The US-led coalition has set up a new military base in Al-Zkuf, 70 km north-east of Al-Tanf near the Syrian-Iraqi border. According to the US-led coalition, the aim of the base is to fight ISIS. The base is located in 130 km from the city of Al-Bukamal in the province of Deir Ezzor. A US-backed militant group, Jaysh Maghawir al-Thawra will be involved in the effort.
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The US Special Operations Forces as well as units from other US-led coalition member states continued training Free Syrian Army (FSA) members in the Al-Tanf base. The aim is to prepare for an attack on ISIS in the city of Al-Bukamal. However, the FSA has so far prefered launching attacks on the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) in the desert of Damascus.
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Click to see the full-size image
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On the other side, the SAA still maintains positions in 40 kilometers from the Al-Tanf base, as shown in a video posted on Saturday.
According to several pro-government sources, the SAA is still planning to advance to capture the Al-Tanf base in the nearest possible opportunity.
The real purpose of new US-led coalition base in Al-Zkuf is to prevent the SAA advance aimed at reaching the Syrian-Iraqi border. The Iraqi government as well as the Popular Mobilization Units may support Damascus’ counter-terrorism efforts in Syria.
This may also contribute to preventing Iran from transfering weapons to Hezbollah in Lebanon, This is an Israeli demand.
