Syria’s future is uncertain after the fall of the Assad regime, with new leaders and external powers vying for control, posing significant challenges for the country’s diverse communities.
Author
Anuradha Chenoy, O.P. Jindal Global University, Sonipat, Haryana, India
Summary
Syria’s 50-year Assad dynasty has ended, with President Bashar al-Assad exiled in Moscow. The country’s diverse communities face existential challenges as new powers vie for influence. Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa, aka al-Jolani, a former Al-Qaida operative, leads the Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a coalition of 37 terrorist groups. Jolani has rebranded himself as a “pragmatist” and “reformed” rebel.
The Assad regime’s collapse was fueled by internal weaknesses and external pressures from Israel and the US. Syria’s support for Palestine and intervention in Lebanese civil wars had strained its relations with Israel and the US. As Jolani seeks to balance competing forces, the US has withdrawn its bounty on his head, while Israel continues to annex territories and pursue genocidal policies in Gaza. Russia and Iran maintain communication channels with the new Syrian regime, which faces immense challenges to its staying power.
Published in: Economic and Political Weekly
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