Syria’s Future Remains Unclear After Assad Regime Falls
Foreign policy experts and officials are left speculating about the future of Syria after Islamist rebels toppled the regime, forcing dictator Bashar al-Assad to flee the country. “Who knows what’s next?” said former Deputy National Security Adviser K.T. McFarland.
Assad was propped up by Russia and Iran, but with both nations preoccupied with other issues, a power vacuum has opened up. “Iran is preoccupied because of what Israel did to Iran and Hezbollah, and Russia is preoccupied because of Ukraine and a faltering economy,” McFarland explained. “We have 900 American forces in that country, and I don’t know if they’re sitting targets or potential hostages.”
Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., cautioned against supporting any rebels, noting that they are connected to al-Qaeda and that Iran and Russia will lose supply lines and access to a warm weather port. “We need to make certain that we support Israel,” she said.
Dan Hoffman, former CIA station chief, warned that the development poses a “widely complex challenge” to U.S. national security. “The concern is that terrorists may take advantage of this power vacuum and flock to Syria,” he said.
President-elect Donald Trump also weighed in, saying that Assad is gone and his protector, Russia, was no longer interested in protecting him due to Ukraine. “Russia and Iran are in a weakened state right now, one because of Ukraine and a bad economy, the other because of Israel and its fighting success.” Trump suggested that Ukraine and Russia should immediately cease hostilities and begin negotiations.
