[🇸🇾] Rebels Oust Assad

[Sharma Ji]

Somebody will soon win this game of "do stupid things, win stupid prizes" championship, Middle East edition.

That lot gone full loco, it's absolutely nuts.

Allah Khair kare, rehem karein

Alas, even so, it would be all too late.

My real fear is the Jew will nuke the Mullah.... pretext toh mil hi jayega, those long not for nuffin' y'know ?

*reads Gayatri mantra to ward off fear 🕉 🕉

 

[Lulldapull]

Iran ? @Lulldapull

Nothing is going on now. Sub tthandda purr gya hae.

Now reports coming out bhai k SAA main mutiny hoee thee. The Syrian army turned on the regime.

Must've been a pretty fat ass bribe no? Billions must've been paid out with retirement and passports to Dubai or Doha god knows.

Iran realized this chutiappa is not worth it anymore.

 

[VCheng]

View attachment 11523

That lot gone full loco, it's absolutely nuts.

Allah Khair kare, rehem karein

Alas, even so, it would be all too late.

My real fear is the Jew will nuke the Mullah.... pretext toh mil hi jayega, those long not for nuffin' y'know ?

*reads Gayatri mantra to ward off fear 🕉 🕉

No need for nukes by any side. The mullahs' own deeds have laid the foundation for their own downfall, and their own people will only be too glad to help achieve this when the time comes. And it comes closer day by day.

 

[Sharma Ji]

Apna dekho, yaar.

Iran would have taken a wise decision if they walk back their regional ambitions.

Sit back and watch the rest of em kill each other... aap hookah pio, sip on Chai coffee

 

[Sharma Ji]

No need for nukes by any side. The mullahs' own deeds have laid the foundation for their own downfall, and their own people will only be too glad to help achieve this when the time comes. And it comes closer day by day.

Yup, proper panic stations mashuras rn in Tehran I imagine.

Oh, to be a fly on the wall.

 

[Saif]

2 wars changed Syria’s fortune

In every crisis lies opportunity, and in every opportunity lurks crisis.

www.thedailystar.net

2 wars changed Syria’s fortune

Syrian Kurds stand next to the destroyed statue of Basel al-Assad, the late elder brother of Syria’s president Bashar al-Assad as they celebrate the fall of capital Damascus to anti-government fighters, in the city of Qamishli, Syria yesterday. PHOTO: AFP

In every crisis lies opportunity, and in every opportunity lurks crisis.

The startling advance of Syria's opposition in a week is the unintended consequence of two other conflicts, one near and one far. It leaves several key US allies with a new and largely unknown Islamist-led force, governing swathes of their strategic neighbor – if not most of it, given the pace of events, by the time you read this.

Syria has absorbed so much diplomatic oxygen in the past 20 years, it is fitting this week of sweeping change popped up as if from a vacuum. Since the invasion of Iraq, the US has struggled to find a policy for Syria that could accommodate the vastly different needs of its allies Israel, Jordan, Turkey, and its sometime partners Iraq and Lebanon.

Without the physical crutches of Russia's air force and Iran's Hezbollah, Assad toppled when finally pushed

Syria has always been the wing-nut of the region: linking Iraq's oil to the Mediterranean, the Shia of Iraq and Iran to Lebanon, and Nato's southern underbelly Turkey to Jordan's deserts. George W Bush put it in his Axis of Evil; Obama didn't want to touch it much in case he broke it further; Donald Trump bombed it once, very quickly.

It has been in the grip of a horrifically brutal dictatorship for decades.

The swiftly changing fate of Bashar al-Assad was not really made in Syria, but in southern Beirut and Donetsk. Without the physical crutches of Russia's air force and Iran's proxy muscle Hezbollah, he toppled when finally pushed.

Israel's brutal yet effective two-month war on Hezbollah probably did not pay much mind to Assad's fate. But it may have decided it.

Likewise, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, 34 months ago, likely considered little how few jets or troops it might leave Moscow to uphold its Middle Eastern allies with. But the war of attrition has left Russia "incapable" of assisting Assad, even President-elect Donald Trump noted on Saturday.

And indeed Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov cut a weakened figure this weekend, saying: "What is the forecast? I cannot guess. We are not in the business of guessing." These are not the words of a steadfast and capable guarantor, rather those of a regional power seeing its spinning plates hit the floor.

Iran has been wildly hamstrung in the past six months, as its war with Israel, usually in the shadows or deniable, evolved into high-stakes and largely ineffective long-range missile attacks.

