Press TV – December 8, 2024
President Assad left Syria, gave orders for peaceful power transition: Russia
Russia says Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has issued orders for a peaceful transition of power before he resigned and departed from the country.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Sunday that President Assad decided to step down after negotiations with “a number of participants in the armed conflict on the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic.”
Assad, Russia said, gave “instructions for a peaceful transfer of power.”
The ministry did not provide further information regarding Assad's whereabouts.
According to the statement, Moscow “did not participate in these negotiations,” but it calls on all “parties involved to refrain from the use of violence and to resolve all issues of governance through political means.”
"In that regard, the Russian Federation is in contact with all groups of the Syrian opposition."
Moscow said Russia's military bases in the Arab country had been put on a state of high alert, but that there was no serious threat to them at the current time.
On Saturday evening, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi urged "political dialogue" between the Syrian government and militant groups after a meeting with foreign ministers of Russia and Turkey in the Qatari capital of Doha on Saturday evening.
Araghchi said there was a consensus among all the participants that hostilities in Syria must end immediately and the country’s territorial integrity and national sovereignty must be respected based on the UN resolution.
The meeting was also attended by United Nations Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen, who had urged all parties “to spare bloodshed and focus on a political solution in accordance with Security Council Resolution 2254.”
The conflict began when Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) militant group launched a large-scale attack in Aleppo and Idlib provinces in the northwest of Syria on November 27, seizing several areas.
The group took control of parts of the country's second-biggest city, Aleppo, and advanced southward toward the city of Hama. Earlier on Sunday, the armed group declared that they had captured the capital, Damascus.
Iran: Only Syrian people must decide Syria’s fate without foreign meddling
Iran says only the Syrian people can make decisions about the country’s fate without any “destructive” foreign meddling.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Sunday following the fall of the Syrian government after militant groups led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) stormed and captured the capital Damascus.
The statement again reaffirmed the Islamic Republic’s principled stance on respecting Syria’s unity, national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“In order to achieve this important [issue], it is necessary to end military conflicts as soon as possible, prevent terrorist acts, and initiate national dialogue with the participation of all segments of Syrian society to form an inclusive government that represents all Syrian people,” it said.
It emphasized that Iran supports international mechanisms based on United Nations Resolution 2254 to pursue the political process in Syria, as it has in the past.
The ministry added that Iran will continue its constructive interaction with the UN in this regard.
Iran reiterates the status of Syria as an “important and influential” country in the West Asia region and will spare no effort to help the country establish security and stability, it pointed out.
According to the statement, Iran will continue its consultations with all influential parties, particularly those in the region.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran closely monitors developments in Syria and the region and will adopt appropriate approaches and positions while taking into account the behavior and performance of influential players in the Syrian political and security scene,” it said.
The ministry stressed the importance of ensuring the security of all Syrian citizens and nationals of other countries as well as preserving the sanctity of religious and holy sites.
It is also imperative to protect diplomatic and consular premises in accordance with international law, it added.
Pointing to deep-rooted and cordial relations between the Iranian and Syrian people, it is expected that the two countries will pursue a wise and far-sighted approach to maintain mutual ties based on common interests, the statement said.
What Assad government’s dramatic fall means for Syria, region and resistance axis
By Seyyed Ali Reza
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government in Damascus has fallen to a cluster of militant groups that rampaged through the war-ravaged Arab country, starting from Aleppo last week.
The collapse of the Arab country began soon after a ceasefire was announced in Lebanon early last week, following nearly 70 days of unbridled aggression by the Israeli regime, which claimed thousands of civilian lives but failed to achieve any significant military objectives.
The marauding militant groups, led by Hayaat Tahrir al-Sham (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra), launched a lightning-fast offensive on Aleppo, followed by rapid advances into Idlib, Hama, and Homs, ultimately overrunning Damascus early on Sunday.
Despite initial resistance by the Syrian Arab Army, the government forces gradually retreated from key areas, enabling the militant groups—backed by Western and Arab states as well as the Israeli regime—to achieve stunning military advances toward Damascus.
The whereabouts of the deposed Syrian president remain unknown, with speculation rife that he is either holed up at a Russian military base inside Syria or has fled to the UAE or Russia.
Syria has always been, and remains, a vital cog in the Axis of Resistance—a status that will not change regardless of who takes control in Damascus. The country’s strategic importance remains undiminished.
Furthermore, despite the dramatic developments in Syria, the dynamics within the broader Axis of Resistance remain unaffected. Palestine continues to be the central issue for the alliance.
Syria has historically served as a conduit for supplying arms and other resources to Lebanese and Palestinian resistance movements. However, these movements have now achieved self-reliance, producing their own weapons, including missiles and drones.
