Dolgov Boris Vasil’evich – Sc.D. in History, leading researcher, IOS RAS
The article covers development of the Syrian crisis at the new stage which followed after the military suppression of ISIS. The key research method is interdisciplinary approach. The article explores military-political situation in Syria in 2017–2019. In this regard, the paper covers the geo-political interests and actions of the external actors, as well as local forces, which at this stage have become the main subjects of the Syrian conflict. The author notes that the USA and its allies used and intensified the Syrian conflict supporting the armed opposition in order to remove from power the acting Syrian government, which they consider an ally of Iran and Russia and, accordingly, an adversary that impedes the realization of their interests in the Middle East. The author analyzes the American activities aimed at using the Kurdish national movement, which advocates the creation of the independent Kurdish autonomy in Syria, and concludes that it corresponds to the US goals to disintegrate Syria. The article shows the politics of Turkey, which, along with Russia and Iran, is the guarantor of the Astana agreements. But at the same time Turkey promotes its own interests in the Syrian conflict, which are based on Turkish Neo-Ottomanism politics. Also Turkey considers the Kurdish armed detachments YPG (Kurdish: Yekîneyên Parastina Gel) a terrorist organization and strives to counter the creation of independent Kurdish autonomy at its borders. The confrontation between Turkey and the USA, that took place in this connection, has been settled by the agreements between the two countries. The paper highlights a difficult situation in the region of the city of Idlib where the main forces of the Syrian armed opposition are concentrated and where, on the basis of agreements between Russia and Turkey, whose obligations included ensuring the separation of moderate and radical opposition, a zone of de-escalation was created. The article examines the actions of Israel, which continues to bombard the positions of the Syrian government army and pro-Iranian forces in Syria. Israel justifies its actions by «terrorist threat» emanating from them. The author notes the Russian support for the Syrian government army in the military suppression of ISIS and the increasing role of Russia in the settlement of the Syrian conflict. The article concludes that the new stage of the Syrian crisis is characterized by the increase in the activities of external actors and local forces, that use it to fulfil their own interests, which is the main reason for delaying a political solution of the Syrian crisis.
Syrian crisis, «Kurdish factor», ISIS, Russia, Iran, Turkey, Israel.
Download text