United States Foreign Policy Under President Donald Trump and the Fall of Islamic State in Syria

Economics And Social Sciences Academic Journal Vol.2, No.6; June- 2020 ISSN (5282 -0053); p –ISSN (4011 – 230X) UNITED STATES FOREIGN POLICY UNDER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AND THE FALL OF ISLAMIC STATE IN SYRIA

1Okey Oji Ph.D. and 2Raymond Adibe PhD 1Director of Research National Boundary Commission, Nigeria. 2Department of Political Science University of Nigeria ABSTRACT: The paper investigated the United States foreign policy and the fall of Islamic State (IS) in Syria. Specifically, it investigated if the non-prioritization of regime change by the Trump administration, and the consequent emphasis on US war against IS accounted for the fall of the terrorist group in Syria. Our findings revealed that the US interest in Syria under President Trump has been narrowed down to the war against terror, particularly the IS terrorist group. The US government under President Trump has shown little or no political will to commit US resources to ending. With President Trump administration’s refusal to fund anti-Assad rebel groups fighting the government, it severely weakened such groups and provided the Syrian government a huge opportunity to concentrate in battling IS to reclaim its territories. The paper relied on documentary data. It recommends the need to find a political solution to the crisis in Syria since it was what provided the avenue for IS to thrive in the first instance. As long as the civil war in Syria persists, the country will remain vulnerable to the possibility of terrorist groups operating from its territory. Keywords: United States, Foreign Policy, Syrian Conflict, Islamic State and Regime Change

