VIDEO MAP: The war on ISIS in Syria: January to June, 2017

Thus far the year of 2017 in the Syrian War has turned out to be the most militarily active and strategically mobile. In particular the war against ISIS in the last six months has witnessed some of the most breathtaking territorial advances between pro-government forces and the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, although by far, the former alliance force holds the record in terms of the sheer amount of land and attached economic prizes it has reclaimed from the terrorist polity and degree of military damage it has inflicted on the army of ISIS. Specifically, pro-government advances demonstrate that the Damascus government is in fact fighting the Islamic State, despite the reality-defying objections of the Western-commandeered pseudo-opposition. ISIS for its part appears to be throwing what remains of its veteran manpower and heavy firepower at the tide of encroaching forces against it in an all-out bid to stave-off its seemingly inevitable defeat as a state entity.

THIS NARRATION TEXT IS THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OF OZ ANALYSIS

THIS NARRATION TEXT IS THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OF OZ ANALYSIS

In the province of Homs, pro-government forces, led by the Russian-trained, equipped and partially-commanded Syrian 5th Assault Corps have, also since mid-January opened up a second dedicated front against ISIS, driving towards the oil-rich centre of the country along the Homs to Deir Ezzor highway securing the mountainous terrain that flanks the road to both the north and the south. The ancient city of Palmyra was liberated in early-March and in the three months since then, pro-government forces have advanced beyond the town of Arak in the direction of Sukhana, the last ISIS stronghold before Deir Ezzor. US-backed Free Syrian Army mercenaries operating in the Syria Badiah have expanded their presence in the provinces of Rif Dimashq and As-Suwaydah, with the withdrawal of ISIS forces from these regions. In response, pro-government forces, have renewed their own operations in the Syrian desert, nullifying the initial Free Syrian Army strategic initiative and stopping short of taking the town of al-Tanf only due to US airstrikes. In any case, pro-government forces capitalised on their advances in this area by also completely clearing central Homs of ISIS in a brilliant blitz operation and reached the Syrian-Iraqi border in a cross-desert penetration attack to the northeast of al-Tanf, effectively isolating Coalition forces; this objective was also used to launch further attacks in the direction of Sukhana which have thus far resulted in the capture of the T-3 Airbase and its surrounding complex.

THIS NARRATION TEXT IS THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OF OZ ANALYSIS

THIS NARRATION TEXT IS THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OF OZ ANALYSIS

Regarding the advances of pro-government forces and those of the SDF, the push towards central and eastern Syria between the two meta-alliances appears to have degenerated into a race to secure key roads, resource infrastructures and strategic boundaries. Whilst the pro-government alliance aims to restore Syrian sovereignty as much as possible from a self-inviting alien entity, the US is in the process of exterminating the Frankstein child of its post-2011 foreign policy approach to the Middle East, now hedging its bets on Kurdish nationalist aspirations as a vessel through which to preserve its regional dominance. With all that has happened and all that could yet happen, it is worth remembering that the Summer season has only just arrived and there are yet six more months left to 2017.