Mon Dec 16 02:33:25 UTC 2024: ## International Scramble for Influence as Islamist Rebels Oust Assad in Syria

**Damascus, Syria** – A week after Islamist rebels led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) forced President Bashar al-Assad to flee to Moscow, ending his decades-long rule, a flurry of diplomatic activity is underway in Syria. Foreign powers are rushing to establish contact with the new interim government, raising concerns about the future of the war-torn nation.

The UN special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, arrived in Damascus, calling for justice and accountability for past crimes while stressing the importance of a credible justice system to avoid revenge. He notably met with HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani.

Several countries have already taken significant steps. Qatar, which never restored ties with Assad’s regime, sent a delegation to meet transitional government officials and announced the reopening of its embassy. Turkey also reopened its Damascus embassy after a 12-year closure. Britain and the United States have confirmed direct contact with HTS, despite its designation as a terrorist organization. France plans to send a diplomatic team to Damascus this week.

The rebel takeover has prompted widespread concern, particularly regarding the safety of religious and ethnic minorities. While the interim government insists it will protect the rights of all Syrians, reports of past abuses under Assad’s regime, including torture and death threats, highlight the precarious situation. Former prisoners have shared harrowing accounts of their experiences.

The situation on the ground is slowly stabilizing, with children returning to school in Damascus, albeit in limited numbers. However, the interim governor, Maher Marwan, highlighted the immense challenges ahead, including the massive destruction of infrastructure and the need for substantial humanitarian aid. The UN has echoed these calls for increased aid.

Turkey has offered military support to the new government if requested. Meanwhile, Russia has evacuated some diplomatic staff from Syria. The rebel advance began on November 27th, coinciding with a ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war, in which Assad’s ally suffered significant losses. Israel, despite carrying out numerous strikes in Syria since Assad’s departure, maintains it has no interest in confronting the new government, although recent Israeli strikes in the Tartus region have been described as the heaviest in over a decade. Israel’s deployment of troops into a UN-patrolled buffer zone on the Golan Heights, however, has drawn condemnation from Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The UN considers this action a violation of a 1974 armistice. The evolving situation in Syria continues to present significant international challenges.

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