In the previous year, the United States and its regional partners applauded the downfall of Syria’s leader Bashar al-Assad’s government, which was achieved by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a faction of al-Qaeda labeled as a foreign terrorist organization by the US. The leader of this jihadist group, Ahmad al-Sharaa, who was soon to become the president, had a bounty of 10 million dollars placed by the US. Interestingly, Western media agencies quickly coined Al-Sharaa and HTS as heroes, signaling the dawn of peace and democracy for Syria.
Al-Sharaa’s sudden elevation to power marked the end of a lengthy and relentless conflict to dethrone the Assad regime, a campaign financially and militarily backed by the Gulf states, the US, Turkey, and Israel. This regime change coincided with the Israeli offensive against Palestinians in Gaza, which was also supported by the US.
This turn of events in Syria’s political landscape could potentially lead to significant shifts in the region’s balance of power and influence. The demise of US restrictions could pave the way for Turkey and the Gulf states’ efforts to integrate Syria into their economic and political spheres. There’s also the possibility of Lebanon falling into this fold, especially considering the deterioration of Hezbollah under Israel’s intense aerial assaults targeting their bases, manpower, and arsenal.
Furthermore, the newly established HTS-led government in Syria has not shown much interest in engaging with China, despite its potential as an investor. Earlier, high-ranking Chinese officials visited Damascus to explore and discuss future infrastructure investment opportunities; more recently, Chinese corporations have demonstrated significant interest in the Syrian reconstruction process. However, the current Syrian government doesn’t appear to resonate with those interests.
As a signifier of possibilities, Syria inked a deal with a Chinese entity for investment in the towns of Homs and RIF Damascus provinces. Despite this memorandum of understanding, there’s a subtle tension between China and the new leadership in Syria, begging to question if the agreement would eventually bear fruit.
The dramatic transformation of Syria’s governmental apparatus has drawn various interpretations and reactions. Among the most noteworthy remarks came from Israel’s former Prime Minister, Netanyahu, who branded the new Syrian state as ‘radical.’ He emphasized that any harm inflicted on the Druze community by the Syrian regime would not be tolerated.
In the wake of this political shift, Israel escalated its military activities along its northern border with Syria. Israeli forces went as far as obtaining massive portions of Syrian territory, a move that has compounded the tension in the region.
Historically, Israel had taken control of Syria’s Golan Heights after the Arab-Israeli war in 1967, and proceeded to annex it in 1981, which was in defiance of international norms. The fall of the Assad regime provided Israel with an opportunity to further extend its territorial grasp. Claiming to safeguard Syria’s Druze minority, Israel captured a UN-regulated buffer zone and parts of the Quneitra and Daraa provinces.
Israel’s expansion didn’t stop there. It continued to capture the strategically critical Mount Hermon located on the Lebanese border and further consolidated its dominance by creating several military bases on the captured land. These bold moves by Israel under the guise of protecting the Druze, subtly hints at its long-term territorial interests.
Such geopolitical moves were not without their repercussions. border tensions between Syria and its neighbors escalated, prompting Jordan to mobilize forces to its border as a precautionary measure to prevent potential encroachment.
The conflict, which began as a struggle for power, has since evolved into a significant humanitarian crisis, specifically in provinces that have seen the highest degree of conflict. The fallout of these disturbances has resulted in dire consequences for the inhabitants of those regions.
The post Syria’s New Dawn: From Assad Regime to HTS-led Government appeared first on Real News Now.
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