ISIS may go on the offensive in Syria. Reuters.

Kurdish YPG fighters in Hasaka province, Syria. Reuters.

ISIS may be preparing to attack the Kurds in Syria in a renewed offensive. Reuters. The province of Hasaka, on the border with Iraq, may be the groups next target. ISIS had suffered a major defeat in the town of Kobani, where Kurdish militia units, backed by U.S. airstrikes, were able to halt the ISIS offensive and push them out of the area. ISIS has bounced back from the defeat though and is now threatening the provincial capital of Hasaka, Hasaka city, and the town of Tel Tamr. Local officials and monitoring groups report ISIS is marshaling forces in the area. Taking Tel Tamr would cut the Kurdish supply lines and make it more difficult for the U.S. led coalition to deploy airstrikes. ISIS has also started to move further west and are engaged with the regime and rebel forces. 

My Comment:

Most of the headlines about ISIS have been about the battle for Ramadi in Iraq, but their offensive in Syria should not be ignored. Though they were pushed back in Kobani and other places, they have expanded in others. ISIS is far from being defeated. And it seems like they are getting back some of the momentum they have lost after the twin defeats of Kobani and Tikrit. 

So why has ISIS been able to succeed in Syria after being defeated in Kobani? It's complicated. The Syrian regime is in a very bad position lately and that is a major factor for ISIS regaining some momentum in Syria. They have the Al-Nusra front to thank for that. Al-Nusra was able to take the major city of Idlib, putting major pressure on the regime. They have also united most of the rebel groups outside of a few remaining secular groups and ISIS itself. They are a very strong fighting force and they are hurting the Syrian government badly. That leaves an opening for ISIS. Add in the fact that the two groups aren't fighting each other all that much and it explains much of why ISIS has been able to claw its way back in Syria.

The other major factor is that the Kurdish fighters in the north aren't getting much support from anyone. This is, of course, Turkey's fault. Turkey has essentially forbidden the United States and Europe from providing weapons to the Kurds. They have a reasonable fear that after the war against ISIS that those weapons could be turned back on them. I don't blame them for that, but it is also making it very hard for the Kurds to fight. The Kurds only won in Kobani because Turkey allowed some fighters and supplies into the city. After that battle the support mostly evaporated and the Kurds weren't able to take back much territory. 

I've mentioned a few times that I'm more then a little uncomfortable with the Syrian Kurds in general. They are good fighters and they are about the only group in Syria that is even close to be acceptable, but that doesn't mean they are a good candidate for an ally. My major objection is the fact that they have some very far left people in their ranks. Actual communists. This makes me nervous for the same reason that the United States training Ukrainian fighters makes me nervous. I think there should be three cardinal rules for foreign policy and they are as follows:

1. Never team up with radical Muslims.

2. Never team up with far-left communists

3. Never team up with far-right Neo-Nazis.

I'd like to point out that the Obama administration is doing all three of these things today. Mostly indirectly but the point stands. This is not going to end up well. It never does. 

For the Kurds at least, the support has been rather limited due to the Turks. It mostly consists of airstrikes and some very inconsistent supply drops. Bringing it back to ISIS, this means that ISIS is on relatively even footing with the Kurds. Yes, they will face airstrikes, but that aside, they have a chance to take their goals in this new offensive. As long as they don't get bogged down in another stalemate like they did in Kobani, they could advance.