"BEIRUT, LEBANON (7:45 P.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army’s elite Tiger Forces wing has been ordered to redeploy to eastern Syria this week after U.S. President Donald Trump announced his troop withdrawal from the country. According to a government source, the Tiger Forces were given orders to deploy to the eastern countryside of the Deir Ezzor province after spending several months at the Abu Dhuhour Airport front in southeastern Idlib."
"The Tiger Forces’ mission in eastern Syria is still unknown; however, they could be deploying to this front in order to prevent a Turkish military expansion. With Turkey’s announcement of a new military operation east of the Euphrates, the Syrian government and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have entered talks to deal with the threat of this invasion."
(in an update published shortly after this)
“According to a military source in Damascus, the reason for the redeployment is due to the growing Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL/IS/Daesh) that is posed by the upcoming Turkish Army offensive east of the Euphrates. The source said that the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), who are fighting ISIS right now, will be forced to redeploy much of their troops to northern Syria as they attempt to deal with the looming Turkish Army threat. The Tiger Forces are expected to clear a small Islamic State pocket that has remained near the border-city of Albukamal.” (Al Masdar News)
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All those who are wailing about how the US withdrawal will allow IS to run rampant can now rest easy. The Tiger Force will finish the job. Once the Tiger Force finishes off the jihadis between Dier Ezzor and Albukamal, I imagine they will drive north to Raqqa. They will probably take control of those 3,000 plus jihadi prisoners held by the YPG/SDF along the way. I doubt the SDF or Coalition will contest the Tiger Force’s crossing of the Euphrates or their advance to Raqqa.
In another development Erdogan announced he will hold off on his planned invasion of Rojava and beyond. I’m sure he was giddy about the dream of advancing all the way to Albukamal, but he seems to have suffered an attack of prudence… or maybe he was visited by the ghost of Issam Zahreddine telling tales of his brother Suheil al Hassan.
The SF teams should stay in place and assist in the linkup of YPG/SDF forces with the advancing Tiger Forces. I’d give my left nut to be on the ground when that happens.
TTG
