Washington Navigates the Syrian “Minefield”
Washington should not rush to lift sanctions or remove terrorism designations until the new Syrian administration demonstrates its commitment to democracy and pluralism, according to the American website “National Interest.”
-
Armed factions have become a key player in the Syrian landscape – Details
-
Latest Developments on the Syrian Scene
The same source states that the United States, Europe, Turkey, and Arab countries must ensure that Syria is not used as a base for terrorist expansion led by ISIS. Reconstruction efforts should include measures to ensure equality for women and all ethnic groups, particularly America’s Kurdish allies.
With the fall of al-Assad‘s regime, the geopolitical balance of power in the Levant has shifted. For many, the impact of recent events remains unclear. The Syrian people, the United States, and Israel will discover whether the transitional administration led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) serves their interests.
The U.S. Department of State still classifies HTS as a foreign terrorist organization. However, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced direct contact between Washington and HTS on December 15.
-
Closing the Syrian-Iraqi Borders: What Is Iran Aiming for?
-
Continuous Support… UAE Provides Ongoing Aid to the Syrian People
An American delegation, led by Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf, met with Ahmad al-Shara, the general commander of the new Syrian administration, known as Abu Mohammad al-Jolani. Reports suggest that the White House is considering removing HTS from the list of foreign terrorist organizations.
To send a message to the new Syrian administration, Israel has moved to secure a narrow buffer zone on the Golan Heights. It has also systematically begun destroying al-Assad‘s ground-to-ground missiles, chemical weapons, and other heavy weapons stored across Syria.
With ongoing ISIS activity in the region, no one knows who might use these weapons in the future or to whom HTS might sell them.
-
In support of the Syrian provinces… “The Gallant Knight 2” from the UAE launches 4 new humanitarian initiatives
-
Conflict between Hezbollah and the supporters of the Syrian regime in al-Qusayr
If calm prevails, reconstruction will be key. After European and American sanctions targeted al-Assad‘s regime, along with allied companies and institutions, many now hope that Western countries will fully lift these sanctions, a decision that depends on finding common ground with the new administration.
If violence persists or if women’s rights and ethnic minorities are not protected, the hundreds of billions of dollars needed for reconstruction may not be provided. This would also prevent millions of Syrian refugees in the Middle East and Europe from returning home.
-
Who is General Marhaf Abu Kasra, the New Syrian Defense Minister?
-
Observatory: Russia Transferred Syrian Officers to a Base in North Africa
The “National Interest” site argues that U.S. leaders should not lift the designation of HTS as a foreign terrorist organization. In a diverse, war-torn country like Syria, hatred runs deep, and fears are heightened by ethnic and sectarian hostilities, particularly concerns among Kurdish and Alawite minorities. The new administration needs to demonstrate its readiness to fight ISIS.
These events could present an opportunity to reestablish American dominance in the Middle East, especially in preparing to counter the Iranian nuclear threat. To this end, the United States and its allies must “correct the situation in Syria.”
-
Erdogan gives Syrian Kurds the choice between laying down arms or death
-
More than 7,000 Syrians in Jordan return to their country after al-Assad’s fall
Increasingly, the vision of Syria as a democratic, pluralistic, and peaceful state dedicated to the safe return and prosperity of refugees through economic development seems like a dream. Despite the immense suffering of the Syrian people, the absence of wisdom, patience, and tolerance threatens to lead to another tragic phase of civil war.