https://sputniknews.in/20241217/is-syria-now-a-pawn-on-the-middle-east-geopolitical-chessboard-8552452.html
Is Syria Now a Pawn on the Middle East Geopolitical Chessboard?
Is Syria Now a Pawn on the Middle East Geopolitical Chessboard?
Sputnik India
Since the outbreak of conflict, Syria has become the epicenter of competing geopolitical interests, harming its people. Experts argue that Iran has always been... 17.12.2024, Sputnik India
2024-12-17T12:21+0530
2024-12-17T12:21+0530
2024-12-17T12:21+0530
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The takeover of Syria by anti-Iranian elements has harmed Tehran's regional interests from Iraq to Lebanon.But the much damage Israel, the US or the new rulers of Syria can inflict upon Iran — beyond the loss of an ally — is yet to be seen, strategic policy analyst Waqar Rizvi told Sputnik India.The Middle East is in flux and has been for many years now, the pundit said, and the effects of long-term instability in the region have rewritten alliances as interests shift to other sides. Today’s allies are tomorrow’s foes, he added.“No extra-regional power, be it the US or others, or even Israel, which continues its advances in Syria unabated and unchallenged, should be allowed to rewrite borders and decide who is and isn’t a worthy leader of respective nations,” he said.Bashar Assad's overthrow was a dangerous development for the region and the Syrian people, and Israel had already unleashed its terror on the country, Ata Munim Shahid, former deputy head of mission at the Pakistani embassy in Moscow, said.Israel has since destroyed the Syrian air defence system, its strategic assets and its naval facilities. Israeli forces are now just 25 km away from Damascus and have taken full control over the Golan Heights, perhaps permanently.Israel is now a mini regional power, Shahid said, and the next target could be Iran. That also has negative effects for other Arab countries as the balance of power has tilted in favour of Israel.He warned that could lead to a situation similar to Iraq, where the US first gained and then lost its influence.Turkiye will extend its influence in Syria, but the situation is still fluid. Shahid said. The real winner is Israel, and the losers are all regional Arab countries, above all Iran.Syria, after the fall of Assad government, is turning into battlefield and this situation also puts the newly found liberation of Syrians at risk, he warned.New leaders like Abu Mohammad al-Jolani and Ahmed Shirra clearly stated that Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) fought against Iran and Hezbollah and does not want to antagonise other players.The lives of nuclear scientists in Syria, as well as minorities like Druze, Ismailis, Alawites and others are at risk, as Syria continues to be under heavy sanctions, Dr Shubhda Chaudhary, founder of the Middle East Insights Platform and a geo-political analyst told Sputnik India.Both Israel and the US should allow Syria its autonomy to build a social contract and develop a civil society for a progressive democracy without foreign interference, she stressed.* ISIS (also known as Daesh/ISIL/IS), ISIS-K, ISKP, TTP – terrorist organisations banned in Russia and many other countries
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Is Syria Now a Pawn on the Middle East Geopolitical Chessboard?
Since the outbreak of conflict, Syria has become the epicenter of competing geopolitical interests, harming its people. Experts argue that Iran has always been a target for Israel, regardless of who is in power in Tel Aviv.
The takeover of Syria by
anti-Iranian elements has harmed Tehran's regional interests from Iraq to Lebanon.
But the much damage Israel, the US or the new rulers of Syria can inflict upon Iran — beyond the loss of an ally — is yet to be seen, strategic policy analyst Waqar Rizvi told Sputnik India.
The
Middle East is in flux and has been for many years now, the pundit said, and the effects of long-term instability in the region have rewritten alliances as interests shift to other sides. Today’s allies are tomorrow’s foes, he added.
"Anyone who makes grand claims about who will emerge as the winner, if there will be any, is being naïve," Rizvi stressed. "The only fact that remains true is that the region’s people have long suffered from this instability, insecurity and vacuum of genuine leadership for far too long.”
“No extra-regional power, be it the US or others, or even Israel, which continues its advances in Syria unabated and unchallenged, should be allowed to rewrite borders and decide who is and isn’t a worthy leader of respective nations,” he said.
Bashar Assad's overthrow was a dangerous development for the region and the Syrian people, and Israel had already unleashed its terror on the country, Ata Munim Shahid, former deputy head of mission at the Pakistani embassy in Moscow, said.
Israel has since destroyed the Syrian air defence system, its strategic assets and its naval facilities.
Israeli forces are now just 25 km away from Damascus and have taken full control over the Golan Heights, perhaps permanently.
Israel is now a mini regional power, Shahid said, and the next target could be Iran. That also has negative effects for other Arab countries as the balance of power has tilted in favour of Israel.
“The US has obviously aided those fighting against Assad. Without US and Turkish support, it would not have been possible to oust Assad,” the former diplomat said. “While the US may have reservations about the rise of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS*) in the region, at the same time, it is supporting those elements that fought against the Syrian government. A double standard is being played.”
He warned that could lead to a situation similar to Iraq, where the US first gained and then lost its influence.
Turkiye will extend its influence in Syria, but the situation is still fluid. Shahid said. The real winner is Israel, and the losers are all regional Arab countries, above all
Iran.
Syria, after the fall of Assad government, is turning into battlefield and this situation also puts the newly found liberation of Syrians at risk, he warned.
New leaders like Abu Mohammad al-Jolani and Ahmed Shirra clearly stated that Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) fought against Iran and Hezbollah and does not want to antagonise other players.
The lives of nuclear scientists in Syria, as well as minorities like Druze, Ismailis, Alawites and others are at risk, as Syria continues to be under heavy sanctions, Dr Shubhda Chaudhary, founder of the Middle East Insights Platform and a geo-political analyst told Sputnik India.
“The US has struck against more than 100 ISIS* targets and Israel's attacks in southwest Syria, ultimately aimed at targeting the military, intelligence and defence capabilities of former Syria, are going unchecked,” Chaudhary warned, “with no Western power acknowledging that this kind of interference is against the sovereignty of the Syrian people.”
Both Israel and the US should allow Syria its autonomy to build a social contract and develop a civil society for a progressive democracy without foreign interference, she stressed.
* ISIS (also known as Daesh/ISIL/IS), ISIS-K, ISKP, TTP – terrorist organisations banned in Russia and many other countries
