Record published by the Russian Ministry of Defense.
In the race of Syrian troops and US-backed SDF units on the strategically important city of Deir-ez-Zor, the conflict between Russia and the US is intensifying
As has long been clear, the defeat and expulsion of the Islamic State in Syria does not lead to a resolution of the conflict. There is too much divergence between the geopolitical interests of the U.S. and Russia and their allied regional powers, which in turn are linked to Syrian parties on the ground (power poker in Syria). The conflict is currently dominated by Iran’s interest in building a land bridge to Lebanon through Iraq and Syria, which has met with strong opposition from the United States. In addition, the city is also strategically important in Syria, with oil wells in the surrounding area.
The expulsion of the Islamic State around the city of Deir ez-Zor led to a race between Syrian troops and Shiite militias from Iran, Iraq and Lebanon and the Kurdish SDF, which act as American ground forces and are supported by American special forces and U.S. fighter jets.
A week ago, the Pentagon accused the Russians of attacking east of Deir-ez-Zor with combat aircraft "Coalition partner", i.e., SDF formations, and injured some fighters. "Multinational Forces", who advise and support the SDF, were also present, but there were no casualties among them.
Shortly after, the Russian Ministry of Defense complained that the SDF forces were able to cross IS-held territories without being involved in combat. It has been reported several times that the SDF and the IS have made agreements, for example, in the capture of Tabqa (The Deal with the Islamic State). In addition, SDF groups were described Syrian troops. Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov stated: "The closer the end of the Islamic State comes, the more obvious it becomes who is actually fighting the IS and who has been faking it for the last three years. And if the U.S.-led international coalition did not want to fight terrorism in Syria, it should at least not interfere with those who are doing so continuously and effectively."
Now the Russian Defense Ministry released aerial photos of locations north of Deir-ez-Zor where IS fighters are still located. They are between the 8. and 12. September has been made. U.S. Special Forces are now being accused of providing safe passage for SDF bands through IS-controlled areas. "With no resistance from IS fighters, SDF gangs advance on the left side of the Euphrates River toward the city of Deir ez-Zor."
The Americans’ bases were said to be where IS fighters had been a short time earlier. One does not notice on the photographs that the US special forces have secured the support points. There are no signs of security measures. That could mean, the Russian Defense Ministry insinuated, that the Americans, on territory still held by IS, "absolutely safe" feel. He also said there were no traces of attacks, battles between the IS and the Americans, or craters that would show that the former IS bases had been bombed. To see are u.a. Humvee armored vehicles, which, however, were also captured by the IS.