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| Rebel Rivals of ISIS Fear U.S. Airstrikes Could Help Assad | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| BEIRUT, Lebanon — The prospect of the first American attacks on Syrian soil during three years of brutal civil war captivated Syrians on Thursday, prompting intense debate over whether airstrikes on the extremist Islamic State in Iraq and Syria would help or harm President Bashar al-Assad, his armed Syrian opponents and war-weary civilians. | |
| Raqqa, the northeastern city that ISIS has ruled for more than a year, was abuzz with the news. Civilians fled areas near ISIS headquarters. Anti-ISIS insurgents pronounced themselves energized by the prospect of new American aid and said Turkish officials had recently contacted them, promising new arms to fight the foreign-led Sunni group. | Raqqa, the northeastern city that ISIS has ruled for more than a year, was abuzz with the news. Civilians fled areas near ISIS headquarters. Anti-ISIS insurgents pronounced themselves energized by the prospect of new American aid and said Turkish officials had recently contacted them, promising new arms to fight the foreign-led Sunni group. |
| But even among fervent opponents of ISIS — including Syrian insurgents, some of whom stand to gain aid to battle the group — there was ambivalence over President Obama’s declaration that he would “not hesitate” to strike ISIS in Syria. | But even among fervent opponents of ISIS — including Syrian insurgents, some of whom stand to gain aid to battle the group — there was ambivalence over President Obama’s declaration that he would “not hesitate” to strike ISIS in Syria. |
| Many warned that if weakening ISIS strengthened Mr. Assad, allowing him to continue attacking opposition-held civilian areas with impunity, and was not accompanied by political enfranchisement of the Sunni majority in Syria, the strikes could backfire, driving more Sunnis to support or tolerate ISIS. Others worried that Syrian civilians could be killed in the attacks. | Many warned that if weakening ISIS strengthened Mr. Assad, allowing him to continue attacking opposition-held civilian areas with impunity, and was not accompanied by political enfranchisement of the Sunni majority in Syria, the strikes could backfire, driving more Sunnis to support or tolerate ISIS. Others worried that Syrian civilians could be killed in the attacks. |
| “Some parts of Syria haven’t been destroyed yet, but after the strike nothing will be left,” said Matar, a spokesman for Ahrar al-Sham, an ultraconservative Islamist group that opposes ISIS, giving only his first name for security reasons. “Our war is with Bashar,” he added, complaining that America had not responded to Mr. Assad’s indiscriminate use of shrapnel-filled barrel bombs. “Why did the Americans wait until now to strike? | “Some parts of Syria haven’t been destroyed yet, but after the strike nothing will be left,” said Matar, a spokesman for Ahrar al-Sham, an ultraconservative Islamist group that opposes ISIS, giving only his first name for security reasons. “Our war is with Bashar,” he added, complaining that America had not responded to Mr. Assad’s indiscriminate use of shrapnel-filled barrel bombs. “Why did the Americans wait until now to strike? |
| And even those most supportive of the strikes complained that America had abetted the rise of extremists like ISIS by failing to aid other insurgents earlier, and was only attacking it now that it had swollen to pose a threat to America and the world. | And even those most supportive of the strikes complained that America had abetted the rise of extremists like ISIS by failing to aid other insurgents earlier, and was only attacking it now that it had swollen to pose a threat to America and the world. |
| The reactions underscored the conundrum the United States faces in wading into the Syrian battlefield. Until now, Mr. Obama has strenuously resisted pleas from Syrian insurgents for more help in fighting Mr. Assad’s crackdown against an insurgency that began with political protests, citing concerns that arms given to insurgents would end up in extremist hands. | The reactions underscored the conundrum the United States faces in wading into the Syrian battlefield. Until now, Mr. Obama has strenuously resisted pleas from Syrian insurgents for more help in fighting Mr. Assad’s crackdown against an insurgency that began with political protests, citing concerns that arms given to insurgents would end up in extremist hands. |
| Now, framing the attack on ISIS as driven by American national security concerns, Mr. Obama faces mistrust from both sides. Many insurgents consider his action too little too late, and say his declaration that America stands with “people who fight for their own freedom” rings hollow. And the Syrian government and its supporters express suspicion that the strikes could be a cover to attack the government. | Now, framing the attack on ISIS as driven by American national security concerns, Mr. Obama faces mistrust from both sides. Many insurgents consider his action too little too late, and say his declaration that America stands with “people who fight for their own freedom” rings hollow. And the Syrian government and its supporters express suspicion that the strikes could be a cover to attack the government. |
