United States jet fighters have bombed a Syrian convoy near the town of Al-Tanf near the Syria-Jordan border early on Thursday resulting in the deaths of eight people. This is the first time the U.S. military conducted an attack against a government convoy and not an installation and bases. The Pentagon said that the convoy threatens the U.S. led coalition that will attack ISIS held territories in Syria.
What is the reaction of Syria, Iran and Russia over the bombing of their forces?
Bashar Al-Ja'afari, a Syrian government negotiator said to U.N.
mediator Staffan de Mistura that the U.S. attack was government terrorism and a massacre perpetrated by the American aggressors. Al-Ja'afari also blamed the terrorism in his country was perpetrated by French and British aggression.
Iran hasn't released any statement over the attack on the convoy. However, tension between the United States and Iran continues to rise, especially with the deals made by America with Middle Eastern countries that are against the Shia-dominanted country of Iran. The United States had just concluded an arms deal with UAE and Saudi Arabia making these countries substantially stronger than Iran.
Russia on the other hand condemns the attack. Russian deputy foreign minister, Gennady Gatilov said that the United States had violated the sovereignty of Syria and that the attack will not provide a solution to the civil war raging in the country.
What is the plan of the United States as it prepares an attack against ISIS held territories?
The U.S. military is currently building up forces for the eventual push into ISIS-held territory. Most of the soldiers backed up by the U.S. are Kurdish forces who are fighting desperately against the ISIS invasion. The convoy was attacked because it was observed to be nearing allied territory in a threatening manner.
The decision was swift and bombs were hurled at the convoy killing eight people. The invasion of ISIS territory is set to start this coming summer.
The U.S. arming of Kurdish militia is condemn also by Turkey, which regards the Kurds as rebels. Turkey had warned the United States that Turkish forces will not hesitate to target Kurdish forces even if there are American personnel present.
At the moment, the Kurds are in rigorous training with U.S. spec ops officers. Thousands of predominantly Kurdish troops are being armed to properly fight the ISIS threat and expel the terrorist group out of Syria and out of Iraq.
