The Mughawar al-Thawra group, a faction within the Syrian National Army, announced that it repulsed an attack by regime forces on Monday in the 55 kilometer zone in the Syrian Badia region along the Syrian-Iraqi border. In a statement, the group stressed that it, “will not tolerate any party that tries to attack the 55 kilometer zone, and will respond with force.”
The faction said that regime forces mobilized along the western border of the 55 kilometer zone. As they attempted to approach the area, clashes broke out between the two sides, resulting in heavy losses for the attacking forces. The group, which receives support from the International Coalition, affirmed that regime forces had been defeated outside the zone.
Mughawir al-Thawra has repeatedly halted attempts by regime forces to attack the zone, previously announcing that it had killed 12 regime and Iranian fighters who had tried to approach. In February, the faction announced the death of one of its own fighters during clashes with regime forces who had infiltrated the zone.
The International Coalition against the Islamic State controls the 55 kilometer zone, where the al-Tanf US military garrison is located, as well as the al-Rukban displacement camp.
The US and Mughawir al-Thawra conducted joint military exercises in al-Tanf and its surroundings in September 2019, and in October 2018, when it carried out training airstrikes within the 55 kilometer zone near the garrison “to demonstrate their ability to protect the area from any threat.”
This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
