An analytical study of The United States' hybrid warfare strategy in the context of the Syrian civil war (2011–2023)

The public protests that erupted in Syria on March 15, 2011, were influenced by the wave of uprisings known as the Arab Spring and soon turned into anti-regime demonstrations. The prevailing political repression, economic hardships, and social injustice in the country drove the population to demand regime change. These demonstrations escalated into armed conflict, plunging the country into a deep and prolonged civil war. Over time, the conflict extended beyond the Syrian regime and opposition forces to encompass complex rivalries among local, regional, and international actors. The Syrian crisis also marked a transformation in the nature of warfare. Traditional modes of combat gradually gave way to hybrid warfare strategies shaped by technological advances. These strategies involve the simultaneous use of military operations along with political, economic, cultural, and digital tools. Hybrid warfare represents a multifaceted approach that seeks to destabilize the target state internally rather than through direct occupation. During the Syrian civil war, the United States adopted a hybrid strategy that incorporated both hard power (military interventions, proxy forces) and soft power (economic sanctions, information warfare). Through this approach, the U.S. aimed to weaken Syria, achieve its own geopolitical objectives, and implement the "New Middle East" project.