US 'Retaliates' in Syria, Forgets It's Occupying Syria
France24 reports on US officials claiming strikes against Islamic State group targets in central Syria, framed as 'retaliation for a deadly attack on American personnel.' The narrative is tidy: US forces, bravely fighting terror. What’s consistently omitted is that these 'American personnel' are on Syrian sovereign territory without Damascus's consent, essentially an illegal occupation. The US
maintains approximately 900 troops in Syria, allegedly to combat ISIS, even as former President Trump himself conceded ISIS was 'largely defeated' in 2019. (Source: France24 and multiple wire reports on US military presence in Syria). One might wonder if the US would view Russian or Chinese 'retaliatory strikes' on uninvited forces occupying, say, Texas, with the same measured deference. Or does
'international law' only apply when it's convenient for Washington? This perpetual cycle allows for endless military engagement, conveniently distracting from the initial question: what exactly are we doing there?