The capture of foreign jihadists by Kurdish troops demonstrates that the Islamic State terror group is still a force to be reckoned with in Syria and that the Kurds remain a formidable western ally in that fight. Yet the Kurds find themselves surrounded by enemies and enjoy only half-hearted support from their supposed friends.
The problem has been highlighted by President Trump’s promise to withdraw American forces from Syria, an over-hasty move that opens a power vacuum to be filled by Russia, Iran and Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian president. None of these beneficiaries could be regarded as a suitable partner; indeed they are being rewarded for years of massacring and bombardment.
There are some plausible arguments for winding down in Syria. The 2,000 US special