The Daily Telegraph quotes Rafik Hariri Center Senior Fellow Frederic Hof on creating buffer zones for Syrian refugees:

That seemed to be quashed by the administration officials, Fred Hof, an administration envoy to the Syrian opposition until two years ago, said that a buffer zone was the “only live alternative in town” to the current strategy.

He said he favoured a safe haven being protected against both the regime and Isil by Turkish troops on the ground and American air power, but acknowledged that risked an escalation into war.

“The price of avoiding these risks is seeing the Assad regime and Isil as essentially the only parties left standing in Syria,” he said.

“This would be a major Isil victory – Assad is a tremendous recruiting asset for them.”

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