The situation in Syria as of the end of may this year in principle remained unchanged, despite active military actions between all participants of the conflict, with the external participation of Russia and “international” coalition headed by the USA. Although the zone of influence of the terrorist groups in the face of Daesh and Jabhat al-Nusra is gradually narrowed. But a decisive breakthrough has not happened yet. Is dead and of deserters “jihadists” in their ranks to join new “fighters for the faith” receiving financial assistance and weapons from rich countries of Arabia, as well as from the Turkish side, though not through government structures.
Despite the announced may 20, warning that Moscow may 25 may unilaterally start to destroy in Syria the terrorists did not stop the fighting and not razmezhevanie with Jabhat al-Nusra, and the US refusal to join these air strikes, the Russian side has not yet lost until the end of the hope to negotiate with Washington. Although the Americans have been trying to organize an offensive of the troops of the Syrian armed opposition to the positions of Daesh in Aleppo, clearly in an effort to prevent recovery there control from the government forces. Against this background, the Russian air force and Syrian air force planes during the week, attacked the positions of militants of Daesh and Jabhat al-Nusra, are not subject to the regime of silence, in the provinces of Aleppo and HOMS, Hama, Deir ez-Zor and raqqa. So, 25 and 28 may joint strike aircraft of the Russian space forces and the Syrian air force has struck the convoy of tankers with oil in the Eastern province of HOMS.
22 may 29 terrorist groups, in particular warring “Jaish al-Islam” and “Falak ar-Rahman”, presented an ultimatum to Washington and Moscow, demanding from them in the next 48 hours to stop the outbreak of the may 14, Syrian troops attack on the city of Darayya (10 km South-West of Damascus) and in Eastern ghouta (Damascus province). From midnight on may 24 at the initiative of the Russian Centre for the reconciliation of the warring sides in Syria of the parties (RTSP) introduced regime of silence on 72 hours in Eastern ghouta and in the city of Darayya (Damascus province). On 27 may, the defense Ministry announced the extension of the regime of silence for 48 hours in Eastern ghouta and the city of Darayya (Damascus province). According to RICS, in the last week of may was recorded 40 cases of violations of the cease-fire in the provinces of Aleppo, Damascus, Latakia, slightly lower than the previous period. 27 may in the place of permanent deployment returned demining unit to the International mine action centre of the armed forces of Russia, while clearing Palmyra. In Syria, only a small group of Russian experts to train the Syrian deminers.
During the end of may, there were combat operations against terrorist groups in several provinces of the country, the epicenter of the fighting was in Aleppo province. So, on may 25 in the southern part of the province, government forces launched another offensive on the town of Khan Tuman. Government troops on 27 – 28 may forces concentrated in the North-West province by redeploying units of the Syrian army, the arms of which consist of T-90S tanks to launch an attack on the fortified Jabhat al-Nusra” in the valley of Anadan, which will allow you to block the militants, who have entrenched themselves in the Western parts of Aleppo.
However, the forces of Daesh tried to counterattack. In the Northern province near the border with Turkey on 27 – 28 may developing the offensive formations of the DAIS on the position of the Turkey-backed “rebel” groups from the “Free Syrian army” (FSA) and “Front of al-Shamiya” in order to seize the towns of Marea and Azaz, the latter controlled with 2012, As government forces repelled a joint attack by the militants of the FSA and Jabhat al-Nusra on their position in the Northern part of the city near the al-Khalid. In the South-Eastern part of the province on 28 may, government forces repulsed the attack of militants of Daesh, tried to cut the highway Isria — raqqa.
May 25, government forces fighting far pushed the formation of the DAIS from the airport in Tadmor (near Palmyra), which made possible its use of aircraft for strikes against the jihadists. In the province of Damascus may 21, Syrian troops advanced towards the town of Khan al-Sheikh, held units “Dzhabhat EN-Nusra”. In Eastern ghouta near the capital, government forces on may 27, took control of several farms between the towns of Harasta al-qantara and Bala al-Kadhim, thus cutting the supply route groups groups “Falak ar-Rahman” and “Jaish al-Fustat”, restraint, Harasta al-qantara.
