File image.
On March 4, the Syrian Free Army (SFA), the main proxy of the United States-led coalition in the southeastern Syrian area of al-Tanf, announced that a new group of militants had joined its ranks after completing an extensive training course.
A graduation ceremony was held for the militants near the coalition’s garrison in al-Tanf. The ceremony was attended by senior U.S. officers.
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- Click to see full-size image. Via Twitter.
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- Click to see full-size image. Via Twitter.
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- Click to see full-size image. Via Twitter.
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- Click to see full-size image. Via Twitter.
Around 200 U.S. troops are usually deployed at al-Tanf. The coalition maintains a 55-kilometers no-fly zone around the garrison, which blocks a strategic highway between Syria and Iraq.
The U.S.-led coalition has been working to expand the SFA, formally known as Army of the Commandos of the Revolution, for a while now. Last year, the coalition appointed a new radical leader for the group, then went on to reorganize and rebrand it. The coalition also approved a plan to boost the SFA’s ranks with more than 2,000 new militants.
The SFA main task is to defend al-Tanf garrison and the surrounding 55-kilometer zone in cooperation with the U.S.-led coalition.
Al-Tanf garrison came under attack on several occasions in the past. The most recent attack was on January 20. Three suicide drones targeted the garrison. Two were intercepted by the coalition, while the third hit a compound. Three SFA militants were wounded. A shadowy pro-Iranian group calling itself the Islamic Resistance in Iraq – al-Warithin Formation claimed responsibility for the last drone attack.
The coalition and the SFA stepped up defensive measures around al-Tanf after the attack. Suspected spies of the Syrian intelligence were reportedly arrested and leaflets with instructions on how to report suspected caches, that could include drones or anti-aircraft missiles, were distributed to people living near the garrison.
With support from the U.S.-led coalition and thousands of new militants, the SFA could soon launch an insurgency against Syrian government forces.
