US President Donald Trump has ordered stepped-up military operations against Islamic State and delegated more authority to his generals, but without a comprehensive Syria strategy, his approach risks further confrontation with Syria, Iran and even Russia, according to US officials and analysts. In April, Trump ordered cruise missile strikes against a Syrian airfield from which Washington said a deadly chemical weapons attack was launched. These incidents, however, are tactical, not part of any US strategy in Syria, analysts said. Russia and Iran both support Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Syria’s civil war. Like Obama, Trump has focused on Islamic State, leaving for later the question of Assad’s fate and the region’s mangled alliances.

Source: Dhaka Tribune June 20, 2017 18:22 UTC