One nation, two wars, a quarter-million lives lost, millions forced from their homes, and still no end in sight for the pitiless, seemingly bottomless crisis in Syria. The U.S., Russia and a collection of Middle Eastern and European countries are gathering with Syrians Friday in search of a solution. The urgency of making peace and rooting the Islamic State from its Syrian base is heightened by evidence of the extremist group's spreading influence — the shock of attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, California, extremists boasting of downing a Russian jetliner, and bombings dotting the Middle East. Yet how to untangle the nearly 5-year-old Syrian mess is a puzzle. A rundown of who's fighting...
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