From Mandates to Militias: The Anglo-Franco-American Legacy in the Middle East DSJ: Volume 1, Issue 1

This article traces over a century of foreign intervention in the Middle East, from the colonial mandates of Britain and France after World War I to the covert and overt interventions of the United States throughout the Cold War and into the 21st century. Beginning with the Sykes–Picot Agreement of 1916, which carved the region into spheres of influence, the study examines how Western powers imposed artificial borders, supported authoritarian regimes, and repeatedly engaged in military or proxy operations. A focal point is Operation Timber Sycamore, a U.S.-led covert action that intensified Syria’s civil war and facilitated the rise of jihadist militias. The analysis underscores the long-term consequences of this persistent interventionism: fractured sovereignties, widespread instability, humanitarian crises, and the erosion of Western legitimacy. Ultimately, the paper argues for a reassessment of foreign policy paradigms and explores the prospects for a more multipolar, post-Westphalian Middle East driven by regional agency and cooperation beyond Western hegemony.