ISDEI Instituto de Seguridad, Defensa y Estudios Internacionales

The battle against Islamic State in Syria may be nearing its end, but the conflict in this war-torn country seems far from over. Competing factions and old rivalries have created a complicated, uncertain future for Syria. Trends Syria With so many different warring parties wrestling for control of Syria’s fate, it seems prudent to review the conflict’s major actors – and where their allegiances lie. Syrian government Since 2011, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) has been fighting to take back Syrian territory seized by terrorist groups and foreign-funded  “rebels.”  Backed by Russia, Iran and Hezbollah, Syrian forces have fought Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIL/ISIS),  “moderate”  rebels and jihadist groups such as Al-Nusra. The SAA has even faced airstrikes from Israel and the United States, although neither Tel Aviv nor Washington have officially declared war on Damascus. Although opposed to Kurdish efforts to create an autonomous state, reports suggest that Syrian President B

Turkish forces engaged in Operation Olive Branch against Kurdish militias in the northwest of Syria have used gas, Syrian state media SANA reports. At least six civilians have been hospitalized. "Six people have been admitted with symptoms of suffocation as a result of the use of projectiles with poisonous gas by the Turkish regime in the town of Aranda," SANA quotes the hospital's director, Joan Mohammed. Medics are working to determine the type of gas used, Mohammed said. An unnamed Turkish diplomatic source denied Turkey ever used chemical weapons in its operations in Syria, telling Reuters the accusation is “baseless” and “propaganda.” “Turkey never used chemical weapons. We take utmost care about civilians in Operation Olive Branch,” the source said. Local journalist Mohammed Hassan tweeted pictures of patients, who were purported to be victims of the attack, wearing breathing masks. The hospital director said four of the victims were stable and two were in c

Kirkuk (IraqiNews.com) Security troops have lost communication with more than twenty paramilitary personnel in addition to losing track of eight vehicles in west of Kirkuk, a security source was quoted saying. “Communication with 24 personnel of al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces) on board of eight vehicles was lost in the wake of confrontations with Islamic State members in al-Riyad region in Hawija, southwest of Kirkuk,” the source told Baghdad Today website. The source added that the operation was likely to have been carried out “setting up a trap for the fighters.” Meanwhile, Ali al-Husseini, PMFs spokesperson in the northern axis, told Baghdad Today, that “troops cordoned off the region and waits for the morning to get to know more details and invade it.” Earlier today, news reports indicated confrontations between PMFs and Islamic State members in southwest of Kirkuk. “Clashes took place between PMFs and Islamic State members near al-Shahriya bridge in R

Kirkuk (IraqiNews.com) Islamic State militant group has announced killing twenty Iraqi security personnel in an ambush in southwest of Kirkuk. According to Amaq website, the group’s media arm, “IS members killed 20 Iraqi security personnel and burnt five vehicles in an ambush on Sunday evening, southwest of al-Riyad town in Kirkuk.” In related news, Ali al-Husseini, commander of al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces) in the northern axis, said some PMFs are likely to be alive hiding. Earlier today, the troops announced murder of 27 personnel in the wake of an attack by IS militants at al-Saadouniya village in Riyad. “The region is completely cordoned. Searching efforts are ongoing. The accident took place while it was raining. It was in the dark. We need more hours to know if there are personnel still alive. Maybe some of them are captured or hiding,” Husseini told Shafaq News without giving details on the number. Most of the signs, according to Husseini, “indica