Filling the Vacuum in Syria

Filling the Vacuum in Syria Islamic State, Al-Nusra Front, and Hezbollah by Yaakov Lappin  •  May 28, 2015 at 5:00 am The idea that, because Sunni and Shi'ite elements are locked in battle with one another today, they will not pose a threat to international security tomorrow, is little more than wishful thinking. The increased Iranian-Hezbollah presence needs to be closely watched. A policy of turning a blind eye to the Iran-led axis, including Syria's Assad regime, appears to be doing more harm than good. Lebanese Shi'ite Hezbollah fighters are deeply involved in Syria's civil war. (Image source: Hezbollah propaganda video) As the regime of Bashar Assad continues steadily to lose ground in Syria; and as Assad's allies, Iran and Hezbollah, deploy in growing numbers to Syrian battlegrounds to try to stop the Assad regime's collapse, the future of this war-torn, chaotic land looks set to be dominated by radical Sunni and Shi'ite forces. The presence of fundamentalist Shi'ite and Sunni forces fighting a sectarian-religious war to the death is a sign of things to come for the region: when states break down, militant entities enter to seize control. The idea that, because Sunni and Shi'ite elements are locked in battle with one another today, they will not pose a threat to international security tomorrow, is little more than wishful thinking. Continue Reading Article

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