As the debate surrounding military intervention in Syria continues, the suffering of ordinary Syrians goes on.
. It is estimated that 110,000 Syrians are dead in the civil war that has produced two million refugees – half of which are children – and five million more internally displaced, leaving three million children without schooling.
Protests in Syria started in January 2011 as similar demonstration were taking place in other Arab countries against their corrupt dictators, a wave of popular uprising that became known as the Arab Spring. The dictators inevitably cracked down on these protests – and the Syrian regime proved to be the most brutal of them all, with unarmed protestors shot dead by security forces. One of the most infamous incidents during that period was the alleged killing of a 13-year-old boy, Hamza Al-Khateeb, in security custody in May 2011. Video of his body showed broken bones, gunshot wounds, burns and severed genitals.
Soon enough, soldiers started to disobey their orders to shoot demonstrators and defect, and the Free Syrian Army (FSA) started to emerge as an armed opposition group. During that period, the regime claimed that these demonstrations were sectarian. The opposition has consistently denied that, arguing that the country badly needed democratic reform after 50 years of Ba’ath rule dominated by Assad family – which belongs to the Alawites Shia minority – since 1971, when Hafeth Al-Assad, Bashar’s father, became president.
The massacre of Houla, when more than 100 civilians of the majority Sunni were killed, including dozens of children who had their throats cut by pro-government Shia militia, according to the local residents – was a major event that changed the conflict. More non-Syrian fighters, some of whom were affiliated with al-Qaeda, came to Syria to fight against the regime, including some Alawites. On the other side, there are some pro-regime Sunni’s too. Iran, the biggest Shia country in the world, has been supporting the Assad regime for many years. And the intervention of the Shia paramilitary group Hezbollah on the regime side made the conflict to look increasingly sectarian. Russia, with military bases in Syria, and China also support the regime.
Although the US is seen as a supporter of the rebels and promised that they would be provided with more arms, the rebels repeatedly complained that the CIA controls what weapons they can get and never allowed them to obtain firepower that could tip the balance in their favour. Secular opposition groups complained that the fundamentalist opposition were better armed than them, and that the west does not give them enough help. Meanwhile, the regime has attacked areas controlled by the opposition with planes, tanks and scud missiles. Allegations of horrific crimes committed by fundamentalist groups were also reported.
The latest atrocity, a suspected chemical weapons attack in the Damascus suburb of Ghawtat, has made the west think again about a possible military action to punish the regime. But as this article is being written, there has been no talk of regime change. While the British parliament voted against military intervention, the UK’s Independent newspaper reported embarrassing news for the government, revealing that Cameron authorised selling the component materials for chemical weapons to the Syrian regime, though the materials did not reach Syria. The US Congress seems more likely to agree to a limited military action against Syria, which will be supported by France, Turkey and some Arab countries.
Yet we must stand firm that military intervention should be against the regime, not against Syria. If Assad will be overthrown, it is important that the post-Assad era is based on inclusive and democratic values and that the geographical and societal integrity of Syria is maintained.
Mohammed Samaana is a freelance writer based in Belfast.
