The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) writes an analysis of the power of the US, France and the United Kingdom in the Syrian area, pointing out that a possible attack on this country would be done with limited military power . Meanwhile, the three countries bombed several targets in Syria in response to Douma's chemical attack, with dozens dead. The targets of the attack were the chemical weapon facilities and capabilities of the Syrian regime and had limited military power. Dozens of missiles were launched on Syria, and a third were shot down, supporting the regime in Damascus.
IISS experts argue that the current coalition, consisting of the United States, the United Kingdom and France, has directed its military equipment to other operations after victory against the Islamic State terrorist organization. For example, Americans would have only two squadrons of tactical aviation in the region. At sea, the situation is similar, IISS experts say.
The map shows the current position of US, French and British airplanes and ships in Syria. In the case of an air strike, the United States could have mobilized the Mowafaq of Salti military aircraft in Jordan and Al Dhafra, the United Arab Emirates. Here are F 15E and F 22 Raptor aircrafts. In another scenario, Al Qaeda's Al-Udeid base bombers could have played an essential role.
The British also have 14 Typhoon hunting planes based on Akrotiri in Cyprus, from which four hunting avionics for the attack on Syria have been deployed, and the French can pick up 12 Rafale flights from Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
International Institute for Strategic Studies experts say that air support is insufficient at the moment.
American Air Force F 22 Raptor
At sea, the situation is similar. Only one of the four Tomahawk missiles is today near Syria's coasts. This is USS Donald Cook. France could also support France with the destroyer Aquitaine, also equipped with missiles capable of striking targets in Syria. Britain has available HMS Duncan in the area, but IISS says it's not ready for a ground attack.
HMS Duncan ship
Useful for a milliard operation of such magnitude is a carrier, so the United States decided to send one from the base of Norfolk, Virginia, but USS Harry S Truman is now two days away from the Mediterranean Sea.
Warrior Ana Maria Luca says an air strike is not enough to solve the Syrian problem.
"Certainly not just air strikes and military intervention, however limited it may be or as extensive as it may be. I think intervention in an ethnic conflict in a country must be done with a very clear strategy, and you have to have some leaders who know exactly what to do. Unfortunately, in Washington, you do not have a Reagan. (...) Unfortunately, that was the situation in 2013, I was in Beirut then, and I felt the panic of those who supported the Assad government, and I felt their fear that "ready, it's over for us." Unfortunately, the Obama administration did not know how to balance. If you can not keep up with the promise and take a step back when dealing with such a regime, it's very hard not to force it, not to give it a way to escape. Then, the confidence that the government of Damascus has received, plus the support from Tehran and Russia that have intervened there, has led to some unimaginable tragedies, "the journalist
International Institute for Strategic Studies experts point out that Russia and Iran have systems in Syria that could hinder military intervention.
"The presence of Russian and Iranian ground personnel in Syria working alongside government forces, as well as the advanced capabilities of Russia-deployed systems, will significantly complicate any US and Allied plan. The Pantsir-S1 and Buk-M2E mobile systems purchased by Syria from Russia may be a serious threat to Western tactical aviation despite relatively short beams of action. S-400 and S-300V4 S-400 and S-300V4 long-range missile batteries, which the Russians installed at the Khmeimim aerial base and the Tartus naval base, will be even worse, and even if none of the systems has been used in combat, allied planners will treat both of them with respect, "according to IISS.
Russia expected the US attack on Syria, which is why it withdrew its warships in the Syrian port of Tartus, as the Kommersant daily announced on Wednesday, based on satellite images published by Image Satellite International.
The United States, France and the United Kingdom have bombed several government targets in Syria in response to the alleged chemical attack in Douma. The operation was launched at dawn and targeted chemical weapons stores. US President Donald Trump announced the attack through a televised address to the nation. Russia warned that there would be consequences, while Syrian state television claimed that more than ten missiles were shot down before reaching its target.