Is Syria Heading Toward Peace or More Chaos? Pg10

• What’s Happening in Syria? - After Bashar al-Assad’s fall in December 2024, interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa is struggling to consolidate power.
  • The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have been integrated into the new administration.
  • Assad’s loyalists still control Latakia, while the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) is attacking Kurdish forces in the northeast.
  • Israel has intensified airstrikes, targeting Iran-backed militias and Syrian military installations.
• Who Controls Syria Now? - Ahmed al-Sharaa’s government is backed by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a Sunni Islamist faction.
  • HTS has rebranded itself as a political authority, but its militant origins raise concerns about governance and human rights.
  • The government has no full territorial control, with conflict zones in Latakia, the Golan Heights, and Kurdish areas.
• Why Is Syria Still at Risk of Violence? - Poverty & Economic Collapse: Over 90% of Syrians live below the poverty line.
  • Foreign Interventions:
    • Israel’s operations in the Golan Heights escalate tensions.
    • Turkey’s push against Kurdish forces continues in the northeast.
  • Sectarian Revenge Killings:
    • Reports of massacres against Alawites (Assad’s sect) raise fears of retaliatory violence.
    • HTS’s Islamist ideology raises concerns over minority safety.
• Can Syria’s Economy Recover? - The country remains under international sanctions, limiting trade and foreign aid.
  • Sharaa is negotiating to ease sanctions, with U.K. and Canada reopening limited trade ties.
  • Syria’s reconstruction depends on:
    • Drafting a new constitution that protects minorities.
    • Foreign investment and international recognition of the interim government.
    • Security stabilization to prevent further disintegration.

Mains Mock Question:

"Discuss the challenges in Syria’s post-war reconstruction and the role of international actors in stabilizing the region."