Trump and Syria: the entanglement begins?

Commentary feature. Much of the Syrian opposition and its regional backers will view US air strikes in April 2017 as the thin end of the wedge.

In the end Assad’s flagrant use of chemical weapons necessitated a response. But by not linking the response to a viable broader strategy the strikes risk now inflaming the wider conflict and leaving the US vulnerable to being pulled, slowly but surely, into a new regional war.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the US strike in Syria, 07.04.17 http://www.europeansources.info/record/declaration-by-the-high-representative-on-behalf-of-the-eu-on-the-us-strike-in-syria/

The Conversation, 07.04.17: Trump strikes in Syria: illegal, ineffective and dangerous https://theconversation.com/trump-strikes-in-syria-illegal-ineffective-and-dangerous-75936

The Conversation, 07.04.17: With Syria missile strikes, Trump turns from non-intervention to waging war https://theconversation.com/with-syria-missile-strikes-trump-turns-from-non-intervention-to-waging-war-75917

The Conversation, 07.04.17: US strike on Syria swiftly ends talk of warmer relations with Russia https://theconversation.com/us-strike-on-syria-swiftly-ends-talk-of-warmer-relations-with-russia-75872

Chatham House: Expert Comment, 12.04.17: Trump Has Sent a Message That Chemical Weapons Won't Go Unpunished https://www.chathamhouse.org/expert/comment/trump-has-sent-message-chemical-weapons-wont-go-unpunished

Chatham House: Expert Comment, 26.04.17: US Missile Strikes Expose the Untenable Status Quo in International Law https://www.chathamhouse.org/expert/comment/us-missile-strikes-expose-untenable-status-quo-international-law

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