FILE IMAGE The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Syrian military have made a secret deal dividing the psheres of influence in the provinces of Raqqah and Deir Ezzor,  the al Modon Online website reported . The agreement was reportedly reached  in the village of Ukayrshah  on July 20 and was backed by Russia. According to the agreement, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and pro-government tribal forces will be able to gain areas in the southern and southeastern Raqqah countryside and the northwestern Deir Ezzor countryside without any resistance or antagonism from the SDF. According to the  report, this will allow government forces, backed by the Russian Aerospace Forces, to advance towards Deir Ezzor from the countryside of Raqqah. The article argues that some 400 members of the Tiger Forces and the Tribal Forces with battle tanks, multiple rocket launches and other equipment wer deployed in the Ukayrshah and Dahla areas. This force is a part of the Syrian military g

A screenshot from the video A Egyptian M60 battle tank has crushed a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) that was attempting to reach a Egyptian army check point and to detonate it. Meanwhile, 8 members of Hasm Movement, an Islamist militant group, have been killed in the city of Fayoum in central Egypt. The group is active in central Egypt, including the capital of Cairo.

© Mikhail Japaridze/TASS On Tuesday, Turkish President Recep Erdogan announced that Russia and Turkey have signed some documents as part of a deal on the purchase of Russian-made S-400 long-range air defense systems. “We have made steps on this issue with the Russian Federation.  Signatures have been put and I hope that we’ll see S-400 missiles in our country . We’ll also request the joint production of these systems,” Erdogan said according to TV Channel Haber 7. The Kremlin has not commented on the issue. Rumors that Ankara may purchase S-400 air defense systems have been circulating since the Russian-Turkish rapprochement as a result fo a series of important developments over the Syrian crisis. The US and its NATO allies are concerned that the Russian-Turkish cooperation may decrease the US influence in the Middle East and boost Moscow’s role in the ongoing crises in the region.

Written by  Evgeny Satanovsky ; Originally appeared at  VPK , The current situation in the Middle East is far from stable. Wars in Yemen, Libya, Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan show that there is a growing opposition from local power centers and external players.  The Gulf Cooperation Council (“GCC”) is in crisis due to strained relations between UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt with Qatar. Iran is actively developing missile programs while Pakistan is focused on nuclear ones. Algeria is busy with succession planning. Islamist groups are increasing their terrorist activity throughout the region, although in Syria and Iraq, the “Islamic State” (banned in Russia) is failing.  The volume of drug trafficking, which includes Afghan opiates, and the flow of immigrants, moving to Europe through Maghreb and Turkey is growing. Iran is inciting direct confrontation with Israel. Meanwhile, U.S. and E.U. policies in the Middle East have proven to be contradictory and jeopardize their security. A. B

Written by  Evgeny Satanovsky ; Originally appeared at  VPK , translated by  Olya Kay  exclusively for  SouthFront The current situation in the Middle East is far from stable. Wars in Yemen, Libya, Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan show that there is a growing opposition from local power centers and external players.  The Gulf Cooperation Council (“GCC”) is in crisis due to strained relations between UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt with Qatar. Iran is actively developing missile programs while Pakistan is focused on nuclear ones. Algeria is busy with succession planning. Islamist groups are increasing their terrorist activity throughout the region, although in Syria and Iraq, the “Islamic State” (banned in Russia) is failing.  The volume of drug trafficking, which includes Afghan opiates, and the flow of immigrants, moving to Europe through Maghreb and Turkey is growing. Iran is inciting direct confrontation with Israel. Meanwhile, U.S. and E.U. policies in the Middle East have proven to