Syria's Disintegration: Diversity Erased and Geopolitical Havoc Ensued
In the heart of the Middle East, the once culturally and religiously diverse nation of Syria has been engulfed in turmoil for over a decade. The fall of President Bashar al-Assad's regime in 2024 marked a significant turning point in Syria's history, leading to a power vacuum that has been filled by a myriad of armed groups.
The collapse of Damascus in 2024 was described as both a watershed moment and an unforeseen event by Geir Pedersen, the United Nations Special Envoy for Syria. The city fell under the control of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and other opposition factions. The rise of Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, a former ISIS deputy now leading HTS, exemplifies the calculated manipulation of extremist factions.
Israel, a neighbouring country, has intensified its military operations in Syria since the fall of Assad's regime. Targeting a wide range of sites with unprecedented intensity, these operations have been condemned by the UN, with Geir Pedersen calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities. Neighbouring countries, including Turkey, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, have also condemned Israel's operations as violations of international law and urged the international community to intervene.
The unspoken but very real bargain in the Syrian conflict is the potential annihilation of the Palestinian nation and the formation of Greater Israel in exchange for the destruction of Shia communities in Syria and Lebanon by Israel and forces backed by NATO. This allegation, however, remains unproven.
The chaos leading to the fall of the Assad regime was not a carefully orchestrated plan, according to analyst Scott Ritter. Instead, he contends that it was a rapid series of reactive decisions capitalizing on Syria's internal decay.
The United Nations has raised concerns over the fragility of the situation in Syria, particularly the lack of unified leadership among armed groups controlling various territories. To address this, the UN has called for lifting sanctions, increasing humanitarian aid, and launching economic recovery programs to support Syria's rebuilding efforts.
The main party in power in Syria before the fall of President Bashar al-Assad in 2024 was the Ba'ath Party. Syria, once a bustling nation, is now a devastated land, with over 13 million Syrians displaced, countless lives lost to war and deprivation, and cities such as Aleppo, Raqqa, and Homs lying in ruins.
The United States has been accused of supporting extremist factions, including HTS, with airpower. This move, argues Ritter, reveals the hypocrisy of Western anti-terrorism narratives. Craig Murray, former British ambassador, refers to a "devil's bargain" among Turkey, Gulf States, NATO, and Israel aimed at strategically reshaping the Middle East.
In a 2024 article, Craig Murray highlighted the discrepancy in the UK's enforcement of Section 12 of the Terrorism Act. While supporters of proscribed organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah face persecution, HTS, a proscribed group in the UK, is openly promoted and praised without any police intervention.
As the Syrian conflict enters its second decade, the international community continues to grapple with the complexities of the region, seeking to bring stability and peace to a nation that has suffered greatly.
