Armed Conflict in Syria: Overview and U.S. Response

Abstract

The rise of the insurgent terrorist group known as the Islamic State (IS, also known as ISIL, ISIS, or the Arabic acronym Da'esh) and Russias military intervention on behalf of the Syrian government have reshaped debates over U.S. policy toward the ongoing civil conflict in Syria, now in its sixth year. The Islamic State controls large areas of northeastern and central Syria, from which it continues to launch assaults on forces opposed to and aligned with the government of President Bashar al Asad. Meanwhile, fighting elsewhere pits government forces and their foreign allies against a range of anti-government insurgents, some of whom receive limited U.S. assistance. Russian military intervention in support of Asad poses a direct challenge to U.S. goals in Syria, and has raised new questions about the future of the conflict and U.S. strategy.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 06, 2017
Accession Number
AD1024469

Entities

People

  • Carla E. Humud
  • Christopher M. Blanchard
  • Mary Beth D. Nikitin

Organizations

  • Congressional Research Service

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Chemical Warfare
  • Chemical Warfare Agents
  • Chemical Weapons
  • Congress
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Department Of State
  • International Law
  • International Organizations
  • Law
  • Minority Groups
  • Mustard Agents
  • National Politics
  • National Security
  • Personnel Management
  • Terrorism
  • Terrorists
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Nuclear Non-Proliferation and International Security
  • Political Violence and Terrorism Studies.
  • Strategic Security Studies