Demonstrators trample a carpet with a design showing president Bashar al-Assad during a protest outside the Syrian consulate in Istanbul. PHOTO: AFP
Its main proxy, Hezbollah, was crippled by a pager attack on its hierarchy, and then by weeks of vicious airstrikes. Tehran's pledges of support have done little so far but result in a joint statement with Syria and Iraq on "a need for collective action to confront" the rebels.

The Middle East is reeling because ideas taken as a given – like pervasive Iranian strength, and Russian solidity as an ally – are crumbling as they meet new realities.

Assad prevailed as the leader of a blood-drenched minority, not through guile or grit, but because Iran murdered for him and Moscow bombed for him.

Now these two allies are wildly over-stretched elsewhere, the imbalance that kept Assad and his ruling Alawite minority at the helm is also gone.​

 

[Saif]

Israel bombs Syria chemical weapons sites

Israel has struck suspected chemical weapons sites and long-range rockets in Syria in order to prevent them from falling into the hands of hostile actors, the foreign minister said yesterday.

www.thedailystar.net

Israel bombs Syria chemical weapons sites

Aims to prevent rebel groups seizing advanced weaponry; Kremlin says Putin authorised Assad’s asylum

Israel has struck suspected chemical weapons sites and long-range rockets in Syria in order to prevent them from falling into the hands of hostile actors, the foreign minister said yesterday.

Syrian rebels reached Damascus over the weekend and overthrew president Bashar Assad's government following nearly 14 years of civil war, raising hopes for a more peaceful future but also concerns about a potential security vacuum in the country, which is still split among armed groups.

In a separate development, the Kremlin said Russia has granted political asylum to Assad, a decision it said was taken by President Vladimir Putin. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on Assad's specific whereabouts and said Putin was not planning to meet with him, reports AP.

Kremlin also said that it was too early to say what the future would hold for Russia's military bases in Syria, adding that it would be the subject of discussion with the new rulers in Damascus.

Israelis have welcomed the fall of Assad, who was a key ally of Iran and Lebanon's Hezbollah group, while expressing concern over what comes next.

Israel says its forces temporarily seized a buffer zone inside Syria dating back to a 1974 agreement after Syrian troops withdrew in the chaos. The military published photos of Israeli commandos in the Syrian Mount Hermon area. Saar said the troop presence was strictly limited.

Meanwhile, Turkey-backed Syrian opposition groups took control of the northern Syrian town of Manbij from US-backed Syrian Kurdish forces (SDF), a Turkish security source said yesterday.

The SDF had been holding the town in recent days amid intense fighting with the Syrian National Army (SNA) and other Turkey-backed groups, reports Reuters.

President Joe Biden said later on Sunday that the sudden collapse of the Syrian government under Assad is a "fundamental act of justice" after decades of repression, but it was "a moment of risk and uncertainty" for the Middle East.

The outgoing Biden administration and President-elect Donald Trump were working to make sense of new threats and opportunities across the Middle East.​

 

[Saif]

https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/national/israel-says-it-will-destroy-syrias-heavy-strategic-weaponry

Israel says it will destroy Syria's heavy strategic weaponry
REUTERS
Published :
Dec 09, 2024 21:36
Updated :
Dec 09, 2024 21:36

Israeli soldiers gather near the ceasefire line between Syria and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, December 9, 2024. Photo : REUTERS/Ammar Awad

Israel will step up airstrikes on Syrian stores of advanced weaponry, Israeli officials said on Monday, and keep a 'limited' troop presence on the ground, hoping to head off any threat that could emerge in the fallout of president Bashar al-Assad's overthrow.

Israel has watched the upheaval in Syria with a mixture of hope and concern as it weighs the consequences of one of the most significant strategic shifts in the Middle East in years.

While Assad's fall wiped out a bastion from which Israel's arch-foe Iran had exercised influence in the region, the lightning advance of a disparate group of rebel forces with roots in the Islamist ideology of Al Qaeda poses risks.

Defence Minister Israel Katz said the military would "destroy heavy strategic weapons throughout Syria, including surface-to-air missiles, air defence systems, surface-to-surface missiles, cruise missiles, long-range rockets, and coastal missiles".

A senior Israeli official said airstrikes would persist in the coming days, while Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Israel had no interest in interfering in internal Syrian affairs and was concerned only with defending its citizens.

"That's why we attack strategic weapons systems like, for example, remaining chemical weapons or long-range missiles and rockets in order that they will not fall into the hands of extremists," Saar told reporters in Jerusalem.

Still reeling from the Palestinian militant group Hamas' attack in October 2023, Israel is also looking to head off any future threat from its neighbour.

