Fast-moving events leave Washington fearful of Isis resurgence and divided over troop deployment
US officials and lawmakers fear a resurgence of Isis in Syria in the wake of the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, as they respond to the Middle East upheaval while grappling with their own political transition. The sudden end of Syria’s brutal decades-old dictatorship has been cheered across the political spectrum in Washington, but it has caught Joe Biden’s administration on the back foot as it prepares to make way for Donald Trump’s inauguration.
Chris Van Hollen, a Democratic Senator who is on the foreign relations committee, said: “It’s a pretty toxic brew, just given all the competing forces in Syria, which is why I just think we need to keep our eye on the ball when it comes to the major threat to our security, which would be a resurgence of Isis.” A particular concern is the fate of some 9,000 Isis fighters being held in prisons in north-east Syria.
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