Concerns over a resurgence of the Islamic State (ISIS) in Syria remain heightened following the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime and an increase in attacks targeting the U.S.-aligned Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The SDF said five of its soldiers were killed Saturday in attacks by Turkish-backed forces in northern Syria.
The attacks came following an apparent collapse in a cease-fire agreement brokered by the Biden administration as the U.S. and the SDF ramp up efforts to counter ISIS. National security advisor Jake Sullivan has identified the return of ISIS as his “single biggest concern,” citing the group’s ability to exploit power vacuums.
The U.S. has long had to balance its campaign against ISIS in Syria with its partnership with Turkey as a NATO ally. Turkey has deemed the SDF as akin to the terrorist network the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and has been backing opposition forces in the region.
The Biden administration has taken steps to ramp up its campaign against ISIS, hitting more than 75 sites in a significant strike earlier this month. The operation coincided with the fall of Damascus and the takeover of Aleppo, Hama, and Homs by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which was aided by the Turkey-backed Syrian National Army (SNA).
SDF forces have also captured 18 ISIS terrorists and suspected collaborators near the city of Raqqa, which was once an ISIS stronghold. However, concern remains high that the SDF could see its operational abilities divided as attacks from the Turkey-backed SNA coalition forces increase.
The upcoming Trump administration is expected to face a difficult decision on how to prevent another resurgence of ISIS while balancing U.S. relations with Turkey, which is further expected to exercise outsized influence over the new Syrian government.