Israeli forces had already cleared landmines and established new barriers on the frontier between the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and a demilitarised strip bordering Syria in October.

Early on Sunday, the military said it had sent ground forces into the demilitarised zone, a 400-sq-km (155-sq-mile) buffer created by a 1974 Separation of Forces Agreement and overseen by the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF).

The military on Monday published photos of Israeli commandos in the Syrian Mount Hermon area.

Saar said the troop presence was strictly limited. "It's basically near our borders, sometimes a few hundred metres, sometimes one mile or two miles," he said. "It is a very limited and temporary step we took for security reasons."
​

 

[Saif]

https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/views/opinions/dramatic-turn-of-events-in-syria

Dramatic turn of events in Syria
SYED FATTAHUL ALIM
Published :
Dec 09, 2024 23:29
Updated :
Dec 09, 2024 23:29

More than half a century long dynastic rule of Syria by the Assad family is over with the rebels taking control of Damascus on Sunday (December 8). The fate of Bashar al-Assad, who succeeded his father Hafez al-Assad as the president of Syria in 2000 after the latter's death, was shrouded in mystery after the rebels stormed Damascus. However, CNN reports that Assad has flown to Moscow and Russia has granted him and his family political asylum.

The rebels comprise a complex group of militants including mainly the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) led by Abu Mohammed al-Jawlani, an al-Qaeda breakaway, and the Turkey-backed Syrian National Army (SNA), a coalition of Syrian opposition forces created during the Syrian civil war that started in 2011 as president Assad cracked down on the pro-democracy agitators in the wake of the Arab Spring. The situation in Syria is still in a state of flux and it is too early to say who is in real control and how it is going to end up. Many among those observing the developments in Syria have been taken by surprise at the dramatic change of events leading to the collapse of the Assad regime in a matter of days. In fact, it started on November 27 when a HTS-led coalition of anti-government forces launched a major offensive against the government-controlled Aleppo from the neighbouring opposition-held city of Idlib. And in three days, the rebel fighters occupied Aleppo. The fall of Aleppo created a domino effect leading to the collapse of one city after another and it was all over with the fall of Damascus on December 6.

Is it purely a coincidence that the rebels rose to prominence after a long slumber and then drove the Assad regime out of power when the Lebanese Shiite Islamist group Hezbollah was reaching a peace deal with Israel? Notably, Hezbollah played a key role in turning the tide of Syrian civil war following its active participation (in the war) in 2012-13. The November 27, 2024's Hezbollah-Israel's two-month-ceasefire is to some observer the indication of a war-weary and weakened Hezbollah. So, have the Syrian rebels taken advantage of this situation to start the lightning offensive against the government forces? Even so, their stunning success in the offensive raises another big question. Which big power is backing them? Obviously, it is not Russia or Iran, for they have been the main backers of the Assad regime. Of course, the regional power Turkey has a role to play as it openly condemned the way president Assad ruthlessly crushed the country's pro-democracy movement in 2011 and supported the rebels from the very beginning of the civil war. Then what is the position of the US in Assad's ouster from power? The outgoing US president Joe Biden has been rather cautious in his administration's response as he said they were monitoring the developments in Syria, while the president-elect Donald Trump's reaction as expressed on the social media was rather noncommittal as he said that Syria's was not a US problem.

So, it cannot be said with certainty if what has happened to Syria is an act of regime change by any particular world power. In fact, the rebels who toppled Assad regime are regarded with suspicion by the big powers. The leading group, HTS, for instance, was considered a terrorist outfit by the US. Moreover, the loose coalition of rebel forces now calling the shots in Syria may fall apart any time resulting in a fresh round of infighting among the contenders of power. In that case, the resulting chaos may spill over into neighbouriing countries destabilising the entire Middle East. Such an eventuality can be avoided if only the regional and global powers behave responsibly to stop further bloodshed in Syria.​

 

[Lulldapull]

Syria is finished guys. The day Assad sahb told Khamenei that his army's defected to the IDF and Al-Turkiya, is the day Khamenei decided to cut him loose. This happened a month ago!

Syria will balkanize soon.

Iran can't hemorrhage millions every week on a failed venture like Syria anymore.

 

[Sharma Ji]

Syria is finished guys. The day Assad sahb told Khamenei that his army's defected to the IDF and Al-Turkiya, is the day Khamenei decided to cut him loose. This happened a month ago!

Syria will balkanize soon.

Iran can't hemorrhage millions every week on a failed venture like Syria anymore.

