U.S. airstrikes kill 37 militants affiliated with extremist groups in Syria
CBSSep 23
US Strikes Islamic State Group Targets in Central Syria
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Above: Smoke billows after anti-government forces ransacked government security facilities, in Damascus, on Dec. 8, 2024. Image copyright: Rami al SAYED/Contributor/AFP via Getty images
The Facts
Following Syrian Pres. Bashar Al Assad's fall, US Pres. Joe Biden Sunday said that American forces conducted airstrikes against the Islamic State group (IS) in central Syria, targeting its leaders, fighters, and camps across 75 locations.
Biden said that the strikes — carried out by US warplanes, including F-15s — aimed at ensuring the IS doesn't "take advantage of any vacuum to reestablish its capability to create a safe haven."
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
The US must remain engaged in Syria to prevent IS' dangerous resurgence, safeguard chemical weapons, and support a potential democratic transition. With IS launching over 500 attacks in 2024 and rebuilding its capabilities in the Syrian desert, coupled with ongoing humanitarian challenges and regional instability, American strategic presence remains critical to preventing extremist groups from exploiting the power vacuum left by Assad's fall.
Narrative B
While Syria's complexities are profound, the US has limited strategic value in prolonging its military presence. The region's intricate tribal and volatile dynamics resist external intervention, and continued American military engagement risks further destabilization. With IS significantly weakened and regional powers like Iran and Russia already deeply entrenched, the US would be wise to minimize its footprint and avoid potential escalation of tensions.
