俄罗斯伊朗继续支持叙利亚

 　　WASHINGTON—Forces fighting for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad are struggling against rebels in the country’s northwest, despite substantial backing from Russia and Iran, according to U.S. officials. But they caution that both Russia and Tehran seem prepared to dig in and intensify¹ their efforts.

　　“Pro-regime forces have had little success to date, despite a marked increase in Russian airstrikes in recent days,” a U.S. intelligence official told VOA on condition of anonymity².

　　Another U.S. official, who also was not authorized³ to discuss the Syrian offensive publicly, characterized the Russian and Iranian-backed offensive in northwest Syria as making only “incremental gains.”

　　“The [Syrian] opposition⁴ is definitely putting up a formidable fight in that area,” the official added.

　　Three weeks into a Russian air campaign over Syria, victories for pro-regime ground forces have been restricted mainly to skirmishes on the outskirts⁵ of key cities like Homs, Hama and now Aleppo. Also, the addition of Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps⁶ troops to a coalition⁷ that included remnants of the Syrian army and Iranian-trained Shi’ite fighters from Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan seems to have made little difference.

　　Iran, Russia Undeterred by Slow-Go in Syria

　　Instead, analysts⁹ say, Iran has suffered a growing number of casualties, with estimates of IRGC deaths ranging from 20 to 200, including several top commanders.

　　Rather than back down, however, Iran has become emboldened¹⁰.

　　'Underestimated' the fight

　　“There is a change in nature and Iran seems to be much more involved and much more willing to use its own soldiers," according to Michael Horowitz, a senior analyst⁸ at the Levantine Group, a Middle East-based geopolitical consultancy.

　　“It is very notable that we are seeing an increase in the number of high-ranking Iranian officers that have been killed,” he said.

　　On Monday, Iranian state media reported the death of IRGC commander Moslem¹¹ Khizab, while also noting the deaths of three other high-ranking officers the week before.

　　Another key Iranian commander, General Hossein Hamedani, was killed earlier this month on the outskirts of Aleppo, a loss one U.S. intelligence official described at the time as a “psychological blow” to pro-Assad forces.

　　“The Iranians are certainly losing a lot of very good, senior people in this fight,” said Matt McInnis, a senior analyst at the American Enterprise Institute. “They have underestimated how hard this fight is going to be.”

　　McInnis, who previously¹² served in analytic¹³ and advisory¹⁴ roles with U.S. Central Command in Iraq, compared Iran’s experiences in Syria to the “mission creep” the U.S. experienced in Iraq and Afghanistan over the past 15 years.

　　“Their counter-insurgency efforts are not working and they’re having to put more people in,” he said. “We could very well see more significant ground troop movement in the future.”

　　“Iran’s willingness to risk the deaths of multiple senior officers in Syria and Iraq is another arrow pointing to the importance Tehran attaches to these conflicts,” a U.S. counterterrorism official told VOA. “Replacing commanders is not easy.”

　　Still, U.S. intelligence and defense¹⁵ officials say all indications from Iran point to a “deepening involvement in the conflict,” with military support for the Assad regime continuing to grow.

　　U.S. officials warn that Russian supplies also continue to pour into Syria, both by air and sea, and that pro-regime fighters continue to mass in the areas around Aleppo.

　　Airstrikes taking a toll¹⁶

　　In the meantime, Russian airstrikes on rebel positions are starting to take a toll.

　　Commanders with Fatah Halab [Conquest of Aleppo], which brings together more than 30 rebel factions¹⁷, say they are starting to take heavy casualties, including the commander of a militia¹⁸ that has received U.S. supplies and training.

　　Another Russian airstrike Monday in Latakia province killed Basil Zamo, a commander of the First Coastal¹⁹ Division, another of the rebel groups believed to have gotten U.S. support.

　　U.S. officials and analysts also caution that the number of airstrikes targeting top rebel leaders is only likely to increase, as Russia expands its use of drones and other advanced intelligence gathering²⁰ techniques.

　　There also is concern among Western analysts and officials that a bigger push from Syrian, Iranian and other pro-Assad forces – numbering upwards²¹ of 10,000 fighters – still could be on the horizon.

