The American-led coalition in Syria was covering terrorists during the operation to liberate Abu Kamal. Large ISIS combat units equipped with heavy weaponry and vehicles withdrew to the area controlled by Americans. According to Russia's Ministry of Defense, the coalition aviation not only did not stop them, but in fact interfered with the assault on terrorists. Our war correspondent in Syria, Evgeny Poddubny gives us all the details.
The fighters of the so-called Islamic State, after retreating from their base in Abu Kamal, have indeed moved to the territory controlled by the combat units of the SDF— the so-called armed Syrian opposition which receives assistance from the US. It should be noted that SDF formations have US military consultants.
The terrorists of the pseudo-caliphate not only moved to the SDF-controlled territory, but also dissolved in the SDF formations, managed to regroup and then resumed their counterattacks on the positions of the Syrian army near Abu Kamal.
Moreover, if the Americans wanted to take air action against the ISIS terrorists, they would've done so, since they do have the necessary equipment and manpower. And yet they didn't do that.
And this is not the first case of cooperation between pro-American forces at the Euphrates and the fighters of the so-called Islamic State.
The situation was similar in Deir ez-Zor after the Syrian troops with the support from the Russian Aerospace Forces first deblocked Deir ez-Zor and then freed it completely. The retreating terrorist units of the pseudo-caliphate also crossed the Euphrates River to the east, hurrying to the territory controlled by the SDF.
Apart from the photographs published today by Russia's Ministry of Defense, there is other proof that Washington and US-led military units are not really fighting the militants of the pseudo-caliphate here in Syria, and in a critical situation are even ready to help them.
It's worth noting that the government forces' attack here, in Abu Kamal, was very rapid. Fighting around the city continue, going up and down in intensity. The situation on the lines changes every several hours. but the rebels use the eastern bank of the Euphrates to receive reinforcements, regroup their forces and pull back their beaten troops for rest, only to throw them back to fight on the western bank of the Euphrates at Abu Kamal.
Small and scattered terrorist units are still putting up resistance in the city. Engineers haven't done their work in the city yet. Bomb disposal units still cannot get down to clearing the streets and buildings of Abu Kamal.
While retreating, ISIS terrorists have planted bombs in buildings, living quarters and on the roads. As Abu Kamal was being secured, there were found symbols and flags of the SDF which is a pro-American organization. It suggests that the fighters of the so-called Islamic State were cooperating with the Washington-controlled troops that include Kurdish units and Arabic tribes. All of them can be called a moderate armed opposition, or at least that's how it's called in Washington. The conclusion is self-evident.
Evgeny Poddubny, Ruben Nirobov, Stanislav Yalovsky. Vesti from Abu Kemal, Syria.
