SYRIA UPDATE:  GOVERNMENT LAUNCHING OFFENSIVE SOON IN SW, US WARNED AGAINST IT

(NEWS, COMMENT, ANALYSIS)

".....What will Israel's reaction to this be?  How effective will Syrian air defenses be against a reaction?  What will Russia's reaction be to Israeli attacks on its ally's forces?"

Col. Pat Lang on his "Sic Semper Tyrannis" blog 6/10/2018

The word from Syria is that the Assad regime is planning their "largest offensive of the war" to launch this week.

The report published by "AlmasdarNews" Saturday June 9th says the big offensive expected in southwestern Syria against the jihadists is about to kick off.

The US State Department issued a statement May 25th warning the Syrian government against such an offensive.   It says in part:

".......The United States remains committed to maintaining the stability of the southwest de-escalation zone and to the cease-fire underpinning it.  We also caution the Syrian regime against any actions that risk broadening the conflict or jeopardizing the cease-fire....."

The cease-fire-de-escalation zone ended in the area in April.

Expectations were for some sort of provocation against Syria and or its allies (Iran, Russia) during the upcoming World Cup competition in Russia.

The pro-Russian government of Ukraine was overthrown during the Winter Olympics in Russia in 2014.

If the Syrian offensive materializes in the days ahead it will be an indication that Syria wants to take the initiative and strike first rather than wait for its enemies to strike under the cover of the World Cup competition.

Regardless once Syria launches military action, Israel and or the United States are likely to find some reason to use force in the area.

To answer Israeli concerns about Iranian forces in Syria Russia recently announced a disengagement of Iranian forces from southern Syria near the border with Israel and Jordan (the region where the offensive is about to begin).

The Israeli "DEBKAfile" site says Syria has announced its offensive will kick off this week after talks between the US and Russian Chiefs of Staff failed last Friday in Helsinki.

But the United States and allied nations (France and the UK) are likely to allege some sort of atrocity or atrocities by Syrian forces if an offensive is launched to justify military intervention.

The State Department's May 25th statement alluded to Eastern Ghouta where a chemical weapons attack was alleged leading to a missile strike on Syria earlier this year.


Links below.........


COL. PAT LANG SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS BLOG WITH LINK TO AL MASDAR NEWS ARTICLE




US STATE DEPARTMENT MAY 25TH, 2018 SYRIA STATEMENT



DEBKAFILE STORY 6/10/2018 ON SYRIAN OFFENSIVE


(EDITED AND EXPANDED MONDAY AM)