　　The ultimate aim, they say, is wresting²² control of the M5 highway, which links Damascus, Homs and Aleppo, from rebel forces.

　　“They are really just probing the rebel defenses and seeing what’s the reaction and where the rebels are weaker,” said the Levantine Group’s Michael Horowitz. “It seems like they decided²³ that Aleppo will be the focus of their campaign.”

1 intensify   

vt.加强；变强；加剧

参考例句：

• We must intensify our educational work among our own troops.我们必须加强自己部队的教育工作。
• They were ordered to intensify their patrols to protect our air space.他们奉命加强巡逻，保卫我国的领空。

2 anonymity   

n.the condition of being anonymous

参考例句：

• Names of people in the book were changed to preserve anonymity. 为了姓名保密，书中的人用的都是化名。
• Our company promises to preserve the anonymity of all its clients. 我们公司承诺不公开客户的姓名。

3 authorized   

a.委任的，许可的

参考例句：

• An administrative order is valid if authorized by a statute.如果一个行政命令得到一个法规的认可那么这个命令就是有效的。

4 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

5 outskirts   

n.郊外，郊区

参考例句：

• Our car broke down on the outskirts of the city.我们的汽车在市郊出了故障。
• They mostly live on the outskirts of a town.他们大多住在近郊。

6 corps   

n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组

参考例句：

• The medical corps were cited for bravery in combat.医疗队由于在战场上的英勇表现而受嘉奖。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

7 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

8 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

9 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

10 emboldened   

v.鼓励，使有胆量( embolden的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Emboldened by the wine, he went over to introduce himself to her. 他借酒壮胆，走上前去向她作自我介绍。
• His success emboldened him to expand his business. 他有了成就因而激发他进一步扩展业务。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 Moslem   

n.回教徒，穆罕默德信徒；adj.回教徒的，回教的

参考例句：

• Moslem women used to veil their faces before going into public.信回教的妇女出门之前往往用面纱把脸遮起来。
• If possible every Moslem must make the pilgrimage to Mecca once in his life.如有可能，每个回教徒一生中必须去麦加朝觐一次。

12 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

13 analytic   

adj.分析的，用分析方法的

参考例句：

• The boy has an analytic mind. 这男孩有分析的头脑。
• Latin is a synthetic language,while English is analytic.拉丁文是一种综合性语言，而英语是一种分析性语言。

14 advisory   

adj.劝告的，忠告的，顾问的，提供咨询

参考例句：

• I have worked in an advisory capacity with many hospitals.我曾在多家医院做过顾问工作。
• He was appointed to the advisory committee last month.他上个月获任命为顾问委员会委员。

15 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

16 toll   

n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟)

参考例句：

• The hailstone took a heavy toll of the crops in our village last night.昨晚那场冰雹损坏了我们村的庄稼。
• The war took a heavy toll of human life.这次战争夺去了许多人的生命。

17 factions   

组织中的小派别，派系( faction的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The gens also lives on in the "factions." 氏族此外还继续存在于“factions〔“帮”〕中。 来自英汉非文学 - 家庭、私有制和国家的起源
• rival factions within the administration 政府中的对立派别

18 militia   

n.民兵，民兵组织

参考例句：

• First came the PLA men,then the people's militia.人民解放军走在前面，其次是民兵。
• There's a building guarded by the local militia at the corner of the street.街道拐角处有一幢由当地民兵团守卫的大楼。

19 coastal   

adj.海岸的，沿海的，沿岸的

参考例句：

• The ocean waves are slowly eating away the coastal rocks.大海的波浪慢慢地侵蚀着岸边的岩石。
• This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。

20 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

21 upwards   

adv.向上，在更高处...以上

参考例句：

• The trend of prices is still upwards.物价的趋向是仍在上涨。
• The smoke rose straight upwards.烟一直向上升。

22 wresting   

动词wrest的现在进行式

参考例句：

• The amphitheater was a sealed off round structure. Swordplay, wresting, gladiatoral and other contests were held there. 该竞技场为四周封闭式结构，可以举行斗剑、格斗、斗兽及其他竞赛项目。
• This paper introduces mechanism and control system of instrument for wresting training. 本文详细介绍了摔跤训练器的机械机构与控制方法。

23 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。