Latest news with #al-Assad
Shafaq News
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Alawite women targeted in post-Assad chaos
Shafaq News - Damascus The aftermath of Bashar al-Assad's ousting has unleashed a new wave of violence in Syria—this time targeting women of his own sect. Reuters reported that at least 33 Alawite women and girls, ages 16 to 39, have gone missing in 2025 alone, amid the unraveling security situation in al-Assad's coastal strongholds. "Don't wait for her," a chilling voice told the family of 29-year-old Abeer Suleiman, who vanished on May 21 in Safita. Days later, her family received WhatsApp calls demanding $15,000 for her release, warning she would be killed or trafficked if the ransom wasn't paid. Suleiman later managed to say, 'I am not in Syria… all the accents around me are strange,' in a recorded call traced to an Iraqi number. This is not an isolated case. These abductions, which exclusively target Alawite women, coincide with escalating reprisals against the community after al-Assad's fall in December. Armed factions aligned with the transitional government have reportedly killed hundreds of Alawites in the coastal regions since March. Despite widespread online pleas from victims' families, no comparable patterns of disappearances have been reported among other sects. The UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria is now formally investigating the wave of abductions. The rising trend has spotlighted the vulnerability of minority communities during regime transitions and raised urgent questions about state accountability, regional trafficking networks, and sectarian vengeance.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
The Israel-Iran ceasefire — managing the blowback
The cessation of Israel-Iran hostilities, announced by United States President Donald Trump, sets the stage for the denouement of the horror drama that began on October 7, 2023, with Hamas launching its Operation Toofan al-Aqsa. While the fog of war and rounds of one-upmanship make the immediate foreground inexact, unless the choreographers take due care, the finale is certain to be as disruptive as the main act has been. Over the past 21 months, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), backed by the U.S., has scored a set of spectacular though pyrrhic military victories. In Gaza, the IDF has decimated Hamas, even as some Israeli hostages remain in Hamas captivity. Lebanon's Hezbollah, considered the world's most formidable non-state actor with an estimated 1,00,000 missiles, has been neutered with its leadership in disarray and its arsenal gone. Syria's al-Assad regime, Israel's rejectionist foe for 54 years, has been replaced by a weak Islamist government that poses no threat to Israel. Yemen's al-Houthis did manage to disrupt maritime traffic and lob missiles at Israel, but have been cowed down by the disproportionate IDF and U.S. military responses. Lastly, after 12 days of high-intensity aerial exchanges, Israel and the US claimed to have 'obliterated' the nuclear option that Iran doggedly pursued for over two decades. Tehran has also suffered strategic losses of its missile force and has had targeted assassinations of its top military personnel and nuclear scientists. While single-mindedly pursuing its military options, Israel's ultra-right government has ridden roughshod over the domestic opposition and brushed aside foreign criticism and attempts at the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice to put it on a legal mat. The course for Iran 'Where does West Asia go from here?' It is a difficult question to answer for several reasons. The situation, to quote Churchill, 'is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma…' The dramatic and unprecedented turn of events notwithstanding, the resultant geopolitical entropy would unfold only glacially. With the three main stakeholders all claiming victories and jostling for influence over the outcome, controlling the blowback and avoiding revanchism would be a challenge. The putative military victors, namely Israel and the U.S., would aim for a permanently favourable geopolitical architecture, while the countervailing forces, including Iran, try to turn their military stalemate into a political victory. Setting the future course of Iran would be the biggest challenge for two reasons: First, as the most populous country in the region, it is intrinsically important. Second, as Israel's most implacable foe, it has been the region's biggest disruptor and political determinant. Despite its economy hobbled by 'maximum pressure' sanctions and a devastating war, Tehran remains a regional geo-strategic pivot. While the victors may have publicly avowed their disinterest in regime change in Tehran, an unrepentant Mullah regime would signify their 'unfinished agenda'. The necessity of keeping Tehran in check on its weapons of mass destruction (WMD) ambitions by continued sanctions and strict and intrusive supervision by international inspections would preoccupy the U.S., Israel and the pro-West regimes in this region. This would create an unsteady political dynamic similar to Iraq during 1991-2003 after Saddam's forces were evicted from Kuwait. Further, Tehran may become a countervailing pole to the Pax Americana in the region — a prospect anathematic to 'the winner takes it all' absolutists in power in Washington and Jerusalem. On the other hand, having a West-leaning regime in Tehran would be a profound gain. It would create a comprehensive Pax Americana in West Asia, allowing the U.S. to control the strategic region's hydrocarbon resources. Moreover, the