US policy in Syria may prove paradoxical
Significance This came after pro-Damascus troops yesterday attacked the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a US-backed, Kurdish-led outfit that has taken much of the territory east of the Euphrates river from IS. It underlines the paradoxes of Washington's new Syria policy, which plans an indefinite military presence that relies on -- but does not fully support -- the Kurds; and opposes -- but does not intend to fight -- the government of President Bashar al-Assad. Impacts Washington's attack on pro-Damascus forces could lead to a longer-term escalation. Reported IS resurgence south of Idlib could potentially force an expanded US scope of operations. US actions in Syria will not stamp out IS ideology elsewhere, particularly in South-east Asia.