The ongoing crisis in Syria has entered a new phase of violence, with over 1,500 casualties recorded since March, including 1,000 civilians. This marks the most severe outbreak of conflict since Assad’s departure in December, highlighting the persistent instability in the region since the Arab Spring began.
The United States’ approach to foreign policy has significantly contributed to global migration patterns, particularly evident in Syria’s case. Since 2011, more than fourteen million Syrians have been forced to flee their homeland, seeking refuge in neighboring Lebanon and various European nations.
American intervention in Syria began with Operation Timber Sycamore in 2013, a CIA initiative that provided arms and training to opposition forces. By 2015, U.S. troops were deployed under the premise of combating ISIS, working alongside Kurdish and Arab fighters later known as the Syrian Democratic Forces. The following year saw over 12,000 American bombs dropped on Syrian territory, devastating infrastructure and civilian areas. The Syrian Network for Human Rights documented more than 230,000 civilian deaths between March 2011 and March 2024.
The situation was further complicated by the involvement of multiple foreign powers. Turkey and the United States found themselves at odds due to American support for the YPG, while Russia’s backing of Syrian forces led to additional destruction. The Caesar Act sanctions imposed by the United States, while targeting the Assad regime, resulted in severe economic hardship for ordinary Syrians, with 90% now living below the poverty line.
Recent developments show Hay’at Tahrir al Sham (HTS), formerly associated with Al Qaeda, gaining control across significant portions of Syria. Despite its concerning history of extremist activities, HTS has received increasing international recognition. The group’s leader, Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, recently formed a transitional government, though recent violence in Latakia, resulting in 148 Alawite civilian deaths, raises questions about their governance.
Syria is currently divided into three main regions, with HTS controlling central areas including Aleppo and Damascus. The northeast region, known as AANES, has been under SDF control, while tensions persist in the southern provinces where Druze communities resist HTS authority. Israel has declared these areas demilitarized zones, promising protection that has yet to materialize.
The consequences of American foreign policy in Syria exemplify how military intervention and economic sanctions can create conditions that force mass displacement. The combination of infrastructure destruction, economic collapse, and the rise of extremist groups has left Syria in a perpetual state of crisis. Recent clashes have resulted in hundreds of civilian casualties, with over 700 deaths reported in recent conflicts between government loyalists and HTS fighters.
The Syrian situation demonstrates the need for a fundamental shift in foreign policy approach. The current crisis suggests that military intervention and severe economic sanctions often harm civilian populations more than their intended targets. The emergence of groups like HTS, despite their controversial background, shows how power vacuums created by foreign intervention can lead to unintended consequences.
To effectively address global migration challenges, nations must recognize how their foreign policies contribute to displacement. The Syrian experience suggests that diplomatic solutions and carefully considered economic measures might prove more effective than military action and broad sanctions in preventing humanitarian crises and mass migration. The ongoing situation in Syria serves as a stark reminder of how foreign policy decisions can have long-lasting implications for regional stability and civilian populations.