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Assad Bombs the Kurds: Implications for U.S. Strategy in Syria
(Washington Institute for Near East Policy) Barak Barfi - Last week, heavy fighting erupted between the Syrian army and Kurdish units belonging to the Democratic Union Party (PYD). The U.S. works closely with the PYD and its military wing, the People's Defense Units (YPG). The YPG joined forces with a number of Arab brigades to create the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), and this group has proved to be Washington's best Syrian ally against the Islamic State. SDF units have received heavy weaponry (e.g., Javelin missiles) and special forces training from the U.S. An all-out Syrian regime war against the Kurds could have dire consequences for Washington's anti-IS strategy. The writer is a research fellow at the New America Foundation.