A political analyst said the recent profound disagreements between US and Russia in Syria are indicative of a Washington policy that aims to lay the ground for its forces to stay in the strategically-important Middle Eastern country. "It seems that Syria has turned into a battleground of US and Russia," Ali Khorram said, adding that "the Americans feel that they have been left behind in Syria [and now have come to the conclusion] that they have to make it up and do not let Syria fall into the hands of Russia," ISNA reported on Saturday. "The US has realized that it has to stay in Syria," he said. The Syrian theater became much complicated when US—which currently has over 2,000 forces stationed in Syria—publically announced supporting a 30,000 strong Kurdish force in northern Syria, drawing the ire of Turkey which later attacked the Kurdish militants in Afrin. Ankara believes the group has contributed to the Kurdish insurgency in Turkey. Washington and Moscow are also at loggerheads over the Syrian government's operation to take back the terrorist-held Eastern Ghouta, with Russia accusing the US of helping the terrorists there by blocking the operation.
