Sykes-Picot

Prince Feisal: Well, General, I will leave you. Major Lawrence doubtless has reports to make upon my people and their weakness, and the need to keep them weak in the British interest. And the French interest, of course. We must not forget the French now.
General Allenby: I've told you, sir, no such treaty exists.
Prince Feisal: Yes, General, you have lied most bravely, but not convincingly. I know this treaty does exist.
T.E. Lawrence: Treaty, sir?
Prince Feisal: He does it better than you, General. But then, of course, he is almost an Arab.
--Lawrence of Arabia

The Sykes-Picot Agreement of 1916 was a secret arrangement between Great Britain, France, and Russia about how to divide 'Asia Minor' and portions of the Middle East. The area at the time was controlled by the Ottoman Empire. Part of the thinking of the agreement was that the Ottoman Empire had to be neutralized, lest key resources for trade (shipping routes, oil, etc) would be jeopardized.

Great Britain et al then spent decades trying to make it happen via regime support and other forms of 'nation building,' instigating war (e.g., Ottomans vs Arabs), biased trade policy, and other nefarious action. The US, never shy about meddling in the affairs of others as the 20th century progressed, gradually became involved as well.

Of course, this constitutes more than just awkward intervention. It is outsiders with an interest instigating violence in someone else's territory. A form of war.

It is easy to understand the resentment that native inhabitants have toward outsiders meddling in their affairs. Today's upheaval in the Middle East, and spillover violence elsewhere, can be attributed to arrangements put in motion nearly 100 years ago.