With ISIS In Retreat Why is the Syria War Expanding?

FEATURING DR. STEPHEN ZUNES – Despite the fact that Islamic State forces have retreated, the complicated war in Syria appears to be expanding rather than wrapping up. The United States is under fire this week for an attack in Eastern Syria that at first reportedly killed about 100 Syrian national soldiers loyal to President Bashar Al Assad. Now it has emerged that several, possibly dozens, of Russian fighters are among the dead.

Meanwhile the Syrian Air Force reportedly shot down an Israeli fighter jet in recent days, saying it was responding to an Israeli incursion. The clash came after Israel reportedly shot down an Iranian drone coming from Syrian air space. According to Syrian sources, Israel has also tried to raid Syrian military bases.

Turkey has continued its targeting of Kurdish communities in Northern Syria’s newly liberated areas as well.

Instead of the Syria war winding down, there seems to be an escalation involving an ever-growing number of countries.

Dr. Stephen Zunes is a Professor of Politics and International Studies at the University of San Francisco, where he serves as coordinator of the program in Middle Eastern Studies. He also serves as a senior policy analyst for Foreign Policy in Focus, a project of the Institute for Policy Studies. He is also an associate editor of Peace Review.