New York Times: Attack in Syria, a World of Potential Risks

The United States, France and British launched airstrikes outside Damascus with the goal of reducing the Syria’s chemical weapons capacity. The strikes pose a “risk of drawing the United States even more deeply into a conflict in which Russia and Iran… have more invested than ever in keeping President Bashar al-Assad in power.” Russia called for an emergency UN Security Council meeting. Syria reported 110 missiles had been fired with some shot down. Ben Hubbard of the New York Times reports that Syria’s leader remains secure: “The rebels who once threatened his control have been routed from all of Syria’s major cities, and even from smaller strongholds like Douma, the last town they held near Damascus, which they surrendered after a reported chemical attack killed dozens of people.” One analyst called the attack “underwhelming”; other analysts expect the United States to continue limiting its involvement in the region, responding only to blatant atrocities like the use of chemical weapons. US President Donald Trump underscored that he does not view fixing the Middle East a US responsibility, but will work with allies to contain Iran. Hubbard concludes that any US-led coalition is “years behind” the alliance of Russia, Iran and Turkey. – YaleGlobal