Moscow, which cannot afford a war between partners, holds back Turkey: first by preventing the TAF from bombing and sending troops to Tel Rifaat and Manbij. Then, by saying it clearly.
The decision after the latest IRGC attack, officially in revenge against Israeli raids in Syria. The Pasdaran, in fact, fear losing weight with the nuclear deal.
The technique is the same as in Turkey for Libya: high wages and benefits at home. Moscow emissaries offer aid to the villages, from Damascus to Deir Ezzor, and leverage local leaders.
Kurdish forces carried out at least 4 operations in January against men linked to pro-Iran militias and in Damascus, who illegally sold fuel west of Deir Ezzor.
Raid with Inherent Resolve in Busayrah. 3 facilitators of the Islamic State arrested, while a fifth is on the run. They managed the transport of men and goods on the Euphrates.
Yet another ambush by pro-ISIS jihadists causes 17 deaths among the Damascus troops. Since March 2019, 1,607 soldiers have died in the face of 1.096 terrorists.