INTRODUCTION Senate. The United States Secretary of State acts similarly The foreign policy of the United States (US) can be to a foreign minister and under Executive leadership, is simply explained as its interactions with foreign nations the primary conductor of state-to-state diplomacy and how it sets the standards of interaction for its (McCormick, 2009). organizations, corporations and system citizens. One of the United States government’s core foreign According to the United States Department of State, the policy objectives in the Middle East is to maintain an goal of the foreign policy of the United States is to build unimpeded commercial access to oil (Ifesinachi and and sustain a more democratic, secure, and prosperous Adibe, 2014). The region produces one third of the world for the benefit of the American people and the world’s oil, and has 60 percent of world’s known oil international community (US Department of State, 2016). reserves (EIA, 2008). The United States is by far the Subject to the advice and consent role of the US Senate, world’s largest single consumer of oil, accounting for 24 the President of the United States negotiates treaties with percent of the world oil consumption. In 2007, about 23 foreign nations, but treaties enter into force only if percent of the US crude oil imports came from the ratified by two-thirds of the US Senate. The President is volatile Persian Gulf area (EIA, 2008). Since 2004, the also Commander in Chief of the United States Armed sky-high oil prices, made worse by instability in the Forces and has broad authority over the armed forces. Middle East, have intensified calls in the United States to The Secretary of State and ambassadors are appointed by reduce the country’s dependence on foreign oil. Thus, the President, with the advice and consent of the US Ifesinachi and Adibe (2014) noted that instability in the Economics and Social Sciences Academic Journal An official Publication of Center for International Research Development Double Blind Peer and Editorial Review International Referred Journal; Globally index Available @CIRD.online/ESSAJ: E-mail: [email protected] pg. 42 Economics And Social Sciences Academic Journal Vol.2, No.6; June- 2020 ISSN (5282 -0053); p –ISSN (4011 – 230X) Middle East not only contributes to high oil prices, but suppress the rebellion and adopting economic also causes the United States to spend billions of dollars sanctions against Syria in late September and early annually for military deployment designed to protect free October 2011, but Russia and the People's Republic of flow of oil. China wielded their veto power to block the proposal. The relevance of Syria to the United States in attainment Relations were further strained by Syrian security forces' of her foreign policy objectives in the Middle East failure to protect Robert Stephen Ford, the US becomes more obvious when we examine the second ambassador to Syria, from being attacked by pro-Assad principal foreign policy objective of the United States in crowds on at least two occasions, as well as to prevent the Middle East. This objective is to advance the Arab– vandalism of the US embassy and diplomatic Israeli peace process and achieving a comprehensive, property. On 24 October 2011, the US government durable, and just peace on all fronts (Djerejian, 1993). announced that it had recalled Ambassador Ford due to This objective underscores the close ties between the credible threats against his personal safety (Josh, 2011). United States political, security and economic interest. Effective from February 6, 2012, the US Embassy Djerejian (1993) further noted that the US overriding suspended operations and closed for normal consular motivation in pursuing this process is to bring relative services. In December 2012, then President peace and stability to a strategically significant part of the Obama announced that the US would formally recognize world where conflicts have acted as a brake on her the Syrian Opposition Coalition, rather than the Assad-led economic gains. government, as the legitimate representative of the Syrian The improvement in Syria–Iranian relations over the past people (Miller and De Young, 2015). In fact, between decade according to US government constitutes a serious 2013 and 2017, the US trained and armed nearly 10,000 threat to the Arab–Israeli process. The United States’ rebel fighters at a cost of $1 billion a year. It was noted government has accused her Syrian counterpart of that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) had been providing political and logistical support for Hezbollah sending weapons to anti-government rebels in Syria since since the outbreak of fighting between Israeli military at least 2012. Some of these weapons reportedly fell into forces and the militant Lebanese Shiite Hezbollah hands of extremists, such as al-Nusra Front and Islamic organization (Prados, 2006). Such support was seen to State (IS) (Jaffe and Entous, 2017). further undermine political stability in the Middle East The United States commitment to the Syrian civil war in because it provides a veritable ground for the favour of the opposition forces was aimed at removing proliferation of terrorist groups with international President Bashir al-Assad from power. In fact, US connections as well as weapons of mass destruction government officials that included the two immediate past (Prados, 2006). Secretaries of State (Hilary Clinton who served from Diplomatic relations between Syria and the United 2009 to 2013 and John Kerry who served from 2013 to States are currently non-existent; they were suspended 2017) and the then US Ambassador to the United after the onset of the Syrian Civil War which began in Nations, Susan Rice, made repeated demands during 2011. As the war in Syria intensified, then US President, peace talks for the resignation or forceful removal of Barack Obama, in mid-August 2011 stated publicly that President Assad as a pre-condition for the war to end. Syria′s President Bashar al-Assad should step down Thus, at the direction of then US President, Barack (Josh, 2011). The US pushed strongly for the United Obama, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) was put in Nations Security Council (UNSC) to pass a resolution charge of the operations aimed at providing military condemning the Syrian government′s measures to support to opposition forces, worth about US$1 billion Economics and Social Sciences Academic Journal An official Publication of Center for International Research Development Double Blind Peer and Editorial Review International Referred Journal; Globally index Available @CIRD.online/ESSAJ: E-mail: [email protected] pg. 43 Economics And Social Sciences Academic Journal Vol.2, No.6; June- 2020 ISSN (5282 -0053); p –ISSN (4011 – 230X) annually (Bowman and Fordham, 2014). The United While the Syrian war has remained one of the issues that States under the Obama administration sent 400 troops have created tensions in US-Russia relations, the United and hundreds of support staff to countries neighboring States foreign policy shift in Syria under Trump’s Syria to train as much as 5,000 opposition soldiers every administration has coincided with the intensification of year. Countries such as Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, US-led attacks on Islamic State (IS) in Syria. Thus, this and Turkey took part in the train-and-equip program paper examined the United States foreign policy under (Pakiri, 2019). President