The U.S. Coalition Strikes Back Against Pro-Assad Forces in Eastern Syria

Matthew RJ Brodsky joins Alexey Khlebnikov of the Russian International Affairs Council on i24News "Persprectives" with Sarah Coates to discuss the U.S.-led coalition's response to the shelling of a Syrian Democratic Forces base near Deir Ez-Zor in Syria.

Brodsky explains that contrary to Russia's claims, the U.S. saw the force build up over a couple of days, warned Russia it would respond if attacked, and did so in self-defense after 20 - 30 shells landed near their headquarters. It is in keeping with the U.S. enforcing the agreed-upon Euphrates River de-confliction line.

According to Brodsky, the military defeat of ISIS in Syria has merely shifted the war in Syria on to new footing where the regional and international powers involved are seeking to establish their new rules of engagement and probe whether the other's red lines are actually pink. Turkey promises to do the same in northwest Syria in Manbij and Israel has long acted to enforce its own red lines in southwestern Syria.

To the extent that the Assad regime, Iran and Russia would like to retake the areas held by the SDF to the east because of the gas and oil wealth, the U.S. understands that it holds a vital economic card with which it can shape Syria's reconstruction in the future.