The international community is watching the very utter shatter of an entire nation yet no serious steps are held to end over two years-long struggle. The global alignment has taken root in line with supporting or opposing President Assad, not on humanitarian basis. Rising casualties increasingly deepen the gap among wings and no one is willing to step in and solve the problem. Indeed, confusion rules over the country. Syrians are left helpless and stuck in the steep-down cliff where they are unable to walk down or up. The only hope for this a glider from international community to prevent further sufferings.
Lack of clear picture from armed groups fighting the government has made the situation far complicated. Last week, the European Union discussed sending arms to oppositions but many members openly opposed the motion because they are worried about the future of the country.
They are worried that such an effort might not help stop blood-shed instead fuel it further. While some members, having no good relation with Damascus, try to act unilaterally and put a dot at the end of reign of President Assad. Perhaps, if opposition remained the true representative of large number of civilians who marched into streets only for political and economic reforms, many countries could have taken steps to mount pressure on Assad. Unfortunately, armed oppositions cannot be trusted and they are blamed for committing numerous crimes too. When the uprising started 25 months ago, it got the global attention and nations voiced support to demonstrators. And the time was ripe and much exposed to change because the wave of the so-called spring was tough enough to challenge the pillars of all regional authoritarian regimes. From the very start, the regime responded with clenched fist and branded them as terrorists. The regime showed no flexibility against demonstrators and used all its force to suppress them.
The situation became gruesomely dangerous when the international community failed to take a joint front against Damascus. Drafts prepared mostly by European countries for tougher action were vetoed twice in the United Nations Security Council by China and Russia which feared about the consequences.
Both countries have continued their support and banned the approval of any tough resolution against the country during last 21 months of civil uprising. The regional rivalry among countries is also something that cannot be neglected assessing the ongoing situation in Syria.
Tehran has been supporting President Assad since the very start of civil uprising. The supreme leader who is the ultimate decision maker in the Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenae often openly voiced out support for Damascus regime while condemning other regimes; he reacted similarly in the case of uprising breakout. While insisting that Arab countries are affected by more than 30-years old Islamic revolution in Iran, he links civil unrest in Syria to foreign intervention. Therefore, the so-called proxy war and the dominant presence of Allawites, a minor who can hardly be branded as part of Shiite group, have further complicated the situation. According to the United Nations reports, around 70000 people are killed since the start of uprising and 3 million displaced. Around millions are languishing on borders of neighboring countries.
Seemingly, all stakeholders are tittering up and down to find a solution to the deadlock but there is nothing to count on much. But this is Syrian people who ultimately shoulder all the burdens of continuous instability and unrest. The anti-Assad opposition has posted significant military and diplomatic gains in recent weeks, capturing a series of army installations across Syria and securing formal recognition from Western and Arab states for its new coalition.
Assad’s pivotal allies have largely stood behind him. But Russia, his main arms supplier, appeared to waver this week with contradictory statements repeating opposition to Assad stepping down and airing concerns about a possible rebel victory. Though they are countries that benefit from destruction of the Syria, and there are countries that decided to topple Assad regime at all cost, but for the sake of hundreds of thousands of Syrian children and women who lost husbands and fathers, the international community should act united.
The level of civilian casualties should make politicians feel sympathy and forget about their antagonism with the regime and work on political plan, as UN General Secretary, Mr. Ban Ki-moon suggested for. International governments must act quickly to stop Syria’s “complete destruction,” UN leader Ban Ki-Moon warned Monday as the conflict entered a third year. Condemning the “brutal force” used by President Bashar al-Assad’s forces over the past two years, Ban said in an anniversary statement that “today the world is watching the consequences with horror” and those responsible must face justice. Highlighting a toll of “well over 70,000 dead”, a humanitarian crisis with more than three million people displaced, cities and villages destroyed. Ban said “this is the result of a choice to resort to arms over peaceful political dialogue and genuine change,” according to deputy UN spokesman Eduardo del Buey. He also made a new call to inject urgency towards reaching a political solution while there is still time to prevent Syria’s complete destruction. Perhaps, the complete destruction of a nation, even without looking from humanitarian glass, would prove disastrous for neighboring countries. Regional countries should stop taking revenge form Assad. They should work on a political plan which is feasible and aligned with interests of all.