(Pictures) in conjunction with Trump’s decision to withdraw from the area, the International Coalition establishes a new military base in the vicinity of ISIS last enclave east of Euphrates
Deir Ezzor Province, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights: the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights was informed by reliable sources that the International Coalition in Deir Ezzor is building a new military base east of Euphrates within the eastern sector of Deir Ezzor countryside, and in the details obtained by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights: the International Coalition is establishing a military base in Hajin area located on the outskirts of ISIS-controlled enclave at the east bank of Euphrates River, which was controlled by the Syria Democratic Forces, where the Syrian Observatory received photos showing the operation of establishing the military base, and this comes at a time where are discussions are underway among the leadership of the Syria Democratic Forces, confirmed by sources for the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights that if the Turkish military operation starts (for which preparations are underway in the border between the Tigris and Euphrates and Manbij area), the SDF intent to withdraw all their fighters from the fronts with the “Islamic State” Organization, and move them to the front lines with the Turkish Forces and the factions operating under their commands , after stopping the military operation against the “Islamic State” Organization at the east banks of Euphrates River, which is still composed of the towns of al-Susah, Shafa, and al-Baghuz and the villages of Shajla, Safafiyyah, Bo Badran, Bukhatir, Abu Hasan, and Marashdah.
This comes after the Syrian Observatory published yesterday, Wednesday, that the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights obtained information from several reliable sources who confirmed that senior US officials informed senior leaders of the Syria Democratic Forces that; the US command intends to withdraw its forces from the entire area of east Euphrates and Manbij, which cause a great shock among SDF command, as this contradicts what is happening on the ground, where the reinforcements reached during the last 48 hours to the east of Euphrates area of fuel, military equipment, logistics, and mechanisms, also military reinforcements arrived to the military bases in Manbij and al-Omar oilfield, and the Kurdish Command considered that the withdrawal of US forces -if happened- as a stab in the back of the Syria Democratic Forces and YPG, who over the past months and years controlled the largest geographical area that used to be under the control of the “Islamic State” organization, which is the east of Euphrates area along with Manbij area, and a betrayal of the blood of thousands of fighters who were killed fighting the “Islamic State” Organization and their opponents.
This decision to withdraw from the east of Euphrates comes in conjunction with an increased state of alert among the Turkish Forces, on the border between the Tigris and Euphrates and near Manbij, as the end of ISIS enclave east of Euphrates River gets closer, after the arrival of large military reinforcements of SDF fighters from the Syrian north, Manbij area, and other areas at the east of Euphrates, also the Syrian Observatory published hours ago that Syrian Observatory for Human Rights learned that the rebel and Islamic factions operating under the command of Turkey, which are part of the “Olive Branch” and “Euphrates Shield” Operations, continue their preparations for the military operation Turkey is seeking to carry out east of Euphrates area along the border between the rivers of Tigris and Euphrates, where thousands of fighters are preparing to participate in the operation under the command and orders of the Turks, and the Syrian Observatory published yesterday that the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights received from reliable and intersected sources, that a state of alertness and military movements is taking places at the border side from the Turkish side and from the east of Euphrates, and in the details obtained by the Syrian Observatory: areas of east of Euphrates are witnessing a state of alert by the Syria Democratic Forces and YPG, along with military movements at the Turkish side in the light of the Turkish military threats of carrying out operation that targets east of Euphrates; supported by the opposition rebel and Islamic factions of “Olive Branch” and “Euphrates Shield” Operations, these movements come after a Turkish military mobilization in addition to mobilization by the Syria Democratic Forces on the borderline, in anticipation of any surprise attack.
And The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights published on the 13th of December 2018 that Syrian Observatory for Human Rights received information from reliable sources confirmed that the International Coalition, established new bases in the northern sector of the east of Euphrates, and in the details obtained by the Syrian Observatory: the US Forces established 2 military bases in the countryside of Tal Abyad in al-Raqqah Province, where they set up 2 bases in Tal Rekbeh and al-Jayb areas in the countryside of Tal Abyad city, and this is the third International Coalition base in 17 days within the northern sector of al-Raqqah countryside, also, the establishment of these bases coincides with the Turkish military moves and the moves by the rebel and Islamic factions that operate under their command; to launch a military operation in the area east of Euphrates against Syria Democratic Forces, raising to at least 21, the number of bases established by the International Coalition in the Syria Democratic Forces’ controlled areas.
