Syrian Military Plans Offensive Against Kurdish Forces

Syrian Military Plans Offensive Against Kurdish Forces
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The Syrian military is planning a major offensive to seize control of the eastern provinces of Raqqa and Deir Ezzor from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a mostly Kurdish militia that has refused to submit to Damascus, The National reported. According to security sources who spoke to The National, the offensive is being planned for October.
A Syrian attack force of 50,000 troops is being assembled near the city of Palmyra. The offensive’s success, according to a security source, hinges on receiving a “green light” from the United States and ensuring non-intervention from Israel. The US-sponsored talks aimed at bridging the differences between Damascus and the SDF have stalled, and the SDF’s refusal to cede power has reportedly led to increased clashes between the two sides.
The renewed push to reclaim territory from the SDF has become a central issue for the new government in Damascus, which is now controlled by Hayat Tahrir Al Sham (HTS), an al-Qaeda splinter group. Arab tribal populations in Raqqa and Deir Ezzor are expected to turn against the SDF, who, according to a security source, have “so many scores to settle with the Kurds” following a land grab of Arab areas since 2015.
While a major advance by the government would leave the SDF with the province of Hasakah, where the Kurdish population is significant, the SDF-held areas currently account for most of Syria’s output of commodities, electricity, and energy.