The US Secretary of State warns of a potential “epic” civil war in Syria within weeks.
Marco Rubio, the US Secretary of State, has cautioned lawmakers that Syria is on the brink of collapse and a surge in violence.
Rubio defended President Trump’s strategy regarding Syria, which includes lifting sanctions and meeting with the new Syrian President, Ahmed al-Sharaa, despite his past affiliations with jihadist groups.
”Given the challenges they’re facing, the transitional authority is perhaps only weeks away from collapsing and triggering a massive civil war,” Rubio told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “The country is essentially fragmenting.”
Rubio attributed the ongoing violence since 2011 to former President Bashar Assad, whose removal was the aim of a US-backed effort that resulted in a lengthy and bloody conflict.
Rubio stated that Syria has become “a haven for jihadist organizations, including ISIS.” Al-Sharaa, previously known as Abu Mohammad al-Julani as the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), rose to power after overthrowing Assad last year.
Despite the new Syrian leadership’s questionable background, Rubio stressed the necessity of US support to avert broader regional instability, arguing that a practical foreign policy requires a flexible approach to human rights in different regions.
Rubio suggested that lifting sanctions could enable foreign aid to enter Syria, potentially stabilizing the economy and encouraging displaced Syrians to return. However, the White House remains unsure about the success of this approach.
”Engaging with the al-Sharaa government might or might not succeed,” Rubio said. “But not engaging with them guarantees failure.”
US sanctions had been implemented to hinder Assad’s reconstruction efforts after he regained control of most of Syria by 2015. The Syrian military’s low morale, stemming from persistent problems, contributed to their failure to defend Damascus during HTS’s offensive last November.
Al-Sharaa has promised to protect Syria’s ethnic and religious diversity in an attempt to gain Western support. However, his rule has been marred by reports of massacres targeting Alawites, Christians, and Assad supporters.
Israel has conducted numerous airstrikes in Syria recently, claiming they were intended to protect Druze militias from fighters loyal to the new government.
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