Link to article: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/us-backed-group-fights-syrian-army-reignited-conflict-spreads-2024-12-03/
On December 3rd, Syrian rebels were reported advancing against government forces, pushing close to the major city of Hama. Rebels and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor said insurgents had captured villages including Maar Shahur a few miles north of the city. Attacking Hama would ramp up the pressure on Assad, whose Russian and Iranian allies have been supporting him against a reviving rebellion. The city has belonged to the government since the Civil War began in 2011. According to the RIA The foreign minister from Iran (Araqchi) stated in an interview that Tehran would consider sending troops to Syria if Damascus asked, and Putin urged an end to terrorist aggression in Syria. The Iraqi prime minister al-Sudani blamed the Israeli military strikes on the Syrian government for the rebel advance. At the same time, fighters from a U.S. backed, Kurdish led coalition battled government forces in the northeast, opening a new front among a vital supply drop. The front lines of the conflict have been frozen since 2020 after Assad clawed back most of the country from rebels, thanks to help from Russian air power and military help from Iran and its network of regional Shi’ite militia groups. On Monday, hundreds of Iran-backed Iraqi militia fighters entered Syria to back up Syrian government forces, Iraqi and Syrian sources said, but Hezbollah does not plan to send forces now. A rebel source said Iran-backed militia fighters were among the forces they were battling outside Hama. In recent days, Russian and Syrian government warplanes have intensified airstrikes against rebels, both sides have said. Rescue workers have reported deadly strikes on hospitals in Aleppo and Idlib. Any sustained escalation in Syria risks further destabilising a region already alight from wars in Gaza and Lebanon, where a truce between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group took effect last week and the retreat by Assad’s forces over the past several days has led to jockeying for control among other groups that control pockets in the northwest, north and east.
I do not know to much about Syria, however I know that the fighting against terrorist organizations and rebels could cause serious issues if Iran and Russia really do end up sending troops to aid Assad. I understand that Assad is a dictator and has been known to violate human rights in Syria. However, I am not sure if Assad being pressured is necessarily a good thing or if this could destabilize the region even more. I know that Israel recently struck a city in Syria and that they killed a major leader of Hezbollah. I did not know until recently that Syria is backed by Hezbollah. I feel like this might be a lesser evil situation where the insurgents attacking Hama and going after Assad could be better than a Russian, Iranian, and Hezbollah backed dictator. While I do not want to make any false assumptions because I am not as well versed in Syrian history and politics, however I did find it interesting that the Iraqi foreign minister blamed Israel’s attack on Syria as the reason for the rebel attacks. I also think that it is a good thing that Hezbollah will not be sending troops to aid Syria in their battle with the rebels because of Lebanon and Israel’s recent ceasefire negotiations. I think that it is important for Israel and Hezbollah to stay out of whatever conflict is going on in Syria and that they should honor their ceasefire. I also did not understand the US backed Kurdish led coalition, I do not understand why the United States would be sending coalitions into Syria when the Russians and Iranians could get involved.
I feel that Syria’s situation is very reliant on their allies and I wonder what would happen if the fluidity of the alliance changes. I am not sure what common national interests Syria, Russia, and Iran have, however I am sure that Russia and Iran are worried about what could replace the authoritarian state if Assad is removed. I do not understand why the United States would be sending in US backed Kurdish coalitions. I know that in class we started talking about the United States and the many intelligence and defense agencies, however I do not understand why in our National Interest we would be trying to potentially overthrow the Syrian government which could create more instability in the Middle East and lead to more conflict with Russia and Iran. I know that Russia, Iran, and Syria all do not like the United States and share similar political interests so maybe that is why they are aligned, however I wonder what will happen if that changes overtime.