Kurds out of the Syrian city of Afrin, but Manbij is a completely different matter. There, the United States provided loyal Kurdish troops with security guarantees and sent about three hundred special forces there. Now there is the construction of an American military base. In addition, there are French soldiers, as reported by the spokesman for the Syrian Democratic Forces, Saffron Darvish. Americans and French are on the line that divides the territories captured by Turkey and those controlled by the Kurds.
Contradictions around the Kurdish question drive a bigger wedge between Washington and Ankara. Thus, the US military base could be a tool to intimidate Turkey if it finally dares to get out of control.
All these events take place against the backdrop of aggravation of relations between Iran and Israel. As you know, Donald Trump not only supports Israel in its anti-Iranian aspirations, but also announced the severance of a nuclear deal with Tehran. In this light, American bases illegally created on Syrian territory could become a springboard for a possible strike on Iran.
What will be the position of Turkey if a conflict breaks out between Washington and Tehran? In this case, most likely, Erdogan will simply “forget” about his disagreements with the American leadership and take the side of the United States. Moreover, the “Turkish Sultan” himself often said that he was concerned about the creation of a “Shiite network” in Iran, Iraq and Syria.
If Erdogan does not actively support the United States, then he will be forced to do so. Washington has a lot of opportunities for pressure on Ankara - these are obligations related to NATO membership, and possible sanctions for the purchase of Russian S-400 systems, and the strengthening of the American presence in Syria, and more active support for the Kurds.
In addition, the United States repeatedly expressed dissatisfaction with the Astana format. There, they would not mind breaking up this already fragile alliance between Russia, Iran and Turkey. In the case of attacks on Iran, Washington will achieve its goal - Turkey itself, for its own reasons, will support the United States, or it will force it to do so. After that, there will be no talk of any Astana format.
Information