By Brandon Turbeville

Even after the apparent cooling of tensions between Russia and the United States in Syria, it seems that the potential for direct military conflict between the two world powers is increasingly likely yet again. As has been typical in the Syrian conflict, the steps toward greater likelihood of confrontation is the result of the U.S. push to provoke Russia and threaten the Syrian military with repercussions for retaking Syrian territory from Daesh.

Ever since the SAA began its campaign to liberate Deir ez-Zour, the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a collection of Kurdish and Arab terrorists working under the guise of “moderates,” has been racing toward Deir ez-Zour as well in order to prevent the SAA from retaking the city in full and to prevent the Syrian government from having access to its resources.

Now, as both the Syrian military and Russia attempts to break the back of terrorists in Syria, the U.S.-backed SDF forces have opened artillery fire on both SAA and Russian positions, prompting a warning from Russia itself.

This warning is concerning not simply because the U.S. is openly supporting forces firing on Russian troops but because American troops are embedded with the SDF. Thus, if the Russians fire back on the SDF, there exists the real possibility that there will be an exchange of fire between Russia and the United States.

The Russian Defense Ministry stated that the SDF had taken up positions on the eastern banks of the Euphrates alongside U.S. Special Forces. The SDF/USSF twice fired on Syrian/Russian forces.

“A representative of the U.S. military command in Al Udeid (the U.S. operations center in Qatar) was told in no uncertain terms that any attempts to open fire from areas where SDF fighters are located would be quickly shut down,” Major-General Igor Konashenkov said in a statement.

“Fire points in those areas will be immediately suppressed with all military means,” he said.

There have been face-to-face meetings held between U.S. and Russian generals, a rare occurrence, most likely as a result of the incident.

“They had a face-to-face discussion, laid down maps and graphics,” said Army Colonel Ryan Dillon, a Baghdad-based spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition.

While the face-to-face meeting is a positive reaction, the past few weeks have shown an increased willingness on the part of the United States to directly engage, or engage via proxy, Russian forces. It has also seen Russia willing to publicly call the United States on its support of terror.

Brandon Turbeville – article archive here – is the author of seven books, Codex Alimentarius — The End of Health Freedom, 7 Real Conspiracies, Five Sense Solutions and Dispatches From a Dissident, volume 1 and volume 2, The Road to Damascus: The Anglo-American Assault on Syria, The Difference it Makes: 36 Reasons Why Hillary Clinton Should Never Be President, and Resisting The Empire: The Plan To Destroy Syria And How The Future Of The World Depends On The Outcome. Turbeville has published over 1000 articles on a wide variety of subjects including health, economics, government corruption, and civil liberties. Brandon Turbeville’s radio show Truth on The Tracks can be found every Monday night 9 pm EST at UCYTV. His website is BrandonTurbeville.com He is available for radio and TV interviews. Please contact activistpost (at) gmail.com.

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