huge pent-up Iranian demand for projects, merchandise and services can then be cornered by the American multinationals. Lastly, a friendly government would put a firm lid on the regional proxies created by Iran in the past. The goal of a friendly regime Therefore, installing a friendly regime in Tehran is of primordial importance for Israel and the U.S. But this mission presents a huge dilemma. Although large sections of its population are politically alienated due to corruption and the high-handedness of authorities, as well as high inflation, they would stand up against any foreign occupation and imposed government. So, boots-on-ground to effect a regime change would be counterproductive and can be ruled out. Moreover, attempts by the U.S. in the past at forced regime changes in Afghanistan and Iraq were costly and messy failures. Iran is a large country with a deeply entrenched current government structure. Though some exiled Iranian groups, such as Pahlavi Royalists and Mujahedin al-Khalq exist, their local support is highly uncertain, making an externally sponsored takeover unlikely. There is also a danger that destabilisation of the current regime could unleash centrifugal forces among various ethnic minorities such as Kurds, Azeris, Arabs and Sunnis, who constitute nearly 40% of the population. This would create a Libya, Sudan and Somalia type of anarchy, which is in no one's interest. Hence, the best possible scenario for the Americans is to glacially reorient the current regime. This would be a challenge as the radicals supported by the Republic Guards currently control the parliament and clergy, with the Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, favouring them. Therefore, pressure to being applied to get the 86-year-old Khamenei, at the helm for 36 years, to either discreetly abandon WMD ambitions or relinquish power and be replaced by a pro-West moderate. While the hardliners in power may resist a change at the top at this critical juncture, their policies have not worked. The two front-runners in the contest — to be decided by the Guardian Council — are likely to be the Supreme Leader's son, Mojtaba Khamenei and the grandson Hassan Khomeini of Ayatollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic. They are both in their fifties. While Khamenei junior has continuity of lineage and policies, Hassan Khomeini is bereft of any such baggage. As the only transition at the Supreme Leader level was 35 years ago, this is largely uncharted territory, but with serious implications for the country and the region. The Gaza situation The second issue awaiting resolution is the Israel-Palestine dispute, which the recent events have made even more convoluted. The just concluded war with Iran would allow the IDF to refocus on the Gaza situation, where mass starvation competes with the high death toll of civilians every day due to Israeli fire. It is a desperate situation. The occupied West Bank is facing a deteriorating situation due to Jewish settlers on the rampage and the long-suspended transition of the Palestine Authority under President Mohammed Abbas, who is close to 90. A post-conflict euphoria may allow Mr. Trump to refloat his bizarre idea of mass deportation of Gazans to build an 'international riviera.' While the war-numbed Gazans are desperate for survival, it is still difficult to see this as a part of the solution. The end of the war would finally allow Israeli society greater normalcy, permitting an objective and rational analysis of its recent extraordinary experiences. The clamour for the early release of remaining hostages is likely to intensify, and the governance and intelligence failings of the current regime may come under harsh spotlight. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's suspended trial on corruption charges may resume. The economic and social costs of the war may haunt Israel for a long time, giving it a reality check. Israel's post-war recovery and political reset towards moderation would be pivotal for the expansion of the Abraham Accords. After this apocalyptic conflict, the West Asian region yearns for peace and stability. If the three main actors, viz., Iran, Israel and the U.S. avoid triumphalism and transit instead to moderation and nation-building, this aspiration can be realised. The region and the world would benefit from lower oil prices, smoother logistics and reduced radicalisation and terrorism. Otherwise, the region would go back to business as usual: cyclicity of the conflicts punctuated by an interregnum of tense peace. Mahesh Sachdev is a retired Indian Ambassador specialising in West Asia and oil affairs
Shafaq News
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Alawite teen killed at checkpoint as sectarian violence surges in Syria
Shafaq News/ An 18-year-old Alawite man was shot dead at an armed group checkpoint in the town of Shin, west of Homs, on Wednesday, as Syria faces a sharp rise in sectarian killings and abductions following the collapse of al-Assad regime. