The current strife in Syria

Time of India

21-07-2025

The recent spat in West Asia happens to be one between the Druze Shias and the Sunni Bedouins. In the recent past, and as a tradition of strategy, the Political Contest model as a theorization has ruled the roost in the context of conflict in West Asia. Israel and Iran consider themselves involved in a mortal combat where- -in Israel is pitted against the non sate actors of the order of Hamas, Houthis and Hezbollah which are propped up by Tehran since long years.
In a manner, it can be contended that the non-state actors are confronting Israel with the rankling theme of Palestine being the bone of contention. Thus, the non-state actors tend to utilize the 'Spectacular effect' as a kind of attention gathering exercise where the Global INGOs and the International community of nations, along with International Organisations, can support the cause of conflict in West Asia. In the recent Israeli attacks on Southern Syria, Israel is attempting to champion the cause of the minorities in the nation. Also, as a related fact, it can be argued that Bedouins and Druze communities have been at loggerheads with each other and since the fall of Bashar Al Assad's regime in Damascus, the Druze Bedouin conflict has emerged in bold relief in West Asia.
Bedouin fighters deploy at Mazraa village on the outskirts of Sweida city, as smoke rises from the clashes between the Bedouin clans and Druze militias, southern Syria. (Pic credit: AP)
In Damascus, the Bashar Al Assad's regime went on to criminally indict the minorities and severe atrocities were committed on the rebel factions which were combating the Damascus Regime which had the backing of the Kremlin. Also, the tribal and sectarian conflict between Syrian flocks is meant to be encashed by Tel Aviv in the favour of the Druze community which happens to be a minority in Syria. Also, Druze people are numbered at around 1 million people out of which half of them stay in Syria and half of them find a perch of settlement in Isarel. The Druze community resides in Israel too, and has a representation in the Israeli defence forces too, thus causing the Israelis to intervene in the sectarian conflict raging in Syria.
The Syrian conflict is a multi-layered quagmire which has raged on since the protest and rebel insurgency which has been going on the besieged nation since 2011. The other involved state and great power actors in the civil war happens to be countries of the order of Iran, United States, Russia and Turkiye. Turkey has since long harboured dreams of reviving the Ottoman Turk Empire and turning the sick man in Europe to an able bodies and potent actor in the region. Erdogan is here to stay as a long lasting and impactful actor in the Syrian conflict. Even other non state actors of the order of Islamic State were active in Syria where-in the process of Five Star Jihad was popularized in Syria and Syria emerged as a conduit for the new recruits of IS a few years back. All in all, the entire swathe of the territory was never in the commandeering of the Bashar Al Assad. Also, great power intervention like in the entire west Asia was also manifested prominently in the Syrian civil ear too which further destabilized the nation and turned it into an international playing ground.
The presence of internal security and societal challenges of the order of corruption, political repression and authoritarianism were the issues due to which Bashar Al Assad was facing the insurgent movement as the ruling Regime was not able to provide justice to the citizens and the minorities were suppressed. Thus, in the present context, the sectarian fault lines in Syria are being touched upon by various forces and nations to serve their national interests and zero-sum games.
Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer
Views expressed above are the author's own.