Rubio warns: Syria is at risk of new civil war after Assad's fall!

Rubio warns: Syria is at risk of new civil war after Assad's fall!

The civil war in Syria continues to have a devastating impact on the country despite the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is now warning of a renewed civil war that could potentially reach “monumental proportions”. Rubio said the interim government under new President Ahmed al-Shaara was “perhaps just weeks away from possible collapse.” reports oe24.

The warnings come at a critical time as armed attacks against the Alawite minority increase and the situation in Syria remains unstable. The new head of state al-Shaara, formerly known as Abu Muhammad al-Julani, leads the Islamist militia HTS and has tried to project a more moderate image after the fall of the Assad regime. US President Donald Trump recently praised him as a “fighter” and promised the lifting of economic sanctions to promote reconstruction.

New challenges for the transitional government

The interim government, which came to power after the collapse of the uprising against Assad's rule, must deal with significant challenges. Around 90% of the population lives in poverty and the economy has declined to a third of pre-war levels. 70% rely on humanitarian assistance and the return of refugees could further worsen the situation reports the bpb.

The military success of the HTS was based on a combination of clever strategy and the weakness of the Assad regime. This led to the creation of a transitional government committed to clear objectives: the introduction of a new constitution and elections within the next three years. A national conference has also advocated the inclusion of all ethnic and religious groups.

Türkiye and Kurdish forces

At the same time, the situation for the Kurdish forces in Syria is getting worse. Turkey has threatened military action if the YPG units do not meet their withdrawal demands. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan emphasized that international fighters must immediately withdraw from Syria. Turkey considers the YPG to be an offshoot of the PKK, which is considered a terrorist organization reports 20min.ch.

The YPG played a crucial role in the fight against the Islamic State and is supported by the US. The SDF, to which the YPG belongs, controls large parts of northeast Syria and has established an autonomous administration. It is unclear how the integration of Kurdish forces into the new Syrian army will proceed, which could lead to further tensions.

Given the complex geopolitical constellation in the Middle East, the role of the USA and Turkey in the future Syrian order remains uncertain. The international community fears that the ongoing conflicts and uncertainties surrounding the interim government could endanger stability in the region.