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), the teenager was riding to work with a companion on a motorcycle when they were stopped by gunmen affiliated with pro-government factions tied to the defense and interior ministries. The assailants questioned the pair about their sect before executing one and briefly detaining the other. The body remained at the scene for hours before their ID cards were found near the local police station. #المرصد_السوري تصاعد في حـ ـوادث الـ ـعـ ـنـ ـف الطائفي.. إعـ ـدام شابين أحدهما في #حمص والآخر في #حماة — المرصد السوري لحقوق الإنسان (@syriahr) June 11, 2025 The killing is one of several violent incidents reported in recent days. In rural Hama, a young shopkeeper was gunned down in his store in the village of Turkmen Musa by two masked men on a motorcycle. Despite a heavy security presence in the area, the attackers escaped, raising suspicions of insider involvement. #المرصد_السوري استمرارا لـ ـحـ ـوادث الـ ـعـ ـنـ ـف.. استشهاد مدني بـ ـرصـ ـاص عـ ـصـ ـابـ ـة مـ ـسـ ـلّـ ـحـ ـة في ريف #مصياف — المرصد السوري لحقوق الإنسان (@syriahr) June 11, 2025 Meanwhile, factions known as 'Hamzat' and 'Amshat' abducted three displaced Kurdish men from Afrin while they were traveling from Qamishli to Aleppo. The men were accused of links to the Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration. They are originally from Jindires, Sharran, and Khirbat Sharran. #المرصد_السوري بحجة التعامل مع " #الإدارة_الذاتية".. القوة المشتركة تـ ـخـ ـتـ ـطـ ـف 3 مواطنين كرد في ريف #حلب — المرصد السوري لحقوق الإنسان (@syriahr) June 11, 2025 In a separate case, the same faction kidnapped a fourth Kurdish man from the village of Ali Baku in northern Aleppo. He had returned from Iraq to visit family when he was seized near Deir Hafer. His fate remains unknown.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Syria: Women should wear burkinis, 'appropriate' swimsuits on beaches
The Syrian Tourism Ministry on Tuesday said women should wear burkinis or "appropriate" swimsuits at public beaches. "People are asked to wear conservative swimsuits at public beaches and shores (burkinis or swimsuits which cover the whole body," a ministry statement said. "Swimmers and general beach visitors in general are required to wear appropriate swimming attire and behave in a manner that respects public taste," the statement added. The decision came six months after an Islamist coalition seized power and overthrew longtime dictator Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. Outside public swimming areas, women should wear loose-fitting clothing, and men must not walk around bare-chested even in hotel lobbies and restaurant areas, the statement said. During al-Assad's rule, women in Syria were not seen wearing swimsuits, especially on public beaches. But the ministry said the restrictions do not apply to private clubs, pools and luxury hotels. "It is allowed to wear regular Western swimsuits provided that appropriate behavior is adhered to," the statement said. Syria is currently led by a transitional government. It is largely comprised of the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. Since the takeover, the rights of minorities and women have been under particular scrutiny.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
1,500-year-old Byzantine tomb complex discovered under Syrian war ruins
A construction worker has unearthed a 1,500-year-old Byzantine tomb complex in the war-torn province of Idlib, northern Syria. The discovery occurred in Maarat al-Numan, a town of strategic importance between Aleppo and Damascus, which saw intense conflict during the Syrian civil war. The area, once a rebel stronghold, was reclaimed by former president Bashar al-Assad's forces in 2020, leaving many homes looted and demolished. As residents return to rebuild following the overthrow of Mr al-Assad in 2024, the chance discovery of stone openings led to the unearthing of ancient graves. Local authorities were promptly alerted, and a team of specialists has been dispatched to inspect and secure the site. Aboveground, it is a residential neighbourhood with rows of cinder-block buildings, many of them damaged in the war. Next to one of those buildings, a pit leads down to the openings of two burial chambers, each containing six stone tombs. The sign of the cross is etched into the top of one stone column. 'Based on the presence of the cross and the pottery and glass pieces that were found, this tomb dates back to the Byzantine era,' said Hassan al-Ismail, director of antiquities in Idlib. He noted that the discovery adds to an already rich collection of archeological sites in the area. Idlib "has a third of the monuments of Syria, containing 800 archaeological sites in addition to an ancient city', Mr al-Ismail said. The Byzantine Empire, which began in the 4th century AD, was a continuation of the Roman empire with its capital in Constantinople – today's Istanbul – and Christianity as its official religion. Abandoned Byzantine-era settlements called Dead Cities stretch across rocky hills and plains in northwest Syria, their weathered limestone ruins featuring remnants of stone houses, basilicas, tombs and colonnaded streets. In the past, the owners of sites where archeological ruins were found sometimes covered them up, fearful that their property would be seized to preserve the ruins, said Ghiath Sheikh Diab, a resident of Maarat al-Numan who witnessed the moment when the tomb complex was uncovered. He said he hoped the new government will fairly compensate property owners in such cases and provide assistance to the displaced people who have returned to the area to find their homes destroyed. The years of war led to significant damage to Syria's archeological sites, not only from bombing but from looting and unauthorised digging. Some see in the ruins a sign of hope for economic renewal. Another local resident, Abed Jaafar, came with his son to explore the newly discovered tombs and take pictures. 'In the old days, a lot of foreign tourists used to come to Maarat just to see the ruins,' he said. 'We need to take care of the antiquities and restore them and return them to the way they were before … and this will help to bring back the tourism and the economy.'
