Islamic State Containment Is Collapsing in Syria

The containment of the Islamic State in Syria is collapsing following an offensive by the transitional government against the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. This conflict has disrupted intelligence networks and led to mass escapes from detention camps, with an estimated 15,000-20,000 individuals now at large. Despite these developments, Washington is withdrawing its troops and shifting its counter-terrorism partnership to the Damascus government, a move predicated on the belief that a unified Syrian state can manage the threat. However, the new government's fragility and coercive tactics are creating a permissive environment for radicalization that the Islamic State is poised to exploit for a resurgence.