Donald Trump administration and the fall of The US government under President Trump has also Islamic State (IS) in Syria. significantly shifted from the core objectives set out by FROM REGIME CHANGE TO WAR AGAINST the Obama administration in Syria. On 29 March 2017, ISLAMIC STATE: UNDERSTANDING THE during the Presidency of Donald Trump, then United STRATEGIC INTEREST OF UNITED STATES IN States Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, expressed that SYRIA UNDER PRESIDENT TRUMP the longer term status of President Bashir al-Assad would Under the Obama administration, the US government be decided by the Syrian people. That was a policy shift, made regime change in Syria a priority and provided since under President Barack Obama’s administration; the necessary assistance to anti-Assad rebel groups. Despite US made the departure of Assad a key policy aim (AFP the fact that the arms provided by many foreign actors report of March 30, 2017). On March 30, 2017, then were been captured by Islamic State (IS) terror group, the United States Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki United States first military offensive against IS in Syria Haley, reaffirmed that the priority of the United States was on September 23, 2014 (Glenn, et al, 2018). The air policy concerning Bashir al-Assad was no longer to force strikes against IS was also aimed at helping the moderate him out of power (Reuters report of March 30, 2017). anti-Assad rebel groups gain ground in the civil war, and It must however be noted that as the POTUS, Donald not necessarily aimed at defeating IS in Syria. It is Trump has the constitutional power to define what should obvious that the US foreign policy objective of toppling constitute the core foreign policy objectives of the US, as the Assad regime in Syria superseded any concern for IS well as pursue such objectives using state assets and advancement from Iraq to Syria. In fact, international resources. Historically, Executive Presidents all over the concern over the activities of IS increased when the group world have been known to define and prioritize their started targeting foreign citizens, mostly from western foreign policy agenda in a manner that helps them countries. Until the end of the Obama administration, the strengthen their control of their political base and US government restricted its attack on IS only to frustrate popularity domestically. In the case of Donald Trump, his its advancement into rebel strongholds, as well as to help ‘American First’ doctrine that promised a more the advancement of anti-Assad rebels in Syria. nationalist approach to global problems rather than the Under the Trump era however, regime change in Syria internationalist approach of all previous US governments was no longer US government priority as President since the end of World War 11 resonated with many Trump de-emphasized the importance of Syria to US voters. This doctrine also promised to reach out to the interest in the Middle East. In one of his campaign most notable US adversary, Russia, and improve their speeches, President Trump blamed former President relations since both nations enormously stand to gain Obama for the rise of IS since the US never prioritize the economically and militarily from cooperating with each defeat of IS under the administration of the latter. With other. President Trump decision not to commit the US to political transition in Syria, his attention shifted to the Economics and Social Sciences Academic Journal An official Publication of Center for International Research Development Double Blind Peer and Editorial Review International Referred Journal; Globally index Available @CIRD.online/ESSAJ: E-mail: [email protected] pg. 44 Economics And Social Sciences Academic Journal Vol.2, No.6; June- 2020 ISSN (5282 -0053); p –ISSN (4011 – 230X) fight against IS. The US government under President continues to consolidate power with backings from the Trump significantly intensified aerial attacks on IS Russian government and allies like Iran. strongholds in Syria and even supported the involvement CHANGE IN UNITED STATES’ STRATEGIC of supposed US adversary, Russia, in the fight against IS. INTEREST IN SYRIA UNDER PRESIDENT This showed a reprioritization of US interest in Syria TRUMP AND THE DEFEAT OF ISLAMIC STATE from a long term goal of political transition and The 2011 popular uprising in Syria provided the Obama reconstruction that will involve regime change to a short administration an opportunity to assert United States term goal of defeating IS and pushing it out of all its influence on the future of Syria in a similar vein it did in strongholds in Syria. Coincidentally, Syrian government Libya with the ouster of Moummar Ghadaffi from power. forces have also been gaining grounds in the civil war Sharp and Blanchard (2012a) noted that President Obama since US military campaign against IS began under the called for Assad’s resignation since early in the conflict, Trump administration with the Assad government and was a vocal advocate for the United Nations Security recapturing almost all territories it lost to rebel forces and Council (UNSC) to use its power to oust the Assad-led IS fighters in the conflict. Syrian government. The United States closed its embassy The minimalist definition of President Trump’s interest in in Damascus under the Obama administration, and the the Syrian war has undermined the potency of the rebel United States actively participated in efforts to improve forces in waging a balanced war. President Trump international policy coordination on Syria, such as the classification of IS as a bigger threat to US interest than Friends of Syria forum. The Obama administration also President Assad continuous stay in power led to the took part in planning the future of Syria without President intensification of US bombardment of IS targets within Assad (Sharp and Blanchard, 2012a). The fall of Assad Syria. President Trump has carried out strategic airstrikes regime, it is expected would usher in a new government aimed at pushing IS out of all their strongholds in Syria. that will improve the US–Syria diplomatic relations; align While IS had capitalized on the Syrian war to overwhelm with the US on how best to resolve the Arab-Israeli government forces that was already overstretched by conflict and also secure the US economic interest in Syria rebels, US airstrikes have helped in pushing them out of (Ifesinachi and Adibe, 2014). At the early stage of the most territories they occupied in Syria. This has led to the conflict, armed opposition groups appeared too recapture of territories by Syrian government forces. disorganized to defeat the regimes security forces on their No doubt, the foreign policy of the US under President own. Volunteer fighters lacked central command and Trump has significantly changed the balance of power in control structure, funding, and heavy weaponry (Sharp the Syrian conflict with rebel forces obviously weakened and Blanchard, 2012b). However, with the United States by President Trump’s foreign policy objectives. US and her allies’ support in the form of financial and government soft pedaling on its initial push for regime military assistance, the rebel groups opposed to the change has also pushed back US allies who committed to regime began to gain ground in the conflict which the war in Syria in support of the rebels. This has given escalated to a full blown civil war. the Syrian government the upper hand in the conflict as it

