The next is the Nov. 8, 2020, Congressional Analysis Service report, Armed Battle in Syria: Overview and U.S. Response.
From the report
In March 2022, the Syria battle marked its eleventh 12 months. Analysts estimate that the battle has killed over half 1,000,000 folks (together with combatants) and displaced half of Syria’s prewar inhabitants. Challenges for U.S. policymakers in Syria embrace countering teams linked to Al Qaeda, responding to the risk posed by Islamic State (IS/ISIS) remnants and detainees, facilitating humanitarian help, and managing Russian and Iranian challenges to U.S. operations.
Battle Standing. In early 2022, United Nations (U.N.) Particular Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen described the battle in Syria—between the Syrian authorities and its companions on one aspect and numerous opposition and extremist teams on the opposite aspect—as a “stalemate,” noting that “militarily, entrance traces stay unshifted.” Pedersen acknowledged that “any of a lot of flashpoints may ignite a broader conflagration.” In 2022, incoming U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) commander Normal Michael Kurilla acknowledged that the Asad authorities is “positioned to finish the civil struggle militarily,” however famous that the underlying situations driving the battle (together with political disenfranchisement, poverty, water shortage, and financial instability) would probably persist.
Islamic State. Regardless of the territorial defeat in Syria of the Islamic State (IS, also called ISIS, ISIL, or the Arabic acronym Daesh) in 2019 by U.S.-backed Kurdish-led forces (often known as the Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF), IS fighters proceed to function as an insurgency. The SDF holds roughly 10,000 IS detainees—whom CENTCOM officers have described as “an ISIS military in ready”—in detention amenities described as “overcrowded, ad-hoc buildings that weren’t constructed to deal with detainees.” In January 2022, U.S. air and floor forces in Syria joined Kurdish associate forces in a prolonged battle to retake a jail seized by IS fighters, which renewed concern amongst policymakers relating to the safety of IS detainees in SDF custody.
Exterior Actors. 5 nations function in or preserve army forces in Syria: Russia, Turkey, Iran, Israel, and america. U.S. and Russian forces function in shut proximity in northern Syria, and preserve a deconfliction channel to keep away from inadvertent battle between the respective forces. Turkey additionally maintains forces in northern Syria, at occasions concentrating on Kurdish parts of SDF forces that the Turkish authorities views as terrorists. Israel reportedly conducts common air strikes inside Syria on Iranian, Syrian, and Hezbollah targets that the Israeli authorities views as threats to its safety.
Humanitarian Scenario. In keeping with the United Nations 2022 Humanitarian Wants Overview for Syria, 14.6 million persons are in want of humanitarian help, a rise of 1.2 million from 2021. In 2014, the U.N. Safety Council licensed the supply of cross-border humanitarian help into Syria through 4 accredited crossing factors; subsequent Russian vetoes have since diminished the U.N. authorization to a single crossing. In July 2022, the U.N. Safety Council renewed its authorization for cross-border help into Syria for a interval of 6 months, following a Russian veto of a 12-month extension. The brand new decision is scheduled to run out on January 10, 2023.
U.S. Coverage. Biden Administration officers have acknowledged that america seeks a political settlement to the battle in Syria in keeping with United Nations Safety Council Decision 2254 (2015). U.S. coverage priorities in Syria embrace (1) defeating the Islamic State and Al Qaeda; (2) rising entry to humanitarian assist; (3) decreasing violence by sustaining native cease-fires; and (4) selling accountability for atrocity crimes dedicated throughout the course of the battle.
U.S. Army Presence. Roughly 900 U.S. troops function in Syria in assist of counter-IS operations by native associate forces, as a part of Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR). U.S. forces in Syria proceed to face threats from Iran-backed militias, which have focused U.S. positions within the nation.
Coverage Debates. Policymakers are confronted with a lot of—at occasions competing—coverage priorities in Syria. The Islamic State seeks to take advantage of deteriorating financial situations within the nation; nonetheless, tasks to bolster financial exercise in Syria might have the unintended impact of aiding the Asad authorities. Equally, policymakers disagree on whether or not the advantages of efforts to alleviate financial situations in neighboring Lebanon outweigh the chance that these efforts may benefit Asad. Policymakers additionally face the extra issues of regional states, together with U.S. allies, pursuing their very own goals in Syria, whether or not within the type of army operations or efforts to normalize diplomatic ties with the Asad authorities.
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