True, its over. Years of further instability will follow with all these al qaeda/nusra (or whatever they calling themselves now) fighting among themselves.

More refugees to Europe

Greater Ijrael

(((their))) plan worked

 

[Saif]

A new dawn for Syria

The country's future must be determined by Syrians

www.thedailystar.net

A new dawn for Syria
The country's future must be determined by Syrians

Visual: Star

With the end of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's brutal 24-year reign on December 8, the Syrian people finally have an opportunity to now rebuild their nation. Islamist-led rebel groups swept into Damascus, forcing Assad to flee to Russia, marking a spectacular end of five decades of Ba'ath Party rule in the country. After more than 13 years of civil war, during which Assad's forces ruthlessly suppressed protesters, his government collapsed in the face of a surprising 11-day offensive launched by rebel groups. Only weeks ago, few could have anticipated this dramatic turn in Syria's fate, which now stands at a crossroads as the Middle East grapples with widespread chaos and instability.

Following Assad's ouster, huge crowds were seen cheering in the streets of Damascus. Prisoners held in notorious black sites were reportedly freed by the rebels. Notably, Assad's reign ended after Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)—listed as a terrorist organisation by Western governments and others, including Russia—captured the strategic city of Homs. However, HTS and other rebel groups themselves have dubious human rights records. Given this reality, the UN war crimes investigators have urged those now taking charge in Syria to ensure that the atrocities committed under Assad's rule are not repeated.

Since the start of the most recent rebel offensive, it is estimated that at least 910 people have been killed, including 138 civilians. The war in Syria has already claimed a conservative estimate of 500,000 lives and displaced nearly half of the country's population. It is, therefore, imperative that, with the fall of the previous regime, the country moves forward and begins to heal. The first step towards stability is ending the violence, with all parties in Syria engaging in dialogue to reach a solution that reflects people's will. Moreover, it is crucial that the transition of power proceeds peacefully and that all ethnic, religious and social groups in the country are protected from persecution.

Despite Assad's ruthless actions against his own people, internal factors were not the sole drivers of his regime's collapse. Syria became a battleground for geopolitical rivalries, as external powers exploited the crisis to further their own agendas. Already after the regime change, Israel has seized territory in Syria-controlled areas of the Golan Heights, with its prime minister ordering forces to establish a buffer zone in the region. Reports also indicate that Israel has resumed bombing campaigns in Syria, violating international law and further exacerbating uncertainty both within the country and across the region.

Given the years of suffering endured by the Syrian people—caused by both internal and external factors—it is imperative that foreign interference in the country comes to an end. While the international community should step forward to provide aid and funding for Syria's reconstruction, foreign powers must cease using the country as a pawn in their geopolitical chessboards. The future of Syria must be determined by its own people. Only then can the nation truly reap the benefits of ousting a brutal dictator.​

 

[Saif]

Lessons from Syria’s struggle for freedom

THE question of who ousted Bashar al-Assad has dominated countless headlines, debates and think tank discussions. Yet, for the millions of Syrians whose lives have been shaped — and shattered — by decades of brutal governance, this question is a distraction. The real focus should be on the human...

www.newagebd.net

Lessons from Syria’s struggle for freedom
Abdul Monaiem Kudrot Ullah 10 December, 2024, 00:00

People celebrate at Umayyad Square in Damascus on December 8. | Agence France-Presse

THE question of who ousted Bashar al-Assad has dominated countless headlines, debates and think tank discussions. Yet, for the millions of Syrians whose lives have been shaped — and shattered — by decades of brutal governance, this question is a distraction. The real focus should be on the human cost of oppression, the erasure of freedoms and the desperation of a people whose basic rights have been systematically stripped away.

For over half a century, Syria endured the iron-fisted rule of the Assad regime. Under the guise of stability and anti-imperialism, the government presided over an era marked by fear, repression and relentless state violence. Disappearances, extrajudicial killings and a deeply entrenched culture of corruption within intelligence agencies became the norm. Syrians lived in a society where dissent was met with imprisonment, torture, or death.

In such an environment, the natural human yearning for freedom and dignity transcends political ideology or religious affiliation. People suffering under such oppressive conditions do not concern themselves with the geopolitical machinations of foreign powers. They seek an escape from tyranny. They seek justice. They seek a life where they are free to speak, assemble and dream without fear of reprisal.

Legacy of tyranny

THE Assad regime’s oppressive reach was not confined to Syria’s borders. For decades, it extended into Lebanon, controlling parts of the country, particularly the north, with an iron grip. For residents of Tripoli, the presence of Assad’s forces was a daily reminder of their vulnerability. Checkpoints dotted the roads, serving not as symbols of security but as instruments of terror.

