What is the issue?
Tensions are likely to increase between the U.S. and Iran ahead of the coming battle for southern Syria.
Why is there an on-going war in Syria?
- In March 2011, pro-democracy protests erupted in the Syrai after the arrest and torture of some teenagers who painted revolutionary slogans.
- Security forces opened fire on demonstrators, killing several, more took to the streets.
- The unrest triggered nationwide protests demanding more rights and President Assad's resignation.
- The government's use of force to crush the dissent merely hardened the protesters' resolve.
- Opposition supporters/Rebels also eventually began to take up arms, first to defend themselves and later to expel security forces from their local areas.
- Later it has acquired sectarian overtones.
- Syria is a Sunni majority country and the president belongs to Shia Alawite sect.
- This had drawn in regional and world powers.
- The rise of the jihadist group Islamic State (IS) has added a further dimension.
How Iran is involved in Syria?
- Iran, being a shia majority country wanted to back Assad.
- Since the war started, Tehran has sent money and troops and Shiite volunteers to support Mr. Assad’s men.
- Over the past two years, Russia and Iran, along with Hezbollah and several Iraqi Shiite militias, helped the Syrian President.
- Russian has been helping with airstrikes and Iran with ground support.
- With this help Assad recaptured the rebel-held sections of Aleppo, Syria’s largest city.
Why U.S is opposing Iran’s involvment?
- The Trump administration is worried that Iran and its allies might carve out a “Shiite crescent” extending from Iran, through Iraq and Syria, and into Lebanon.
- Such a prospect is against the interest of U.S. and its allies in the Arab world, especially Saudi Arabia.
What is the recent rift?
- Since the dawn of new administration, the U.S. military has struck the Syrian regime/allies at least five times.
- American personnel have been training anti-Islamic State fighters in south-eastern Syria.
- U.S recently announced that it had shot down an Iranian-made drone in south-eastern Syria. It also shot down a Syrian jet in Syrian airspace.
- U.S is portraying it as a defensive measure to protect the Syrian rebels it has been training..
- But Mr. Assad’s regime and its Iranian allies view them as an aggression.
What will be the impact?
- The Syrian conflict has expanded into a war that involves regional and world powers including the U.S., Russia, Iran, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar.
- Various forces continue to converge on eastern and southern Syria to reclaim strategic territory from the Islamic State (IS).
- Even if U.S may not want to directly engage Syrian forces, these activities might lead to an accidental escalation.
- Trump administration is also constantly attacking the agreement Tehran signed with the U.S. to limit its nuclear programme in exchange for the lifting of international sanctions.
- These events could overreach and provoke a new confrontation that spirals out of control.
Source: The Hindu
