France conducted similar reversals in a number of African/Maghreb countries if I'm not mistaken...
First encouraging and then suppressing jihadists in order to justify military campaigns, weaken autonomy of national governments, and demand tribute/fealty for "security" initiatives.
All in keeping with how jihadism has been used by other world powers...
They're recognizing that they've failed in ousting Assad. The next best thing is partition. If Macron were President 2 years ago, he'd be demanding Assad step down.
Macron is the first head of state to fully understand the Assad must go curse.
The bait is cast
link to thread:
How America Armed Terrorists in Syria