Syrian Army Repels Attack From U.S.-Held Al-Tanf Area
Syrian government forces repelled an attack that was launched from the southeastern area of al-Tanf that is controlled by the United States-led coalition and its proxies, Rear Admiral Oleg Gurinov, deputy chief of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Parties in Syria, announced on May 18.
“At 11:30 p.m. Moscow time on May 18, 2023, servicemen from an outpost of the 134th armored brigade of the Syrian armed forces spotted a group of militants driving three pickup trucks west of Mount Tell Al Tuwayed in an attempt to sneak out of the Al Tanf zone,” the commander said. “When Syria’s government troops opened fire, the group scurried away into coalition-controlled territory near the Sloubi Valley.”
Gurinov noted that the incident demonstrated once again that the U.S.-led coalition had failed to fulfill its commitment to control al-Tanf and prevent radical groups from committing terror attacks.
Around 200 U.S. troops are usually deployed at al-Tanf garrison, along with hundreds of militants from a proxy group known as the Syrian Free Army. The group has been recruiting and training more militants with direct support from the coalition.
The U.S.-led coalition maintains a 55-kilometer no-fly zone around al-Tanf. However, Russian fighter jets conducted dozens of armed patrols over the garrison in the last few months.
Coalition proxies were accused of launching attacks from al-Tanf against government forces, civilians and vital infrastructure facilities in southern, central and eastern Syria on several occasions over the last few years. ISIS is also known to be present within the area’s no-fly zone.
In April, Syrian government forces conducted a large-scale operation around al-Tanf to identify and neutralize sabotage and reconnaissance cells, which were trained by the U.S.-led coalition.
Russia targeted coalition proxies in al-Tanf after attacks were launched from the area in the past. However, the situation around the area remains unstable.
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