Latest news with #Alawi
Japan Times
a day ago
- General
- Japan Times
Israel's Syria policy could fuel more conflict and disorder
After months of sectarian violence, kidnappings and cross-border clashes, the last thing Syria's fledgling government needs is a neighbor stoking tensions. But that is what Israel is doing, as it erects military bases in the countries' demilitarized 'buffer zone,' strikes military sites and kills security officials — all part of a well-worn strategy of backing minority groups against Sunni majorities in the Arab world. But by pursuing it in Syria, Israel is risking strategic blowback. Along with neighboring Lebanon, Syria has the most diverse population in the Middle East. While Sunni Arabs comprise 65% of the population, their majority is far smaller than in, say, Egypt (around 90%). The remaining 35% of Syria's population includes members of heretical Islamic offshoots, along with Sunni Kurds and Christians. Managing this diversity has proved challenging for Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which came to power after Syrian President Bashar Assad's ouster in December. Its cadres are drawn from al-Qaida, which believes that Sunni Arabs should hold all the rights — and all the power — in the Islamic world. And while the HTS leadership has tempered its religious zeal, some of its foot soldiers have not. In March, clashes between HTS and Assad's Alawi sect, a heretical Shia offshoot accounting for around 12% of Syria's population, left more than 1,000 dead. The violence rattled Christians, who largely supported the toppled government. Meanwhile, groups loyal to Turkey have skirmished with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in the northeast. But it is tensions with the Druze, another heterodox group, that are proving most vexing for Syria's young government. After a spurious audio recording attributed to a Druze leader blaspheming the Prophet Muhammad circulated on social media, masked gunmen descended on the Damascus suburb of Jaramana. After the melee drew in HTS security officials, Israel declared that it would protect the tiny sect. It has since targeted members of Syria's security forces who clashed with the Druze and mounted airstrikes near the presidential palace. Israel's machinations in Syria are nothing new. Within months of Israel's birth, senior Foreign Ministry officials mused about sponsoring a coup there, in order to strengthen their position in the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. More broadly, Israel has often used support of minorities to undermine Sunni power. In Lebanon, it was the Christians. In 1955, Army Chief of Staff Moshe Dayan floated the idea of convincing a Christian military officer to 'declare himself the savior of the Maronite (Christian) population,' before invading Lebanon to help install a Christian regime that would ally itself with Israel. In the 1970s, Prime Minister Menachem Begin — claiming that Israel had a 'duty' to prevent the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) from committing 'genocide' against Christians — supported a renegade Lebanese Christian sergeant-major, in the hopes of creating a buffer zone along Lebanon's southern border, where it could exert some control. In 1982, Israel invaded Lebanon, expelled the PLO and installed a Christian president, Bashir Gemayel, soon assassinated by a member of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party. Israel's efforts to undermine Sunni regimes have also entailed partnerships with Shia countries. Beginning in the 1960s, Israel worked with the Shah of Iran to support the besieged Iraqi Kurds in their fight against the central government. The resulting insurgency was so devastating that then-Iraqi Vice President Saddam Hussein ceded the Shatt al-Arab waterway to Iran, in exchange for its pledge to stop supporting the Kurds. In light of this history, it is not surprising that Israeli leaders now seek to carve out a Druze enclave on the Syrian border, thereby creating a buffer between Israel and the Sunnis. Nor is it surprising that Israel has identified ambitious Druze figures eager to challenge both the central government and their own sect's traditional leadership. This effort has broad support among Israeli politicians, from the prime minister to the opposition leader. In their view, a fractured Syria desperately attempting to put out regional and sectarian fires would lack the resources and capacity to threaten Israel. But this vision is short-sighted. After all, upheaval and division could bring down the HTS government — and Israel might not like what replaces it. The Turks who back the group and support factions on the northern Syrian border may be persuaded to deploy troops deep inside the country. A resurgent Islamic State in Iraq and Syria could exploit the chaos of HTS's downfall to expand its influence, just as it did when the Syrian civil war erupted in 2011. After Gemayel's assassination in 1982, Hezbollah stepped into the breach in southern Lebanon. By 2000, Hezbollah had driven Israel from Lebanese territory and in 2006 launched a devastating war that ended in a stalemate. Following the Assad dynasty's collapse, Israel has attained near-supremacy in the Middle East. Destabilizing a nascent government that has no desire to tangle with a stronger neighbor will do nothing to strengthen this position. On the contrary, a policy based on reflexive hubris risks paving the way for the emergence of a formidable new threat. Barak Barfi is a former research fellow at New America and a former visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution. © Project Syndicate, 2025.
