In December 2024, an event that fundamentally changed the geopolitical map of the Middle East - a change of power in Syria - took place. The contact line between the regime and opposition forces, which had been frozen since 2020, suddenly took action on November 27. Within 11 days, opposition forces took control of Aleppo, Homs, Hama, and finally the capital, Damascus, ending the 13-year civil war in a matter of days.
At this point, it is important to note that the regime forces did not offer serious resistance, there were no unified military command, and chaos, mass surrenders of soldiers, and fugitiveness were observed. In Syria, which became the longest and bloodiest battlefield of the "Arab Spring", the fatigue of the people from the events that took place also played a role in the short finish of the fighting. Thus, the Assad regime, which had been in power since 1971 in Syria, that was once considered one of the most stable and militarily strong countries in the Middle East, was brought to an end, and Bashar Assad fled to Russia with his family.
On the other hand, the whole world witnessed video footage of hundreds of prisoners being freed from the infamous Sednaya prison near Damascus in Syria, and its underground dungeons. Some of these people, who had been held in prison for years, were believed to be dead.
At this moment, when the attention of the whole world is focused on the future fate of Syria, the issues of its territorial integrity and the form of its state structure, some Western circles and media outlets have published articles and information about the behind-the-scenes aspects of the regime change in Syria, consisting of a synthesis of fake and true news.
The influential Washington Post newspaper, citing its sources, claims that Bashar Assad has held intensive negotiations regarding the future of his rule, as well as appealed to the United States for assistance, amid the rapid advance of opposition forces. But the US has said it can only lift sanctions against Syria in exchange for Damascus depriving its territory of the ability to supply Iran's Lebanese Hezbollah. Assad's allies, Iran and Hezbollah, rejected this offer and ultimately lost power.
The analogy of this claim being circulated by other reputable Western media outlets gives grounds to assert some truth in this information. However, at this point, it can once again be noted that the West's double standards and its attempt to exploit the Syrian events for its situational interests and geopolitical objectives are evident. The horrific scenes from Sednaya prison and the previous tragedies in the country highlight that the U.S. and its allies, portraying themselves as champions of democracy, have engaged in negotiations with the Syrian government, making demands related to Iran and Hezbollah.
This suggests that if Bashar al-Assad had met these demands, the U.S. would have prevented opposition forces from overthrowing the Syrian regime and turned a blind eye to human rights violations and other issues in the country. By imposing conditions on Damascus for its own interests amidst the country's dire situation, this fact is further confirmed. The fate of Bashar al-Assad demonstrates once again that all parties, including the West, which declares democratic values as its priority, are guided by their own interests and are willing to overlook violations if those interests are secured.
This selective approach, motivated by geopolitical ambitions, is also likely to be applied to other countries in the Middle East and globally. Those who engage in dialogue with the West and meet its demands are classified as "good countries," with their other negatives overlooked, while those pursuing independent policies based on national interests are labeled as "dangerous countries."
In any case, the events in Syria, while concluding the "Arab Spring" that began in 2011, significantly altered the power balance in the Middle East. Hamas's attack on Israel last October accelerated the region's transformation, substantially weakened the "axis of resistance" created by Iran, and introduced a new situation. Although it is challenging to predict how events will develop from here, what has occurred so far indicates that the Middle East will never be the same as before.
Follow us on Telegram
t.me/apanewsaz
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