Actively developing events and in the Kurdish areas of Syria. May 24, Kurdish-Arab Alliance, CDC announced the beginning of the operation to liberate the Northern province of raqqa, which until now has been a stronghold of Daesh in Syria. The operation was carried out with support from aviation of the international coalition headed by the USA. According to SDS, the main objectives of the operation are the city of Shaddad (Hasakah province) and tal Abyad (raqqa) and Kobani (Aleppo). Thus, it is actually the expansion of the zone, which the Kurds refer to their territory. But while we are not talking about the assault on Raqqa. Actions of groups of SDS, the number of which is estimated at 12 thousand people, supported 300 American instructors. May 21, the commander of us forces in the middle East General Joe Thehotel visited Syria, where he met with the staff of the American special forces, “interacting with the formation of the Kurdish Syrian democratic forces” (SDS). According to some, was discussed the preparation for the offensive formations of the SDS in Raqqa. Moreover, on may 26, they moved through the southern suburbs of the city of ain Issa and reached the line 60 km North of raqqa. The action of SDS, also contributed to receiving Russian weapons that had been delivered to them by parachute drop aircraft of VC. Trying to stop the offensive, DAISH threw in the zone of fighting an extra 2 thousand fighters. However, foreign commanders of formations of the DAIS began to leave Raqqa in the direction of Iraqi Mosul. According to the commander of the operations of the U.S. air force in the middle East of General Charles brown, in connection with the intensity of the strikes against DAISH in Syria and Iraq, Americans began to experience a lack of guided air munitions. The draft budget in 2017 for the purchase of more than 45 thousand guided munitions in the amount of $ 1.8 billion, but they will go into force not earlier than 2018. In General, it seems that the onset of SDS in the province of raqqa is largely due to the US desire to demonstrate greater efficacy of action of the international coalition led by Washington and their Syrian “allies” in comparison with the actions of the Syrian forces during land combat.
In Latakia province on may 23, occurred the most significant recent terrorist attack, when suicide bombers attacked in 5 places in the city of Tartous and jableh. As a result of terrorist attacks killed more than 140 people from among the civilian population. Responsibility for the attacks was assumed by the DAIS. However, Iranian media blamed the attacks on the group “Ahrar al-sham”.
If on a military track in Syria, things are more or less clear, in the political part of international efforts to reach a compromise between Damascus and the opposition is not yet possible. The head of the delegation of the Higher Committee on negotiations (CPSU) Mohammed Alloush announced on may 29 in a statement on Sunday statement that he was resigning in protest against the negotiations in Geneva. As he put it, “I announced the withdrawal from the delegation and filed for the second time in the Higher Committee to negotiate his resignation from the post of chief negotiator on behalf of the delegation of the CPSU in protest against the reluctance of the international community to feel the importance of the blood of the Syrian people, who continue to suffer from the actions of the regime and its allies.” According to Allura, “the international community is able to stop the suffering of the Syrian people, but has no serious desire to do it.” As you know, the third round of inter-Syrian talks in Geneva ended on 28 April. The MIC has suspended its participation in the talks, accusing the government of Syria’s failure to comply with international decisions and the violation of the ceasefire.
And the GCC countries – the main sponsors of the Syrian war – on the words spoken about the fight against terrorism, but in fact continue active intervention in the Syrian conflict. This is quite evident and during the next round of the strategic dialogue Russia – Gulf cooperation Council at the level of foreign Ministers in Moscow on 26 may. Both sides were at his. Arabian monarchy are determined to achieve the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad, and Russia is not going to leave Syria, abandoning the support of the legitimate Syrian government.
So, apparently, armed conflict in Syria will continue for a long time without major chances for radical change in the situation on all fronts. Without a ground operation against the external forces of Daesh and other terrorist organizations cannot do, but neither Russia nor the United States is not ready to go. Moscow – due to internal difficulties caused by sanctions of the West, and Washington – in anticipation of the change of administration in the White House.
