As the Syrian Civil War wages on, a coalition of Kurds, Arabs, and Syrian Christians are beginning to emerge victorious against ISIS.
This coalition of forces fighting ISIS, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) is unique, according to Johannes de Jong who reports for Stream.org, because these fighters are not only anti-ISIS, but are united under a banner of religious freedom and equality for all.
Although they were considered the underdogs, they are now on their way to capturing Raqqa, the capital of the Caliphate, from Islamic State fighters.
Jong calls for the U.S. to aid this coalition of fighters, and in particular, the Syrian Christian fighters who are often neglected.
President Trump revised the Obama administration’s decision only to arm Arab groups fighting ISIS and chose to arm the Kurds, but Jong says Christians should also be supported through supply of weapons in their fight against the Islamic State and their part in the coalition of anti-ISIS fighters.
“My heart breaks when I think of all the (mostly) young people who will die in liberating Raqqa,” writes Jong. “But they need not die in vain. The West has the chance to help the Syrian people nurture the seeds of freedom. If it grows, it will change the Middle East. That will change the world.”
Publication date: June 7, 2017
