Islamic State hits back, aided by power vacuum in Iraq and Syria
One AmericaMAY 2022
UN: Threat of Terrorism in Syria 'Resurging'
Above: A member of the Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army stand guarded in front of a Islamic State flag in the border town of Jarablus, August 31, 2016, Syria. Image copyright: Defne Karadeniz/Stringer/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Spin
Establishment-critical narrative
There is no hope for resolving the refugee crisis without ending the antagonism toward Bashar al-Assad's government in Syria. The world must engage in constructive dialogue with the rightful and legitimate rulers of Syria if they want to see any improvement in the humanitarian situation. Regional partners such as Turkey have already made overtures for normalization, and the rest of the world must follow suit.
Pro-establishment narrative
The path to a safe Syria does not run through the brutal Assad regime. Feeling the pressures of hosting refugees, Middle Eastern countries have turned to forceful deportations back to Syria and have made a half-hearted attempt to rehabilitate Assad. Meanwhile, Syria has turned into a criminal state involved in drug trafficking and has let itself be used as a tool of Iran. The fight against Assad must continue.