By John Dunford
Key Takeaway: US
and Russian forces are engaged in a competition for influence and control of
the major roads in northeast Syria, threatening the safety of US personnel.
Russia seeks to expand its presence toward the Syria-Iraq border in the far
northeast corner of Hasakah Province to cut off key US ground supply lines
between Iraq and Syria. US and Russian forces routinely disrupt each
other’s patrols, leading to confrontations and risking escalation between the
forces. A recent confrontation in the far northeast corner of Hasakah Province
resulted in several US injuries after US and Russian vehicles collided. Russian
helicopters also flew over US vehicles in an attempt to disperse them. Russia will
continue its efforts to pressure the US presence through confrontations like
these, while also threatening the security of US ground supply lines connecting
US forces in Syria to Iraq.
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