News Outlet: Early Indications of an Emirati Counter-Revolution in Syria
The Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar revealed that signs of an Emirati counter-revolution are beginning to emerge in Syria, starting in the city of Daraa, as part of Abu Dhabi’s ongoing efforts to combat and undermine the Arab Spring revolutions.
According to the newspaper, Syrian businessman Khaled Al-Mohammed, a prominent figure from Daraa and residing in the UAE, stated that the handover of weapons for military operations would only occur once a government representing all Syrian components was established.
Al-Mohammed criticized the political centralization in Damascus, stressing that he was not speaking on behalf of any sectarian group, like the Alawites or Druze, nor on behalf of national groups like the Kurds. Instead, he spoke on behalf of a regionally based component from southern Syria, the newspaper noted.
The paper further explained that Al-Mohammed is the son-in-law of Ahmed Al-Auda, the leader of the so-called 8th Brigade in southern Syria, a man often considered a rival to the general commander of the new Syrian administration, Ahmed Al-Shara. Al-Auda’s forces entered Damascus before Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, though they later withdrew, leaving the city to the latter.
The withdrawal was not out of superiority but was a strategic move, knowing that remaining in Damascus was not feasible, as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham had arrived from the north and quickly seized Syrian cities with the support of Turkey. This was followed by deals facilitated by Ankara, which led to the withdrawal of Russian forces and the exit of Iranian and allied forces from Syria.
The paper also emphasized that Daraa serves as a model for what Syria could face in the future. The situation in Daraa didn’t unfold as the new regime had hoped because Daraa has all the elements necessary for resilience.
Daraa is described as Syria’s gateway to the Arab world, especially as the border with Iraq currently cannot serve this purpose. Moreover, Daraa remains open to financial support, whether from Syrian expatriates, such as Al-Mohammed, or from countries like the UAE.
It was also pointed out that the UAE has been openly critical of the changes in Syria and has taken steps, including suspending flights to and from Damascus after initially resuming them before the regime’s downfall.
In contrast to Idlib, Daraa is a region where arrangements were made following the changes of 2015, signaling the beginning of the end of the first phase of post-revolution events. Russia played a key role in these arrangements, which brought security to Daraa, despite the presence of local factions.
The paper noted that the situation in Daraa could escalate if the transition process falters in other regions, such as the northeast, where the Kurds are, or in Suweida, which is closely connected to Daraa, or the coastal region, or any area with components that fear being excluded.
It further stated that in the event of instability in Syria, countries like the UAE, which sees any Islamic governance in the Arab world as a threat, or Egypt, might see an opportunity for direct intervention, which could completely disrupt the transition process, plunging Syria into unpredictable consequences.