Travellers recount harrowing tales of random beatings and detentions, their fate decided by the mood of soldiers. Fishermen returning from long days at sea were forced to surrender their best catch and farmers transporting produce from the mountains were compelled to hand over portions of their cargo at every stop. This exploitation turned livelihoods into a daily struggle for survival.

The regime’s cruelty escalated during the 1980s when it waged war on Tripoli twice. In 1983, Assad’s forces attacked the city to root out Yasir Arafat and the PLO. The shelling was relentless, reducing homes and infrastructure to rubble. Families sought refuge in schools and countless lives were lost.

Three years later, in 1986, the regime returned, this time targeting the Islamic group Tawheed, which had once been its ally. Tripoli endured another round of indiscriminate bombardment. Even after the fighting subsided, the regime violated peace agreements, systematically hunting down those who had dared to resist. Families were left to mourn loved ones executed in cold blood or lost to the black hole of Syrian prisons.

The regime’s tactics were not limited to warfare. Car bombs in crowded streets caused unspeakable carnage, killing scores of innocent civilians. One Tripoli resident recalled losing several family members to these acts of terror. This legacy of violence and repression left scars that would haunt generations.

Syrian civil war: a tragedy of unimaginable scale

THE horrors inflicted on Tripoli pale in comparison to what Syria has endured since the uprising of 2011. The Assad regime responded to peaceful protests with brutal force, plunging the country into a civil war that has left hundreds of thousands dead and millions displaced. Entire cities have been reduced to rubble and the humanitarian crisis has reached staggering proportions.

The international response has been a patchwork of competing interests and half-hearted interventions. Foreign powers, each with their own agendas, have exploited the chaos. While some entered under the banner of fighting extremism or promoting stability, their involvement often exacerbated the suffering of the Syrian people.

Geopolitical conspiracy theories abound, suggesting that foreign powers such as the United States, Türkiye, or Israel orchestrated the removal of Assad to serve their strategic interests. While these narratives dominate discourse, they miss the point. The root of Syria’s tragedy lies in the decades-long oppression that created the conditions for such chaos.

The path forward

THE enduring lesson from Syria is clear: tyranny creates a void that foreign powers are all too willing to exploit. When a government denies its people justice, freedom and avenues for peaceful dissent, it paves the way for external intervention. The only true defence against such exploitation is a government rooted in the will of its people — a government that is accountable, transparent and democratic.

True sovereignty does not lie in merely repelling foreign influence. It lies in empowering citizens to shape their own destiny. A government chosen through free and fair elections disarms external actors by denying them the chaos and disenfranchisement they thrive upon.

Resilience of the Syrian people

THE Syrian people have endured unimaginable suffering. Yet, their resilience and yearning for freedom remain a beacon of hope. Their stories — of survival, resistance and unwavering hope — deserve to be told and honoured.

As the world looks at Syria, let us not be distracted by conspiracy theories or geopolitical blame games. Instead, let us focus on the human cost of tyranny and work towards a future where the voices of Syrians are heard, their rights respected and their dignity restored.

The struggle for a free and just Syria is not just a regional issue; it is a universal call to uphold the principles of human rights, democracy and justice. Let this be the foundation upon which a new Syria rises — one that embodies the aspirations of its people and stands as a testament to their resilience and courage.

A shared struggle for freedom

THE Syrian people’s relentless pursuit of freedom and justice echoes across borders, resonating with countless others who yearn for similar liberation. The recent uprising in Bangladesh, a nation that has historically championed democratic ideals, serves as a stark reminder of the global struggle against authoritarianism.

Just as the Syrian people have endured decades of oppression, the citizens of Bangladesh have confronted their own share of challenges. Both nations have witnessed the erosion of democratic norms, the suppression of dissent and the misuse of state power. The parallels between these two struggles are undeniable, highlighting the universality of the human desire for liberty and dignity.

As the world watches these unfolding events, it is crucial to recognise the interconnectedness of these struggles. The Syrian people’s unwavering spirit and the Bangladeshi people’s pursuit of a democratic future inspire us all to stand in solidarity with those who fight for a better world. By amplifying their voices and supporting their causes, we can contribute to a future where justice, freedom and human rights prevail.

Abdul Monaiem Kudrot Ullah is a retired Captain of Bangladesh Navy.​

 

[Lulldapull]

True, its over. Years of further instability will follow with all these al qaeda/nusra (or whatever they calling themselves now) fighting among themselves.

