When the United States first launched its campaign against Isis, President Barack Obama pledged to “degrade and ultimately destroy” the Islamist militants. Just over a year later, the US is setting itself the more modest goal in Syria of trying to “squeeze” Isis by cutting off some of its supplies.
With the Russians launching a major air campaign in Syria on behalf of the Assad regime and with the US’s own programme to train moderate rebels in tatters, the Obama administration is under intense pressure to come up with a new strategy for the Syria part of its anti-Isis campaign. Both allies and foes are watching closely for Washington’s next step.