Assad state: more than 500 people killed after power change in Syria
More than 500 military and civilians have been killed as a result of fighting since the change of power in the Syrian Arab Republic. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) told Izvestiya. In recent weeks, fighting has become more frequent in the country. At the same time, as "Izvestia" found out, 640 military personnel associated with the government of Bashar al-Assad were released following the results of the trials. US President Donald Trump intends to withdraw US soldiers from Syria, the media reported. On the evening of January 29, a new president was announced in the Arab country, and he predictably became the leader of armed formations Ahmad al-Sharaa. Against this background, a Russian interdepartmental delegation visited Damascus. What its representatives talked about with the new leadership of the republic - in the material "Izvestia".
The military situation in Syria remains tense
More than 500 people have been killed in fighting in Syria since the change of power, told "Izvestia" in SOHR. The confrontation between Kurdish formations and pro-Turkish groups exacerbates the situation, creating a risk of further escalation of the conflict. The ongoing confrontation between the new authorities in Damascus and supporters of the former regime of Bashar al-Assad also adds to the tension.
- More than 505 people have been killed in the fighting since December 12, including 53 civilians," Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Center for Human Rights Monitoring, told Izvestia.
Most of the deaths were caused by airstrikes and fighting between the US-backed Forces for Democratic Syria (FDS) and the pro-Turkish Syrian National Army (SNA). The SNA, backed by the Turkish army, has launched an offensive on the region's key Tishrin hydroelectric plant and the Kara Kwazak bridge, so far the Kurds have managed to repel the attacks.
Nevertheless, the SDF remains in a difficult situation. Ankara regularly claims that the People's Self-Defense Forces, the main military core of the SDF, have no future in Syria's political system, as they are linked to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which Turkey considers terrorist.
This becomes especially dangerous for the Kurds - they could be left without military cover. The Israeli state broadcaster Kan reported: senior White House officials passed information to colleagues in the Jewish state that President Donald Trump intends to withdraw American soldiers from the ATS. Recall, the US military is on the eastern bank of the Euphrates River and keep afloat the Kurdish quasi-state formation in Syria.
In Damascus, meanwhile, announced a new President of the country for a transitional period. He became the head of the Military Operations Command (as the new leadership of the country now calls itself) Ahmad al-Sharaa. Earlier it was reported that the transit phase will last until March 1, but there are reasons to believe that the figure of al-Sharaa will remain at the head of the country for a long time.
The authorities also announced the dissolution of all military formations, political structures and their integration into state institutions. Hassan Abdul Ghani, spokesman for the ٍMilitary Operations Command, said the new president will be authorized to form an interim legislative council for a transitional period. The 2012 constitution has also expired.
Fighting with Assad's former military personnel
Tensions do not only persist in the northeastern regions of the country. After the Military Operations Command (as the country's new leadership now calls itself) seized power in Damascus, it demanded that the former military surrender their weapons. According to statements by the current authorities, some militias and former officers of Bashar al-Assad in Homs rejected this demand. Since December 10, they have been sought out as criminals. First of all, we are talking about members of the intelligence services of the former regime, said Vladimir Akhmedov, senior researcher at the Center for the Study of General Problems of the Modern East of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, in a conversation with Izvestia. In his opinion, this is largely due to pressure from Ankara.
Armed clashes have erupted in a number of regions, including Homs, Tartus and border areas. The remnants of the forces opposing the new authorities - Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) (recognized as a terrorist group in Russia and banned) with the support of some groups are conducting guerrilla attacks.
In response, Damascus has initiated large-scale sweeps to neutralize the threat. In Homs province, especially near the border with Lebanon, regular fighting is complicating the restoration of stability. In Tartus, attacks on government convoys have become more frequent amid the escalation.
Earlier, Izvestia reported about the beginning of trials against surrendered military personnel associated with the government of Bashar al-Assad. The military operations command has initiated proceedings against officers, militias and informants who cooperated with the former elite.
A certain number of prisoners have already been released after being confirmed not guilty of war crimes allegedly committed by the former Syrian army against the opposition. As part of the first wave, 365 people were released, while the second wave of release took place on January 27, when another 275 military personnel were released. Syrian columnist Hassan Al-Asmar told Izvestia.
- Prisoners who were found guilty of committing crimes in the interests of the former regime, such as torture or suppressing peaceful protests, can be sentenced to harsh penalties ranging from long terms to life imprisonment or other punishments," Hassan Al-Asmar noted.
The Syrian Human Rights Monitoring Center told Izvestia that about a thousand people are still waiting for the trial.
At the same time, the organization notes that since the beginning of the new year, 15 people have been executed in a village in Homs province, among them former officers of the Syrian army. These crimes were committed by armed groups under the umbrella of the Military Operations Command. The human rights body said that these were local gangs that did not act on orders from Damascus.
Russian delegation's visit to Damascus
Against the backdrop of the worsening security situation in Syria, a Russian inter-agency delegation visited Damascus to discuss the future of bilateral relations. It was headed by Mikhail Bogdanov, the Russian president's special envoy to the Middle East and Africa and deputy foreign minister. The delegation held meetings with the Syrian authorities, confirming their readiness to continue cooperation and support Damascus in rebuilding the country.
Commenting to journalists on the issue of Russian bases in the SAR, Bogdanov noted that "nothing is changing yet. This issue requires additional negotiations." The sides agreed to continue more in-depth consultations on each area of cooperation, the diplomat noted.
It follows from the Russian Foreign Ministry's statement that Moscow emphasizes its unwavering commitment to the principles of Syria's territorial integrity and advocates the resolution of internal issues through an inclusive political dialogue. However, the issue regarding the future of Russia's military presence was not disclosed.
According to Bloomberg, the EU considers the withdrawal of Russian troops from the republic as one of the conditions for lifting sanctions against Syrian rebels. This creates additional pressure on Damascus, forcing it to take into account not only Russian interests, but also the position of Western countries.
According to the Syrian agency SANA, the Russian side allegedly reaffirmed its support for the positive changes currently taking place in Syria. "The dialogue emphasized Russia's role in restoring trust with the Syrian people through concrete measures such as compensation, reconstruction and rebuilding infrastructure," the agency reports. However, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov did not comment on the SANA report.
Earlier, Mikhail Bogdanov said that Russian diplomacy was satisfied with the new Syrian administration's positive statements to Russia and its interest in strategic relations between the two countries.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Dec. 19 that Moscow was in contact with all groups in Syria and countries in the region. "An overwhelming number of them tell us that they would be interested in having our military bases in Syria remain," he remarked.
The Russian leader emphasized the importance of finding mutual interests that can cement our presence in the region. Potential points of contact with the Syrian authorities could be humanitarian aid or other support.
