More than a dozen countries ensnared in Syrian war
Alliances shift in 5- year- old conflict
Armies and militias from more than a dozen countries have joined the Syria conflict, making for a mind- boggling and dangerous stew of shifting and competing alliances.
Even as a proposed cease- fire is scheduled to begin as early as this week, more nations are escalating their roles in the nearly 5- year- old civil war: Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey said theymay send ground troops to fight.
Here’s how different countries are currently aligned:
PRO- SYRIAN GOVERNMENT
Forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad are backed by two nations, Russia and Iran, and many Shiite militias from across the region organized by Iran.
The combatants include: Syrian government troops; Iran; Afghan Shiite militia; Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite militia; Iraqi Shiitemilitia; Russia.
Russian airstrikes target the Islamic State and what Russia says are other “terrorist” groups. The U. S. says most Russian airstrikes are aimed at opposition groups threatening Assad’s forces.
ANTI- SYRIAN GOVERNMENT
Many rebel forces fighting to overthrow the Syrian government are backed by arms, funds and airstrikes by a U. S.- led coalition. The CIA vetted Syrian rebel groups and helped train them in Jordan to use advanced anti- tank weapons against Assad’s forces. Saudi Arabia and Qatar supplied the weaponry and funds.
These rebels are being supported by: Jordan; Saudi Arabia; Turkey; Qatar; United Arab Emirates; the U. S.
Israel, on Syria’s southern border, provides some assistance to rebels fighting Syrian forces and has launched airstrikes against Syria and Hezbollah to prevent the transfer of “game changing” technology to Hezbollah, a U. S.-designated terrorist group.
ANTI- ISLAMIC STATE
The U. S.- led coalition conducting airstrikes against Islamic State forces in Syria and Iraq includes: Australia; Bahrain; Canada; France; Jordan; Saudi Arabia; Turkey; United Arab Emirates United Kingdom.
Russia is not part of the U. S.- led coalition, though it also has hit Islamic State positions.
OTHER FIGHTERS
Kurdish militia from Turkey, Iraq and Syria are fighting the Islamic State. But the Kurds are sometimes aligned with the Syrian government and seen as a threat by Turkey, which has fought for years against a Kurdish separatist movement threatening its territorial sovereignty. Syrian Kurds are backed by Russia, the U. S. and Iraqi Kurdish groups.