Syrian forces trying to open passage between Hamah and Raqqa

The Syrian government forces have been trying to open the passage between Hamah and Raqqa as the extremist groups are on the decline in central Syria.

Stopping advancing to the city of Raqqa over the last few days, the government forces have started to fight their way simultaneously from both Hamah and Raqqa — the Islamic State (IS) group’s heartland, which is now believed to be under the siege by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

The operation to open up the passage could be completed if the forces get through the last 25 kilometers.

Analysts say that by opening up the passage between Hamah and Raqqa, the government forces can not only surround the last IS-held area in Aleppo Province to reduce the threat from extremist groups but also shorten the supply line between the two cities.

Thanks to the mediation by Russia and Turkey, the Syrian government and the oppositions agreed to create four de-escalation zones at the fourth round of peace talks in Astana earlier in May. In the following month, the conflict was eased in the areas from northern Hamah to eastern Damascus. The government forces were able to advance in the desert areas and entered the Deir Ezzor region in northern Syria after they re-controlled more than 80 kilometers’ borderline with Iraq during the period.

However, the de-escalation zones have witnessed a large-scaled military conflicts from mid-June, especially in eastern Damascus and the southern city of Daraa.

Analysts say the stance of the oppositions in the upcoming round of Astana peace talks is key to maintaining the de-escalation zones, as the Syrian government clearly welcomed the establishment of de-escalation zones in the last round of peace talks.

“It depends on the anti-government armed forces. Many of the oppositions joined the Astana peace talks, but they refused de-escalation zones from the beginning,” said Tarek Alabed, a political analyst.

Analysts also say de-escalation zones are helpful for accelerating the political process of resolving the Syrian crisis.

“Without recognizing the de-escalation zones, there will only be military actions left without political efforts to demand the withdrawal of the anti-government armed forces. That will lend a political pretext for the conflict at the Astana peace talks and the de-escalation zones,” said Mazen Bilah, a political analyst.