Iraqi News
a day ago
- Science
- Iraqi News
Iraq participates in Arab-Chinese Digital Library conference
Beijing ( – Iraq recently participated in a scientific conference in Beijing organized by the Arab-Chinese Digital Library in cooperation with the League of Arab States. The Iraqi Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Antiquities was represented by Bariq Raad Alawi, Director-General of the National Library and Archives. The conference focused on developing digital libraries and fostering expertise exchange between Arab and Chinese cultural institutions. In his address, Alawi emphasized Iraq's commitment to building global cultural relations and the importance of digital exchange. He announced that Iraq's National Library and Archives is preparing to launch the Iraqi Digital Library project. This initiative aims to make the nation's rich cultural heritage globally accessible using advanced digital technologies and international partnerships. The Arab-Chinese Digital Library management welcomed Iraq's active role and offered support for future collaborative projects. This participation underscores Iraq's strategic efforts to preserve and promote its cultural legacy in the digital age, enhancing its international cultural presence.
Iraqi News
4 days ago
- Politics
- Iraqi News
Iraq Actively Participates in the Scientific Conference of the Arab-Chinese Digital Library in Beijing
The Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Antiquities, represented by the Director General of the House of Books and Documents, Barak Raad Alawi, participated in the scientific conference organized by the Arab-Chinese Digital Library in cooperation with the League of Arab States, held in the Chinese capital, Beijing. This participation comes as part of the Ministry's ongoing efforts to strengthen international cultural cooperation and expand avenues of digital and intellectual exchange, in line with its strategic vision for building sustainable cultural partnerships. The conference witnessed wide participation from representatives of Arab countries and the People's Republic of China. Its sessions focused on discussing mechanisms for developing digital libraries and exchanging expertise between cultural institutions on both sides. In a speech delivered during the conference, Alawi emphasized that the Ministry is committed to fostering strong cultural relations and building knowledge bridges with peoples around the world. He underscored the importance of digital exchange and the provision of multilingual knowledge databases. He also noted that the House of Books and Documents is preparing to launch the Iraqi Digital Library project, which aims to make Iraq's cultural heritage accessible to the world using the latest digital technologies, in collaboration with specialized international institutions. For its part, the management of the Arab-Chinese Digital Library welcomed Iraq's participation and affirmed its readiness to provide technical and intellectual support for future collaborative projects, thereby enhancing the presence of Iraqi culture on the global digital stage. It is worth noting that the Arab-Chinese Digital Library is a joint initiative between the League of Arab States and the National Library of China, aiming to promote cultural understanding by providing diverse digital content in both Arabic and Chinese, reflecting the depth of historical and human ties between the two sides.
Iraqi News
15-05-2025
- Business
- Iraqi News
Alawi: Iraq Seeks to Enhance Arab Economic Cooperation at Baghdad Summit
Baghdad-INA Prime Minister's advisor, Hussein Alawi, confirmed on Thursday that Iraqi diplomacy has gained widespread Arab confidence. He noted that the Iraqi government seeks to formulate a unified Arab resolution at the Baghdad Summit, as well as to activate Arab cooperation on economic and development issues such as energy, trade, development, transportation, railway connectivity, and youth. Alawi told the Iraqi News Agency (INA): that 'the Iraqi government is not merely acting as host of the Arab Summit in Baghdad, but is pursuing a clear approach aimed at proposing practical solutions to ongoing regional crises and fostering joint Arab cooperation across various sectors to shape a unified position. He noted that Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al-Sudani has expressed this vision in his recent meetings and public statements. He added that the Arab countries have substantial opportunities to enhance trade, drive economic growth, and foster youth integration as a strategic response to the challenges of migration, as well as cultural and political pressures—objectives the Iraqi government seeks to shape and promote during the summit. He affirmed that the summit will carry strategic messages of solidarity and unity, with a focus on major development projects such as railway and power grid integration, and support for the private sector, particularly in countries recovering from conflict and in need of effective partnerships. He noted that Iraq has set clear priorities in its foreign policy and is now in a "year of harvest" under the leadership of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al-Sudani, marked by advanced Arab relations, active diplomatic representation across all Arab countries, and engagement in shaping political and economic solutions. Alawi praised the growing role of Iraqi diplomacy, which he said now enjoys broad Arab confidence, particularly given Iraq's involvement in key regional files such as the OPEC+ agreement, trade, and energy cooperation. He emphasized that the government's approach to productive diplomacy has begun yielding results, most notably through the Development Road project, which has transitioned into a tangible reality. This project, he noted, has fostered partnerships with Qatar, the UAE, and Turkey, and has attracted invitations for Arab and international companies to participate in developing its strategic infrastructure. Alawi noted that the Development Road will not be limited to transportation alone but will also include projects related to internet infrastructure and next-generation technologies such as 5G and beyond. He added that the initiative aims to establish a strategic link between East and West, contributing to reduced maritime transport costs and reshaping the region's economic landscape.
