Israeli airstrikes?
The Syrian Human Rights Observatory yesterday (December 10) announced that it had recorded more than 300 Israeli airstrikes since opposition forces led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group overthrew Syrian President Bashar. al-Assad last weekend, according to AFP. Security sources said that intense Israeli airstrikes continued to target military facilities and air bases across Syria on the night of December 9 and the early morning of December 10, destroying dozens of helicopters and planes. fighting, as well as assets belonging to the presidential guard in and around the capital Damascus.
Point of conflict: Ukraine seeks a diplomatic way out; What will happen to the Russian base in Syria?
In addition, a Syrian security source yesterday accused Israeli soldiers of advancing to Qatar City, in southern Syria and about 25 km from Damascus, after Israel occupied the buffer zone patrolled by the UN. This buffer zone separates the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights from Syria. However, the Israeli army has denied accusations of marching into Qatar, according to Reuters.
A Syrian army helicopter burned after an Israeli attack outside the capital Damascus on December 9
Israel has announced it will not participate in the conflict in Syria and argues that occupying the above buffer zone is a defensive move. Meanwhile, Iran, Egypt, Qatar and Saudi Arabia have condemned Israel’s occupation of the buffer zone. Saudi Arabia said that this move would “destroy Syria’s chances of restoring security”, according to Reuters.
The opposition promotes forming a government
After the al-Assad government was overthrown, Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali on December 9 agreed to hand over power to the Salvation Government, a government led by the opposition and headquartered in the territory of Syria. northwest Syria. Reuters cited several sources revealing that Mr. al-Jalali met with HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammed al-Julani, to discuss a transitional government. Mr. al-Jalali said it could take days to carry out the transfer of power. The transitional government will be headed by Salvation Government leader Mohamed al-Bashir, according to Al Jazeera Television Network.
Faced with the above situation, governments in the region as well as in the West are trying to create new links with HTS, the group that has been designated as an organization by the US, European Union, Türkiye and the UN. terrorist organization. In particular, Qatari diplomats spoke with HTS representatives on December 9, according to Reuters, citing an informed source.
The future is uncertain for Syria after the opposition overthrew President al-Assad
In addition, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said on December 9 that Washington is seeking to reach out to the military opposition groups that overthrew the al-Assad government as well as regional partners to help launch diplomacy. unofficial. When asked whether the US wanted to cooperate with HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, Mr. Miller refused to answer but did not rule out the possibility, according to Reuters.
Many European countries stopped considering asylum applications from Syrians
Many European countries on December 9 announced to temporarily suspend consideration of Syrian asylum applications until further notice, according to Reuters.
In particular, the German Ministry of the Interior announced that it will not process asylum applications until there is clearer information about political developments in Syria. Germany is currently home to nearly a million Syrians and it is the largest Syrian community in Europe.
Other European countries such as the UK, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden and Norway also announced a temporary suspension of consideration of Syrian asylum applications.
