Are Syrian Groups Turning Against the U.S.?

The U.S.-led air strikes threaten to alienate more moderate groups in Syria.

by Lina Khatib, Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi, and Lawrence Korb

published by

Al Jazeera Inside Story

on September 30, 2014

Source: Al Jazeera Inside Story

In the early days of Syria’s civil war, opposition activists and fighters pleaded with the United States to strike the Syrian government. It has now been a week since a U.S..-led coalition began bombing Syria. But they are targeting the Islamic State, not Bashar al-Assad’s forces.

Many opposition groups now fear U.S. President Barack Obama is no longer committed to seeing President Bashar al-Assad leave power. And increasingly, armed groups in Syria view the air strikes as against their interests, with some Syrian rebels even vowing to fight Western nations. Will the continuing campaign against ISIL alienate fighters who were previously seeking U.S. backing?

This interview was originally broadcasted on Al Jazeera Inside Story.

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