29 Mar 2024
Thursday 17 November 2016 - 14:27
Story Code : 239560

Liberation of Syria’s Raqqa and empty US bravado



Alwaght- The United States brouhaha on the so called liberation of Syria’s city of Raqqa from Takfiri terrorists was nothing but empty bravado

Days before the controversial US presidential elections, Western news media were abuzz with reports of an alleged US-backed offensive to retake the north eastern Syrian city of Raqqa from ISIS Takfiri terrorist group.

It is an open secret that ISIS and other Takfiri terrorist groups in Syria enjoy the overt and covert support of US and its allies. These Takfiri terrorists are used by the US to attain its devious objectives in the West Asia region and across the globe. While the US claimed  to lead an  operation to liberate Raqqa, its NATO ally, Turkey is carrying out a military offensive to take over the northern Syrian city of al Bab. Some analysts believe Washington’s alleged Raqqa offensive is a smokescreen while its main intention being to position its fighters elsewhere, perhaps in the battle for Aleppo as part its nefarious plan of dividing the country.

US Daily Beast news website quoted Pentagon sources as saying the operation to retake Raqqa will last at least six months. Late October, Defense Secretary Ash Carter said it will be only a matter of weeks before the US and its allies launch an operation of drive ISIS from Raqqa, its de facto capital in Syria. This assertion surprised military analysts who believe that US-backed militias are unable to enter Raqqa until after six months.

Therefore, US and armed groups under its command will delay the offensive on Raqqa while Turkey takes the initiative to attain some battlefield victories before the Raqqa operation.

Trump’s Approach on Raqqa

Several questions arise on how the incoming US administration led by Donald Trump will handle the Raqqa issue. Will he give an order to expedite the Raqqa operation and if military experts believe that this operation can only be carried out after six months, will Trump seek Russia’s assistance to retake this Syrian city sooner?

It is quite possible that Trump will ask Russia for assistance since during his campaign period he praised President Vladimir Putin’s strategy in competing terrorism. Early this week, Putin spoke by telephone with US-president elect Trump and the two discussed the need for "joint efforts in the fight against common enemy No. 1" -- international terrorism and extremism.

Turkey’s Position

Turkey will likely welcome Russia’s involvement in the Raqqa operation as a way of countering the involvement of Kurds in the operation. Ankara is nervous about the growing strength of Kurds in military operations in Raqqa and other parts of Syria as they might use the experience gained to boost their push for autonomy from Ankara.

Russia is expected to give a nod to US request for assistance in a military offensive against ISIS in Raqqa or Moscow can actually be the first one to take advantage of Trump’s positive remarks on Russia and propose joint operations against ISIS in the besieged Syrian city.

On November 6, 2016, an operation, dubbed The Wrath of the Euphrates was launched to liberate the northern Syrian city of Raqqa and expel ISIS terrorists from the city.

This operation involved fighters from Kurdistan Democratic Party in north eastern Syria and other Kurdish militant group, Turkmen and Syrian Arabs opposed to Takfiri terrorists.

Raqqa was occupied by ISIS terrorists in March 2013 as the foreign-backed terrorists continued to commit atrocities in the war-torn Arab country.

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