Fears of a resurgence Islamic State in Syria These operations are still escalating after the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime and the increase in attacks targeting the Syrian Democratic Forces allied with the United States.
President-elect Donald Trump may face another round against the extremist group, as the SDF faces a reality in which it may have to split its focus between ISIS and the threats posed by Turkey.
The Syrian Democratic Forces said five of its soldiers were killed on Saturday in attacks by Turkish-backed forces in northern Syria, Reuters reported.
Anti-regime fighters stand by the side of the road as displaced Syrian Kurds drive vehicles loaded with belongings on the Aleppo-Raqqa highway to flee areas on the outskirts of the northern city of Aleppo that were previously controlled by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. After it was captured by Islamist-led rebels on December 2, 2024. (Rami Al-Sayed/AFP via Getty Images)
Trump says Türkiye has 'unfriendly takeover' of Syria as US-brokered ceasefire fails
The attacks followed A clear collapse in the ceasefire agreement Mediated by the Biden administration at a time when the United States and the Syrian Democratic Forces are intensifying their efforts to confront ISIS.
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told CNN on Sunday that his “biggest concern” is the return of ISIS, which was considered “defeated” in 2019.
“ISIS loves vacuums,” he added, referring to the extremist organization's use of power struggles in places like North Africa to gain a foothold. “What we see in Syria now is areas that are essentially ungoverned because of that The fall of the Assad regime.
He added: “Our goal is to make sure that we support the Syrian Democratic Forces – the Kurds – and keep ISIS under control.”
Comrades attend the funeral of five Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces fighters killed in Manbij during clashes with Turkish-backed opposition factions earlier this week, in Qamishli, northeastern Syria, on December 14, 2024. (Dalil Suleiman/AFP via Getty Images)
The United States has long had to balance its campaign against ISIS in Syria, which it is fighting with the help of Kurdish coalition forces, although Turkey views the SDF as similar to the SDF. A terrorist network affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) – With Washington partnering alongside Ankara as a NATO ally.
“The SDF and the Assad regime are the main adversaries of ISIS,” Bill Roggio, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and founding editor of The Long War Journal, told Fox News Digital. “With the former gone and the latter under pressure from Turkish proxies, concerns about ISIS expansion are justified.”
Roggio stressed that “Türkiye wants to destroy the Syrian Democratic Forces.” He added, “Turkey has an ideal opportunity to destroy the Syrian Democratic Forces, and will exploit this unique situation. I expect an increase in attack(s) against the Syrian Democratic Forces.”
President-elect Trump's dilemma in Syria: intervene or allow it to turn into a terrorist state
US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that the Biden administration has already taken steps to intensify its campaign against ISIS, striking more than 75 sites in a major strike earlier this month on known “ISIS leaders, elements, and camps.”
A soldier from the US-led coalition points to schoolchildren during a joint patrol of US-led Syrian Democratic Forces and Kurds in the Qamishli countryside in northeastern Syria, February 8, 2024. (Reuters/Orhan Karaman)
The operation coincided with the fall of Damascus on December 8, following the control of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, with the help of Turkish-backed opposition factions, over Aleppo, Hama, and Homs. Syrian National Army (SNA).
In addition, Central Command on Thursday The killing of ISIS leader Abu Youssef, nicknamed Mahmoud Using a precise airstrike in eastern Syria – an area that, according to Syrian media, ISIS was able to carry out Seize weapons depots belonging to the former Syrian army under the Assad regime amid “chaos”.
The Syrian Democratic Forces, in an attempt to suppress the ISIS uprising, arrested 18 ISIS terrorists and suspects on Sunday near the city of Raqqa. Which was once a stronghold for ISISAccording to what was reported by Anf News Agency.
The campaign was reportedly carried out “in cooperation with international coalition forces,” but US Central Command has not yet confirmed whether the United States was involved.
US forces provide military training to members of the People's Protection Units/Syrian Democratic Forces, which Turkey views as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers' Party in Syria, in the Qamishli district of Hasakah Governorate, Syria on August 18, 2023. The PKK is designated a terrorist organization by the United States and Turkey. And the European Union. (Hadeel Amir/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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But concern remains high that the SDF could see its operational capabilities compromised by attacks Syrian National Coalition forces supported by Türkiye The increase — which could cause problems for the incoming Trump administration as it looks to prevent a resurgence of ISIS, while balancing U.S. relations with Turkey, which is also expected to exert significant influence over the new Syrian government.
“We continue to monitor the situation in Syria,” Brian Hughes, a Trump-Vance transition spokesman, said in response to questions from Fox News Digital. He added, “President Trump is committed to reducing threats to peace and stability in the Middle East and protecting Americans here at home.”
