In a stunning turn of events, Syrian rebels announced early Sunday that they had liberated Damascus and overthrown President Bashar al-Assad's 24-year regime. The rebels also declared that all prisoners had been released, marking a significant shift in the Syrian conflict.
Since late November, the situation in Syria has intensified rapidly, with rebel forces making swift advances across the country. Experts attribute this sudden escalation to several strategic miscalculations by the Syrian government.
Li Zixin, an assistant research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies, shared insights into the factors leading to the current upheaval in an interview with China Media Group. According to Li, the Syrian government underestimated the resilience and potential of rebel groups to alter the nation's political landscape entirely. This misjudgment led to reduced military investments, including the abolition of compulsory military service and significant cuts in defense spending.
Additionally, Syria's stability has long depended on the support of regional allies such as Hezbollah and Iran. The ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the Russia-Ukraine war have further strained these alliances. The latter has notably hindered Russia's capacity to provide assistance to Syria, leaving the government grappling with the need to deploy substantial resources and troops to defend the capital, Damascus. This diversion has severely limited the government's ability to launch effective counterattacks against advancing rebel forces.
In light of these challenges, the recent trilateral talks between Russia, TĂĽrkiye, and Iran on Saturday are seen as a preliminary step toward addressing the Syrian crisis. However, Li cautions that these discussions may only set the stage for future negotiations, as each nation involved has its own set of concerns and priorities.
The fall of Damascus signals a potential new chapter for Syria, with global attention now focused on the next steps for governance and stability in the war-torn nation.
Reference(s):
Expert: Government's misjudgment paved way for rebel advance in Syria
cgtn.com
