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The Ceasefire and U.S. Interests on the Jordan-Syria Border
(Washington Institute for Near East Policy) David Schenker and Hanin Ghaddar - Both Israel and Jordan want to prevent Iran from establishing a foothold on the Jordan-Syria border, amid concerns that Iran-backed militias may ignore the U.S.-Russia-Jordan ceasefire agreement announced on July 7 for southwest Syria. On several occasions in 2017, Iran-backed Shia militias have violated ceasefire agreements arranged by their Russian allies. Given U.S. concerns about Jordanian stability, Washington should establish a red line on Iranian deployments in southern Syria. It should inform Moscow, Damascus, and Tehran that any regime or Iranian air or ground operations in the ceasefire area would be met with an appropriate U.S. response from the air. Indeed, if Washington does not take such a step, there is a distinct possibility that Israel will. David Schenker is director of the Program on Arab Politics at The Washington Institute. Hanin Ghaddar, a veteran Lebanese journalist, is a visiting fellow at the Institute.