On December 19, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iraq, Fuad Husein reported that The Islamic State “is regrouping after seizing” weapons from the Syrian Army loyal to Al Assadwho fled the country to Russia after being overthrown by Islamists led by the group Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS)which is supported by Türkiye.
“The Islamic State is reorganizing its ranks since it has seized quantities of weapons as a result of the collapse of the syrian army and the abandonment of its weapons depots, which has allowed it to expand its control over new areas.”Hussein declared.
The Iraqi foreign minister also warned “about the danger of Islamic State members escaping from prisons”which were attacked and opened after the fall of Al Assad.
In his report of December 24, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) confirmed what was warned by Irak.
“He Islamic State could be attempting to resupply its forces with weapons captured from the regime’s arsenals. Syriaof Russia and of Iran in the central Syrian desert, reported the ISW.
He added that on December 23, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) carried out a airstrike against Islamic State targets carrying a “truckload of weapons” in the province of Deir Ez Zorin Syria.
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He CENTCOM confirmed that he had killed two combatants of the Islamic State and injured another in the attack in Deir Ez Zorterritory that until recently was controlled by the regime of Al Assad and his ally Russia.
The ISW noted that for a long time the Islamic State avoided trucking large quantities of weapons from its arsenals due to fear for the American bombings. “But the decision to now transport these weapons on a truck suggests that the Islamic State “He had captured a new arsenal and attempted to take it to safety.”
The ISW said that In the Syrian desert there are many military installations that were previously occupied by Russian, Iranian or Al Assad regime forces. and that they are now abandoned and that they could contain weapons that the Islamic State needs to reconstitute itself.
“ISIS tries to take advantage of the hasty withdrawal of Russian forces and the Syrian regime by capturing these reserves,” he remarked.
There are 2,000 US troops in Syria
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As to USAOn December 19, the Pentagon revealed that it had doubled the number of its forces in Syria to combat the Islamic Stateand that said increase occurred before the fall of Al Assad.
For years, USA had acknowledged that it maintained an average of 900 soldiers in Syria to combat the jihadists, but the major general Pat RyderPentagon press secretary, said there are now 2,000 military personnel.
USA has supported Syria to the Kurdish militia People’s Protection Units (YPG)who were the ones who finally defeated the Islamic State. In the Syrian territories they dominate, the YPG keeps numerous jihadists of ISIS.
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According to the AP agency, Ryder told reporters that the increase in US forces was temporary and that they were there to reinforce operations against the Islamic State. He added that the US military’s conventional and special operations forces make up the bulk of the additional troops.
At this point, it should be noted that since the overthrow of Al AssadIsrael, the United States and Türkiye have launched military operations in Syriaincluding bombings by Tel Aviv against weapons facilities in the east that belonged to the regime Al Assad.
The abundant Syrian arsenal coveted by ISIS
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Andrés Gómez de la Torrea specialist in Defense and Intelligence issues, described the situation in Syria due to the large number of armed groups that have a presence in that country, something that makes difficult the possibility of forming a government that guarantees governability and security to the nation that is experiencing a civil war since 2011the same one that has left more than 300,000 dead and has caused more than 6 million people to flee abroad.
“Israel It has carried out intense attacks on Syrian territory to reduce all its installed military capacity, and the United States is doing the same. It must be remembered that Syria was historically a major military client of the Soviet Union during the Cold War.and they have a panoply of weapons”said Gómez de la Torre to The Commerce.
“Syria has an impressive amount of riflesshort weapons, tanksvehicles armoredtrucks, anti-aircraft artillerywhich not only come from the former Soviet Union, but from current Russia. Without a doubt, it has been a military power in the region”he added.
“It also has weapons from some Eastern and Western European countries, although to a lesser extent. It is important to emphasize that within the arsenalparticularly in matters of rocketryhas iran armamentYo. In addition, there are weapons transferred by China”indicated the analyst.
“Then, indeed, the ISIS has had more or less relevant territorial control in Syria and now it is trying, like probably other groups as well, to seize this arsenal in order to sustain its political, strategic and military presence in Syrian territory.”said Gómez de la Torre.
“Therefore, the priority for the United States and Israel is to prevent the ISIS and any other group can strengthen themselves by seizing the large amount of weapons that the Syrian Armed Forces have,” he explained.