More refugees to Europe

Greater Ijrael

(((their))) plan worked

Iran won't let these fukkers rest though. Iran will come up with a new plan soon.

The IRGC has already announced a bypass of the Syrian land route to confront the west.

There's no way in hell Iran decided to abandon Assad in isolation. It's a calculated move.

If something ain't workin, yous gotta find a new alternative.

Goal remains the same.

As weak as this Syria was, Israel's far weaker........only on western life support.

 

[Sharma Ji]

@Lulldapull

 

[Dogun18]

 

[Sharma Ji]

He/him

 

[Saif]

A new Syria in a crises-enveloped world

The speedy fall of the Bashar Assad regime in Syria brings about a dramatic change in the politics of the Middle East. In the first place, it changes the dynamics in Syria, given that the 54-year family domination of the country, first by Hafez Assad and then by his son, has come to an end. In the

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

A new Syria in a crises-enveloped world
Syed Badrul Ahsan
Published :
Dec 11, 2024 21:50
Updated :
Dec 11, 2024 21:50

A man holds a revolutionary flag Tuesday as others celebrate during the third day of the takeover of Damascus, Syria, by insurgents Photo : Agency

The speedy fall of the Bashar Assad regime in Syria brings about a dramatic change in the politics of the Middle East. In the first place, it changes the dynamics in Syria, given that the 54-year family domination of the country, first by Hafez Assad and then by his son, has come to an end. In the second, the success achieved by Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS), the rebel force which is now in control in Damascus, leads to the next question, which is whether Syria now has a democratic opening or there is the dire probability of the country sliding to Islamist rule.

One cannot ignore the fact that in countries such as the United States, the HTS leader Abu Mohamed al Jawlani remains on a list of terrorists. To what extent or whether that name can be removed from the list is a big question, the answer to which depends on the next few days and on what the rebels mean to do with their new found power. To suggest that the HTS has full control over the country would be wrong owing to the fact that over the last more than a decade Syria has been sliced into pockets of domination by various groups, all of which were dedicated to the overthrow of the Assad dispensation.

The dramatic change in Syria raises a good number of other questions, all of which have a bearing on geopolitics, especially on the state of the region from here on. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been cheered by the change, gloating that his country has reshaped the Middle East. Whether the military offensive by Israel in Gaza against Hamas and in Lebanon against Hezbollah has been a fresh and positive beginning for the Middle East is a question for scholars and historians to dwell on. The organised murder of 44,000-plus Palestinians and the scores of Hamas and Hezbollah senior figures killed in Israeli missile strikes are certainly no marker to any positive change.

But, yes, Israel's relentless military assaults on Hamas and Hezbollah have left the two forces hugely diminished in their power to undertake any fresh armed assault against Tel Aviv. The manner in which Israel pounded away at Hezbollah positions in Lebanon was admittedly instrumental in decimating the group, which for years has been a dominant player in Arab radicalism in the region. With Hezbollah in a battered state, the Assad regime had little chance of survival. More to the point, a weakened Hezbollah is a reflection of the loss of regional influence which now stares Iran in the face. Neither Hezbollah nor the clerics in Tehran had anticipated such a situation arising in the days when they backed Bashar Assad in his campaigns against his enemies.

The victory of the HTS leaves Iran with influence greatly shredded in the current situation. Add to that the loss of face for Russia, where President Vladimir Putin has been a strong pillar of support for Assad in the latter's fearsome military campaigns against the forces trying to remove him from power. Yet in the past couple of years, Moscow's focus on its war against Ukraine inevitably led to a steady erosion of military supplies to the Damascus regime, leaving Assad rather high and dry. The definitive conclusion today is that it is not merely Bashar Assad who has lost power; it is Iran and Russia which suddenly find themselves out of Syria, a loss of influence which may never be recovered, if at all, anytime soon.

The swiftness with which the HTS rebels overran Syrian cities is testimony to the determination with which the group shaped strategy to push the long-entrenched regime out of power in Damascus. The jubilation with which the rebels were welcomed in Damascus and the hero's treatment accorded to Jawlani when he arrived at Damascus' leading mosque were clearly a release of emotions long suppressed by Syrians. That thousands of Syrians went searching for their relatives long imprisoned by the regime in public and secret prisons threw up the image of the brutality which defined the working of the Assad regime. It may well be that many of those hidden away by the regime will never be found.

