Washington Post writer: If Idlib falls, Assad will have no reason to negotiate

A Washington Post writer says there is an absence of any American strategy after 11 and a half years towards the horrific conflict in Syria, which gives Moscow, Iran and the regime of President Bashar al-Assad the opportunity to do what they want.

Columnist Josh Rogen said

newspaper that the administration of US President Joe Biden, half a year after its inauguration, has not come up with a new strategy to address this conflict, at a time when the situation on the ground is deteriorating and other powers are taking advantage of America's absence.

He explained that although the Biden administration did not completely ignore Syria, for the Syrians who were encouraged by the promises of Biden and his Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, to lead a new international effort to protect civilians and provide a real political solution to the conflict, these recent moves seem ad hoc and absolutely insufficient, noting that the American presence on the ground In Syria it is hardly perceptible.

Focus on the humanitarian situation

He added that since the resolution of the humanitarian aid issue at the UN Security Council last month, the Syrian and Russian armies have rushed to carry out acts of violence and aggression against civilians in Idlib, and a severe siege on Daraa, the cradle of the Syrian revolution.

Rogen revealed that several Biden officials have made it clear to him that the administration is currently focused on the humanitarian situation in Syria and believes that the relatively low levels of violence are worth trying to maintain, and is cautiously optimistic about the opportunity for further negotiations between the United States and Russia on Syria, but acknowledges that its strategy Diplomacy has yet to be decided, pending the outcome of the internal policy review that is still underway.

is not a priority

He said that Blinken has not yet appointed a special representative for Syria, a high-ranking diplomat, to manage the portfolio and activate diplomacy, and attributed to Moaz Mustafa, Executive Director of the Syrian Emergency Force, an American non-governmental organization that supports the Syrian opposition, as saying that this sends a clear signal that Syria is not a priority for the administration.

Mustafa warned that if the regime succeeds in retaking Idlib by committing war crimes, it will be devastating not only for civilians but also for the US pursuit of any political solution at all.

And if Idlib falls, Assad will have no reason to negotiate.

This means more atrocities, more "extremism", more refugees, more instability and endless conflict.

last hurdle

Mustafa added that Idlib is the last obstacle for the Syrian regime, Iran and Russia to secure the military victory they want.

If they declare victory, it will make Syria the "North Korea of ​​the Middle East."

The writer said that Biden should stress that Assad cannot find his way back to the international community on the blood of the people, referring to what Stephen Rapp, the former State Department ambassador on war crimes roving, said: “It is imperative that there be no normalization of relations with Assad, and we must commend Other countries should refrain from doing that as well, because Assad cannot enjoy the fruits of victory, and this should be our firm position.”