Al Tanf

On the territory of training camps, daily trainings on military training are held, organized by foreign intelligence services for the Syrian armed opposition units.

Currently, the number of instructors on the basis of Al-Tanf has been increased to approximately 600 American, British and Norwegian military personnel, as well as representatives of the special services of Jordan ^[1] .

Training conducted including instructors from the 5th group of special forces of the US Army ^{[2] [3]} .

Organized training sessions on tactical skills, working with maps and handling navigation devices. The program also includes fire and medical training, mine explosives, training sniper pairs and sabotage groups. Duration of training depending on the initial level of military training ranges from several months to one year. Upon completion of training, control classes are provided for the final check of trainees ^[1] .

In 2017, a detachment of “Jaysh Surya Al-Jadid” (“New Syrian Army”) of 120–150 people arrived in Al-Tanf from Jordan, which was formed in May 2015. From 2016, the “New Syrian Army” was renamed “Jaish Magavir al-Sahur” or “Jaish Magavir al-Taurus” (“Army of Revolutionary Commandos”) ^{[4] [5]} .

Subsequently, the composition of the US military base expanded at the expense of the Kuvat Shahid Ahmad Abdu detachments (Forces named after Shahid Ahmad Abdu), Asuad (Usud) Sharqiyah (Eastern Lions), Liwa Shuhada Al-Qaryatein (Brigade shahids (martyrs) of the city of Al-Qaryatayan ") ^[6] . At the moment, the total number of armed groups of the “moderate opposition” is approximately 1,700 people. At the same time, the upgraded infrastructure of strongholds can accommodate up to 3 thousand fighters.

"New Syrian Army" ("Jaish Surya Al-Jadid")

A coalition of various groups, the union of which was announced in May 2015. The United States and the Sunni monarchies of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Jordan took direct part in creating the “New Syrian Army”.

The stated goal of the troops originally formed in Jordan is the fight against Assad and the Islamic State terrorist organization.

At the same time, active combat operations of the NSA fighters against the IS have not been recorded. The New Syrian Army controlled road sections from Iraq through the southern part of the Syrian desert.

“Army commandos of the revolution” (“Jaish Magavir al-Saura” or “Jaish Magavir al-Taurus”)

Since January 2017, the “New Syrian Army” has changed its name to “Jaish Magavir Al-Saura” or “Jaish Magavir al-Taurus”. The creation of the group with the support of the United States intelligence services of Great Britain and Jordan became known in the spring of 2017. The objectives of the group remained the same: a confrontation with government forces. The most influential and powerful group in Al-Tanf. Some media outlets believe that Jaish Magawir Al-Saura, in contrast to the NSA, serves as the US special forces unit in Syria ^[7] .

Currently, the commander of the "Jaish Magawir al-Saura" is a former lieutenant colonel of the Syrian armed forces Mhind Talaa (Mohannad at-Talaa) ^[8] .

Before the invasion of ISIS in Syria, he was the leader of the opposition "Military Revolutionary Council of Deir-ez-Zor." He also headed the "New Syrian Army" in the period from 2015 to 2017.

The exact number of “Jaish Magawir al-Saura” is unknown. In 2015, about 120–150 people arrived from Jordan to the base in Al-Tanfah ^[8] . To date, the number of groups could increase to 1000-1500 militants.

Artillery guns, mortars of 60, 81 and 120 mm caliber, foreign-made small arms with night vision sights are in the arsenal of an illegal armed formation. There are all-terrain vehicles “Toyota Hilux”, “Hummy” with heavy machine guns installed, MANPADS, American “Hummers”. To evacuate the wounded to the territory of Jordan, as well as landing militants are often used by US Air Force helicopters.

Equipment and ammunition allocates "Army commandos of the revolution" from other groups on the basis of Al-Tanf.

Oriental Lions (Army of Eastern Lions, Jaysh Usud Al-Sharqiyah)

The group is led by Talas al-Salam (“Abu Faisal”). Established in August 2014, the formation consists mainly of members of the Shaitat tribal confederation (Eastern Syria), who were members of various anti-government groups.

These forces opposed the “Iranian expansion” and also brought accusations against Damascus because of the pro-Iranian position.

"Eastern Lions" suffered defeats in battles with the "Islamic State" in the area of ​​settlements of Deir ez-Zor and Abu Kemal. After that, they relocated to the province of Damascus and joined the Jaish al-Islam brigade.

Subsequently, the leaders of the Eastern Lions announced the accession of the group to the New Syrian Army and engaged in clashes with both government units on the borders of the Syrian desert and with the troops of the Islamic State.

