Post-Assad Syria: number of US soldiers doubled, warning of Isis return

Pentagon confirms presence of around 2,000 US soldiers and warns of risk of mass escape from Kurdish prisons

The Pentagon has confirmed the presence of ‘about two thousand’ US soldiers in Syria, far more than the 900 known until now. Defence Department spokesman Patrick Ryder clarified that 900 of these soldiers are on long-term missions, while additional forces are temporarily deployed to meet ‘changing mission requirements’ in the war-torn country. Ryder assured that there has never been any attempt to hide the real number of units present on Syrian territory, specifying that the precise figures were collected shortly before the official announcement.

US delegation meets Hayat Tahrir al-Sham rebels: first dialogue since the fall of Assad

A US delegation arrived in Damascus yesterday for the first diplomatic mission since the end of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. The delegation met with representatives of the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (Hts), which led the offensive against loyalist forces. The meeting between the group’s leader, Abu Mohammed al-Jawlani (aka Ahmed al-Sharaa), and US officials was described as ‘positive’ by a Syrian official, who expressed confidence in future results. However, the planned press conference was cancelled for security reasons, as confirmed by Rana Hassan, a US embassy official.

Is threat: overcrowded prisons and fears of a ‘time bomb’

Since 2014, US forces have been operating in Syria in the context of the fight against Isis (Islamic State). With the fall of the Assad regime, fears have re-emerged related to Isis’s ability to reorganise. Thousands of Islamic State fighters and their families are held in makeshift prisons guarded by Kurdish forces, which enjoy American support but are limited in terms of resources. These prisons, which are often the target of attacks, are considered a ‘ticking time bomb’ by several security officials, including a member of the US counter-terrorism unit who stressed the risk of a potential mass breakout if attacks against the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are not stopped.

Isis reorganises forces: concerns over control over new areas

The Isis threat remains alive not only in Syria but also in Iraq, where recent US-led air raids have targeted several jihadist positions. The terrorist group, taking advantage of the collapse of the Syrian army and access to abandoned weapons depots, is extending its control over new areas. Fuad Hussein, Iraqi Foreign Minister, raised the alarm about the risk of Isis escaping from prisons and highlighted the difficult situation in the Al-Hol refugee camp, where deteriorating security conditions could have serious consequences for the entire region. Despite these concerns, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani played down the danger to his country, stating that the remnants of Isis no longer pose a significant threat to Iraq.

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