ISDEI Instituto de Seguridad, Defensa y Estudios Internacionales

FILE IMAGE Turkish sources spoke of the imminent launch of a new operation in northern Syria directed this time against the Kudish PKK and YPG in the Afrin area north of Aleppo. According to Turkish sources, the first goal of the operation will be Tel Rif’at town in the north-eastern Aleppo countryside, and Meng air base, and will later include the northern areas of Afrin. Several media reports claimed that the number of Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighters who will participate in the upcoming Turkish operation is 20,000. Previous reports suggested that the number will be 7,000 which makes more sense as 20,000 seems to be an exaggerated figure. However, media outlets have not provided any real sources for these numbers. On Sunday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met Russian Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigu in Istanbul. According to unconfirmed reports, the two sides might have talked about the upcoming military operation in north Aleppo in addition to the S-400 deal....

Just days before Trump’s meeting with the Chinese president in Hamburg later this week for the G-20 summit, the Trump administration sent a guided-missile destroyer near Triton Island in the South China Sea,  Bloomberg reported , a move “which may cause concern ahead of President Donald Trump’s meeting with his Chinese counterpart.” According to an anonymous official cited by Bloomberg, the U.S. Navy sent the destroyer USS Stethem within 12 nautical miles (22 kilometers) of Triton Island on Sunday, passing through the contested waters on the basis of “innocent passage.” The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Stethem It was the second such operation conducted by the US during Donald Trump’s presidency. On May 24, the US Navy guided-missile destroyer, the USS Dewey, came within 12 miles of the Mischief Reef in the Spratly Islands, another disputed archipelago that lies in the southern part of the South China Sea. At that time, the Chinese Defense Ministry also ...

Pro-government forces, led by the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) Tiger Forces, have fully expelled ISIS terrorists from the area east of the Khanasir-Ithriyah road. Initially, the Tiger Forces took control over the entire Ithriyah-Resafa road, including the Habbari oil field and nearby points. Then, after a series of firefights with ISIS terrorists, government troops cleared the remaining ISIS-held pocket in eastern Aleppo. With this advance, the SAA shortened the frontline with ISIS in the area and got a useful supply line to its strong point of Resafa. In the current situation, government forces will likely develop momentum against ISIS terrorists east of Salamiyah. If the SAA and its allies secure the road between Salamiyah and Palmyra, they will further shorten the frontline and repel any possible ISIS counter-attack on the Tiyas Airbase that may threaten the supply lines of government forces operating against ISIS east of Palmyra. Faylaq Al-Rahman has followed the White House’s advi...

Click to see the full-size image According to unconfirmed reports, the Syrian military has received a unknown number of Russian-made BMPT Terminator combat vehicles. The vehicles will be allegedly used during the upcoming advance on Deir Ezzor. If confirmed, this will be the first usage of the Russian-made armoured vehicle in a combat environment. A BMPT Terminator combat vehicle allegedly received by the Syrian military: Click to see the full-size image Click to see the full-size image