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The National
a day ago
- Politics
- The National
Frustration with UK over slow-walk Damascus ties as embassy remains closed
The entrance to the Syrian embassy in London remains littered with cardboard boxes, almost a month after Foreign Secretary David Lammy declared the UK had re-established diplomatic relations in Damascus. Moisture drips over the cracked paint above the door and a plant left in the window of the first floor when the building in Belgrave Square was abandoned in 2012 has long since dried out. I would have expected an announcement, it's really essential Ranim Alwair, Syrian architect Frustration is rising with the UK's cautious approach to the new transitional government in Damascus. Mr Lammy made his first official visit to the capital this month to meet the country's President Ahmad Al Shara. The restoration of formal diplomatic relations this summer has not yet borne fruit in Belgrave Square. Weeks later an exchange of ambassadors has not happened. Observers warn London wavers between wanting to influence that transition and keeping the Syrians at arm's length. The UK government continues to rely on its Special Representative to Syria, Ann Snow, who was the first western diplomat to visit Syria after the fall of Bashar Al Assad in December. The UK set the tone for removing sanctions on Syria in March – paving the way for similar moves by the European Union and later the US. But it delayed official visits for much longer than European counterparts, with French President Emmanuel Macron hosting Mr Al Shara in Paris in May. 'They started quicker than others but then it slowed down,' said Dr Haid Haid, a fellow at Chatham House's Middle East and North Africa programme. 'The relationship did not improve in the same way as it did with other countries. You did not see Foreign Minister Assad Al Shaibani visiting London when he visited Europe earlier this year.' It is understood the delays were due in part to logistics, as the embassy residence in Damascus, which was abandoned in 2012, needs to be repaired. The mission then operated out of the embassy in Beirut. But there have also been doubts linked to the dynamics on the ground, such as the sectarian fighting that erupted in March, resulting in the massacre of hundreds of Alawites – members of a religious community who fought alongside the Assad regime during the Syrian civil war – and again this month with the Druze of Sweida. Many Syrians credit Ms Snow for having persuaded UK ministers to remove the sanctions earlier this year. She is thought to have forged relationships with 'all the relevant people' in Damascus, her frequent visits ensuring the diplomatic relationship runs smoothly. Ms Snow oversaw the UK's humanitarian aid and education programmes in north-west Syria until Mr Al Assad was ousted. When she was appointed to the role in 2023, the region was controlled by opposition and armed groups, including Mr Al Shara's now disbanded Hayat Tahrir Al Sham. She is also active in meeting Syrian communities in London, members of which have been called in to support and advise the new administration and its institutions. Risk takers John Jenkins, a former British ambassador to Damascus, believes a period of 'long consultations' with UK allies would have contributed to the delays in restoring relations. 'We would have had to consult with the Americans and with the Israelis, who are risk averse on Syria,' he said. The Israelis may have felt they 'can't certify' Mr Al Shara, fearing that though he may be taking steps at inclusivity, he may not be able to curtail the more hardline elements within his government, Mr Jenkins added. Questions remain about who could serve as the channel for communication between the UK government and Mr Al Shaibani, as Damascus seeks to re-establish its embassy in London. Dr Haid said the meeting between Mr Lammy and Mr Al Shara last week included a call to reopen the embassies on both sides – though a date for this has not been set. But there are concerns that the UK government has become too reliant on back-channel diplomacy. The negotiations with the transitional administration are believed to have been conducted by Inter Mediate, a UK-based conflict mediation charity which first established contact with Mr Al Shara in 2015. It's founder and former chief executive Jonathan Powell resigned from the group in November when he was appointed Britain's National Security Adviser. The National previously reported he had met Mr Al Shaibani's delegation at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January, in an unofficial capacity. Though Inter Mediate is often praised by sources for their work in Damascus, its under-the-radar nature has also been criticised by UK MPs, who say it allows the government to bypass scrutiny. One Conservative shadow spokesman has raised fears the government is covering up the precise nature of Inter Mediate's work in Syria. 'When asked what meetings Inter Mediate has had with the Foreign Office in the last year, ministers have refused to comment on 'private discussions' on its role in Syria,' wrote Conservative MP Alex Burghart in a parliamentary letter. 'This approach is contrary to the expectation of transparency,' he said in a letter to the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, seen by The National. Help needed But for British-Syrians seeking to support their country back home, the absence of diplomatic missions on both sides is a major obstacle. The Syrian embassy building in Belgrave Square has been empty since 2012, with no signs of repair to this day. Syria's former flag has been removed. London-based architect Ranim Alwair, who fled Homs in 2012, said a Syrian embassy reopening in London was 'really essential'. Since Al Assad's downfall, she and her sister – a paediatric pharmacist at a major London hospital – have attempted to have their UK qualifications certified in Syria so that they can one day return and work there. But their efforts have been costly, as they were forced to send their documents for certification to the Syrian embassy in Paris. 