After the celebration… the tough challenge facing Syrians in a land ‘without markers’

The return of extremism

The Syrian civil war began in 2011 as a result of a popular uprising against the regime LionIt turned into a bloody conflict that claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and destroyed entire cities. This war has drawn in international powers, such as the United States and Turkey, along with multiple armed groups, from the Kurds to Islamists.

This poses a risk of relapse ISIS One of the most prominent challenges, as at its peak, the organization imposed a reign of terror on large parts of Syria and Iraq. According to US officials who spoke to Reuters, the administration of President Joe Biden is closely monitoring the developments, but has not changed the locations of the approximately 900 US troops currently present in Syria.

Hezbollah’s withdrawal and the uncertainty of Assad’s fate

Two Lebanese security sources confirmed to Reuters that Hezbollah had withdrawn its forces from… Syria With armed opposition forces closing in on the capital Damascus, it represents a strategic shift after the party backed the Assad regime during years of war.

At the same time, two senior Syrian army officers reported that Assad had left Damascus by plane to an unknown destination, while Assad has not spoken publicly since the opposition’s rapid advance. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Assad “abandoned his post and issued orders to hand over power peacefully.”

On the other hand, the Syrian opposition coalition confirmed in a statement that the revolution has moved from the phase of overthrowing the regime to “the phase of building Syria in a way worthy of the sacrifices of its people.”

Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi Jalali called for free elections, expressing his willingness to cooperate with any leadership chosen by the Syrian people. He also pointed to communications with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham to discuss the governance of the transition phase, which represents a significant development in shaping the country’s political future.

On the other hand, the killing of prominent Lebanese Hezbollah leaders during Israeli strikes on Lebanon has weakened Assad’s core pillars, while Russia’s focus has been on its war in Ukraine, which has reduced its support for Syria.

Regional and international challenges

The Syrian war has attracted major powers, such as the United States, and created space for extremist groups to plan international attacks, as well as push millions of refugees into neighboring countries. With the opposition’s sudden advance last November, concerns arose about the future of the country under the presence of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, formerly linked to al-Qaeda.

Retired general Frank McKenzie pointed out that “Syria faces the risk of turning into an extremist Islamic state, which could negatively affect the entire region.” Daniel Shapiro, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, confirmed that the United States will maintain its presence in eastern Syria to prevent the return of ISIS.

In this context, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan called for vigilance to prevent “terrorist organizations from taking advantage of the situation.”

Political transition

The political transition in Syria is a difficult test. “The serious question is how orderly and smooth this transition can be,” said Joshua Landis, director of the Center for Near Eastern Studies at the University of Oklahoma. ” noting that reconstruction will require the lifting of sanctions and the provision of international support.

Syria’s opposition coalition, the Syrian National Coalition, said on Sunday it was working to form a transitional governing body with full executive powers.

The coalition explained in a statement about

Hadi Al-Bahra, the leader of Syria’s opposition abroad, told Reuters on the sidelines of the Doha Forum on Sunday that Syria must attend an 18-month transition period to ensure a “safe, neutral and peaceful environment” to remain free elections.

However, there are fears that Hayat Tahrir al-Sham poses an ideological threat in the region, with fears of imposing dictatorial Islamic rule or retaliation.

Israel

As part of the military response, Israeli airstrikes are suspected to have targeted sites in Damascus and the Khalkha airbase, where sources said the aim was to prevent advanced weapons from falling into the hands of extremist groups.

On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the collapse of a 1974 “disengagement” agreement with Syria over the Golan and ordered the military to “occupy” the buffer zone where United Nations forces are deployed after the fall of President Bashar. al-Assad.