Faced with the news that opposition forces announced the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government, the White House issued a brief statement saying US President Joe Biden and his team are closely monitoring “unusual events”. often” in Syria and continue to stay in touch with partners in the region.
Meanwhile, Jordanian state television reported that Jordanian authorities emphasized the importance of maintaining the stability and security of Syria, adding that activities to enhance security in the region are underway.
Syrian opposition fighters in the city of Homs early on the morning of December 8
On the Israeli side, Minister of Overseas Affairs Amichai Chikli of the ruling Likud party warned of potential consequences if Mr. al-Assad’s government collapsed. He also called on Tel Aviv to take over the buffer zone with Syria, on the basis of the division line established under the 1974 Israel-Syria agreement, stretching in the eastern Golan Heights area, according to The Times of Israel.
“Events in Syria are not a cause for celebration,” Mr. Chikli said, highlighting the potential dangers of the rise of radical jihadist movements.
Currently, Russia (supports the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad) and Türkiye (supports the opposition forces) have not commented on the latest developments in Damascus. During a meeting of foreign ministers on December 7, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said it was “unacceptable” for a terrorist organization to control Syrian territory. The armed organization Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which has led recent Syrian opposition battles, is listed as a terrorist group by many countries such as the US, Russia and Türkiye.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran (supporting Mr. al-Assad) had agreed to initiate “political dialogue between the Syrian government and legitimate opposition groups”. On the same day, December 7, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said that Syria was “tired of war, blood and tears”, according to AFP.
