Are U.S. And Iranian Backed Forces About To Face Each Other In Syria?

© Sputnik/ Valeriy Melnikov

Iran Focus: US and Iran Could Face off in Syria

Over the past six years, the US and Iran have maintained an uneasy peace in Syria but this may be about to end as their forces draw closer in the east and south of the country.

The unspoken truce was broken on May 18, when the US-led coalition, which supports the Syrian Opposition forces, carried out an air strike against an Iranian proxy group near the base of Al-Tanf (close to the Syrian border with Iraq and Jordon).

Air Force Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Harrigian, defended the strike on Wednesday as necessary to protect US troops and did not apologise for the move.

He said: “First thing I would say is I’m concerned about any threat to our forces on the ground. I’m just going to reiterate the fact that we will protect our forces… we will do what it takes to ensure that our ground forces, if they’re threatened, we’re going to take the necessary action.”

But could this strike lead to escalations? Yes, almost certainly. Experts see this as the trigger for a much larger confrontation.

Read

Subscribe to receive free email updates:

Related Posts :