Author: Charles Lister
Affiliation: Middle East Institute
Organization/Publisher: Middle East Institute
Date/Place: March 16, 2021/UK
Type of Literature: Article
Word Count: 1014
Link: https://www.mei.edu/publications/decade-syrian-crisis-far-over-and-us-must-step
Keywords: Syria, Refugee Crisis, the US, Middle East
Brief:
The author explains the ongoing chaos and violent incidents amid the Syrian crisis since 2011. The Assad regime is stubborn and does not leave a single opportunity to achieve superiority over the oppositional forces while using violent means. The study reflects the miserable condition of Syrian masses by referring to international statistics; more than 90% of the population is living under the poverty line and at least half a million people have died because of the decade-long civil war. The article criticizes the role of international organizations, i.e. the United Nations and international actors influencing the Levant arena. The study also questions the role of the US, Russia, and Iran in facilitating respective groups which has increased the yield of the crisis. Moreover, the Assad regime (backed by Iran and Russia) did not consider any clause of international law before launching chemical attacks on hostile forces. Furthermore, the involvement of Israel to neutralize Iran-backed militias in Syria, has also been a catalyst in deteriorating the ongoing crisis. The author emphasizes the US to play an effective diplomatic role to contain this onslaught by conflicting parties. Not a single concrete effort has been initiated by the US administration in the last decade to resolve the dispute among Syrian stakeholders, except the elimination of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Due to the lack of interest of regional and international powers, ISIS is again strengthening itself in Syria’s vast central desert. The article concludes that the Syrian crisis has transformed into a humanitarian crisis since 2011, and that peace will only be guaranteed with serious diplomatic efforts contributed by international actors, particularly the US.
By: Muhammad Taimoor Bin Tanveer, CIGA Senior Research Associate
