Will Biden ruin terrorist factions in Idlib despite his tendency for a political solution?

Sarah Rashad

When former US President Barack Obama was in power, the Syrian demonstrations found a way to expand, and Obama and his administration went to arming the demonstrators.

The decision, which the Obama administration later admitted wrongful, caused an exacerbation of the Syrian crisis to this day, as it paved the way for the rise of terrorist organizations such as ISIS. US President-elect Joe Biden was one of the participants, as he was the second man in power after Obama.

This opens the door to the fate of the armed organizations in Syria under the Biden administration, which is scheduled to begin in January, and whether he will correct his mistake by surrounding these organizations or will continue to arm them.

Fight Turkey

Reality says that all these armed organizations are pouring into Turkey, which is not shy about providing financial and political support for them, claiming that it provides support for what it calls “revolutionaries.”

Since Biden expresses a rejection of Turkey’s policies in Syria, it seems that his dealings with these factions will be a reflection of this rejection.

In one media interview, Biden said that Turkey has become part of the Syrian crisis, referring to the military support for militias and factions, adding that Turkey must pay the price for it.

Political solution

By reading all Biden’s statements and promises regarding the Syrian file, he shows his complete inclination towards a political solution without addressing the file of the factions that still control northern Syria, specifically the northwest, where the city of Idlib is located.

While the survival of these factions remains an obstacle to any political solution or negotiations, Biden insists on overcoming this point to the negotiating table.

Although Washington rejects the option of a military solution that Damascus adopts to cleanse the entire Syrian geography, Washington may give the Kurds – the original allies of America – the hand of these factions to get rid of them.

In a recent study published by the Egyptian Center for Thought and Strategic Studies by researcher Mohamed Abdel Razek, he said that the determinants of Biden’s policy will not differ with regard to Syria from the policy of his predecessor, Donald Trump, which is defeating ISIS, maintaining a limited military presence, imposing sanctions, and strengthening American interests; however, he will be more systematic and strategic than the steps taken throughout Trump’s presidency, and support for the Kurds will be one of its main tools.