The rebel leader who helped oust the Assad regime called on countries to hand over “criminals” who fled Syria. A top Kurdish commander criticized the United States, saying it was risking an ISIS resurgence.The New York Times reports that on Dec. 11, 2024 at 4:09 p.m. ET, Ahmed al-Shara, leader of the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, called on other countries to hand over any “criminals” who had fled Syria. This request was made in order to hold accountable those involved in the torture and killing of prisoners under the deposed regime of Bashar al-Assad.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, based in Britain, also warned that armed groups have carried out retaliatory attacks on civilians in areas that were once loyal to the Assad government. This highlights the struggle that the rebels may face in upholding the rule of law while also satisfying the desire for retribution against members of the former regime.
It is unclear if al-Shara’s comments were directed at Russia, who had invited al-Assad and his family to seek exile as his government collapsed.
In other news, Kurdish-led fighters backed by the United States have agreed to a U.S.-brokered cease-fire in the city of Manbij in northern Syria. This comes as Washington and its allies try to contain the fallout from the collapse of the Assad regime. The United States has not yet confirmed its role in the truce.
As part of their efforts to manage the situation in Syria, President Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, is scheduled to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday. Additionally, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken will be visiting Turkey and Jordan this week to discuss the developments in Syria.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military has launched hundreds of airstrikes against military assets across Syria in recent days. This is in an effort to prevent these weapons from falling into the hands of Islamist extremists. The rebel group that led the toppling of al-Assad was formerly linked to Al Qaeda and is still designated as a terrorist group by the United States and the United Nations. While Israeli officials claim these strikes are for security purposes, the scale and intensity of the campaign suggest a larger goal of disarming whoever takes power in Syria.
In related news, the commander of Syria’s largest Kurdish militia has accused the United States of abandoning its Kurdish allies in Syria, who were key partners in the fight against the Islamic State. He also warned of a potential resurgence of the Islamic State amid the political uncertainty in Syria.
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