Table 1: Notable US Government’s Financial Assistance to Rebel Groups in the Syrian Civil War before the Trump Era Date Action taken

May 2012 The United States government provided financial assistance to non-extremist rebel groups to buy US made non-lethal military equipments from undisclosed Gulf states that are US allies in the Middle East

June 2012 The US government spearheaded international coordination for the provision of financial and humanitarian aids worth over US$176 million to the opposition groups in Syria under the Friend of Syria Group

July 2012 The US government granted a non-governmental organization called the Syrian Support Group a license to fund the Free Syrian Army (FSA)

July 2012 The State Department in the US reportedly allocated US$ 15 million for civilian opposition groups in Syria

Source: Adibe (2014, p.35) The United States and Russian Governments’ Involvements in the Syrian Crisis and the Kofi Annan Peace Deal. Doctoral Seminar Paper, UNN

Table 2: Notable US Government’s Military Assistance to Rebel Groups in the Syrian Civil War before the Trump Era Date Action taken June 2012 The CIA was reported to be involved in covert operations along Turkish–Syrian border, where agents investigated rebel groups and provided arms to them

June 2012 The CIA was reported to be providing communications training for rebel fighters along the Turkish–Syria border as well as developing supply routes for arms delivery to opposition fighters

July 2012 Operatives of the US Central Intelligence Agency distributed assault riffles, anti- tank rocket launchers and other ammunition to Syrian opposition

April, 2012 The U.S’ CIA and NATO soldiers reportedly supervised the movement of 600 rebel fighters from Libya to Syria in order to support the rebels

August 2012 US Secretary Of State, Hilary Clinton announced that the U.S has expanded operational planning to assist the rebels fighting to topple Syrian President Bashir al-Assad

Source: Adibe (2014, p.36) The United States and Russian Governments’ Involvements in the Syrian Crisis and the Kofi Annan Peace Deal. Doctoral Seminar Paper, UNN