'In the end, we lost them.' Ms Alwair has been advising Syrian government officials on the best ways to integrate AI into their public administration and on domestic upskilling. She is disappointed that no announcement was made with regards to reopening the Syrian embassy in London after Mr Lammy's visit. The presence of a diplomatic and consular team at a British embassy in Damascus would amount to vital reassurance in case anything goes wrong when they return as British citizens ready to help Syria rebuild. The fledgling government has struggled to bring to a close an outbreak of violence in the southern city of Sweida that has pitted the local majority Druze population against Bedouin tribes and forces loyal to the leadership in Damascus. 'I would have expected an announcement, it's really essential,' Ms Alwair said.
The National
3 days ago
- Politics
- The National
Syria expected to hold parliamentary election in September, official says
Syria is expected to hold its first parliamentary election under the new government in September, the head of the electoral process said. Voting for the People's Assembly should take place from September 15-20, the head of Syria's High Elections Committee Mohamed Taha Al Ahmad said. President Ahmad Al Shara"emphasised the necessity of proceeding with the electoral process in all Syrian governorates, rejecting division, which is denounced by all Syrians," he said. All those who "sided with the criminals and supported them" and individuals "who advocate for division, sectarianism and factionalism" will be excluded from running in the vote. He added that the number of parliamentary seats will increase from 150 to 210, with the president appointing 70 members. This decision is likely to come under intense scrutiny following President Al Shara's decision to appoint two brothers, Maher and Hazem, to top government positions. Mr Ahmad said the international community and independent election monitors will be invited to oversee the poll. The vote will be the first after the fall of Bashar Al Assad's regime. Mr Al Shara, leader of a former Al Qaeda offshoot, came to power in Syria after guerrilla fighters he led brought down Assad in December, after more than 13 years of civil war. The announcement came as the country was gripped by a series of violent incidents in recent weeks. A Syrian committee investigating sectarian violence in the Alawite heartland said on Tuesday it had identified 298 suspects implicated in serious violations during bloodshed that left at least 1,426 members of the religious minority dead in March. The findings come after fresh violence involving the country's Druze community, raising further questions over the new government's ability to manage sectarian tensions.
The National
4 days ago
- Politics
- The National
Paris to host Syria talks on integrating Kurds
Syria, France and the US said they agreed on Friday to convene "as soon as possible" talks in Paris to integrate the autonomous Kurdish administration into the Syrian state. The Kurds, who control large swathes of north-east Syria, are negotiating with the central government in Damascus on the integration of their civil and military institutions into the state. Those include the US-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The three countries agreed to 'host as soon as possible the next round of consultations in Paris between the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces regarding the full implementation of the March 10 agreement ', according to a joint statement. The statement was issued after a Friday meeting in Paris between French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, US special envoy for Syria Tom Barrack and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al Shibani. In March, Syria 's government reached a deal with the SDF to integrate the group into state institutions. The deal was signed between Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara and the head of the SDF, Mazloum Abdi. Damascus had previously accused the SDF of delays in implementing a March deal to integrate into the country's armed forces, warning that inaction would undermine stability. Several rounds of talks have been held but the process has stalled, with Kurdish officials criticising a constitutional declaration announced by the new authorities, saying it failed to reflect Syria's diversity. A meeting was set to take place in Paris on Thursday between Kurdish representatives and a Syrian government delegation, but it was postponed. Mr Barrot held a phone call on Friday with the Mr Abdi, Paris said, to "confirm the upcoming negotiations session". Damascus insists on reunifying the country at any cost and demands that the Kurds hand over their weapons. But this week, the SDF said it is 'impossible' to lay down their arms amid a flurry of sectarian violence in the country. An outbreak of fierce fighting in the south of Syria, with troops sent to quell unrest involving Bedouin tribes and the Druze minority, has cast further doubt on Mr Al Shara's efforts to hold Syria together. And under pressure from Washington, Syria has mounted raids against members of ISIS as the extremist group threatens to stage a resurgence. 'In light of the continuing tensions in Syria, the escalating violence, and the threat of ISIS, it is impossible for our forces to surrender their weapons,' Kurdish media quoted SDF spokesman Abjar Daoud as saying.
