(Franco Iacch)
01/29/16

http://www.difesaonline.it/mondo-militare/siria-ecco-la-base-che-non-esiste-gli-usa-non-possono-piu-nascondere-il-loro-primo

The United States now can no longer hide the existence of their first outpost operating in Syria.
Satellite images obtained by IHS Jane show an airstrip in northeastern Syria, expanded over the last few months.
It is located southeast of the city of Raylan, in the province of Al-Hasakah, the runway was lengthened from 700 to 1,320 meters and widened from 25 to 58 meters.

Airbus Defence and Space, that have provided the images, confirmed that work on the track were completed on December 18 last year.
Supporting infrastructure has not yet been completed, housing for staff or security implementations.
Although the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) have denied "the control of any basis in Syria", the satellites confirm the opposite. Even the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have confirmed that the United States took control of the Rmeilan airport supporting Kurdish fighters against the Islamic state. The YPG controls much of the north-east of Syria, including the area Rmeilan, even though the airport of Al-Qamishli is still under the control of the forces of President Bashar al-Assad. Just the People's Protection Units (YPG), would give the US the use of the airport. Last November, Obama has taken the decision to send 50 Green Berets supported by an independent group battle formed by F-15, A-10, Apache helicopters and drones armed Syria to coordinate efforts against the Islamic state. The dispatch of the Green Berets, also called multipliers, was a clear signal of the new White House strategy against the Islamic state. A little less than two months, the statement from the Pentagon about the redeployment of the Green Berets in Syria "will be in action in northern Syria," it has a precise meaning. From the beginning we assumed it was a bridgehead for a real contingent of Special Operations Force. The main air support, still operates from the Incirlik base in Turkey.

The American tactic of redeployment advanced special operators in enemy territory, is special. The function of multipliers (the Green Berets) has long been known. What the Pentagon says is that for particular aspects of missions, the US prefer to integrate other departments. The presence of the 24th Special Tactics Squadron, assigned to the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), in Syria, in addition to the Green Berets, could implement both elements of Delta Force unit of the Naval Special Warfare Development Group, also known as SEAL Team Six.

The first report of the use of the airstrip dates back to December 3 last year, when the site of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, told (recklessly) the presence of American special unit to train Syrian Kurdish forces fighting the Islamic state.

The US military said last November that it would begin to provide support to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), allied with the People's Protection Units. The Pentagon confirmed the sending of arms to the Arab component of the SDF, but not to units YPG. The YPG is in fact closely linked to the PKK, the Kurdish Communist Party leaders in the fight for independence in the territory turkish.

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IZAKOVIC