The Syrian Observatory published on the 27th of November 2018 that the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights learned from reliable sources that the International Coalition is establishing a military base at the area located in the northern countryside of al-Raqqah, and in the details that were confirmed by reliable sources of the Syrian Observatory, the US forces are establishing a military base in B’er Ashiq area located in the area between east of Tal Abyad city and west of Sluk town near the Syrian – Turkish border, where the base is being equipped with military, logistic, and communications equipment, raising to 19, the number of bases established by the International Coalition in areas of control of the Syria Democratic Forces, and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights published on the 21st of November 2018 that the International Coalition extended its support period for the Syria Democratic Forces operating in the east of Euphrates and in areas west of it, and in the details confirmed by the reliable sources of the Syrian Observatory: the International Coalition renewed its contract to support the Syria Democratic Forces for 2 years to come, covering the year 2019 and 2020. Reliable sources confirmed that the contract is based on establishing a full program for the Coalition and a way for applying it, and then renewing it every 2 years. The approval of the program came after intensive meetings between the International Coalition and the leadership of the Syria Democratic Forces, where a mutual work mechanism was agreed upon between both parties, including the provision of military assistance to the Syria Democratic Forces throughout the period of the contract, while signing this new contract and establishing the new program of the International Coalition’s work in east of Euphrates and areas west of it; coincided with the Turkish threats of a military operation is being hinted about by Turkey in the border area between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, and in conjunction with preparations for a military operation against the “Islamic State” organization in its last enclave at the east bank of Euphrates River in the eastern sector of Deir Ezzor countryside.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights during the four years followed the movement of the International Coalition of military and field operations as well as other logistics operations, like building military bases, expanding its control, or providing support in various aspects, while the Coalition’s participation in military operations was manifested through the geographical area, of which it was able to support the allied ground forces or its supported forces to control, where the International Coalition and the forces it supports which are the Syria Democratic Forces -of which YPG is its mainstay- today they control an area of 52528 km² of the Syrian territory with a ratio of 28.2% of the Syrian geography, which includes the entire area of Manbij and its countryside west of the Euphrates River, and the entire area east of Euphrates except the last enclave of the “Islamic State” organization on the east banks of Euphrates River, and several areas controlled by the regime forces and their allies east of the Euphrates in front of Deir Ezzor city, while the Syrian opposition factions supported by the International Coalition control 3543 km² which is 1.9% of the Syrian territory’s area, while these forces which are supported by the International Coalition used to control before the International Coalition entered the military operations in Syria 12624 km² i.e. 6.8% before the 23rd of September 2014, and included areas within al-Hasaka province which is the areas stretching in the border triangle of Iraq and Turkey – al-Hasakah city – the outskirts of al-Raqqah countryside, in addition to Ayn al-Arab (Kobani) city which was witnessing the heaviest attack by the “Islamic State” organization.
This military advancement was carried out by 3 direct ways, the first was the intense air support by the International Coalition through focused strikes based on intelligence operations that killed tens of prominent leaders of the organization, and the strikes which accompanied the military operations have killed thousands, and the direct land participation through the involvement of Coalition Forces in the battlefronts, while the third was through providing weapons, ammunition, equipment, communications, and in the preparation of military plans.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has been monitoring since the second half of 2018, the International Coalition led by the United States of America increasing its presence in the whole area east of Euphrates, and the reinforcement of this presence came by various means monitored by the Syrian Observatory, where the reliable sources confirmed to the Observatory that the Coalition has established at least 18 different bases in areas east of Euphrates and in Manbij area in the northeastern countryside of Aleppo at the west bank of the river including 6 major bases, these bases are distributed in the area of Ayn al-Arab (Kobani), Khrab Ishak, and Manbij in Aleppo Province, and Ein Issa, al-Raqqah, and al-Tabaqa in al-Raqqah Province, al-Shaddadi, al-Hool, Tal Tamr, Tal Baidar and Rmaylan in al-Hasaka Province, and al-Omar oilfield and al-Bahra in the countryside of Deir Ezzor. The major bases include airports for the landing and takeoff of planes, and some of them were built in the form of small bases, also the sources confirmed to the Syrian Observatory that the bases are protected continuously through the aerial surveillance of warplanes in the sky area of the base, and through cars roaming the perimeter of the bases as well as fixed checkpoints scattered around the perimeter of these bases and airports, to protect them from any attacks Individually or collectively by the “Islamic State” organization or any other cells that seek to target the area.
Also the International Coalition through their committees on the ground in the east of Euphrates; are carrying out periodic meetings with the aim of developing institutions located in the east of Euphrates, where these committees provide logistical support, financial support, and equipment for the committees that requests their specific assistance, also these committees supervise the process of managing affairs of many service and administrative parties in an undeclared manner, and provide their contributions in developing the service management and organizing the work of the institutions supervising eastern areas of Euphrates.
Pictures by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor the establishment of a military base by the International Coalition, in conjunction with the decision of the US President to withdraw his forces from Syria, where the base is being established in Hajin area on the east bank of Euphrates River, which was controlled by the Syria Democratic Forces days ago