US-backed 'Rebels' Against US-backed 'Allies' in Syria
📰 THE STORY: The New Arab reports on how 'tribes turned the tide' against the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in northeast Syria, suggesting their loyalty is crucial for future state-building. The article posits these tribal movements as internal dynamics, driven by local resentment against SDF governance. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: In 2011, the US and its
allies began funding and arming 'moderate rebels' to overthrow the Syrian government, igniting a war that fractured the country. This intervention empowered various groups, including al-Qaeda affiliates and, later, the SDF, creating a complex web of allegiances and resentments. The very 'tribes' now fighting the SDF have often been courted, armed, or neglected by various external powers,
contributing to the instability. The 2017 US decision to arm the YPG (core of the SDF) directly alienated Turkey, a NATO ally, further complicating regional dynamics. Double Standard: When the Syrian government used its military to suppress 'insurgents' (some of whom were foreign-backed), Western media decried it as tyranny against its own people. When the US-backed SDF faces similar resistance
from tribal groups (some possibly backed by other regional powers or even the Syrian government), it's framed as a localized conflict over governance. The 'right' of a US-allied proxy to suppress dissent is implicitly accepted, while a sovereign nation’s right to defend itself against foreign-backed militias is condemned. Follow the Money: The SDF receives substantial funding and military aid from