How is the map of control of military factions distributed in Syria?

Today, regime forces control the provinces of Sweida, Daraa, and Quneitra in the south, Homs and Hama (central), Tartous and the greater part of Latakia (west), in addition to Damascus and its countryside. They also control part of Aleppo province, parts of the southern countryside of Raqqa (north), and half of Deir ez-Zor province (east).

The regime forces are supported by local groups such as the National Defense Forces loyal to it, as well as others loyal to Iran, including Afghan, Pakistani and Iraqi fighters. The regime forces mainly control the Al-Ward, Al-Taym, Al-Shoula and Al-Nishan oil fields in Deir Ezzor, the Al-Thawra field in Raqqa and the Jazal field in Homs (central). They also control the Al-Shaer field, the largest gas field, and the Sadad and Arak fields in Homs. There are several points of concentration of Russian soldiers in areas controlled by the regime.

Over the years, more than 63,000 Russian troops have taken part in military operations in Syria, according to Moscow. The number of Russian troops currently in Syria is not known. But Russia’s two main military bases in Syria are a major air base at Hmeimim airport near the coastal city of Latakia, and another in the port of Tartus, which is mainly operated by a Russian company.

Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)

In 2015, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) were established, with the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) as its backbone, and including Arab and Syriac Christian factions. Today, it is considered the military wing of the autonomous administration. The SDF, which spearheaded the fight against ISIS, is the second military force to hold territory after the Syrian regime's army. Today, it controls about a quarter of the country's area, where about three million people live, more than a third of whom are Kurds.

The areas controlled by these forces today include Hasakah Governorate (northeast), where regime forces are present in a few neighborhoods through institutions in the cities of Qamishli and Hasakah. They also control most of Raqqa Governorate, including the city that was a stronghold for ISIS for years. They also control half of Deir Ezzor Governorate, neighborhoods in the north of Aleppo, and limited areas in the governorate.

The SDF controls the most important Syrian oil fields, including Al-Omar, the largest in the country, and Tanak and Jafra in Deir Ezzor, in addition to smaller fields in Hasakah and Raqqa. There are also the Conoco gas fields in Deir Ezzor and Suwaydiyah in Hasakah.

American forces are deployed within the international coalition in several bases in areas controlled by the Kurds. They are also deployed in southern Syria in the Al-Tanf base, which was established in 2016 and is located near the Jordanian-Iraqi border. It has strategic importance as it lies on the Baghdad-Damascus road.

Ankara-backed opposition

Since 2016, Turkey and allied Syrian factions have launched several military operations in northern Syria, targeting Kurdish fighters in particular to push them away from its borders. Turkish forces and allied factions control a border strip extending from Jarabulus in the northeastern countryside of Aleppo to Afrin in its western countryside, passing through major cities such as Al-Bab and Azaz.

They also control a separate 120-kilometre border area between the border towns of Ras al-Ain and Tal Abyad. The pro-Ankara factions, which are part of the so-called “Syrian National Army”, include former fighters from opposition groups, such as the Army of Islam, which was the most prominent opposition faction.

Among the factions are groups that are mainly active in the north, such as the Sultan Murad faction, and others that emerged with the Turkish military operations, including the Hamza and Suleiman Shah factions.

ISIS

After controlling large areas in Syria and Iraq in 2014, ISIS suffered successive defeats in both countries until it was stripped of all areas under its control in 2019. Since then, four of the organization’s leaders have been killed, but its hidden elements are still capable of launching attacks, albeit limited, against several parties.

(AFP)