West Concerned Over Potential Hardline Islamist Regime in Syria – Reuters
Western and Arab nations are reportedly worried that a hardline Islamist regime may replace Assad’s government. Read Full Article at RT.com.
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Concerns have arisen regarding the potential replacement of Bashar Assad by a militant regime, as reported by the outlet.
According to Reuters, Western and Arab nations are anxious about the possibility that a collapse of the Assad government in Syria could pave the way for more hardline Islamist factions to try and seize control.
Recently, opposition forces led by Hayat Tahrir-al-Sham jihadist militants took control of significant cities, including Damascus, leading to the ousting of former President Bashar Assad, who has since fled the country and secured asylum in Russia.
Diplomats and analysts speaking to Reuters have indicated that the US, Israel, and other Arab powers in the region are worried that the absence of a central authority in Syria could result in increased instability and extremism.
“There is strong fear inside and outside the region of the power vacuum that Assad’s sudden collapse may cause,” Abdelaziz al-Sager, director of the Gulf Research Center think tank, noted, referencing historical civil wars that followed the overthrows of the Iraqi and Libyan governments in 2003 and 2011, respectively.
Additionally, a Western diplomat highlighted that the fragmented nature of the opposition forces means there is currently no cohesive strategy for governing Syria or addressing the needs of its diverse population, which includes various sects and ethnicities.
The diplomat voiced concerns about the potential for Syria to plunge into lawlessness, which could provide an environment conducive to the growth of extremist groups like Islamic State.
Conversely, Israeli experts suggest that, while there is a risk of chaos in Syria, the downfall of Assad's regime could ultimately benefit Israel.
“Despite concerns over the rise of extremist elements near the border and the lack of a clear authority in charge, the military capabilities of the rebels, in their various forms, aren’t comparable to those of Iran and its proxies,” stated Carmit Valensi, a senior researcher at an Israeli think tank.
US President Joe Biden has celebrated Assad’s ousting while acknowledging that the abrupt shift in power has ushered in a phase of “risk and uncertainty” for Syria. In response, US forces have conducted numerous airstrikes against IS positions in Syria in an effort to prevent the group from reestablishing itself.
Moreover, Washington has supported Israel's operations beyond the demilitarized buffer zone at the Golan Heights, with the Israel Defense Forces asserting that these actions aim to thwart Syrian-based militants from taking control of border areas and potentially launching attacks on Israel in the future.
Frederick R Cook for TROIB News
According to Reuters, Western and Arab nations are anxious about the possibility that a collapse of the Assad government in Syria could pave the way for more hardline Islamist factions to try and seize control.
Recently, opposition forces led by Hayat Tahrir-al-Sham jihadist militants took control of significant cities, including Damascus, leading to the ousting of former President Bashar Assad, who has since fled the country and secured asylum in Russia.
Diplomats and analysts speaking to Reuters have indicated that the US, Israel, and other Arab powers in the region are worried that the absence of a central authority in Syria could result in increased instability and extremism.
“There is strong fear inside and outside the region of the power vacuum that Assad’s sudden collapse may cause,” Abdelaziz al-Sager, director of the Gulf Research Center think tank, noted, referencing historical civil wars that followed the overthrows of the Iraqi and Libyan governments in 2003 and 2011, respectively.
Additionally, a Western diplomat highlighted that the fragmented nature of the opposition forces means there is currently no cohesive strategy for governing Syria or addressing the needs of its diverse population, which includes various sects and ethnicities.
The diplomat voiced concerns about the potential for Syria to plunge into lawlessness, which could provide an environment conducive to the growth of extremist groups like Islamic State.
Conversely, Israeli experts suggest that, while there is a risk of chaos in Syria, the downfall of Assad's regime could ultimately benefit Israel.
“Despite concerns over the rise of extremist elements near the border and the lack of a clear authority in charge, the military capabilities of the rebels, in their various forms, aren’t comparable to those of Iran and its proxies,” stated Carmit Valensi, a senior researcher at an Israeli think tank.
US President Joe Biden has celebrated Assad’s ousting while acknowledging that the abrupt shift in power has ushered in a phase of “risk and uncertainty” for Syria. In response, US forces have conducted numerous airstrikes against IS positions in Syria in an effort to prevent the group from reestablishing itself.
Moreover, Washington has supported Israel's operations beyond the demilitarized buffer zone at the Golan Heights, with the Israel Defense Forces asserting that these actions aim to thwart Syrian-based militants from taking control of border areas and potentially launching attacks on Israel in the future.
Frederick R Cook for TROIB News
