{"id":22937,"date":"2017-05-16T15:23:28","date_gmt":"2017-05-16T15:23:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kedisa.gr\/what-are-trumps-underlying-objectives-after-hitting-syria\/"},"modified":"2026-01-21T22:29:41","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T22:29:41","slug":"what-are-trumps-underlying-objectives-after-hitting-syria","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kedisa.gr\/en\/what-are-trumps-underlying-objectives-after-hitting-syria\/","title":{"rendered":"What are Trump\u2019s underlying objectives after hitting Syria ?"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Konstantinos Efthymiou, Associate Contributor KEDISA<\/strong><\/p>\n

Since March 2011, after consequences of the Arab Spring spread to Syria, more than 500,000<\/a> people have been killed, whilst more than 15 million<\/a> have been displaced within Syria and abroad. \u00a0Regarding the material losses, \u00a0the public and industrial infrastructure of the country, as well as its production, has either ceased<\/a> or has been ultimately destroyed in many areas. The Syrian economy is also standing on its feet as \u00a0financial aid<\/a> pours in from Russia, Iran and China. Amongst this, many foreign<\/a> and local criminals are opperating on the ground, usually under the cover of “fighter of Islam.” At the same time, an important part of foreign armies<\/a> from Russia, Iran, US, France, and Turkey are opperating on the ground, which further complicates the Syrian regime\u2019s management of domestic powers.<\/p>\n

Further to that, the Syrian Democratic Forces, an army of about 60,000<\/a> men and women, opperates in an extensive area north and east of the reaches of the Euphrates river. The Kurds People’s Protection Units (YPG) are the backbone of the Syrian Democratic Forces and occupy approximately 25%<\/a> of the country’s territory. Now, It may seem that multiple groups are now controlling different areas of Syria. These include the Syrian Army, aided by Russia and Iran, the Kurds, who are aided by the US, \u00a0and particially by Russia and Syria, ISIS, and the Free Syrian Army. Various insurgent\u00a0 groups such as ex-Al Qaeda offshoots, have been accussed<\/a> of being supported by Turkey, Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries who are taking part as actors in this conflict as well.<\/p>\n

The truth is, that this situation has a dynamic of change. It seems that ISIS is likely to retreat<\/a> from its held territories and perhaps further withdraw<\/a> itself into the Iraqi al-Khaimah desert. It is also possible that former ISIS territories, those northern and eastern of the Euphrates, will then be controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces, possibly under U.S. influence. Notably, the most significant oil and gas reserves<\/a> in Syria are in this area. While much control of the land will remain in the Syrian Regime\u2019s hands,\u00a0 the opposition and some Islamist insurgents may establish a special government status (though a right for self-administration) for the moderate Sunnis of the Free Syrian Army.<\/p>\n

Moreover, until recently, the fate of the Idlib province was unknown. Idlib borders Antakya county in Southern Turkey, which is still being held by extreme Islamist elements and insurgents, currently situated in a dangerous striking distance from the Chmeimin base, near Latakia province \u2013 which is maintained and used by the Russians. Further to this, Assad and Russia\u2019s next target<\/a> \u00a0was the release<\/a> of the Idlib province in order to gain access to the oil region of Deir Ez-Zor, which is of strategic importance<\/a> for the Syrians.<\/p>\n

Having in mind the above analysis, If we begin to approach the case of the bombing of Sairat airbase by US missiles, and if we attempt to look for motivation, we see that the goals were:<\/p>\n