International Crisis Group Warns of UAE Plots in Syria After Assad’s Fall
The International Crisis Group has warned about the UAE’s schemes in Syria after the fall of the ousted Syrian president Bashar al-Assad’s regime, in light of Abu Dhabi’s opposition to any Islamic-oriented governance in the Arab region.
The group celebrated, in an extensive analysis titled “Priorities After Assad’s Fall”, Syria’s eventual liberation from the despised Assad regime. It emphasized that the long-suffering Syrian people deserve an opportunity for rest and to rebuild the country according to their own terms, with foreign assistance, not interference.
In this regard, the group stated that Islamic rule in Syria would be a curse for the UAE authorities, who have long worked with Assad’s regime and attempted to entice Damascus to break free from Iranian influence to serve Abu Dhabi’s plans.
It mentioned that the Emiratis and Gulf countries “lacked the influence required for this effort, as long as Iran and Russia provided protection for Assad’s regime, with the Gulf states offering only money and trade, which were limited by Western sanctions.”
The group added, “Nevertheless, an Islamic government in Damascus would be a curse for the UAE, as Abu Dhabi has fought Islamists since the 2011 Arab Spring across the Arab world.” It also noted that Saudi Arabia views an Islamic regime in Syria with suspicion and concern.
The International Crisis Group warned that Abu Dhabi and Riyadh might try to exert influence over current events in Syria to reduce the Islamic character of the new regime.
The group concluded that the dramatic events in Syria will reshape the country in one way or another, with repercussions throughout the Middle East and beyond. It reiterated that the long-suffering Syrian people deserve a period of relief to celebrate the overthrow of the despised Assad regime, begin recovering from the shock of war and oppression, welcome prisoners freed from the regime’s jails, take care of them, mourn those lost, and offer refugees the chance to return to safety.
It further noted that “Syrian citizens, who fear what the future holds under Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, for which no alternative form of governance currently exists, deserve guarantees that the rebels’ victory will not simply replace one tyrannical clique with another.” Most importantly, it stressed that Syrians deserve the opportunity to rebuild their political system and society on their own terms.
Regarding foreign interventions, the group confirmed that external powers, which helped fuel the devastating war in Syria, should avoid destabilizing interventions and help Syrians reshape their country for the better.
