Publication

This paper contends that the United States faces a geostrategic inflection point in Syria that it doesn't fully recognize. Indeed, the supposed “cessation of hostilities” that was declared on 13 February 2016 actually permits Russia and the Assad Regime to continue targeting US allies in Aleppo under the pretext that the opposition in the city consists predominantly of Jabhat al Nusra forces. To help dispel this pretext and prevent the al Qaeda affiliate from assuming a leadership role among the Aleppo-based opposition, the paper's authors 1) identify the opposition powerbrokers in the city; 2) clarify how they are mobilizing for the coming siege of the city; and 3) recommend that the US secures its interests and those of the Syria people by conducting humanitarian airdrops to those stuck in Aleppo; providing material support to opposition groups other than Jabhat al Nusra; and creating a humanitarian safe-zone north of the city.