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Second Kosovo? US 'Proxy' Strategy in Syria Risks Going Too Far

© Flickr / The U.S. ArmyFollowing indications from US Defense Secretary Ash Carter earlier this week, President Barack Obama confirmed on Friday that the Pentagon would deploy between 20 and 50 “advisers” to combat the self-proclaimed Islamic State terror group in Syria.
Following indications from US Defense Secretary Ash Carter earlier this week, President Barack Obama confirmed on Friday that the Pentagon would deploy between 20 and 50 “advisers” to combat the self-proclaimed Islamic State terror group in Syria. - Sputnik International
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On Thursday, the Russian Defense Ministry said that the United States has redeployed HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems from a base in Jordan to Syria. The Ministry’s statement warned that those systems could be used against the Syrian Army.

A projectile is launched by a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) operated by the US Marines during a live fire exercise as part of the Philippines-US amphibious landing exercise (PHIBLEX) at Crow Valley in Capas town, Tarlac province, north of Manila. (File) - Sputnik International
What's Behind US Deploying HIMARS Missile Systems to al-Tanf in Syria
In recent weeks, the town of al-Tanf has turned into a strategically important point where the interests of the US-led coalition and pro-Damascus forces clashed.

Currently, the Syrian Army and its allies are advancing to the east along the Damascus-Baghdad highway, a strategic route in southeast Syria. The highway is also a point of interest for the US-led coalition in the area of al-Tanf, where Syria borders with Iraq and Jordan. The US also has a military base in al-Tanf where opposition forces have been trained.

"The deployment of artillery systems to al-Tanf reveals that the Pentagon sees part of Syria’s territory as its strategic foothold for further offensive on several directions at the same time," Vladimir Lepekhin, a member of Rossiya Segodnya's Zinoviev Club and general director of the EurAsEC Institute, writes in an op-ed for RIA Novosti.

Washington’s Support for Kurds

According to the author, the fight against Daesh has never been the main goal of America’s military presence in Syria. During Barack Obama’s presidency, the priority was to oust President Bashar Assad. The new "pragmatic" strategy run by US President Donald Trump is focused on particular gains, without taking into account Assad and the interests of the Syrian opposition.

A flag of the autonomous Kurdistan region flies as Iraqi Kurdish Peshmerga fighters take position to monitor the area from their front line post in Bashiqa, a town 13 kilometres north-east of Mosul (File) - Sputnik International
By Supporting Kurds, the US Tries to Set Up the 'Second Israel'
"Traditionally, in order to boost their presence in the region, Americans use others to pull chestnuts out of fire," the article read.

While, previously the US relied on Syrian opposition forces, now Washington bets on certain militants groups and Kurdish units.

According to Lepekhin, the US is implementing the project of a Sunni military bloc in the region.

"The previous attempt to form a 'Sunni NATO' failed due to the strategic differences within such countries as Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar. Now, the situation has changed and the US can form a military bloc with its headquarters in al-Tanf or even Deir ez-Zor," he wrote.

The expert suggested that in order to implement the plan the Pentagon will intensify activities in east and northeastern Syria.

The silhouette of a Syrian man is seen through an election campaign portrait of President Bashar al-Assad he hangs it on a billboard on May 11, 2014 in the capital Damascus. - Sputnik International
President Assad's Overthrow 'Impossible' Amid Syrian Army's al-Tanf Advance
"These will be the priority directions. The goal is to expand the area of control, pushing the terrorists to central Syria, closer to Damascus," Lepekhin wrote.

Taking into account the fact that Kurdish units will soon take Raqqa and are currently nearing Deir ez-Zor from north, the expert suggested that Washington promised Kurds the northeastern part of Syria, over the Euphrates.

"This territory is supposedly to be the foundation for a sovereign Kurdish state. Since the US has supported Kurds they are likely to be one of Washington’s most loyal allies in the Middle East in the coming years," the article read. 

Bargaining Chip

Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) - Sputnik International
Syria’s Kurdish Militias Get 50 Trucks With US Armored Vehicles, Munition
The coordination between Kurdish units and the Pentagon is a concern for Damascus, but it is also a problem for Turkey.

On Wednesday, Turkish Presidential Press Secretary Ibrahim Kalin said that Ankara remains concerned over the activities of the Kurdish People’s Protection Unit (YPG), despite Washington’s statement that the YPG would not use US-supplied weapons against Turkey.

"Kurds are ready to take any chance to establish a sovereign state. As a result, they are voluntarily becoming a bargaining chip in Washington’s strategy aimed at escalating proxy conflicts in the Middle East," Lepekhin assumed.

He added that the strategy presumes the establishment of a "puppet pro-American state, by the example of Kosovo."

Repeat of the Kosovo Scenario?

Map of the Middle East - Sputnik International
Turkey 'Should Develop Ties With Russia' to Oppose US 'Plan' for Mideast
As for Kosovo, US military strategists had to legitimize their military presence in the region. First, the US fueled ethnic tensions and clashed and then NATO invaded Kosovo with the declared goal to stabilize the situation. Finally, the region was declared a sovereign state, with NATO and US military structures deployed there.

By contrast, today the Middle East is a region where international law is negated and the Pentagon would need to seek authorization for its military force, according to Lepekhin.

"Of course, the governments of Syria and Iraq are against the division of their territories into several parts. The plan presumes that in order to stabilize the region those countries have to be divided. For example, there is a plan to divide Iraq into three parts. Similar plans have also been reported for Syria," the article read.

Kurdish Peshmerga fighters take part in a graduation ceremony on April 16, 2015 at the Kurdistan Training Coordination Center (KTTC) of Arbil, the capital of the autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq. - Sputnik International
Mideast Map Risks Changing as Kurds Aim to Declare Sovereign State
Iraqi Kurdistan authorities decided to hold an independence referendum on September 25. In addition, the autonomy presidential will be held on December 6, 2017.

The move has faced strong opposition from Turkey, Iran and Iraq.

Responding to criticism, US State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert told journalists that Washington stands for Iraq’s territorial integrity.

"The United States – and we have talked about this one before – we support a unified, stable, democratic, and a federal Iraq. We understand and appreciate the legitimate aspirations of the people of Iraqi Kurdistan," Nauert said at a press briefing on June 8.

"Apparently, the US will not change its plan for the Middle East and will do its best to implement the plan by proxy," Lepekhin concluded.

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