Latest news with #SyrianConflict
Arab News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Building a just and inclusive Syria from within
The recent withdrawal of hundreds of American troops from Syria — estimated at 500 personnel and accompanied by the closure or handover of multiple bases to the Syrian Democratic Forces — marks more than just a tactical shift in US foreign policy. It may, if seized wisely, signal the dawn of a new opportunity for Syrians to redefine their nation's future through unity, reconciliation and inclusivity. This move, characterized by US officials as 'safe, deliberate and conditions-based,' reflects a major recalibration following the fall of the Assad regime. For years, Syria has been trapped in a brutal vortex of conflict, foreign intervention and sectarian fragmentation. Now, as international military footprints shrink, the onus is increasingly on Syrians themselves to shape the road ahead. The handover of military sites — such as Mission Support Site Euphrates — to the SDF is emblematic of a transition from foreign-led stabilization to local governance. While this raises valid concerns about the future balance of power among Kurdish, Arab and other ethnic groups in northeastern Syria, it also presents a rare chance to lay the groundwork for a decentralized, inclusive system that respects Syria's diversity. Yet the departure of US forces should not be mistaken for an end to instability. Instead, it is a fork in the road. Syrians — regardless of ethnicity, faith or political affiliation — must now decide: Will they allow the vacuum to be filled by renewed factionalism or will they use this space to chart a united course toward nation-building? As international military footprints shrink, the onus is increasingly on Syrians themselves to shape the road ahead Hani Hazaimeh The SDF, a Kurdish-led coalition with substantial Arab participation, has been praised for maintaining a degree of stability in northeastern Syria. However, its dominance has also fueled tensions with Arab tribes and raised concerns about representation. True inclusivity means more than shifting military control — it demands a political solution that empowers all Syrians, from Qamishli to Deraa. A meaningful path forward could include the development of a new federal model for Syria — one that devolves authority to regional entities while safeguarding national unity. Such an arrangement would not only address long-standing grievances but also prevent the return of autocracy under new guises. As Syria emerges from dictatorship and war, there must be a concerted effort to pursue transitional justice rather than retribution. Mechanisms should be put in place to acknowledge the atrocities of the past, support victims and hold perpetrators accountable through fair legal processes. Only through truth and justice can real reconciliation take root. The chance to build a new Syria — one that is inclusive, accountable and representative — is within reach Hani Hazaimeh The country's young generation — many of whom have only known war — must be given a leading role in rebuilding Syria. Education, entrepreneurship and civic participation should be national priorities. Civil society organizations, long stifled or co-opted, need space to grow independently and help rebuild trust between citizens and their institutions. International actors can and should play a supportive role, not as overseers but as partners in reconstruction and capacity-building. Any engagement must be conditional on the inclusion of marginalized voices and the advancement of human rights. The withdrawal of US forces should not be seen as abandonment, but as an inflection point. The real question is not what foreign powers will do next, but what Syrians will do now. The chance to build a new Syria — one that is inclusive, accountable and representative — is within reach. It will not be easy. But with courage, dialogue and vision, the Syrian people can reclaim their future — not through force, but through unity. History has shown that peace imposed from the outside rarely endures. But peace built from within can transform nations. Now is the time for Syrians to choose the path of transformation.
Russia Today
31-05-2025
- General
- Russia Today
Syrian leader threatened by militants who put him in power
The insurgents who toppled previous Syrian leader Bashar Assad's government and brought new interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa to power could now threaten his political survival, the Washington Post wrote on Saturday. Multiple militant groups led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) took power in Damascus late last year. They included thousands of foreign fighters who remain in Syria, some of whom have ties to extremist groups like Islamic State and other radical factions, the newspaper wrote. While al-Sharaa 'seems intent on keeping' some of them around as he courts Western support, the 'hard-line Sunni Muslim militants' are already giving him trouble, WaPo wrote. Some of the militants were involved in massacres of Alawites along the Syrian coast in March, the outlet added. At least 1,300 people, including 973 civilians, were killed in the span of a few days, according to local media. Christian and Druze communities in Syria have also reportedly faced bloody sectarian violence since the change in power. The most radical of the foreign Islamists are 'turning their ire' on al-Sharaa, because the new president has not implemented Sharia law and allegedly cooperated with the US and Türkiye to target extremist factions in Syria, WaPo wrote. Earlier in May, US President Donald Trump met with al-Sharaa and announced the lifting of sanctions, most of which had been imposed during the rule of Assad. Al-Sharaa has called Trump's move 'a historic and courageous decision, which alleviates the suffering of the people, contributes to their rebirth, and lays the foundations for stability in the region.' Shortly after the Trump-Sharaa meeting, a top ideologue of Salafi jihadism, Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi, issued a fatwa branding the new Syrian leader an 'infidel.' Syria remains a hotbed of extremist activity and could destabilize at any time, according to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The country has become 'a playground for jihadist groups, including ISIS and others,' the top diplomat warned last week, adding that it could be 'weeks – not many months – away from potential collapse and a full-scale civil war.'
