June 21: @StateDept threatens “serious repercussions” for any offensive in the south.
June 23: @USEmbassyJordan tells FSA 'we don’t have your back' [via @AbuJamajem]
June 25-27: Silence.
This pilot flying over #Deraa says: “Here, the crisis began & here we’ll bury it.” [via @ZouhirAlShimale]
~ 50,000 civilians have been displaced thus far.
- ‘The south is the *one* area where we have real, meaningful influence… where we can actually help determine the shape of events…’
Though they didn’t say it, that'd mean direct [U.S] complicity in further mass civilian displacement, presumably north to #Idlib/#Aleppo.
Not just *in* #Syria, but vis-a-vis #Jordan & #Israel.
Dreadful images, as Deraa, Nawa, Jassem, Bosra al-Sham, Al-Musayfira & more are targeted relentlessly.
Graphic.
#Syria #Deraa
Neither #HTS nor Al-Qaeda have serious, strategic military capabilities in the south, having chosen to de-prioritize their presence there years ago.
The #ISIS-linked Jaish Khaled, meanwhile, is being left untouched by #Assad’s offensive.
How #Russia conned #Trump in southwestern #Syria”
- Excellent editorial by @WSJopinion, highlighting the pitiful U.S. response to events in #Deraa… "Begging is embarrassing.”
wsj.com/articles/putin…
- x4 already exist/underway
- x1 is a fantasy long-term
#TheArtofTheDeal
washingtonpost.com/opinions/globa…
My latest comments on #Assad’s offensive in southern #Syria, for @MiddleEastInst
mei.edu/content/flash/…
So - it’s worth also mentioning that due to the #Trump admin’s decision to abandon its allies in southern #Syria, U.S. weapons have now fallen to a major State Sponsor of Terrorism: #Assad.
It’s a complete fantasy & it *guarantees* long-term instability.
= Roughly 33-40% of the region’s entire population.
These IDPs have nowhere to go - neither #Jordan nor #Israel will open their borders.
It’s ~95°F daily in #Deraa.
- Excellent map of #IRGC/militia network, via @ETANA_Syria
Jets, helicopters, barrel bombs, rocket artillery/MRLs & ground assaults all ongoing. #Syria
They're a “fundamental participant” working “under the cover” of the #SAA.
haaretz.com/middle-east-ne…