US statements on SDF show attempt to avoid past commitments
By SETH J. FRANTZMAN In a December statement US Secretary of Defense sought to portray the SDF as seeking a Kurdish state as a way for the US to […]
By SETH J. FRANTZMAN In a December statement US Secretary of Defense sought to portray the SDF as seeking a Kurdish state as a way for the US to […]
By SETH J. FRANTZMAN A timeline of events in eastern Syria during the period the US announced a withdrawal and the time the SDF signed an agreement with Damascus. ALL […]
By SETH J. FRANTZMAN There has been shock at the sudden decision by US President Donald Trump to withdraw from Syria. Here are some thoughts and questions, and maybe some […]
By SETH J. FRANTZMAN On April 29 reports emerged of clashes between the Syrian Democratic Forces and the Syrian regime-supported National Defense Forces, which allegedly include Shi’ite militias in a […]
By SETH J. FRANTZMAN The SDF in Syria seem to be holding a circus for journalists to come and profile the ISIS ‘Beatles.’ One after another the detainees have been […]
By SETH J. FRANTZMAN Since Ankara launched its offensive against the YPG on January 20 there have been many developments in the battle between Turkey and its Syrian rebel allies […]
By SETH J. FRANTZMAN On November 11 US President Donald Trump and President of Russia Vladimir Putin met on the sidelines of the APEC conference in Danang, Vietnam. They issued […]
By SETH J. FRANTZMAN Before midnight on September 15th a Russian airstrike hit near where US-coalition supported Syrian Democratic Forces were operating east of the Euphrates river. According to a […]
By SETH J. FRANTZMAN In the last week of June 2017 rumors began to spread of increased tensions on the Turkish border with Kurdish-run areas in Afrin. A small province, […]
By SETH J. FRANTZMAN Just after noon on May 29th the Hashd al-Shaabi, or Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), a mostly Shia group of militias that have been officially part of […]