Yesterday, international public opinion was stirred by the news that opposition forces in Syria entered the capital Damascus. Opposition military groups declared that the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had collapsed, while the Russian Foreign Ministry said last night that Mr. Assad had left the country and issued instructions for a peaceful transfer of power but did not specify a destination. The situation in Syria is considered to be a turning point in the Middle East and will change the geopolitical picture, as the conflict here involves many foreign actors.
Syrian opposition members fire shots into the air in Damascus on December 8.
11 days in a flash
It has taken just 11 days for the opposition to make international headlines since the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)-led opposition launched a surprise attack on government-held areas on November 27. The advance of the opposition forces met little resistance from the Assad government and advanced to strategic locations, including taking control of four cities, Daraa, Quneitra, Suwayda and Homs within 24 hours, before heading towards Damascus. The Syrian army said fighting continued in several key cities, following the announcement that the opposition had taken control of the capital.
Thousands of people gathered in the main square in Damascus following the announcement from the opposition military. Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali said he was ready for a transition of power in Syria, stressing that he would cooperate with the elected leader. The opposition coalition also said it would ensure the transfer of power to a transitional body with full executive powers.
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International reaction
The developments in Syria are said to have happened too quickly and some countries are cautious in their statements. The White House said that US President Joe Biden is closely monitoring the situation and continues to communicate with partners in the region. President-elect Donald Trump has posted on social media about the information that Mr. Assad has left Syria. UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen stressed the clear desire of millions of Syrians for stable power transfer agreements, calling on the Syrian people to prioritize dialogue, solidarity and respect for international humanitarian law. Meanwhile, Iranian media reported that the Iranian Embassy in Damascus was attacked by Syrian opposition forces. The Russian Foreign Ministry expressed concern about the situation in Syria last night and called on all parties to exercise restraint and resolve issues through political means, adding that Russia has contacted opposition groups in Syria.
Syrian people climb on tanks
On the other hand, Israeli Foreign Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli warned that the situation in Syria was "no reason to celebrate", highlighting the potential danger that radical jihadist movements could emerge from the instability. Jordanian authorities stressed the importance of maintaining stability and security in Syria, adding that activities to strengthen security in the region were underway. Chinese officials expressed hope that Syria would return to stability as soon as possible, according to AFP.
Internal instability
In recent years, some observers have argued that the conflict in Syria has been “frozen,” after Türkiye and Russia pushed for a ceasefire in 2020. Since then, President Assad’s regime has not had large-scale military clashes with opposition forces. However, with the government unable to completely crush the opposition movement, it is only a matter of time before the “ice” thaws and hot fighting resumes. For opposition groups, this period is seen as an ideal time, as major allies supporting Mr. Assad, such as Russia and Iran, as well as the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, are forced to focus their efforts on direct conflicts.
Syrian opposition forces present in Damascus on December 8
While the conflict in Syria has generally been at a standstill in recent years, the economic and social burdens have continued to increase, contributing to the worsening of instability. US sanctions, regional crises and natural disasters have all put pressure on the Assad regime, especially in terms of military budgets. Al Jazeera also quoted Middle East researchers as saying that when the Damascus government does not possess a strong enough armed force, support from Russia or Iran is only partial. The developments on the ground also show that the Syrian government took years of siege and bombardment to be able to control all of Aleppo in 2016. However, the opposition military forces only needed one day to take the city without much resistance.
Who is the leader of the opposition military force?
Abu Mohammed al-Julani, the leader of the HTS armed opposition group, has led the anti-government forces and organized rapid attacks. According to Al Jazeera, Julani has spent nearly 10 years focusing on activities to establish a separate regime in Syria, instead of aiming for transnational operations like other armed groups.
HTS, which runs Idlib province in Syria, is known for its hardline stance against dissidents. However, Julani appears to have softened his stance after opposition forces launched attacks in recent days. He was captured by US forces in Iraq in 2006 and spent five years in prison. Julani was later tasked with establishing al-Qaeda’s Syrian branch.
America worries about the rise of IS
US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East Daniel Shapiro yesterday stressed that the US will maintain its presence in eastern Syria and take necessary measures to prevent the rise of the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS). Reuters quoted Mr. Shapiro as saying that the situation in Syria could create conditions for IS to operate. The US also affirmed that it will not get involved in the internal conflict in Syria.
Tensions in Syria began with peaceful protests in 2011 and escalated into a conflict between President Assad’s government and opposition groups. At one point, Syria became a hot spot when many powers such as the US, Russia and Türkiye got involved with the reason of destroying IS there.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/chinh-phu-assad-sup-do-syria-bien-dong-lon-185241208221847013.htm
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