DAMASCUS, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- The three presidents of the United States (U.S.) who claimed to have killed terror groups' leaders in the Middle East, aim to bolster U.S. image as the so-called "guardian of the world against terrorism," and give the U.S. legitimacy to stay and achieve its goals in the region, according to Syrian experts.
Former U.S. President Barack Obama's administration killed the former leader of al-Qaida, Osama Bin Laden, while the administration of his successor Donald Trump killed Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the former head of the Islamic State (IS). The current administration of Joe Biden has recently declared the killing of the current IS leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi.
Commenting on the recent U.S. operation targeting al-Qurayshi in the town of Atma in northwestern Syria near the Syrian-Turkish border, Ghassan Youssef, a political expert, told Xinhua that it was more propaganda to give Washington false legitimacy in its alleged war on terror than a solid achievement that may truly make some headway in the war on terror.
"The U.S. wants to convince the world that it is fighting terrorism, and to remove suspicions that that it supports and protects terrorism in the region," Youssef said, adding that the operation "will not have a significant impact on Syria's security, and will not, in fact, change anything."
He noted that the situation in Syria in terms of counter-terrorism is "very bad", with major powers such as the United States and its Western allies supporting rebel groups with ties to those who have been outlawed as terror groups.
He said that Russia and Syria are committed to eliminating the Islamic State and other groups who have been outlawed as terrorists.
Imad Salem, a Syrian political analyst, believes that the latest U.S. operation will have little impact in terms of battling terrorism in Syria or the region because IS's influence has diminished considerably across the country.
He agreed with Youssef that the U.S. operation against the IS leader "does not go beyond American propaganda that it continues to fight terrorism and chase IS terrorist remnants, with the goal of establishing legitimacy to its stay on Syrian territory and its continuous theft of Syrian oil."
According to Muhammad al-Khidr, a Syrian writer and journalist, the U.S. operation came to save face for the U.S.-led coalition forces on Syrian soil after a resounding slap they received two weeks ago when dozens of IS militants stormed the Kurdish-controlled Sina'a prison in the northeastern province of Hasaka despite the presence of U.S. forces in the area.
He noted that the U.S. had already known the whereabouts of the IS leader when IS militants began clashes at the prison, which later revealed that he had been in contact with IS inmates who started the riot at the Sina'a prison as their comrades outside attempted to storm the facility.
Syrian political analyst Maher Ihsan said that the presence of terror groups in the region provides the United States the legitimacy to stay and pursue its goals.
"It appears that each U.S. president wants to add an accomplishment to his portfolio," he said, adding "killing radical leaders seems to be an important addition to their list of abilities in their resumes, nothing more." ■
