March 30, 2017
Can Trump End the War in Syria?
With the near-doubling of U.S. forces in northern Syria, and perhaps more on the way, President Donald Trump is moving aggressively on his pledge to “demolish and destroy” what remains of the Islamic State. American troops, backing a coalition of Kurds and Arabs known as the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), now have Raqqa, the capital of the Islamic States’s self-described caliphate, in their sights. Meanwhile, the Trump administration seems to be ramping up the intensity of the U.S. bombing campaign against al Qaeda’s deadly Syrian affiliate. But the lasting defeat of the Islamic State and al Qaeda will take more than American firepower — it will require a clear strategy to end the Syrian civil war. As long as the conflict rages, it will be impossible to address the underlying drivers of extremism and reorient combatants to truly eliminate the terrorist threat.
Six years of grinding war has left Syria a deeply fractured land. Yet this very fragmentation provides an opportunity for the Trump administration to work with Russia and key regional states to de-escalate the conflict and reach an enduring political settlement. Doing so will require close coordination with regional allies. But, more than anything else, it will also require the Trump administration to do three things it has to date not been keen to do: play hardball with Moscow, provide foreign aid to Syria, and engage Iran.
Read the full article at Foreign Policy.
More from CNAS
-
U.S. Airstrikes Alone Can’t Dislodge the Houthis
Commentary
But any resolution to the Houthis, as tangled as they are in wider regional and global problems, needs a local solution....
By Eitan Danon
-
Don’t Trust Russia to Mediate the Iran Nuclear Deal
Commentary
Preventing an Iranian nuclear weapon is of critical importance to U.S. security and the security of Israel and partners throughout the Middle East....
By Jonathan Lord
-
Iraq’s Population Grows to 46 Million People Following Nationwide Census
Podcast
Iraq’s population now stands at 46 million people following a nationwide census that was held in November of 2024. The census, the first in 40 years, has been billed as a succ...
By Hamzeh Hadad
-
Gaza After Hamas
Commentary
To permanently remove Hamas from power, the United States must work alongside its Arab and Israeli partners to support the PA’s return to Gaza....
By Delaney Soliday