Apart from direct or indirect involvement of the US together to a coherent strategy to resolve the Syrian government under Obama’s administration in arming the conflict or even contain extremists indefinitely. Trump Syrian rebels, attempts to woo international and and his military and diplomatic teams continue to put multilateral supports to further provide financial and forward only short-term, tactical responses without saying lethal support to the opposition forces in Syria was what the United States seek long-term in Syria or how to eminent. The Friends of Syria group formed in early 2012 achieve it. However, whatever that interest maybe, it remained a rallying point for US allies in the European definitely does not require departure of the Russians from Union (EU), the Arab world, and within the Northern Syria and it does not necessarily even require withdrawal Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) to also extend of all Iranian elements of influence in Syria. Importantly, military and financial assistance to opposition fighters in it also excludes a Trump administration commitment to a Syria (Epps, 2012). Also within the Arab world, US political settlement in Syria based on a reformed Syrian allies during Obama’s administration also helped the government along the lines of the Geneva Communique rebel fighters in their attempt to topple Assad’s of June 30, 2012 and UN Security Council resolutions government. In May 2012, the new Turkish government 2254 of 2015 (Ford, 2018). offered weapons, money and potential volunteers. Also, President Trump has long rejected pressing hard to in a bid to strengthen her diplomatic relations with the achieve a new government in Syria. Reacting to the state United States, Qatar, was reported to have shipped arms collapse in much of Iraq after the 2003 American to rebel groups in Syria (Epps, 2012). The increase in invasion, and the US aid to rebel groups that escalated the international support for opposition forces in Syria spear- Syrian civil war, Trump excoriated President Bush’s headed by the United States led to significant policy in Iraq, and Obama’s policy in Syria, in an April improvement in the capabilities of the Free Syrian Army 27, 2016 campaign speech, saying that; (FSA), the principal military coalition opposing the Assad It all began with a dangerous idea that we could make regime. Western democracies out of countries that had no According to Ford (2018), observers may be forgiven for experience or interests in becoming a western not understanding the United States of America policy in democracy. We tore up what institutions they had and Syria under Trump. He noted that the Trump then were surprised at what we unleashed. Civil war, administration has a few obvious objectives. Fixing Syria religious fanaticism, thousands of Americans and just is not the Trump administration’s goal. Instead, its goals killed be lives, lives, lives wasted, horribly wasted [sic]. are more limited. Since the 2016 election campaign, Many trillions of dollars were lost as a result. The Trump has been clear that he wants to destroy the Islamic vacuum was created that ISIS would fill. Iran, too, State (IS). It would also be reasonable to conclude that would rush in and fill that void…(culled from Pakiri, the Trump administration wants to deter the Syrian 2019, p. 28). government from using chemical weapons again (or at After his election, Trump did not change his mind. least nerve agents again) inside Syria (Ford, 2018). Speaking after a long set of meetings about Afghanistan, Fighting IS, deterring chemical weapons usage and Trump emphasized in remarks at the White House on hoping for a political settlement are tactics that do not tie August 21, 2017 that his administration would no longer Economics and Social Sciences Academic Journal An official Publication of Center for International Research Development Double Blind Peer and Editorial Review International Referred Journal; Globally index Available @CIRD.online/ESSAJ: E-mail: [email protected] pg. 47 Economics And Social Sciences Academic Journal Vol.2, No.6; June- 2020 ISSN (5282 -0053); p –ISSN (4011 – 230X) use the United States military might to construct the Astana Peace talks in May 2018 nor request any other democracies in faraway lands or try to rebuild other country to represent her interest in the talks (Ford, 2018). countries along liberal democracies. This further signaled From his rhetoric, Trump does not perceive Syria to be a his disregard for the Syrian political process. As evidence vital American concern in any case, rather, he wants Gulf of his non-commitment to the political process in Syria, States such as Saudi Arabia to stabilize and rebuild Syria. the United States government declined to neither attend

Table 3: Notable United States Airstrikes in Syria under President Trump’s Administration and their Targets Dates Notable Airstrikes US Target(s)