Iran’s support for the Axis of Resistance will continue regardless of Syria’s leadership, with Palestine remaining the foremost priority for the Islamic Resistance and its regional allies.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s recent diplomatic engagements across the region were aimed at ensuring that the primary issue of Palestine remains at the forefront amidst these developments.
“The principled stance of the Islamic Republic of Iran in supporting the people and resistance of Palestine and Lebanon against the occupation and aggression of the Zionist regime will continue with strength,” Araghchi stated during a meeting with senior Hamas leadership in Doha on Saturday.
He was in Doha to attend a regional conference on Syria with counterparts from Russia and Turkey.
The rapid fall of the Syrian government has left many questioning how it happened. The collapse has been described as even more dramatic than the Taliban's takeover of Kabul nearly three years ago.
However, it did not happen overnight. The militant groups, led by HTS, had been doing groundwork for this moment for years in areas considered their strongholds, with external support.
The chaos in the region—exacerbated by Israel’s ongoing genocidal war on Gaza and aggression in Lebanon—provided them an opportunity to strike decisively. This is the moment they had waited for.
None of these militant groups stood up for Gaza or Lebanon, as many have rightly argued, primarily because they didn’t wish to antagonize the Tel Aviv regime. They remained focused on Syria.
Starting last week, Assad’s forces retreated with little resistance. There are several reasons for the Syrian Arab Army’s failure to withstand the militants’ advances, and one of them is the grave economic situation in the country that impacted every section of Syrian society.
Syria’s economic situation has deteriorated alarmingly over the years, particularly since the United States imposed crippling sanctions under the “Caesar Act” in December 2019. These sanctions compounded the challenges for the Assad government as it could not initiate economic reforms.
The United States also provided backing to many of the militant groups opposed to Assad’s regime, which has been widely documented in leaked cables and statements of top US officials.
Assad’s ouster, however, does not signify a return to stability for Syria, nor does it guarantee the lifting or easing of sanctions. The new rulers are not a cohesive entity but rather a coalition of militant groups with varying ideologies, affiliations, and political objectives.
Several regional countries, including Qatar, Turkey, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia, have directly or indirectly supported these militant groups that toppled Assad’s government for their own regional ambitions.
The new ruling coalition in Damascus is likely to face significant challenges, particularly in gaining international legitimacy—similar to the de facto Taliban government in Kabul.
There is also a strong possibility that these militant groups will eventually turn on each other, as their objectives are fundamentally misaligned. Each faction is likely to seek a larger share of power.
The Israeli regime, which thrives on regional insecurity and chaos, is expected to continue exacerbating the situation. Recent reports suggest that Israel has attempted to expand its invasion of Syrian territories beyond the already occupied Golan Heights, taking advantage of the ongoing turmoil.
While it is evident that these militant groups benefited from support provided by the Zionist regime, this support will not continue now that they have toppled Syria’s democratically elected government.
The coming days and weeks are critical that would determine which direction the region takes. However, one thing is for sure, the resistance axis remains intact and in a stronger position.
Seyyed Ali Riza is a Sydney-based writer who specializes in West Asia affairs
Al Mayadeen – December 8, 2024
Syrian opposition coalition works on power transfer to transitional govt
The Syrian opposition coalition says it is working to complete the transfer of power in Syria to a "transitional governing body".
On Sunday, the Syrian opposition coalition said it was continuing work to complete the transfer of power in Syria to a "transitional governing body with full executive powers."
In a statement, it said, "The great Syrian revolution has moved from the stage of struggle to overthrow the Assad regime to the struggle to build a Syria together that befits the sacrifices of its people."
Additionally, the coalition called on Kurdish forces to disengage from any foreign organizations.
Shortly after, Reuters reported, citing Syrian opposition fighters, that attacks had begun on Kurdish forces in Manbij, northern Syria.
Moreover, Reuters quoted the Syrian opposition coalition as confirming its continued work "to complete the transfer of power to a transitional governing body with full executive powers."
The coalition stressed that "the revolution has moved from the stage of struggle to overthrow the Assad regime to the stage of struggle to build Syria together," according to Reuters.
Issue of Russian presence in Syria will be decided by the new Syrian government
Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali confirmed that the issue of the Russian military presence in Syria will be decided by the new Syrian government.
He said, "This issue is not within my jurisdiction, and will be decided by the new authorities in the coming period," adding that a new phase is taking shape in Syria with what he described as "the dawn of the era of pluralism will come."
Earlier on Sunday, al-Jalali said he was ready to cooperate with any leadership chosen by the Syrian people and affirmed that he is prepared to undertake a handover process.
