Publication

This backgrounder lays out America’s strategic objectives in Iraq and Syria, which include 1) ending the civil wars in both countries; 2) destroying opposing groups and preventing their reconstitution; and 3) extricating Iraq and Syria from larger regional and global conflicts. The text further identifies the minimum conditions that are necessary to end the violence in the above two states; highlights how the US’ objectives converge and diverge from those of Iran, Russia, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia; and concludes the US cannot rely too heavily on international partners to achieve its strategic aims.