Syria. The anti-ISIS coalitions have made significant, albeit slow, progress: Syrian troops (SAA), supported by Russia and Iran, have reconquered much of the desert expanses in the country’s east and are firmly targeting Deir Ezzor, where other Syrian troops have been besieged by the jihadists for years. The attempt is to create a “Shiite highway” from Iran to the eastern shore of the Mediterranean, through parts of Syria and Lebanon’s Hezbollah. The Kurdish- and American-led coalition (SDF and YPG) in the north of the country has gained control of much of the territory north of the Euphrates, and in some places even beyond. Raqqa is besieged by Kurds and Americans, who have control of the historic center and 80% of the city. Finally, the Sunni militias of the Free Syrian Army (FSA), in the south and west of the country, control isolated areas in continuous armed conflict with the Syrian army supported by Russians and Iranians in the south and with Al Qaeda in the west respectively.