| Mr. Obama vowed not to coordinate with the Syrian government, which he said had lost its legitimacy through its brutal tactics against the insurgency. The Syrian state news media said that refusal violated Syrian sovereignty and showed that he was “not serious” about fighting terrorism. | Mr. Obama vowed not to coordinate with the Syrian government, which he said had lost its legitimacy through its brutal tactics against the insurgency. The Syrian state news media said that refusal violated Syrian sovereignty and showed that he was “not serious” about fighting terrorism. |
| Government supporters said that destroying ISIS, Mr. Obama’s avowed goal, would be difficult without taking advantage of Syrian intelligence on ISIS locations, fighters and methods. | Government supporters said that destroying ISIS, Mr. Obama’s avowed goal, would be difficult without taking advantage of Syrian intelligence on ISIS locations, fighters and methods. |
| At the same time, a person familiar with the deliberations of Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite militant group that has fought alongside Syrian troops, said that while coordination with the Syrian government would be better, the group welcomed any attacks against ISIS and believed that they would help the Syrian government. | At the same time, a person familiar with the deliberations of Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite militant group that has fought alongside Syrian troops, said that while coordination with the Syrian government would be better, the group welcomed any attacks against ISIS and believed that they would help the Syrian government. |
| Mr. Assad’s opponents, and some of his supporters, say he allowed ISIS to flourish while his government focused on attacking more moderate rebel groups in a deliberate effort to wipe out his moderate opposition and paint himself as a bulwark against terrorism. | Mr. Assad’s opponents, and some of his supporters, say he allowed ISIS to flourish while his government focused on attacking more moderate rebel groups in a deliberate effort to wipe out his moderate opposition and paint himself as a bulwark against terrorism. |
| Major questions remain. In Raqqa, where many have tolerated ISIS because it provides money and a semblance of order and has recently scored military victories against government bases that shelled the area, people were eager for more details on how a political solution might follow from the attacks. | Major questions remain. In Raqqa, where many have tolerated ISIS because it provides money and a semblance of order and has recently scored military victories against government bases that shelled the area, people were eager for more details on how a political solution might follow from the attacks. |
| There is a broad consensus among diplomats, and even among some moderate supporters of the Syrian government, that the only way to legitimize the fight against ISIS is through a new approach in which the West agrees that Mr. Assad stays but must cede some powers to a Sunni-inclusive national unity government. But Mr. Assad’s inner circle has given no sign of interest in any compromise. | There is a broad consensus among diplomats, and even among some moderate supporters of the Syrian government, that the only way to legitimize the fight against ISIS is through a new approach in which the West agrees that Mr. Assad stays but must cede some powers to a Sunni-inclusive national unity government. But Mr. Assad’s inner circle has given no sign of interest in any compromise. |
| A lawyer from Raqqa, speaking on the condition of anonymity for his safety, said he opposed the American strikes, saying they reflected “double standards” from the West. | A lawyer from Raqqa, speaking on the condition of anonymity for his safety, said he opposed the American strikes, saying they reflected “double standards” from the West. |
| “Why are not Hezbollah, the Syrian regime and its militias also considered terrorists and destabilizing the security of the region?” he said. | “Why are not Hezbollah, the Syrian regime and its militias also considered terrorists and destabilizing the security of the region?” he said. |
| But Ahmad al-Soud, a lieutenant colonel who defected from the Syrian Army and now heads the newly assembled Fifth Corps, a coalition of insurgent groups made up mainly of defectors, welcomed the strikes. | But Ahmad al-Soud, a lieutenant colonel who defected from the Syrian Army and now heads the newly assembled Fifth Corps, a coalition of insurgent groups made up mainly of defectors, welcomed the strikes. |
| “No one has the capacity to do it but the U.S.,” he said. “The Islamic State now is more dangerous than Assad in the whole area, not just in Syria.” | “No one has the capacity to do it but the U.S.,” he said. “The Islamic State now is more dangerous than Assad in the whole area, not just in Syria.” |
| He said many Syrians had joined ISIS out of desperation and were suspicious of the United States after years of anti-American government speech. But if the strikes are accurate and effective, “people will stand with the winner, since they are weak,” he said. | He said many Syrians had joined ISIS out of desperation and were suspicious of the United States after years of anti-American government speech. But if the strikes are accurate and effective, “people will stand with the winner, since they are weak,” he said. |