As of the date of March 1, 2015, the balance began to change in Syria and Iraq. The progress and attacks of the Islamic State slowed down in the region. The operation expectancy against Mosul and Rakka caused switching of the Islamic State to the defense position. The street battles continues between Kurds and ISIS. Kurdish militants, who settled in the seized areas, does not allow to return again Sunnis to their homeland. According to the Human Rights Observes, Kurdish soldiers distributed Sunni Arabs’ houses and lands to the Kurdish people.
Kurd militias, who were helped by the United States and Free Syrian Army, are expanding their dominance in Syria and Iraq. Syrian Kurds gained new positions in both westward and southward in Hasekeh and AynulArab in Syria. The PKK and PYD Militants take their flags to these areas of that the Islamic State withdrawn without a fight. There are many Syrian Turkish villages and oppositions groups in the west direction of AynulArab in northern Syria. Turkomans said that they would not hesitate from the conflict with the PKK Terrorist Organization if needed because the PKK and PYD militants threatened Turkish people in this region.
The most significant developments in Iraq and Syria is the expansion of Kurdistan border under the help and control of the United States. Kurdistan borders expanded by 40% compared to the last year.
The most interesting situation in Syria is that there were no serious clashes between Assad regime and the Islamic State. While Sunni Islamist Opposition Groups are fighting on the one hand with Assad’s troops, Iranian Special Forces and Hezbollah militias, on the other hand with the Islamic State militants in the eastern parts of Aleppo and Homs cities.
The Al Nusra Front is expanding its power and influence among Syrian opposition groups. Some clashes happened between the Al Nusra Front and Hazm Opposition Group which was moderate and pro-American. The Al Nusra Front seized the main headquarters of the US-backed Hazm Group.
Meanwhile, another important development was that the Druze Leader Walid Jumblatt declared that they don’t see the Al Nusra Front as a terrorist organization. Druze people have a significant population in Lebanon, southern Syria and Golan region in Israel.
In addition, some Caucasian fighters, who fought in northern Syria and Iraq, returned to their homeland and started to fight against Russia in Chechnya and Daghistan.
[swf src=”http://www.manaz.net/wp-content/uploads/FotoGaleri/00STRMapsFlash/2015_03_MiddleEast.swf” width=888 height=666]
You can enlarge the FlashMap by using your mouse. The FlashMap does not work in Android Phones and Tablets
