The US Department of Defense said that the withdrawal of US troops from Syria adversely affects the fight against ISIS * in a situation where the group allegedly "reborn in Syria." Such allegations are contained in a report published on August 6 by the Pentagon General Inspector on Operation Unshakable Determination in Syria and Iraq from April 1 to June 30, 2019.

“During the quarter, the United Task Force (OOTG) completed the partial withdrawal of US troops from Syria. According to the participants of Operation Unshakable Determination, the withdrawal of a part of the troops reduced the amount of available support for the Syrian forces - just at a time when they needed enhanced training and supplies to counter the ISIS revival, ”the report emphasizes.

At the same time, the Pentagon’s supervisory authority notes that “according to the participants in the operation of the United Operation Unshakable Decision” and the Central Command of the US Armed Forces, ISIS revived in Syria in this quarter and continued to build up opportunities for subversive activities in Iraq, despite the disappearance of the last traces "Caliphate" in Syria in March 2019. "

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According to experts, the US uses the fight against terrorism as an excuse for military interventions abroad. Until now, the main legal basis for numerous American operations in other countries of the world, including its presence in Syria, is the Law on the Use of Military Force of 2001, adopted in response to the September 11 attacks. That is why the United States periodically hears statements about the appearance of ISIS terrorists somewhere, or, as the State Department recently reported, the revival of Al-Qaeda, analysts say.

“If ISIS disappears, the legal basis for Americans to disappear in Syria will disappear. Therefore, all statements by the Pentagon and the American administration are aimed at maintaining the American military presence and through this military presence to influence the political solution to the Syrian crisis. They had no other levers of influence, ”said Vyacheslav Matuzov, president of the Society for Friendship and Business Cooperation with Arab Countries, in a conversation with RT.

However, the Pentagon General Inspector himself admits that the United States is not only afraid of ISIS strengthening if its troops withdraw from Syria.

“Having partially withdrawn the troops, the joint operational-tactical group stated that the“ withdrawal or reduction ”of the American contingent could force the Syrian forces supported by the US to consider“ alternative options for partnership and resource supply ”or lead to a“ collapse of the emerging structures of democratic governance in the region ”, enjoying US support, the Pentagon Inspector General said in a report. “According to the OOTG, such outcomes could“ adversely affect ”US missions in Iraq and Syria, especially if the alternative partner“ does not share our views ”on the future of both states.”

The desire to withdraw American troops from Syria in December last year was announced by President Donald Trump. However, the United States has not yet left this country. In February, the White House announced its intention to leave 200 “peacekeepers” in Syria. The report of the Pentagon Inspector General reports on a partial reduction in the military contingent, but does not give specific figures, noting that they are classified. It is only said that $ 14.3 million was spent on the withdrawal of Americans from Syria.

  • U.S. President Donald Trump at a military base in Iraq in December 2019
  • Reuters
  • © Jonathan Ernst

According to the American military news portal Military.com, in December 2018, the number of US troops in Syria was estimated at 2,000. Now, according to journalists, in this Middle Eastern country there are about 1,000 American soldiers and officers.

Self-disclosure session

According to a report by the Office of the Inspector General of the United States Department of Defense, ISIS currently has between 14,000 and 18,000 troops in Iraq and Syria, including up to 3,000 foreigners. Despite the loss of territories, terrorist cells are active. As a rule, this is the killing of local leaders, attacks on settlements, the destruction of crops.

Another factor of instability is about 10,000 ISIS militants who are imprisoned in Kurdish-controlled territories in Syria. The command of Operation Unshakable Determination informed the Inspector General that the Syrian Democratic Forces were unable to keep thousands of militants in prison. Their family members are in refugee camps and provide an environment suitable for recruiting active terrorists. In particular, according to the inspector general, the terrorists are recruiting in the Al-Khol camp.

The Pentagon Inspector General also notes that US-backed forces can hardly carry out anti-terrorist operations.

“The United Task Force, formed in 2014 by the Central Command of the US Armed Forces as part of Operation Unshakable Decision, told the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Defense that ISIS has the ability to carry out subversive activities in Iraq and Syria, partly because the Iraqi security forces and the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces are still unable to withstand lengthy operations against ISIS, ”the report says.

As follows from the map published in the report, the activity of ISIS in Syria and Iraq is mainly concentrated in the areas of the American anti-terrorist operation. In Syria, this is the region of Raqqa and the Euphrates Valley, which are controlled by American forces along with Kurds from the Syrian Democratic Forces. In Iraq - vast areas in the north: from the Syrian to the Iranian border. At the same time, in the regions of Syria, where anti-terrorism actions were carried out by official Damascus with the support of Russia, there are much fewer centers of terrorist activity.

    According to military expert Ivan Konovalov, the reason is that Russia and the Syrian Arab army "fought terrorists not for life, but to death", and the US "is trying to take them under its wing to use for its own purposes."

    The expert also recalled that most recently, US President Donald Trump announced the defeat of ISIS in Syria.

    “Americans say ISIS is reborn. But where is he reborn? They themselves control these territories and declared that they won all. It turns out that the United States self-disclosed thanks to this report, ”RT Konovalov said.

    Kurdish factor

    The report of the Pentagon Inspector General notes that terrorist activity is fueled by the discontent of the Arab population of Eastern Syria. In particular, with the support of the Americans, the Kurds seized the control levers. Thus, in the province of Deir ez-Zor, Kurds forcibly called on Arab men to form their units and seized oil fields, which provoked protests by the local population.

    • Kurdish militias in Syria
    • Reuters
    • © Rodi Said

    ISIS terrorists exploit anti-Kurdish sentiment in their propaganda, the US Department of Defense emphasizes. Extremists are also actively using the contradictions between the traditional way of life of local Arabs and egalitarian regimes, which are trying to establish Kurds in the territory under their control.

    According to experts, the Americans themselves drove the situation into a dead end, making the Kurds the pillar of their military presence. On the one hand, the United States no longer has anyone to rely on, and therefore the Americans support the Kurdish occupation of Arab territories. On the other hand, Washington does not allow the Kurds to agree with the central government of Syria, which could defuse the situation.

    “The Americans are playing their game, which is the main obstacle to a political settlement in Syria,” says Vyacheslav Matuzov. - That's when the Americans stop this game and withdraw their troops from the territory of Syria, then it will be very easy and simple to reach a political settlement. If they are not in Syria, then ISIS will cease to exist. The Syrian army and its leadership are able to maintain order throughout the country that it controls. ”

    According to Ivan Konovalov, an agreement between the Kurdish forces and official Damascus can solve the problem.

    “This would be the best way out of the situation,” the expert believes. “But for this, the Americans must leave Syria.”

    * “Islamic State” (ISIS, ISIS) - the organization was recognized as terrorist by decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation of December 29, 2014.