It is difficult to pinpoint the exact moment the Syrian civil war became internationalised. But foreign forces of all types — sectarian extremists supporting both the rebels and the regime, and troops from regional and global powers backing the two sides — have been engaged in battles on Syrian soil since the early days of the conflict. Syria has become the classic battleground for a regional and global proxy war. And ordinary Syrians have paid the heaviest price for this. Besides, foreign powers have, on a few occasions already, engaged in direct confrontation in Syria. For instance, Turkey and Russia with the shooting down of a Russian jet, and Israel and Iran, which have exchanged several missile volleys.
Just on Friday, the US massacred 12 civilians of the same family in an air strike in the Hasakeh province. Thousands have died in similarly US strikes over the course of the Syrian war. Turkish troops killed hundreds of Kurds as they invaded and occupied Afrin in Syria’s northern Kurdish region. Russian aerial bombings have left thousands of civilians dead. And Iran continues to play a domineering role, through its own troops and those of its militant proxies, primarily Hezbollah. Its presence in Syria is also in line with its unceasing attempts to interfere in the affairs of Arab countries.
The presence of foreign forces in Syria has become such an issue that no inter-Syrian dialogue is taken seriously anymore. People look to what the foreign patrons of these so-called Syrian parties have to say.
There remain several flashpoints in Syria that could lead to a direct clash between regional powers.
Russia and Israel have reportedly reached a deal that would allow Bashar Al Assad’s forces to take remaining rebel territory in southern Syria, provided Iranian forces are kept away from the border with the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. In the north, Manbij is also a potential flashpoint. The Syrian regime, Kurdish militants, Syrian rebel groups, Turkey, and the US all have a military presence in northern Syria.
The regime is right to call for the expulsion of foreign fighters, and Turkish and American troops operating in Syria. But, its hypocrisy lies exposed when it benefits from extremist militias brought in from Iraq, Pakistan, and Afghanistan by Iran, and also the huge Russian and Iranian military presence. In fact, the regime owes its continued existence to Russia and Iran.
For Syria to come out of its seven-year-old nightmare, all foreign troops must leave the country.
