Hamid Khoshayand – Regional Affairs Expert

A set of regional, international, and domestic factors are seeking to impose a new political and geographical framework in Syria that, if not confronted, could divide Syria into smaller Kurdish (northeast), Druze (south), Alawite (Mediterranean coast), and Sunni (from the north to Damascus) units.

The developments that have occurred in the country in recent months and have opened the door for some regional and international actors to enter it are the most important factors that have put Syria at risk of the collapse of its territorial integrity.

Although Syria has a complex and diverse ethnic and religious composition (including Kurds, Christians, Alawites, Yazidis, and Druze), without the intervention of some regional and international actors, the territorial collapse of Syria is not so easily feasible and is not possible.

Syria’s disintegration risk is generally affected by two categories of driving factors: “internal” and “external.” In the domestic arena, the rulers who seek to remain in power at all costs are at the forefront of internal factors. Because they did not react to the destruction of Syria’s military infrastructure by the Zionist regime to stabilize and consolidate their position, and today, due to the “fear” of conflict with the Israeli regime, they do not show any resistance to its advance into Syrian territory.

At the regional level, the Zionist regime also plays the most important and “obvious” role in trying to impose a new political and geographical situation on Syria and pursues it ruthlessly in the shadow of the silence and appeasement of the Syrian rulers and some countries in the region.

The new approach of the Zionist regime in Syria shows its “true dimensions.” The regime is well aware of the weakness of the current Syrian leaders’ position and power. In addition, the Syrian rulers today do not have any power to confront the Zionist regime. Therefore, the Zionist regime is taking advantage of the fragile and weakened situation of Syria to “strengthen” its field and security achievements and is trying to “disintegrate Syria.”

The Zionist regime, in accordance with the current conditions, seeks to divide Syria through various “tactics” including expanding the depth and scope of its influence network, relying on local actors who are dissatisfied with the current government, supporting the “separatist” situation in eastern Syria, strengthening relations with Druze leaders in the occupied territories, especially Sheikh Muwafq Tarif, providing political support to the Druze, attempting to disarm the provinces of Daraa, Suwayda, and Quneitra in southern Syria and preventing the current Syrian army and government from entering these provinces, expanding defensive and offensive lines deep in Syria, and establishing important military points and bases in strategic areas (the Israeli army has established seven military bases in the demilitarized zone in Syria along the border with the occupied Golan), and adopting aggressive approaches, including threatening to target the Golan, which could be the source of the development of chaos in Syria.

This is while the Israeli regime officials have increased their activities in recent weeks and after Trump came to power, and are seeking to influence the views of the Trump administration through the launch of a “coordinated campaign” so that the United States keeps Syria weak and decentralized.

Syria is facing a much “more complex” situation and the risk of the country’s disintegration is more serious today than ever. This is while to advance the plan to divide Syria and exert control over certain areas of it, Tel Aviv has quietly created a “security zone” inside Syrian territory and confirmed that its presence in Syria is no longer temporary.

All of this is a “wake-up call” for the countries of the region, including the Arab and Islamic countries, to take measures to stand against the actions of the Israeli regime in Syria, especially the countries that facilitated the regime’s presence and influence in Syria through miscalculations and wrong estimates and are facing an “important test” today. Otherwise, the region and the countries surrounding Syria will face adverse security and field consequences, increased tension and insecurity, and the risk of separatism.

Experience has shown that strengthening the Zionist regime in the region, for any reason, weakens stability and security, as well as threatens the national security and territorial integrity of other countries. In the meantime, the Syrian people, especially the youth and elites, bear an important responsibility and have no choice but to resist and confront the occupation and separatist plans of the regime in their country.

In short, the plan to divide the countries of the region and turn them into smaller units is one of the “old policies” of the Zionist regime, which it pursues with the support and cooperation of the United States and is not limited to Syria. If this plan is successfully implemented in Syria, the regime will definitely turn to other Arab and Islamic countries, including Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, and even Saudi Arabia, in the next stages.