There have been some interesting developments in Syria. It appears the war for Damascus, prophesied in Isaiah 17, is about to resume.
First, a US F-16 fighter jet just shot down a Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drone armed with air-to-ground missiles that was flying near the Tal Baydar base in Syria where American troops and Kurdish troops of the SDF or Syrian Democratic Forces, aka YPG or People’s Protection Units are located (ref. 1). This despite the fact that the USA and Turkey are both in NATO.
Second, there has been a drone strike on a Syrian government military academy in the province of Homs, carried out by Syrian insurgents “backed by known international forces” (ref. 2). At least 100 Syrian soldiers and civilians have been killed and another 125 injured. It happened as a graduation ceremony was coming to an end. In response, the Syrian government launched retaliatory strikes against rebel forces in Idlib.
Third, according to memri.org, there has been an ISIS attack in Aleppo Governorate in Syria, the first since April 2022 (ref. 3). The IED attack killed and wounded a number of Kurdish SDF aka YPG troops.
All this suggests that Isaiah 17 is about to resume.
The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap. The cities of Aroer are forsaken: they shall be for flocks, which shall lie down, and none shall make them afraid. The fortress also shall cease from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damascus, and the remnant of Syria: they shall be as the glory of the children of Israel, saith the LORD of hosts.
Isaiah 17:1-3
Last week, the PKK or Kurdistan Workers’ Party assaulted a site that belongs to Turkey’s interior ministry. Two PKK operatives rushed towards the building, firing at police, and one of them denotated a bomb. In response, Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who once led Turkey’s MIT or National Intelligence Organisation declared that all PKK and YPG positions in Syria and Iraq are now legitimate targets (ref. 4). Soon after that, Turkish warplanes carried out multiple strikes against 16 PKK locations in northern Iraq (ref. 5).
It could be that this new war against the Kurds in Iraq and Syria will see the re-emergence of ISIS, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.
And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
Revelation 13:3
If it happens, this would be the opening of the fourth seal of the apocalypse: the rise to power of the Assyrian, who is to control at least Iraq and Syria, the lands of ancient Assyria.
Concerning Isaiah 17 and Syria, there have been many starts and stops. This time might be different, given the outcome of the conflict between Turkish-backed Azerbaijan and CIA-led Armenia.
References:
1. Lara Seligman (5 October 2023), “U.S. F-16 shoots down Turkish drone flying over American troops in Syria”, politico.com
2. ABC (6 October 2023), “At least 100 killed in drone attack on Syrian military academy”, abc.net.au
3. Memri (5 October 2023), “In First Operation In Aleppo Governorate Since April 2022, Islamic State (ISIS) Syria Province Claims Killing, Wounding SDF Members In IED Attack”, memri.org
4. Al-Monitor (4 October 2023), “Turkey’s Fidan declares all PKK, YPG facilities in Syria, Iraq legitimate targets”, al-monitor.com
5. Aljazeera (3 October 2023), “Turkey launches new strikes on PKK targets in northern Iraq”, aljazeera.com