Yesterday, international public opinion was stirred by the news that opposition forces in Syria entered the capital Damascus. Opposition military groups declared that the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had collapsed, while the Russian Foreign Ministry said last night that Mr. Assad had left the country and issued instructions for a peaceful transfer of power but No destination mentioned. The situation in Syria is considered to be a turning point in the Middle East and will turn the geopolitical picture around, as the conflict here involves the involvement of many foreign actors.
Members of the Syrian opposition opened fire in the air in Damascus City on December 8
11 days of lightning
Since opposition forces led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group launched a surprise attack on November 27 against areas controlled by government troops, it took only 11 days for the opposition to bring Syria to Syria. become the focus of international media. The advance of the opposition military forces encountered little resistance from the Assad government’s army and gradually advanced into strategic locations, including control of the four cities of Daraa, Quneitra, Suwayda and Homs within 24 hours, before heading to Damascus. The Syrian army said fighting continued in a number of key cities, after information that the opposition controlled the capital.
Thousands of people gathered in the main square in Damascus after a statement from opposition military forces. Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali said he is ready for the power transition process in Syria, emphasizing that he will cooperate with the elected leader. The opposition coalition also announced that it will ensure the completion of the transfer of power to a transitional authority with full executive powers.
Point of conflict: The Syrian opposition’s quick victory; Russia used glide bombs to compensate for artillery
International reaction
The developments in Syria are said to have happened too quickly and some countries are also cautious when making statements. The White House said US President Joe Biden is closely monitoring the situation and continues to communicate with partners in the region. President-elect Donald Trump had a post on social media mentioning information that Mr. Assad had left Syria. UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen emphasized the clear desire of millions of Syrians to have stable power transfer agreements, calling on the Syrian people to prioritize dialogue, solidarity and respect for international humanitarian law. international. Meanwhile, Iranian media reported that the Iranian Embassy in Damascus was attacked by Syrian opposition forces. The Russian Foreign Ministry last night expressed concern about the situation in Syria and called on all parties to exercise restraint and resolve problems through political measures, adding that Russia had contacted opposition groups in Syria.
Syrians climb onto tanks
On the other hand, Israeli Minister of Overseas Affairs Amichai Chikli warned that the situation in Syria is “not a reason to celebrate”, emphasizing the potential danger of radical jihadist movements that could arise from unstable. The Jordanian government emphasized the importance of maintaining stability and security in Syria, adding that activities to enhance security in the region are underway. Chinese officials expressed hope that Syria would return to a stable situation as soon as possible, according to AFP.
Internal instability
Over the years, some observers said that the conflict in Syria had “frozen”, after Türkiye and Russia pushed for a ceasefire in 2020. Since then, the Assad government There were no large-scale encounters with opposing military forces. However, when the government could not put an end to the opposition movement, it was considered only a matter of time before the “ice layer” mentioned above melted and fighting returned. For opposition groups, this period is seen as an ideal time, when major allies supporting Mr. Assad such as Russia and Iran, or the armed group Hezbollah in Lebanon, must all focus on direct conflicts. .
Syrian opposition forces were present in Damascus city on December 8
If the conflict in Syria has generally been at a standstill in recent years, the economic and social burden has continued to increase, contributing to exacerbating instability. Embargoes from the US, regional crises and natural disasters all put pressure on the Assad government, especially on military budget issues. Al Jazeera also quoted Middle East researchers as saying that when the Damascus government does not possess strong enough armed forces, support from Russia or Iran is only local. On-the-ground developments also show that it took the Syrian government many years of siege and bombardment to control all of Aleppo in 2016. However, opposition military forces only needed one day to take control of this city. didn’t encounter much resistance.
Who is the leader of the opposition military force?
Mr. Abu Mohammed al-Julani, leader of the armed opposition group HTS, led forces against the Syrian government and organized rapid attacks. According to Al Jazeera, Mr. Julani spent nearly 10 years focusing on activities to establish a separate institution in Syria, instead of aiming for transnational activities like other armed groups.
The HTS group, when running Idlib province in Syria, is said to have a tough policy against dissidents. However, Mr. Julani seems to have taken a softer stance after opposition military forces launched attacks in recent days. He was captured by the US military in Iraq in 2006 and spent 5 years in prison. Julani was then tasked with establishing an al-Qaeda branch in Syria.
America is worried about the rise of IS
US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense in charge of Middle East affairs Daniel Shapiro yesterday emphasized that the US will maintain its presence in eastern Syria and take necessary measures to prevent the rise of the Islamic State organization. self-proclaimed (IS). Reuters quoted Mr. Shapiro as saying the situation in Syria could create conditions for IS to operate. The US also affirmed that it will not get involved in the internal conflict in Syria.
Tensions in Syria began with peaceful protests in 2011 and escalated into conflict between President Assad’s government and opposition groups. There was a time when Syria became a hot spot when many powers such as the US, Russia and Türkiye became involved with the excuse of destroying IS there.
