Chicago December 25, 2024
Concerns about the Islamic State (ISIS) growing stronger in Syria have increased after the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime and the rise in attacks on U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). President-elect Donald Trump will likely face new challenges in dealing with ISIS, as the SDF may need to split its attention between fighting ISIS and dealing with threats from Turkey.
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said on CNN that his main worry is the return of ISIS, a group that was considered “defeated” in 2019. He explained that ISIS thrives in places with power struggles, like North Africa, and that parts of Syria are now ungoverned, which allows the group to gain ground.
The U.S. has worked closely with Kurdish forces in Syria to fight ISIS, despite Turkey’s opposition, viewing the Kurdish fighters as linked to a group it considers a terrorist organization. The Biden administration has already increased efforts to combat ISIS, including airstrikes on ISIS targets and the killing of ISIS leader Abu Yusif in Syria.
However, the growing attacks from Turkey-backed Syrian forces may complicate the U.S. strategy, making it harder for the SDF to focus on ISIS while also managing relations with Turkey. This could create more challenges for the incoming Trump administration.
