US looks to train at least 40,000 forces in Syria
[AlMasdar] US and allied forces in eastern Syria need to complete training between 35,000 to 40,000 local troops to establish stability in eastern Syria following the defeat and expulsion of the Daesh terror group in those areas, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General Joseph Dunford said.
“We estimate about 35,000 to 40,000 local forces have to be trained and equipped in order to provide stability,” Dunford said at a Washington Post event on Thursday. “We are probably somewhere along the line of 20 percent through the training of those forces.”
Dunford explained that the stabilization process would need to continue for an indefinite period of time in eastern Syria.
“With regard to stabilization we still have a long way to go. We can say our presence in Syria right now is sustainable and can be adjusted based on conditions,” he said.
Dunford gave no details of the number of US Special Operations Command troops that were currently operating in eastern, Syria, but he did say there were no plans to evacuate them.
When asked if the US forces in eastern Syria would be maintained in the region for the foreseeable future, Dunford replied, “No. That’s right… They’re not leaving any time soon.”
The training of local forces was necessary to re-establish effective local government and services in the region including sewage, law and order and electric power, Dunford said.
Massive US military convoy heads to eastern Syria despite Turkey’s objections (video)
[AlMasdar] (10:40 P.M.) – A large U.S. military convoy was seen traveling to the eastern countryside of the Deir Ezzor Governorate this week as the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) intensify their battle against the Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL/IS/Daesh) in the key town of Hajin.
In a short video released by pro-SDF activists, a U.S. military convoy consisting of tens of vehicles made its way to the eastern region of Syria to aid their partners from the Syrian Democratic Forces in their ongoing offensive:
In the past, the Turkish regime has slammed the U.S. military for providing aid to the Syrian Democratic Forces, who Ankara considers an offshoot of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).
Despite Turkey’s disapproval, the U.S. and their Coalition partners have continued to provide military aid to the Syrian Democratic Forces and Kurdish-led People’s Protection Units (YPG) at several fronts across northern and eastern Syria.
Daesh’s desperate counter-offensive in Hajin fails to gain traction (video)
[AlMasdar] (11:30 P.M.) – The Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL/IS/Daesh) launched a counter-offensive inside the key town of Hajin, yesterday, in a bid to retake the areas they lost to the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
However, the terrorist group’s counter-offensive would fail to gain any traction, as they were ultimately repelled by the Syrian Democratic Forces.
Among the SDF units foiling this Daesh attack was the Free Syrian Army’s (FSA) Jaysh Al-Thuwar, who recently deployed their fighters to this front in order to expedite the offensive against the terrorist group.
As shown the short video below, Jaysh Al-Thuwar was engaged in a fierce battle with the Daesh forces before they were ultimately able to fully repel them inside of Hajin.
Currently, the Syrian Democratic Forces control at least 25 percent of Hajin, with most of the northern districts under their authority.
The Syrian Democratic Forces are now working to push into the town-center as they look to overpower the remaining terrorist combatants inside Hajin.
Nearly 80 Daesh, SDF fighters killed in southeast Deir Ezzor[AlMasdar] (11:30 A.M.) – Dozens of fighters from the Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL/IS/Daesh) and U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have been killed in and around the key town of Hajin in southeast Deir Ezzor, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported on Friday morning.
According to the SOHR report, approximately 80 fighters from the Syrian Democratic Forces and Islamic State have been killed over the last four days at the Hajin front.
Of the nearly 80 fighters killed in the last four days, at least 25 were killed as a result of yesterday’s clashes in the northern districts of Hajin.
The death toll will likely double in the coming days as the battle reaches the town-center of Hajin.
US Coalition unleashes largest attack on eastern Syria this year
[AlMasdar] (12:10 A.M.) – Over the last 24 hours, the U.S. Coalition has conducted their largest attack in eastern Syria this year, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported.
According to the SOHR report, the U.S. Coalition conducted more than 100 airstrikes over the Islamic State’s (ISIS/ISIL/IS/Daesh) positions inside the key town of Hajin.
The massive assault by the U.S. Coalition was conducted in conjunction with the Syrian Democratic Forces’ (SDF) big push to capture Hajin and the Islamic State’s last positions east of the Euphrates River.
However, during this large-scale assault on the Islamic State forces, the U.S. Coalition reportedly killed eight civilians that were trapped behind the terrorist group’s lines in Hajin.
The U.S.’ recent air campaign in eastern Syria has proven costly as a large number of civilians have been reported dead as a result of their airstrikes in the Euphrates River Valley.
Syria accuses US Coalition of completely destroying hospital in Deir Ezzor
[AlMasdar] The Friday airstrikes of the US-led Coalition have completely destroyed a hospital in the Syrian city of Hajin in the eastern Deir ez-Zor province, Ikhbariya broadcaster reported.
SANA and the Ikhbariya broadcaster reported earlier on Friday that eight more civilians were killed in recent airstrikes on Hajin. All of the killed civilians were reportedly members of one family.
The US-led coalition regularly carries out airstrikes in eastern Deir ez-Zor province, and has recently been concentrating its air power on Hajin.
According to the Wednesday US-led Coalition press release, all strikes were carried out near Hajin and destroyed supply routes, vehicles, fighting positions, as well as tunnels and buildings.
On Saturday, the SANA news agency reported that the coalition’s airstrikes hit the al-Buqa village near the town of Hajin in the province of Deir ez-Zor leaving 40 civilians dead.
The coalition’s spokesman Col. Sean Ryan told Sputnik that the coalition had conducted strikes in the area, which, however, did not result in any civilian casualties.
The coalition’s activities in Syria are authorized neither by the Syrian government, nor by the UN Security Council.