3February, US airstrikes hit Jund al-Aqsa and Tahrir al-Sham positions Islamic State (IS) terrorist 2017 in Sarmin, near Idlib, and killed more than 12 IS militants. organization 4 US airstrike killed al-Qaeda commander, Abu Hani al- Al-Qaeda terrorist February, Masri, who was a part of Ahrar al-Sham at the time of his organization 2017 death. It was reported that he was about to defect to Tahrir al-Sham before his death 26 Iin Al-Mastoumeh, Idlib, a US drone strike killed Abu Al-Qaeda terrorist February, Khayr al-Masri, who was the deputy leader of al-Qaeda. He organization 2017 was part of a prisoner swap between Iran and al-Qaeda. The US airstrike also killed another Tahrir al-Sham militant, who was traveling in the same car 16 March, US airstrike hit a mosque in western Aleppo and killed more Al-Qaeda terrorist 2017 than 42 people, mostly civilians. The location was assessed organization by the US military as a meeting place for al-Qaeda and the US military claimed that the airstrike hit a target across the mosque and was not targeted at the mosque itself 6 April, The US conducted a landing operation against ISIL, to the Islamic States (IS) terrorist 2017 west of Deir ez-Zor. Two Coalition helicopters airdropped organization soldiers in the area and targeted a car on route from Raqqa to Deir ez-Zor. During the landing, US forces killed 4 ISIL commanders and extracted a Jordanian spy, who had infiltrated ISIL and served as one of its leaders 7 April, In response to chemical weapon attacks (most notably Syrian Government Forces 2017 the Khan Shaykhun chemical attack) against Syrian civilians (Retaliation for Chemical allegedly by the Syrian government, the US launched Weapon Attack) missile strikes on the airfield from which the chemical Economics and Social Sciences Academic Journal An official Publication of Center for International Research Development Double Blind Peer and Editorial Review International Referred Journal; Globally index Available @CIRD.online/ESSAJ: E-mail: [email protected] pg. 48 Economics And Social Sciences Academic Journal Vol.2, No.6; June- 2020 ISSN (5282 -0053); p –ISSN (4011 – 230X) weapon attacks were launched. This incident marks the first direct attack by the US on the Assad government 3 The Independent reported that 400 ISIS militants and their Islamic State (IS) terrorist September, families traveling in the convoy was trapped by US organization 2017 airstrikes in Syria in late August 20 US airstrikes targeting an ISIS headquarters and command Islamic State (IS) terrorist January, and control center in the Middle Euphrates River Valley organization 2018 near Al-Shafah killed nearly 150 ISIS militants 14 April, Donald Trump, President of the United States, announced Syrian Government Forces 2018 that the US, France, and the United Kingdom had decided to (Retaliation for Chemical carry out a series of military strikes against the Syrian Weapon Attack) government of Bashar al-Assad. The strikes came in the wake of the Douma chemical attack 21 June, US-led coalition conducted airstrike against Syrian army Syrian Government Forces 2018 positions in east of Homs, resulting with the killing of at (US claimed self-defense) least 1 Syrian soldiers. On 22 June, US-led coalition spokesman claimed that they responded to an attack by an "unidentified hostile force" near al-Tanf Source: Authors’ compilation from various media reports

The table above shows that the defeat of terrorist groups government. In fact, with the exception of US claim of operational in Syria is more important to the Trump self-defense over its attack on Syrian government forces administration that regime change. While the US on June 21, 2018, all direct attacks carried out by the government under Trump intensified attacks on IS and Al- Trump administration in Syria have been in response to the Qaeda targets in Syria, it has progressively reduced its allegation of the use of chemical weapon by the Assad assistance to moderate rebels fighting the Assad regime, which the regime consistently denies.