The National
7 days ago
- Politics
- The National
Syria bloodshed gives US legislators pause over sanctions relief
Recent violence in Syria is fuelling a debate in the US Congress about whether Washington should end all sanctions against Damascus, a move pushed by President Donald Trump, or take a more incremental approach. Mr Trump has embraced President Ahmad Al Shara since his rebel group Hayat Tahrir Al Sham, until recently designated a foreign terrorist organisation, ousted former president Bashar Al Assad in December. Mr Trump last month ordered the lifting of sanctions against Syria. Many of these can be repealed through his executive powers, but eliminating them all would need Congress to repeal the 2019 Caesar Act. Syria has been gripped by violent clashes in Sweida in the south of the country, where forces loyal to Mr Shara's government have been accused of siding with the Bedouin to kill members of the Druze community. After a ceasefire that followed strikes by Israel, the Druze were accused of rekindling the fighting with new attacks. Among those killed was Hosam Saraya, an American of Syrian Druze descent, whose killing at the hands of gunmen was shown on social media. Given the instability, some lawmakers are pushing for a conditions-based lifting of sanctions. Republican Representative Mike Lawler last week introduced a bill that would amend the Caesar Act to allow it to be waived only if the Syrian government is not targeting civilians, among other provisions. 'The Al Shara Administration certainly has a lot of work to do to reintegrate Syria with the US and our allies,' said Mr Lawler, who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa, as well as the Financial Services Committee. 'While this job should be difficult given the circumstances, it shouldn't be impossible.' But fellow Republican Congressman Joe Wilson, who also sits on the Middle East panel, wants a clean, unconditional repeal of the Caesar Act, saying that is in line with President Trump's agenda for Syria. 'I hope that the Financial Services Committee reconsiders this measure and takes more time to study and work on Syria sanctions. A clean repeal of the Caesar Act promotes stability,' he wrote on X. Representative Maxine Waters, the ranking Democrat on the Financial Services Committee, agrees with Mr Wilson's approach. She has introduced an amendment that would fully repeal the Caesar Act. The Syrian Emergency Task Force, which works to help build democracy in Syria and played a significant role in nudging the Trump administration to scrap sanctions, urged legislators to vote against Mr Lawler's bill. 'This bill undermines President Trump's new Syria policy and extends damaging sanctions until 2028 – sanctions meant for Assad, not the Syrian people,' the SETF said in a statement.
The National
18-07-2025
- Politics
- The National
Is Israel exploiting distrust between Syria's Druze and Damascus?
The city of Sweida in southern Syria became a battleground this week after a series of retaliatory attacks between Druze militiamen and Bedouin tribes escalated. President Ahmad Al Shara's government deployed general security forces to the area, ostensibly to restore order. What followed were deadly confrontations and dozens of soldiers were killed. But residents of the Druze-majority city say the government's response was brutal. Populous neighbourhoods came under heavy shelling, forcing people to flee, and civilians were killed in the crossfire. From across the border, Israel intervened with strikes on key government sites including the Ministry of Defence headquarters in Damascus. It stepped in to defend the Druze, Israeli officials said. The violence killed hundreds of people before a ceasefire was announced on Wednesday. But what is at the root of the tension between this Druze minority and the new leadership in Syria? And why is Israel imposing itself on the conflict? In this episode of Beyond the Headlines, host Nada AlTaher digs deep into the many complex layers that brought bloodshed to Sweida this week. She speaks to Syria experts and academics Rahaf Aldoughli and Joshua Landis, and we also hear from a Druze fighter involved in the conflict.