Middle East Eye
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Syria's Druze fearful after deadly attacks on Damascus suburbs
Qosai lived through more than a decade of war in Syria, yet had never picked up a gun. That all changed this week. Deadly clashes between pro-government fighters and local Druze gunmen ignited on Tuesday, in part over a now-debunked audio clip of a Druze cleric allegedly insulting the Prophet Muhammad. Qosai, a 27-year-old Druze activist and former Red Cross worker, feared his community was in grave danger. He decided to join his friends on the frontline, borrowing one of their weapons. 'It was truly frightening,' he told Middle East Eye. The pro-government fighters allegedly killed dozens of people in the Damascus suburbs of Jaramana and Ashrafiet Sahnaya, towns that have large Druze populations, as well as along the Damascus-Sweida highway. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Among the dead is the mayor of Ashrafiet Sahnaya, Hussam Warour, killed by gunmen who stormed his house on Wednesday night, according to local news site Suwayda 24. Israel, which has sought to intervene in Syria in purported support of the Druze, also launched several air strikes on Ashrafiet Sahnaya on Wednesday, against what it said were 'operatives near Damascus who had attacked Druze civilians'. Syria's foreign ministry said it rejected 'foreign intervention' and it was committed 'to protect all components of the Syrian people … including the children of the honourable Druze community'. 'Fear and anxiety' among Druze The bloodshed has stoked fears that minorities such as the Druze, an ethno-religious community, are not safe under the rule of Syria's new government, which is dominated by Sunni former rebels. Among the dead were some of Qosai's friends. 'I know that carrying a weapon is wrong… and I don't want to own one,' Qosai said from his home in Jaramana. 'But everything changed.' 'While talking with you, I found out that more of my friends were killed in Sweida and Sahnaya' - Qosai, Druze activist Druze Syrians told Middle East Eye they are now living in 'fear and anxiety', with many now staying indoors on Thursday fearing further fighting. Druze leaders and government officials have managed to calm the situation, for now. The killings come just weeks after gunmen aligned with Syria's new government waged massacres in towns and villages along the coast, home to the Alawi religious minority group. Syria's longtime autocrat Bashar al-Assad, who was ousted by rebels on 8 December, is himself an Alawi from the coastal region and employed many Alawis in his oppressive security forces, leading some to blame the community for Assad's crimes. Activist groups have put the death toll in those attacks between 1,000 and 2,000 people. The Druze are found across the Levant. They adhere to an offshoot of Islam that emerged in medieval Egypt and live primarily in Syria, Lebanon and Israel. Syrian security forces sit next to a vehicle in Sahnaya, 1 May (Reuters/Yamam Al Shaar) Historically, Syria's Druze have kept some distance from the central state, even before the Assad dynasty and today's new government led by former rebel leader Ahmad al-Sharaa. They live primarily in Sweida, the country's southernmost governorate along the border with Jordan, as well as a smattering of Damascus suburbs further north. A voicenote falsely attributed to a Druze cleric, in which the speaker insults the Prophet Muhammad, spread widely on social media in recent days, and allegedly sparked the initial clashes in Jaramana. Though the fighting there died down by Thursday, residents 'are still scared to go out and about', Qosai said. Two of his friends were killed on Tuesday in the Jaramana clashes, he said. 'And while talking with you, I found out that more of my friends were killed in Sweida and Sahnaya,' added Qosai, who asked to use only his first name fearing reprisals for speaking to the media. 'We feel scared. And we feel disappointed.' 'We didn't expect this' Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, the spiritual leader of Syria's Druze, called the killings an 'unjustified genocidal attack' in a statement, urging international forces to 'immediately intervene to preserve peace'. Wadah Azzam, 43, lives in Sweida's provincial capital, about an hour and a half from Damascus. Even there, residents are tense, he said. Azzam and his friends and neighbours have been 'asking ourselves how we can protect ourselves from an attack', he told MEE. 'There is fear and anxiety.' Tobias Lang, an expert on the Druze of the Levant and director of the Austrian Centre for Peace, said for now Sweida remains relatively isolated from Sharaa's new government The province also has its own slew of well-armed, locally powerful militias, including the Men of Dignity and Sheikhs of Dignity. The Damascus countryside, where this week's clashes took place, is different. 'Those towns are largely mixed and surrounded by Sunni towns,' with a strong potential support base for Sharaa's new government, Lang said. The Dignity factions, though powerful in Sweida, 'do not have as strong a presence in rural Damascus,' he added. History of revolt When rebel fighters defeated Assad's forces late last year, Druze armed factions also took part in the fight in their own, Druze-majority governorate of Sweida, as well as neighbouring Daraa alongside rebels groups. Fighters from the Men of Dignity and Sheikhs of Dignity groups freed people held in local prisons in the days leading up to Assad's fall. Israel bombs Syria hours after controversial Israeli Druze leader appeals for 'action' Read More » They also drove soldiers from roadside checkpoints and military sites. Sweida had been freed by its own fighters and not Sharaa's rebels, and it is still unclear how exactly those Druze forces might be incorporated into the new state. They and other residents of Druze areas say they've been longtime opponents of the Assad government, similar to Syria's new rulers. During the war, many Druze in Jaramana became activists, helping people in the neighbouring districts under siege receive food and other aid supplies at the risk of their own lives. Some Druze residents of the town ended up in Assad's notorious torture prisons for their part in helping their besieged neighbours. Even as a teenager at the beginning of Syria's war in 2011 and 2012, Qosai was part of that relief effort. 'Over time, I came to know many of the people who helped smuggle medical supplies,' he recalls. But after this week's attacks, he says he feels a sense of 'abandonment'.