And that is a tragedy which is generally the aftermath of the fall of brutal and corrupt regimes in the underdeveloped regions of the world. In Syria's difficult history, such brutality and corruption surfaced in the 1950s, following feeble attempts to have the country, free of dominance by the French, who ruled the place from 1920 to 1946, under what was known as a mandate, inaugurate a democratic order for its citizens. Coups, counter-coups, intrigues, executions of military officers caught in the act of planning insurrections have been part of Syrian history. There have been leftist politicians such as Michel Aflaq whose attempts to have Syria governed through socialism amounted to little. And then came the short-lived political union with Egypt under Gamal Abdel Nasser, known as the United Arab Republic (UAR). It lasted from 1958 to 1961. Syrians were happy to have their independence restored following the collapse of the UAR experiment.

Syria was pulverised in the Six-Day War in June 1967 by Israel. It lost the Golan Heights even as Egypt saw the Sinai passing under Israeli occupation and Jordan lost the most productive part of it, the West Bank, to Israel. To put it briefly, Syrians have historically paid a price for reasons that were not of their making. But worse was to come after 1967, when in 1970 Hafez Assad, defence minister in the government, seized power and would keep the country in his grip till his death in 2000. Any expectations that his passing would lead to a democratic opening for Syria came to naught, given his family's hold on power. Pusillanimous loyalists of Hafez Assad duly placed Bashar Assad, an eye specialist trained in Britain, in power as the country's new President. Under both Assads, sections as well as religious sects in the country suffered heavily. Under both men, chemical weapons were freely deployed against civilians and groups opposed to the regime.

The fall of the Bashar Assad regime sharply changes equations in the Middle East. It introduces a new element in a widening circle of global crises. With Ukraine and Russia remaining locked in war, with Sudan unravelling through the unabashed ambitions of its generals, with Afghanistan back in medievalism, with the far right making dents in European politics, an Assad-free but unstable Syria adds to the woes of the world. Looking behind one's shoulder, one spots the grave uncertainty looming over the coming four years with Donald Trump back in the American presidency.​

 

[Saif]

Israel continues strike on Syria military sites

A Syria war monitor said Israel launched strikes early Saturday targeting military sites in Damascus and its countryside, in the latest such raids since rebels brought down Bashar al-Assad almost a week ago.

www.newagebd.net

Israel continues strike on Syria military sites
Agence France-Presse . Beirut/Ankara 14 December, 2024, 23:12

Israeli troops deploy inside the UN-patrolled buffer zone that is supposed to separate Israeli and Syrian forces on the Golan Heights. | AFP photo

A Syria war monitor said Israel launched strikes early Saturday targeting military sites in Damascus and its countryside, in the latest such raids since rebels brought down Bashar al-Assad almost a week ago.

‘Israeli strikes destroyed a scientific institute’ and other related military facilities in Barzeh, in northern Damascus, and targeted a ‘military airport’ in the capital’s countryside, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Strikes also targeted ‘Scud ballistic missile warehouses’ and launchers in the Qalamun area, as well as ‘rockets, depots and tunnels under the mountain’, according to the Britain-based Observatory, which has a network of sources inside Syria.

The Observatory said several rounds of bombardment targeted ‘military sites of the former regime forces, as part of destroying what is left of the future Syrian army’s capabilities’.

Israel air strikes on Friday targeted ‘a missile base at the top of Damascus’s Mount Qasyun’, the group said, as well as an airport in southern Sweida province and ‘defence and research labs in Masyaf’, in Hama province.

Since Assad’s fall, Israel has launched hundreds of strikes against Syrian military sites, targeting everything from chemical weapons stores to air defences.

In a move that has drawn international condemnation, Israel also seized a United Nations-patrolled buffer zone on the Syrian Golan Heights just hours after the rebels, led by Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, took Damascus.

On Thursday, UN chief Antonio Guterres expressed concern over ‘extensive violations’ of Syrian sovereignty and the Israeli strikes in the country, his spokesman said.

Turkey said it had urged Russia and Iran not to intervene militarily to support Bashar al-Assad’s forces as Islamist-led rebels mounted their lightning advance on Damascus that ended with the Syrian strongman’s ouster.

‘The most important thing was to talk to the Russians and Iranians to ensure that they didn’t enter the equation militarily. We had meetings with (them) and they understood,’ Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told Turkey’s private NTV television.

He said if Moscow and Tehran, both key Assad allies since the start of the civil war in 2011, had come to the Syrian president’s aid, the rebels could still have won but the outcome could have been far more violent.

‘If Assad had received support, the opposition could have achieved victory with their determination, but it would have taken a long time and could have been bloody,’ he said.

Turkey’s aim was to ‘hold focused talks with the two important power players to ensure minimum loss of life,’ Fidan said.

