Syria’s Transitional Authorities Confront Rising Challenges Amidst Ethnic Tensions
Syria’s transitional government faces urgent security challenges due to ethnic and religious diversity. With severe violence erupting, particularly in the Alawite regions, the government’s authority is questioned. Negotiations with Kurdish factions remain stalled, and Israeli involvement complicates the situation further. The Druze community, while historically neutral, is becoming more engaged in national governance as they navigate these turbulent times.
The transitional authorities in Syria are grappling with security concerns amidst ethnic and religious diversity. The new government faces significant challenges, with heavy clashes reported on the Alawite-dominated coast. Negotiations are ongoing with various factions, including the Kurds in the northeast, as tensions rise in several regions, particularly in the context of potential Israeli intervention in the south.
Recent violence has escalated since the December overthrow of Bashar Assad, leading to over 500 fatalities, including 311 civilians from the Alawite community, historically aligned with Assad’s regime. This demographic, constituting approximately nine percent of Syria’s populace, is now fearful of reprisals due to the Assads’ brutal governance, which included widespread human rights abuses.
Aron Lund of the Century International think tank remarked that the recent violence is “a bad omen,” indicating the interim government’s difficulty in engaging with discontented Alawites. The new administration, led by interim President Ahmed Al-Sharaa, relies heavily on force, comprising factions with extreme anti-Alawite sentiments. Although Sharaa has pledged to respect minority rights, these reassurances have not reached the frontline forces tasked with maintaining order.
Syria’s north and northeast remain under the control of a Kurdish administration whose armed factions retain significant power. Sharaa has insisted on the disarmament of all groups and the integration of Kurdish forces into a unified Syrian army, rejecting any autonomy for the Kurds. Negotiations have so far proved fruitless, highlighted by ongoing conflicts between pro-Turkiye groups and Kurdish forces.
The U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which successfully countered Daesh, are unlikely to disband without the withdrawal of American troops. Fabrice Balanche, a political analyst, noted that while the Kurds are amenable to a return of civil governance, they resist the military oversight of Islamist factions associated with the new regime, aiming to preserve their autonomy.
The Druze community, comprising approximately three percent of the population, concentration in southern Sweida, has traditionally stayed neutral but is reportedly engaging more with national governance aspirations. Although some Druze groups express a desire to join a unified army, they have not yet surrendered their arms.
Israel has increasingly involved itself in southern Syria amidst regional tensions, particularly concerning the Druze. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz cautioned Syria against actions that could harm the Druze, who reside across borders in Lebanon and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has demanded a complete demilitarization of southern Syria, as Israeli forces have continued strikes and crossed into buffer zones.
Druze leaders have rejected Katz’s warnings and reaffirmed their loyalty to Syria, while Sharaa condemned the Israeli statements and called for a withdrawal from Syrian territories. Charles Lister, a Syria expert at the Middle East Institute, noted that Israel’s actions appear to be aligning the Druze more closely with the Damascus government than ever before.
The situation in Syria is increasingly precarious, with the transitional government struggling to maintain order amid rising ethnic and religious tensions. The Alawite community faces the risk of violence against them, while the Kurdish forces and Druze communities seek to assert their autonomy in the evolving political landscape. Israel’s involvement adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing turmoil, highlighting the challenges that lie ahead for Syria’s new authorities in achieving stability.
Original Source: www.arabnews.com