This comes after militants entered Syria's capital, Damascus, and reports of President Bashar al-Assad's leaving the capital to an unknown location at an earlier time.
Late on Saturday, the Syrian Arab Army withdrew from the city of Homs, where militants took over the city and other towns in western Syria. For the most part, no clashes were recorded before and during the withdrawal of Syrian Arab Army forces and the eventual takeover by militants of Syrian towns.
Meanwhile, al-Jalali said that he is ready to cooperate with any leadership chosen by the Syrian people, stressing that he will not leave his home until a "peaceful transition" is achieved, where he would have guaranteed the safety of Syrian public institutions and their continued work.
He urged all parties to think "rationally," adding that he extends his hand in cooperation to everyone, including members of the opposition.
It is worth noting that the onslaught on Syrian cities and towns, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and Turkish-backed militants, began on November 27, targeting the city of Aleppo in the north. Later, militants took over the city of Hama then Homs, before heading toward Damascus which they entered earlier today.
Al Mayadeen – December 8, 2024
America’s plan B for a 'new Middle East'
Batool Subeiti
America’s "Plan B" for the “New Middle East” emerges as a response to the failure of its initial strategy, which aimed to reshape the region through Israeli military dominance and the destabilization of key Resistance movements.
America’s "Plan B" for the “New Middle East” emerges as a response to the failure of its initial strategy, which aimed to reshape the region through Israeli military dominance and the destabilization of key Resistance movements. The current strategy, focused on achieving geopolitical goals by leveraging sectarian divisions and supporting certain proxy forces, has evolved in response to shifting realities on the ground.
Failure of Plan A
America’s first plan (Plan A) hinged on Israeli military action to defeat the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon. The idea was that after defeating the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon, "Israel" would deploy forces in the Golan Heights to attack Syria while Takfiri mercenaries would rise in Northwestern Syria to overthrow the Syrian government. From there, these forces would spill over into Iraq, toppling the PMF Resistance and unleashing covert networks within Iran to weaken the Iranian government and the Axis of Resistance on a broader front.
However, this strategy collapsed when "Israel’s" military aggression in Lebanon was met with significant resistance, leading to the Israeli occupation entity begging for a ceasefire. This marked a strategic defeat for what many called the "Israel 2.0" project, signaling that the Lebanese Resistance had managed to thwart the initial plan.
Shift to Plan B
In response to the failure of Plan A, America turned to Plan B, which sought to achieve through political means what Israel could not accomplish militarily. Rather than relying on Israel, America now focuses on undermining Lebanon’s Resistance by influencing the Lebanese political and military landscape. Key to this strategy is the involvement of US Special Forces and officials like Amos Hochstein, who are working to disarm the Lebanese Resistance and weaken its position within Lebanon.
This new phase also underscores the importance of Syria in America’s broader Middle East strategy. Syria, acting as a vital logistical hub for the Axis of Resistance, is central to any attempt to dismantle the coalition of forces opposing US and Israeli interests. To this end, America has continued to train and arm mercenaries, building upon the tactics seen during Operation Timber Sycamore, which sought to destabilize Syria and topple its government by using terrorist groups.
Resurrecting sectarian divisions
One of the underlying objectives of America’s strategy is to reignite sectarian tensions within the Muslim world, particularly between Sunni and Shiite masses. This was a tactic utilized during the "Arab Spring," when Turkey was positioned as a sponsor for Islamist groups across the region in a bid to fight the "Shia pole" led by Iran. By promoting sectarianism, America aims to weaken the Axis of Resistance and further divide the Muslim Ummah. Groups like ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, which hold inherently sectarian ideologies, were seen as key instruments for this divide-and-conquer strategy.
The Axis of Resistance response
The Axis of Resistance has highlighted the real threat it poses to the imperialist project in West Asia, following the events of October 7. The unity of the Resistance front has weakened Israel, which now faces internal fragmentation and an existential challenge. Just as the Axis of Resistance prevented the spread of terrorism in the past decade and ensured Syria's survival, its success in absorbing the initial shock of Aleppo's capture is even more crucial today. The Axis of Resistance will not allow Syria to fall and will re-capture all areas seized by the terrorists in due course.
This resilience underscores the strategic depth of the Axis, which continues to expand and strengthen its fronts. As highlighted by Iran’s Leader, Sayyed Khamenei, the Resistance is actively preparing for new phases of confrontation, positioning itself to thwart future US and Israeli efforts to reshape the region.
https://english.almayadeen.net/articles/blog/america-s-plan-b-for-a-new-middle-east
