{"id":33434,"date":"2024-12-09T18:42:24","date_gmt":"2024-12-09T13:12:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=33434"},"modified":"2025-02-01T16:59:33","modified_gmt":"2025-02-01T11:29:33","slug":"syria-power-shift","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/09-12-2024\/syria-power-shift","title":{"rendered":"Shift of Power in Syria"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/International Relations<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Syrian rebels took over the capital Damascus, which ended the rule of Bashar al-Assad as president of Syria.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Timeline of the Syrian War<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>2011: Uprising and Beginning of Civil War<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Pro-democracy protests<\/strong> erupt in Syria following the Arab Spring, the government responds with violent repression.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Syrian opposition forms the Free Syrian Army (FSA) to fight Assad\u2019s regime.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The United States and European Union call for Assad to step down.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>2012: Escalation of Violence: <\/strong>The conflict turns into an all-out civil war, with multiple armed groups fighting the government and each other. The Assad regime gains support from Russia and Iran.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>2013: Rise of Extremist Groups: <\/strong>The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) starts to gain territory, leading to fears of a growing extremist presence in the region.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>2014: U.S.-led Coalition Against ISIS<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Islamic State declares a caliphate across parts of Syria and Iraq, leading to the formation of an international coalition (led by the U.S.) to fight ISIS.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Kurdish forces, mainly the YPG (People&#8217;s Defense Units), gain prominence in the fight against ISIS, especially in northern Syria.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>2015: Russian Intervention<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Russia intervenes militarily in support of the Assad government, launching airstrikes against opposition groups.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Iran increases its involvement, providing military and financial support to Assad.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>2016: Battle for Aleppo<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>One of the largest battles of the war occurs in Aleppo, with heavy bombardment by Russian and Syrian forces. The city falls to Assad&#8217;s regime by the end of the year.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>2017: U.S. Military Involvement and Chemical Attacks<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A chemical attack on the town of Khan Shaykhun leads to U.S. missile strikes against a Syrian airbase.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Syrian government forces, with Russian support, recapture much of eastern Syria, and ISIS is pushed back.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>2018: Idlib and Kurdish Tensions<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A large-scale government offensive against the last major opposition stronghold in Idlib begins.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>U.S. and Turkish forces clash with Kurdish YPG fighters in northern Syria, raising tensions between NATO allies.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img data-dominant-color=\"e1e4cf\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"770\" height=\"962\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2024\/12\/who-controls-what-in-syria.webp\" alt=\"Who controls what in Syria?\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-33435\" style=\"--dominant-color: #e1e4cf; width:534px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2024\/12\/who-controls-what-in-syria.webp 770w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2024\/12\/who-controls-what-in-syria-240x300.webp 240w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2024\/12\/who-controls-what-in-syria-768x960.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>2019: Defeat of ISIS and U.S. Withdrawal<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>ISIS loses its territorial caliphate in Syria, U.S. orders the withdrawal of American troops from northern Syria.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>2020-2021: Ongoing Conflict<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Assad regime, with Russian and Iranian support, regains control over most of Syria, but parts of the country remain under rebel control.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The U.S. maintains a military presence in northeastern Syria to counter ISIS remnants and support Kurdish forces.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>2022-2023: Continued Struggles<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/israel-palestine-conflict\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/israel-palestine-conflict\/\"><strong>Hamas attack on Israel<\/strong><\/a> triggers fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, ultimately reducing the group&#8217;s presence in Syria and fatally undermining Assad.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>2024:<\/strong> Rebels launch a new assault on Aleppo. With Assad&#8217;s allies focused elsewhere his army quickly collapses and rebels have taken most major cities, driving Assad from power.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Geographical Location of Syria<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Syria is located in the Middle East, in the western part of the Asian continent.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It shares borders with Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, Israel and Lebanon to the southwest, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Syria occupies a strategic position, linking the <strong>Levant region with the rest of the Arab world.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img data-dominant-color=\"debf90\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"865\" height=\"490\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2024\/12\/SYRIA.webp\" alt=\"Geographical Location of Syria\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-33436\" style=\"--dominant-color: #debf90; width:514px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2024\/12\/SYRIA.webp 865w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2024\/12\/SYRIA-300x170.webp 300w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2024\/12\/SYRIA-768x435.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 865px) 100vw, 865px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The Levant<\/strong> is a historical and geographical term referring to a region in the Eastern Mediterranean.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It includes modern-day countries<strong> Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, Palestine, and parts of Turkey .&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Levant has been a<strong> crossroads of civilizations<\/strong> throughout history, known for its cultural, religious, and political significance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>India and Syria<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Friendly Ties: <\/strong>Syria, under the leadership of President Bashar al-Assad, maintained friendly relations with India.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India continued to engage with Assad&#8217;s regime, particularly after major regional players like the UAE, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia re-established ties with Syria.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Support in Internal Matters:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Syria, a Muslim-majority country, has consistently<strong> supported India&#8217;s position on the Kashmir issue.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Israel captured the rocky Golan Heights<\/strong> in the Levant region from Syria in the 1967 Six-Day War.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>India has consistently <strong>supported Syria&#8217;s legitimate right to the Golan Heights<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>At the United Nations,<\/strong> India has also refused to support sanctions against Syria.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Future Outlook: <\/strong>For India, maintaining stable relations with Syria and other key players in the Middle East has been crucial in countering Pakistan&#8217;s narratives within these Muslim-majority nations.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India&#8217;s future engagement with Syria may likely be shaped by the new dynamics.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Significance of the Change in Regime<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Geopolitical Impact: <\/strong>A shift in leadership could alter Syria&#8217;s alliances, particularly with Russia, Iran, and Turkey, which have played major roles in the conflict, affecting wider Middle Eastern dynamics.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Impact on Syrian Sovereignty:<\/strong> The Assad regime has maintained its power through a mix of military force and foreign support.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A change in leadership could bring about different political, economic, and social policies.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Humanitarian Consequences:<\/strong> The ongoing conflict has caused massive suffering, displacement, and loss of life.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A change could mean a shift in human rights policies and efforts to rebuild the country.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>International Relations: <\/strong>The outcome of the war and any change in leadership impacts global powers\u2019 strategies in the region, influencing U.S., Russian, Iranian, and European policies.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Impact on Middle East<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Iran: <\/strong>Iran has been a staunch supporter of Assad. Syria was a crucial geographical link that Iran used to <strong>move weapons and other supplies to Hezbollah in Lebanon.&nbsp;<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Hezbollah which has sustained significant losses in the war with Israel <strong>will become weaker<\/strong> without weapon supply.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Israel: <\/strong>Israel has lauded the fall of the Assad regime but challenges still persist for it as the new regime is an offshoot of Al-Qaeda and is a designated terrorist organisation in Israel.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Turkey:<\/strong> Since 2011, Turkey has been a key backer for the opposition rebels. Turkey used its Syrian proxies to push back Kurdish forces which pose a threat at its southern border.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The political development in Syria comes with uncertainties for Turkey as the vacuum generated after Assad&#8217;s withdrawal could be potentially utilized by anti-Turkey Kurdish forces.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/international\/syria-war-timeline-assads-fall-followed-years-of-bloodshed-and-division\/article68961420.ece\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>TH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Syrian rebels took over the capital Damascus, which ended the rule of Bashar al-Assad as president of Syria.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-33434","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-affairs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33434","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33434"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33434\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":36614,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33434\/revisions\/36614"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33434"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33434"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33434"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}