Strings of Empire: How Imperialism Fractures Syria and Feeds Terror

The United States, Israel, and the Weaponization of Terror in Syria: A Lesson in Imperialist Duplicity

The official narrative surrounding Syria is, as always, a masterclass in the art of imperialist storytelling. The United States claims it is in northeastern Syria to “fight ISIS,” a noble mission on paper but a laughable pretense in practice. After all, it’s been over a year and a half since the U.S. has even lifted a drone, let alone a finger, against ISIS. So, what are they actually doing there? Controlling oil fields? Supporting regime change? Using Syria as a pawn in their broader game of Middle Eastern chess? The answer, as history shows, is likely all of the above.

The U.S. Occupation: Fighting ISIS or Stealing Oil?

Let’s not mince words: the U.S. occupation of northeastern Syria is illegal. It violates international law, undermines Syria’s sovereignty, and perpetuates suffering for its people. And yet, Washington justifies its presence with the tired refrain of “fighting ISIS.” This is a curious rationale, given that the U.S. military hasn’t conducted a single operation against ISIS since early 2023. If this is what “focus” looks like, one shudders to think how the U.S. approaches distraction. But this façade isn’t new. Since the early days of the Syrian conflict, the U.S. has selectively ignored—or outright collaborated with—extremist groups like Al Qaeda when it suited their broader goals.

Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the latest iteration of Al Qaeda in Syria, is currently on the offensive against the Syrian government. And what has the U.S. done? Nothing. It’s almost as if HTS is more of a strategic asset than a terrorist threat. Strange, isn’t it? Of course, the real reason for the U.S. presence in Syria isn’t hard to discern. Donald Trump, in his characteristic lack of subtlety, openly admitted that the U.S. was there to “keep the oil.” This isn’t some wild conspiracy theory—it’s imperialism stripped of its usual platitudes. Control the oil, cripple the economy, and keep Syria too weak to resist. The policy is as old as empire itself.

Enter Israel: The Axis of Resistance and the Timing of HTS

No discussion of Syria is complete without addressing the role of Israel, though it’s often curiously omitted from mainstream narratives. Syria is a linchpin in the so-called Axis of Resistance, supporting Hezbollah, Palestinian resistance groups, and Iran against Israeli aggression. For Israel, a strong and stable Syria is unacceptable, which is why it has conducted hundreds of airstrikes on Syrian territory while cheering on any force—terrorist or otherwise—that weakens Damascus. The timing of HTS’s recent offensive against the Syrian government is no coincidence. It coincides neatly with heightened Israeli aggression against Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran. By keeping the Syrian military preoccupied with HTS attacks, Israel ensures that Damascus is too distracted to fully support its allies in the Resistance Axis. It’s a neat trick: let a terrorist group do the dirty work while you bomb at will and claim the moral high ground.

Imperialist Fragmentation: Divide, Destroy, Dominate

What we’re seeing in Syria is a textbook example of imperialist fragmentation. The U.S. occupies the northeast, Israel bombs the southwest, and HTS chips away at what’s left of the state. The goal is not just regime change—it’s the total dismemberment of Syria as a cohesive entity. A fractured, impoverished Syria can’t rebuild its economy, reclaim its resources, or challenge imperialist hegemony. Let’s not forget the broader geopolitical context. The U.S. occupation of Syria isn’t just about Syria; it’s about containing Iran, undermining Russia, and asserting dominance over the region’s energy resources. For Israel, it’s about weakening a key adversary and securing its own military supremacy. Meanwhile, extremist groups like HTS are allowed to thrive as long as they serve these objectives.

Imperialism’s Familiar Script

This is imperialism at its most cynical. The U.S. claims to fight terrorism while ignoring—or even enabling—terrorist groups like HTS. It claims to uphold international law while violating Syria’s sovereignty. It claims to support democracy while propping up a chaotic patchwork of militias and warlords. The contradictions are glaring, but they are also deliberate. Imperialism thrives on chaos, and Syria’s suffering is a feature, not a bug, of this system.

Exposing the Empire

The Syrian conflict is a damning indictment of U.S. and Israeli imperialism. It’s a tale of occupation, exploitation, and hypocrisy, where the so-called fight against terrorism is little more than a cover for theft and domination. The HTS offensive is just the latest chapter in this sordid saga, serving to weaken Syria and advance imperialist agendas.

For those who still believe in the myth of benevolent intervention, Syria should serve as a wake-up call. The U.S. and Israel aren’t in the Middle East to bring peace or stability—they’re there to carve up the region, plunder its resources, and crush any resistance to their rule. It’s a grim reality, but one we must confront if we are to build a world free from imperialist exploitation.

In the words of Karl Marx, history repeats itself first as tragedy, then as farce. The tragedy is Syria’s destruction; the farce is the idea that the U.S. and Israel are anything but architects of this devastation.