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The withdrawal of US troops from Syria forced the international coalition countries against ISIS, including France, to withdraw as well, and Kurdish forces to forge new alliances.
US forces present in Syria, it should remain only the 150 or so soldiers who control the base of Al-Tanf, located in the south of the country. According to a US official who requires anonymity, order has indeed been given to the thousand soldiers present in the north to leave Syria. On Sunday, Defense Minister Mark Esper announced that Washington would withdraw up to 1,000 troops from northern Syria, without specifying whether they were leaving the country or simply withdrawing from combat zones.
US soldiers " will stay in the region " to avoid a return of the Islamic State group, assures Donald Trump. But this departure considerably modifies the physiognomy of the forces present in the country and makes fear the resurgence of the organization Islamic State .
Macron spoke with Donald Trump and Erdogan ...
Emmanuel Macron urged Donald Trump, in a telephone conversation Monday evening, on the " absolute necessity to prevent a resurgence " of the Islamic State (IS) group, during the Turkish operation against the forces Kurds in Syria, said the Elysee Monday evening. The French president also met in the evening with his Turkish counterparts Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Iraqi Barham Saleh, said the presidency.
The exchange between Emmanuel Macron and Recep Tayyip Erdogan " confirmed a deep divergence of views on the foreseeable consequences of the Turkish offensive in northeastern Syria, " said the Elysee.
The conversation between the French and Iraqi presidents focused on " the humanitarian and security risks of the current situation ", as well as " on the measures to be taken within the framework of the International Coalition against Daesh, which will have to deal with its responsibilities ".
End of the French intervention
Following a restricted defense council , the Elysee Palace said Monday morning that it would take " in the coming hours " measures " to ensure the safety of French military and civilian personnel " present in the north East of Syria. The army staff, citing security reasons, added nothing. But in fact, it is the end of the French intervention in Syria.
Hundreds of special forces supported Kurdish forces in an international coalition against ISIS combatants. Without the American presence, impossible to stay. The same goes for the United Kingdom, another contributor to the coalition. In Syria, Paris and London were totally dependent on the American ally for intelligence or logistics. The withdrawal of Washington will therefore force French troops to evacuate, probably on the Iraqi side to avoid being caught in the grip of the Turkish offensive.
Moscow strengthens its image in the region
Abandoned by Western forces, the Kurds were forced to forge new alliances with Damascus and its Russian support to counter the Turkish offensive. Syrian regime forces entered the key town of Manbij on Monday night, and infantry units have been dispatched to several areas of northern Syria.
For Moscow, the American withdrawal is " blessed bread ," said Arnaud Dubien, researcher at the Observatory Franco-Russian Moscow. While the reputation of the United States in the Middle East, already eroded since 2011, is now seriously undermined, that of Russia is strengthened. " Russia, which was already perceived as unavoidable, will become absolutely major, " analyzes the researcher.
Obviously, the Russians are pulling the strings.
Arnaud Dubien on the role of Russia in the agreement between Damascus and MSDS
Researcher at the French-Russian Observatory
14/10/2019 - by Daniel Vallot Listen