U.S. Preparing Major Offensive in Northeastern Syria

The U.S.-led coalition combating Islamic State militants is preparing to open a major offensive against the Islamist group in northeastern Syria, military and administration officials recently told The New York Times.

Over the last week, President Obama cleared the way for the U.S. to provide ammunition and possibly some weapons directly to selected groups of Syrian rebels, in addition to a potential increase in airstrikes with warplanes set to operate out of an air base in Turkey. The plan would allow for some 3,000–5,000 Arab militants to join more than 20,000 Kurdish fighters in an assault against Raqqa, the Islamic State’s de facto capital. The ground offensive would be supported by coalition warplanes.

Senior officials in the Obama administration have said the offensive could potentially have a major effect on the Islamic State’s operations in the area. U.S. General Martin E. Dempsey said last month that the U.S.-led coalition’s battle against ISIS has been “tactically stalemated” for nearly a year.

ISIS Destroys Arch of Triumph in Palmyra

Militants belonging to the self-declared Islamic State have blown up the 2,000-year-old Arch of Triumph in the ancient city of Palmyra, AFP reports.

Syrian antiquities director Maamun Abdulkarim warned Monday of a coming disaster for what remains of the iconic city of Palmyra, registered as a world heritage site with UNESCO. Jihadist militants have been systematically destroying Palmyra since laying claim to the ruins in May of this year.

“This is a systematic destruction of the city. They want to raise it completely,” Abdulkarim told AFP. “They want to destroy the amphitheater, the colonnade. We now fear for the entire city,” he added, saying the international community must “find a way to save Palmyra” from catastrophe.

Failure to Conquer ISIS Will ‘Destroy Middle East,’ Assad Says

Speaking on an Iranian television broadcast Sunday, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said the success of Syria’s military campaign against the Islamic State – backed by its faithful allies Iran and Russia – was vital to save the Middle East from total destruction, The Guardian reports.

Assad, reportedly sounding confident, said he was hopeful because of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to form “a coalition which includes Russia, Iran, Iraq and Syria.” He said that calls urging him to step down from the presidency after serving a brief stint in a transitional government “mean nothing” to him, and that only the Syrians could decide on their ruler.

“For how long this war will continue? This war will continue until either terrorism defeats the people or the people defeat terrorists. So, we pin great hope on this coalition now and on these international changes,” said Assad, adding that a failure to defeat ISIS would mean, “that we face the destruction of the whole region.”

Top Image: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad sits during an interview with Iran’s Khabar TV, aired on Sunday 4 October 2015. (Associated Press / SANA)

Recommended Readings

• The Washington Post: U.S.-backed Syrian Rebels Appeal for Anti-aircraft Missiles
• The Telegraph: Russia Bombing in Syria Escalates Oil Price War with Saudi Arabia
• The Washington Post: Russia’s Military is Unlikely to Turn the Tide in Syria’s War
• The National: Putin is Filling a Vacuum in Syria, But What is Moscow’s Endgame?
• Foreign Policy: Syrian Foreign Minister: We Sure Are Glad Russia is Bombing Our Country