Syria war

Assad's Fall Triggers Regional Powers' Rush to Shape Syria

Published DEC 10 2024

Story

Above: The Israeli army strengthens its air and ground forces in the Golan Heights on Dec. 6, 2024. Image credit: Israel Defense Forces (IDF)/Contributor/Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images

The Facts

After Syrian Pres. Bashar al-Assad departed Syria over the weekend, militants led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) captured Damascus. On Tuesday, Mohammed al-Bashir, who led the administration of the HTS-controlled enclave in Idlib, became the country's new prime minister.
Guardian
Al Jazeera
As uncertainty persists regarding Syria's future, the US attacked Islamic State group (IS) targets in central Syria, meanwhile, Turkey targeted US-backed Kurdish forces. Israel said its forces occupied previous Syrian army positions on Mount Hermon, extending into the Golan Heights buffer zone.
NPR Online News
Guardian
Israel said on Monday it had conducted extensive airstrikes targeting suspected chemical weapons sites and long-range rockets in Syria to prevent them from falling into extremist hands. HTS is the current iteration of the Al-Qaeda-linked Nusra front, though it has officially renounced these ties.
ap
BBC News
Council on Foreign Relations
Turkish-backed fighters seized the northern city of Manbij from the US-backed and Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), highlighting ongoing tensions between various factions on the ground.
The New York Times
The US also launched multiple airstrikes against IS targets in central Syria. There are also approximately 800 US troops in Syria's eastern regions to support the SDF.
The Washington Post
Usni
On Monday, the UN Security Council convened to discuss the situation in Syria, highlighting the importance of preserving territorial integrity, ensuring civilian protection, and securing suspected stockpiles of chemical weapons.
BBC News

Sources Split

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The Spin

Pro-establishment narrative

The unexpected offensive by HTS led to the fall of the Assad regime. This situation presents a strategic opportunity to prevent the proliferation of weapons and establish stability in Syria while safeguarding regional security interests through targeted military operations. The primary mission of the US in Syria is to prevent IS from exploiting any power vacuum to re-establish its capabilities in the region.

Dw.Com

Establishment-critical narrative

The power vacuum created by Assad's departure poses significant risks of extremist resurgence and territorial fragmentation. It is uncertain whether HTS, which is classified as a terrorist organization by the US and other Western nations, will be able to exert control over the various factions scattered throughout the country. If a new administration can't be formed, the risk of further civil war becomes quite likely, particularly if power-sharing arrangements fail to materialize.

The Times of India

Global Times