Syrian Army restarts offensive to drive US-backed terrorists out of the Syrian Desert

Despite ongoing reports suggesting the US military may withdraw from the Al-Tanf border crossing, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) resumed its offensive in the so-called ‘Badia’, ultimately looking to drive Free Syrian Army (FSA) back across the border into Jordan where they were funnelled across back in 2016.

Over the past 48 hours alone, at least 10 fighters of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) have been killed by the SAA east of Dakwah in the Rif Dimashq governorate. Among the deceased US-backed combatants were Bashar Shukri Al-Abd.

The goal of the SAA’s offensive is to retake its southern border and expel the FSA from desert areas under its control in the provinces of Rif Dimashq, Homs and Sweida.

The main FSA parties involved are Osoud Al-Sharqiya (Lions of the East), the Ahmad Al-Abdo Martyrs Brigade, and Jaysh Maghawir Al-Thawra (Revolutionary Commando Army). These factions are trained and supplied by the US military in Jordan and were formerly known as the now disbanded ‘New Syrian Army’. All their fighters originate from Deir Ezzor province but fled back in 2014 following an ISIS takeover.