When the Islamist-led HTS rebel alliance first began its offensive on November 27, Moscow and Tehran initially offered Assad military support to hold off the rebels.

But the scale of the collapse of Assad’s forces took them by surprise.

And it came at a time when both nations were caught up with problems of their own: Russia mired in the war with Ukraine, and Iran’s proxies including Lebanon’s Hezbollah taking a major battering from Israel.

They quickly realised the game was up, that Assad ‘was no longer someone to invest in’ and ‘there was no point anymore’, the Turkish minister added.

Turkey expressed support for the rebels with experts saying it even gave its green light for the offensive by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), without being directly involved.

Many nations, especially in the region, have expressed concern about HTS, which is rooted in Al-Qaeda’s former Syria branch and proscribed by many Western governments as a terror organisation.

But Fidan said it was ‘perfectly normal’ to have such concerns about HTS, which would ‘need to be resolved’.

‘No one knows them as well as we do, we want a Syria without terrorism, not posing a threat to the countries in the region.’

Since 2016, Turkey has held considerable sway over northwestern Syria, maintaining a working relationship with HTS which ran most of the Idlib area, which was Syria’s last bastion of opposition.

With open lines of communication with HTS, Turkey was relaying such concerns directly to them, he said.

‘We reflect our friends’ concerns to them and ensure they take steps. They have made many announcements and people see they are on the right track,’ he said.

The message that Ankara was sending to the new administration in Damascus was: ‘This is what Turkey—which has stood by you for years—expects. And this is what the world expects,’ he said.​

 

[Saif]

US, regional diplomats meet to discuss Syria’s future

Top diplomats from the United States, Turkey, the European Union and Arab nations met in Jordan on Saturday for talks on Syria as regional and global powers scramble for influence over whatever government replaces ousted President Bashar al-Assad. Outgoing US President Joe Biden’s administra

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

US, regional diplomats meet to discuss Syria’s future
REUTERS
Published :
Dec 14, 2024 22:02
Updated :
Dec 14, 2024 22:02

Arab Contact Group on Syria, Aqaba, Jordan, December 14, 2024. Photo : ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/Pool via REUTERS

Top diplomats from the United States, Turkey, the European Union and Arab nations met in Jordan on Saturday for talks on Syria as regional and global powers scramble for influence over whatever government replaces ousted President Bashar al-Assad.

Outgoing US President Joe Biden’s administration has begun engaging with the victorious rebel groups including Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which led a lightning assault that ended in the capture of Damascus on Sunday.

Biden sent Secretary of State Antony Blinken to the region this week to seek support for principles that Washington hopes will guide Syria’s political transition, such as respect for minorities.

Meanwhile Syria’s northern neighbour Turkey has for years supported Syrian opposition forces looking to oust Assad and is poised to play an influential role in Damascus.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Friday that his country’s embassy in the Syrian capital would resume work on Saturday, after Turkey’s intelligence chief visited this week.

Syria’s neighbour Jordan was hosting Saturday’s gathering in Aqaba. Russia and Iran, who were Assad’s key supporters, were not invited.

Blinken, UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pederson and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, Fidan and foreign ministers from Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Lebanon, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Qatar met around a circular table at a Jordanian government guesthouse. There was no Syrian representative at the table.

The Arab diplomats earlier met separately and issued a statement calling for a peaceful and inclusive political transition that leads towards elections and a new constitution for Syria. The foreign ministers said they were committed to combating terrorism, which they called a threat to security in Syria, the region and the world.

Blinken, meeting Pederson at his hotel earlier on Saturday, said it was a time of “both opportunity but also real challenge” for Syria.

Arab diplomats attending the talks told Reuters they were seeking assurances from Turkey that it supports an inclusive political process that prevents partition of Syria on sectarian lines.

Turkey and the United States, both NATO members, have conflicting interests when it comes to some of the rebels. Turkish-backed rebels in northern Syria have clashed with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

The SDF, which controls some of Syria’s largest oil fields, is the main ally in a US coalition against Islamic State militants. It is spearheaded by YPG militia, a group that Ankara sees as an extension of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants who have fought the Turkish state for 40 years and who it outlaws.

Blinken told Turkish officials during a visit to Ankara on Thursday and Friday that Islamic State must not be able to regroup, and the SDF must not be distracted from its role of securing camps holding IS fighters, according to a US official. Turkish leaders agreed, the official with the US delegation said.

Fidan told Turkish TV later on Friday that the elimination of the YPG was Turkey’s “strategic target” and urged the group’s commanders to leave Syria.​