No need for coalition had US not trained rebels

The report “US-led coalition damages Islamic State, but fight is long: Kerry” (Dec 3, online), states that the coalition has “inflicted serious damage” on the militant group.

It ends with a quote from Syrian President Bashar Assad: “You can’t end terrorism with aerial strikes.”

This raises the question of what the United States’ objective was in waging a proxy war in Syria three years ago.

The US government had been arming and training civilians in Syria to oust its leader. The objective failed, and President Barack Obama’s administration is now helping Mr Assad.

If the US had not helped the rebels, many of whom defected to form the Islamic State, there would have been no need for a coalition against the group in the first place.

I hope the US does not put its coalition in another quagmire. Countries must also avoid this phenomenon of joining US-led coalitions, ignoring the need for resolutions from the United Nations for such actions.