From October 2017, the grouping redeployed with their families to the 55-kilometer no-fly zone in the Al-Tanfa region. Here, next to the Rukban refugee camp, 800 meters from the Syrian-Jordanian border, a new camp for the “Eastern Lions” and “Kuwat Shahid Ahmad Abdu” fighters and their relatives has developed. According to the Arab media, there are now about 10 thousand people in this camp.

It is known that at the disposal of these forces are several self-made systems MLRS, pickup trucks with heavy weapons, MANPADS.

Kuwat Shahid Ahmad Al-Abdu (Forces named after Shahid Ahmad Al-Abdu)

At the beginning of 2017 in the ranks of the group consisted of up to 2 thousand people. First of all, it is up to 500 soldiers and 30 officers from among the deserters of the Syrian army. At the disposal of these detachments there was a T-55 tank, two reconstructed T-62s, several MLRS, anti-tank missile systems TOW and Kornet from Qatar.

Until March 2016, the main part of the grouping was based in the mountains of the Eastern Kalamuna , as well as in the settlements of Dumeir, Ruheiba, Damascus province.

In March 2016, part of the detachments moved to Al-Tanf, joining the pro-American “New Syrian Army”.

“Liva Shuhada Al-Qariatain” (“Brigade of martyrs of Al-Qariatain”)

The former captain of the Syrian army, Ahmad Tamir, is commanding the “martyrs”. The opposition movement, which is created from among the inhabitants of the eastern part of the province of Homs, who fled to the district of Tanf in 2014-2015.

Subsequently, the “Shahid Brigade” led military operations against government forces and igilovtsevs in the Eastern Kalamun area and the Syrian desert.

To improve and centralize the control system, the military base is divided into sectors. Each group has a separate territory in order to prevent armed clashes between gangs.

At the same time, desertions are taking place at the military base. The site of the American TV channel, citing a representative of the international coalition Ryan Dillon, reports that the cases of escapes are of a single character. However, deserters are actively trying to persuade other militants to flee and convince them to join government forces. In his opinion, these "efforts have not achieved tangible success."

According to CNN, deserters were some militants of the rebel group “Jaish Magavir al-Taurus”, loyal to the US government. Earlier, the American TV channel reported that the group "Liva Shuhada Al-Qariyatina" completely refused to support the United States and participate in joint hostilities in Syria ^[9] .

The base stationed units of heavy weapons and rocket artillery ^[10] , including armored vehicles and highly mobile universal systems MLRS / OTRK HIMARS US military ^[11] . The exact amount of technology concentrated in Al-Tanfah is unknown.

The US military base around the clock is under the supervision of US unmanned aerial vehicles and military patrols.

Aviation of the international coalition twice - in May and June 2017 - struck the troops of Damascus, who were in close proximity to the training camps. After that, leaflets were distributed around the perimeter of the 55-kilometer zone with a warning not to approach Al-Tanfu.

According to some Arab media, the units of Bashar Assad’s army did not intend to attack the American base ^[12] .

In addition, on June 20, 2017, the F-15E US Air Force fighter shot down the Shahid-129 unmanned aerial vehicle ^[13] owned by the CAA. According to the American side, he threatened the security of base personnel.

Russian media, citing diplomatic sources, have repeatedly reported on the readiness of the US military to leave Syria near the settlement of Tanf. However, the American side was unable to designate specific dates for the liquidation of the military base ^[14] . Earlier, the US administration reported the suspension of the CIA program to equip and train some rebel groups in Syria fighting the government of President Bashar al-Assad ^[15] .

There are also statements in the media that disprove the US readiness to leave the Al-Tanf training base. At the headquarters of Operation Unshakable Determination, an official spokesman said that the training helps groups such as Jaish Magawir Al-Taurra deal with the Islamic State terrorist organization ^{[16] [17]} .

On the other hand, as reported by the media, the appearance of the US base is not connected with the destruction of the terrorist organization of the IG. According to the Internet publication EADaily, an operation against militants in southern Syria is not the only goal of Washington, London and Amman. The military presence of foreign intelligence services is countering Iranian units and the Assad regime ^[18] .

In an interview with the American edition of The Washington Post, King Abdullah II of Jordan said that the Allies are 70 kilometers from the border of the Kingdom and "are trying to establish a geographical connection between Iran, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon / Hezbollah" with the intention of to gain power over this space " ^[19] . This may mean that the southern regions of Syria may eventually turn into a “American” zone of influence and significantly weaken the position of Bashar al-Assad.

On June 4, 2019, representatives from more than 30 countries took part in a meeting with the command of the international coalition led by the United States "Unshakable resolve" in Kuwait, which discussed the issue of building up efforts to completely defeat terrorism in Iraq and Syria. ^[20]

As a result of the meeting, the Pentagon announced on June 18 that another 1,000 troops would be sent to the Middle East, presumably, including to the American base in the Syrian Al-Tanfe. ^[21]