The Downfall of Syria

The Drawback of US Troops in Syria Has Led to a Rapid Deterioration

Taylor Shively, Staff Writer

The White House officially announced Trump’s decision to pull forces out of Syria on October 6. Only days after the announcement, Turkey invaded Syria on October 9, in a military operation that is being called ‘operation peace spring’. 

According to Business Insider, The goal of the operation is to create a buffer zone at the Turkish border of Syria. However, this operation is sending around 3.6 million Syrians back to Syria. The operation is being led by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. However, the Turkish forces are only focusing on Kurdish controlled areas in Syria which is causing an even bigger uprising. 

The Kurdish people have been fighting with the Turkey and Syrian government for years. All they want is better rights and protection for their people. The Kurdish people also take a huge role in the fight against ISIS. Since Turkey is now invading the Kurdish-controlled areas, there is nobody to focus on keeping ISIS followers at bay. 

James Jeffrey, the United States Special Representative for Syria Engagement and the Special Envoy for the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIL, or ISIS, claimed that 100 or more ISIS prisoners escaped and were still at large (C-Span). According to The Wall Street Journal, on October 16, the US bombed its own anti-ISIS headquarters in Syria in order to make sure it didn’t fall into the wrong hands. With this extra wall broken down, the terrorist group, ISIS, led by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, has been making attacks throughout Syria in an effort to come back. 

Not only ISIS is being violent, Turkish forces have also been said to have gotten violent in their ‘operation’. According to The New York Post, multiple reports have suggested that forces from Turkey, a NATO member, have been using shells that contain white phosphorus. The use of this against civilians is deemed a war crime. Videos have also emerged showing multiple Kurdish fighters/civilians with chemical burns along their bodies.

According to USA Today, President Trump is said to start sending troops back into Syria but only for the main purpose to protect oil fields.