Opinion

How the Kurds’ neighbors play games to block the expansion of ‘Greater Kurdistan’

One cause for Syria’s torments is that regional powers have used proxy forces to advance their position in the “great game” of influence, without regard for the effects on the Syrian people.

An example is the standoff between two Syrian Kurdish militia groups. One, known as the YPG, appears to be tacitly backed by an odd coalition that includes the United States, and, less visibly, Russia and Iran. The other, much smaller group known as the Peshmerga of Rojava, or “Roj Pesh” is backed by Iraqi Kurdistan and the official, Saudi-backed, Syrian opposition, and it might also get support from Turkey.