Syria During The Middle East - 1666 Words

Within the ever-changing landscape of the Middle Eastern Region, Syria is consistently in the news due to its strategic location and the present set of local and global problems. Located in the northwest portion of the Middle East, Syria is bordered by Turkey to the north, the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest. Mostly composed of Sunni Arabs, Syria is also the home to a diverse ethnic group that includes Armenians, Assyrians, Kurds, and Turks. The capital of Syria is Damascus and is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world (CIA Fact Book). Once a part of the Ottoman Empire, Syria was controlled by France following World War I until it gained its independence in 1946.†¦show more content†¦There is a wide variety of groups taking part in the conflict ranging from moderate in both the political and religious realm in the form of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) to much more radical groups such as the Islamic State of I raq and Al Sham (ISIS). Due to the fundamental differences in religious ideology as well as tactics, much infighting has occurred between the groups, creating a two front war with ISIS currently winning both sides. In an effort to take back Syria, Assad and those forces loyal to him have used brutal tactics on opposing forces to include chemical attacks on areas believed to be rebel strongholds, killing civilians as well as rebel militants. Meanwhile, the United States joined with the UN and League of Arabs to impose economic sanctions on Syria. These economic sanctions coupled with the violence have led to an extreme case of instability in the region causing oil prices to increase globally. However, with the speed at which ISIS has taken control over and secured the area from Raqqa, Syria all the way east past the Iraqi border and into the Al Anbar province, the United States are rethinking its sanctions. The Syrian military is in possession of chemical weapons. If Assad was to fal l to ISIS, what kind of terror could ISIS further cause to the region if not globally? Many in Washington know we need Assad as an ally in order to quell not only the rebellion