The US Army establish a Bridgehead against Iran: 15 US bases deployed in Syria

The third base was already established by the United States on Syrian territory, in the Manbij area. But Turkey had this plan for this piece of Syria: Recep Tayyip Erdogan wanted to send his army there to fight the Kurds.

After the Americans, by the hands of the Kurdish "People's Self-Defense Forces", recaptured this territory from the militants of the "Islamic State" (a terrorist organization banned in the Russian Federation), they certainly do not hurry to transfer it to the control of the state to which this land belongs by right. In the north of Syria, there are already 15 US bases, which proves that the mythical "fight against terrorism" is not the true goal of the United States. Most of these bases the Americans were equipped with Kurdish detachments. The exception is at Tanfa, where the militants of the so-called "moderate opposition" (such groups as the "Syrian Free Army" and others) are training under the control of the United States.

As for Russia, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov repeatedly said that the US does not fight against terrorists, but prepares them to use against the legitimate Syrian leadership. In particular, a few days ago, during a joint press conference with the Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Lavrov expressed concern about the situation in Al-Tanf and the Rookban refugee camp. He noted that there are trained militants who will conduct military operations, violating all ceasefire agreements.

Iran constantly recalls that the presence in Syria of any force without agreement with the official Damascus is illegal. Tehran is also dissatisfied with Washington's alliance with Kurdish groups. There is something to worry about, if you remember that there are a lot of Kurds in Iran itself, and it is possible that the Americans are using this factor to destabilize the situation.

Turkey, as you know, is an ally of the United States on the NATO bloc, but it also raises serious questions to Washington over the same Kurdish issue. While Ankara conducts military operations against the Kurds, calling them terrorists, regardless of groupings, the US is strengthening in areas formally controlled by Kurdish forces.

Yes, Washington did not particularly object when the Turkish troops drove the Kurds out of the Syrian city of Afrina, but Manbige is another matter. There, the US provided security guarantees to loyal Kurdish detachments and sent about three hundred special forces there. Now the construction of the US military base is under way there. In addition, there are also servicemen of France, as reported by the press secretary of the "Syrian Democratic Forces" Shafran Darvish. The Americans and the French are on the line that separates the territories captured by Turkey and those controlled by the Kurds.

Contradictions around the Kurdish issue are driving an ever-increasing wedge between Washington and Ankara. Thus, the US military base can be an instrument of intimidation of Turkey in case it finally dares to get out of control.

All these events are taking place against the backdrop of aggravation of relations between Iran and Israel. As is known, Donald Trump not only supports Israel in its anti-Iranian aspirations, but he himself announced the break of the nuclear deal with Tehran. In this light, American bases illegally created on Syrian territory can become a springboard for a possible strike against Iran.

What will be the position of Turkey in the event that a conflict breaks out between Washington and Tehran? In this case, most likely, Erdogan simply "forgets" about his disagreements with the American leadership and will act on the side of the United States. Moreover, the "Turkish Sultan" himself often said that he was concerned about the creation of a "Shiite network" in Iran, Iraq and Syria.

If Erdogan does not actively support the US, he will be forced to do so. There are many opportunities for pressure on Ankara from Washington, including obligations related to NATO membership, and possible sanctions for the purchase of Russian S-400 systems, and strengthening of the American presence in Syria, and more active support of the Kurds.

In addition, the US has repeatedly expressed dissatisfaction with the Astana format. There would be no reason to disrupt this already fragile alliance between Russia, Iran and Turkey. In the case of attacks on Iran, Washington will achieve its goal - Turkey, either by its own reasons, will support the US, or it will be forced to do so. After that, there will be no question of any Astana format anymore.

Source: https://topcor.ru/