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Syria After the U.S. Missile Strikes: Policy Options

(Washington Institute for Near East Policy) Michael Singh - Our relative neglect of the Syria conflict has not spared us the expenditure of resources. The U.S. has provided at least $6.5 billion in humanitarian aid to Syrians (more than any other country), provided at least $400 million in aid to the Syrian opposition, and spent billions of dollars more on the campaign against ISIS in Syria. The U.S. should insist that any internationally recognized settlement to the conflict in Syria should require Iran to withdraw its forces and its proxies from the country. Similarly, any discussion of terrorist groups in Syria should address not only Sunni, but Shia terrorist groups such as Hizbullah. The U.S. should warn Iran that it reserves the right to use force, or back Israel's use of force, against any IRGC or Hizbullah positions established in proximity to the Israeli or Jordanian borders. The U.S. should aggressively target Iranian entities that violate sanctions on Syria, and block any aircraft sales to Iran unless the recipient airlines can positively demonstrate that they are not involved in ferrying fighters or materiel to Syria. The writer is managing director of the Washington Institute. This is from his testimony submitted to the House Foreign Affairs Committee, April 27, 2017.
2017-04-28 00:00:00
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