Table 4: Statistical Snapshot of Syrian Government and Rebel/Terrorist Territorial Control before and during President Trump’s Administration Statistics Before Trump Presidency During Trump Presidency (As of 30 September, 2018) Syrian Government Fully 41% 62.24% Controlled Territories Rebel/IS Controlled Fully 34% 9.7% Territories Source: Compiled from the report of the Office of the UN-Arab League Special Envoy for Syria, 2018

While this table stopped at 30th September, 2018, it should killed by the US government. The prioritization of war be noted that as at the end of 2019, IS terror group no against IS over regime change played the key role in the longer controlled any territory in Syria with its leader also defeat of the Islamic state in Syria. Economics and Social Sciences Academic Journal An official Publication of Center for International Research Development Double Blind Peer and Editorial Review International Referred Journal; Globally index Available @CIRD.online/ESSAJ: E-mail: [email protected] pg. 49 Economics And Social Sciences Academic Journal Vol.2, No.6; June- 2020 ISSN (5282 -0053); p –ISSN (4011 – 230X) CONCLUSION Energy Information Administration (2008) Statistical The paper investigated the United States foreign policy Bulletin on World Crude Oil Reserves. and the fall of Islamic State (IS) in Syria and contended Washington D.C: EIA that the non-prioritization of regime change by the Trump Epps, P (2012) Analysis: Syria’s Assad Faces Growing administration, and the consequent emphasis on US war Rebel, Foreign Threat. Available at against IS accounted for the fall of the terrorist group in http://www.reuters.co.uk/thesyriancivilwar Syria. As a result, the government of Syria was able to (Accessed 1-09-2018) reclaim its territories that were under the stronghold of IS. Our findings revealed that the US interest in Syria under Ford, R (2018) What is Trump’s Real Policy in Syria? A Report of the Al Jazeera Centre for Studies, President Trump has been narrowed down to the war May 21 against terror, particularly the IS terrorist group. The US government under President Trump has shown little or no Glen, C; Rowan, M; Caves, J and Nada, G (2018) political will to commit US resources to ending. With “Selected Timeline of Islamic Activities in President Trump administration’s refusal to fund anti- Syria”. Available at https://twitter.com/AFP Assad rebel groups fighting the government, it severely (Accessed on 3rd March, 2019) weakened such groups and provided the Syrian Ifesinachi, K and Adibe, R (2014) The United States and government a huge opportunity to concentrate in battling Russian Governments’ Involvement in the Syrian IS to reclaim its territories. Massive airstrikes by the US Crisis and the United Nations’ Kofi Annan Peace against IS targets in Syria contributed to weakening the Process, in Mediterranean Journal of Social terrorist group and its eventual defeat in Syria. This paper Sciences, 5 (27) recommends the need to find a political solution to the crisis in Syria since it was what provided the avenue for IS Jaffe, G and Entous, A (2017) Trump ends covert CIA program to arm anti-Assad rebels in Syria, a to thrive in the first instance. As long as the civil war in move sought by Moscow. Available at Syria persists, the country will remain vulnerable to the https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national- possibility of terrorist groups operating from its territory. security/trump-ends-covert-cia-program-to-arm- REFERENCES anti-assad-rebels-in-syria-a-move-sought-by- moscow/2017/07/19/b6821a62-6beb-11e7-96ab- Adibe, R (2014) United States and Russian Governments’ 5f38140b38cc_story.html (Accessed on 7th Involvements in the Syrian Crisis and the Kofi January, 2019 ) Annan Peace Deal. Doctoral Seminar Paper Presented to the Department of Political Science, Josh, R (2011) Robert Ford attacked by thugs in Syria- UNN again. Available at http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2011/09/2 Bowman, T and Fordham, A (2014) CIA is Quietly 9/robert_ford_attacked_by_thugs_in_syria_again Ramping up Aid to Syrian Rebels. Available at (Accessed on 1st April, 2019) https://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2014/04/23/3 062332448 (Accessed on 7th September, 2018) McCormick, J.M (2009) American Foreign Policy and Process. California: Wardsworth Publishing Djerejian, E (1993) United States Economic Policy in the Middle East: Challenges and Opportunities, in Miller, G and DeYoung, K (2015) Secret CIA Effort in DISAM Winter Journal, 3 (4) Syria Faces Large Funding Cut. Available at https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-

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