Middle East

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When the Syrian Civil War began four years ago the Syrian government lost many of its political contacts all over the world but there was one ally who decided to stick by them; Russia. Russia has been a close ally to the Syrian government for many years now and because of this, Syria wants them to expand their influence around the Middle East. In an article by AlMonitor, “Syria Keen on Russian Expansion in Middle East” by Ziad Haidar (translated by Joelle El-Khoury) it states how the Syrian Government wants Moscow to expand their influence within the Middle East as the United States (U.S.) and its allies begin to expand as well. This also comes as fighting increases in Yemen and throughout the Middle East.

While Russia attempt to expand their influence throughout the Middle East, Tunisia also plans to renew their ties with the Syrian government. In an article posted by Reuters, “Tunisia Says Plans to Renew Ties with Syria to Help Track Fighters” reported by Tarek Amara, writen by Patrick Markey and edited by Raissa Kasolowsky in states that Tunisia is considering renewing ties with Syria due to the increasing threat of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) around the Middle East. Tunisia wishes to renew its ties so that it can keep up with the insurgent fighters within Syria that threaten the rest of the Middle East but Tunisia says that these ties will not be very complex and may or may not include embassies in Syria.

Violence within the Middle East continues to increase especially with the continuing rise of the Islamic State. This violence is seen throughout the whole world and it could potentially affect other players not in or near the Middle East. Russia has always been an important stakeholder in the affairs of the Middle East due to its close ties to Syria but if they decide to expand their influence furthermore then it could cause more problems than fix them due to the many stakeholders that are in this conflict. Many argue that it could even lead to another Cold War especially if Syria begins to renew its ties within the Middle East and possibly even the world.

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The conflict in Syria continues to expand and it has now caused the Jordan government to close the main Jordan-Syria border crossing. According to a New York Times article, “Main Syria-Jordan Crossing Under Insurgent Assault” written by Rana F. Sweis, the closing came soon after insurgents attacked the border crossing. It is unclear as to what insurgent group, out of the many, actually began the attack but the groups who came forward to claim this victory are known as the Free Syrian Army, and a group commanded by Nusra, a terrorist organization according to the United States. It is said that these two groups are now taking command of different parts of the complex.

In another article by Reuters, “Syrian Aircraft Bomb Area Near Captured Jordan Crossing” reported by Sylvia Westall and edited by Tom Heneghan, the Syrian government reportedly dropped bombs near the border crossing just hours after the insurgent groups took over the complex. This was an effort to remove the insurgent groups who took over this crossing and further damaged the relationship between Syria and Jordan. The object of the crossing was not merely to damage these relations but also to weaken the regime’s hold in the south and to increase the areas under the control of the insurgents. 

These recent attacks by the insurgents are showing that they are relentless in their pursuit to gain more control within Syria and within the Middle East. They also want to sever the relationship between other countries to further isolate them. In terms of globalizing perspectives, this would fall under the terms of radicals since they are using extreme violence to make their end goal but then again they could come from a political realist point of view since they are attempting to brake political ties. It is still difficult to see who has the lead in the fight for Syria.

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The Islamic State of Syria and Iraq (ISIS) has never had any trouble finding foreign fighters to assist them in their battle for control over Syria and Iraq but recently they have gone to a new level. In an article published in Reuters by Michelle Nichols called “U.N. concerned by Islamic State’s ability to unite Afghan insurgents,” Nichols states that the Islamic State has a unique ability to unite Afghan insurgents. Despite some tensions between ISIS and the Taliban, there have been many Taliban fighters who have joined the Islamic State. Nichols states that the two groups join not so much because they believe in what the Islamic State stands for but because it can be a “potential to offer an alternative flagpole to which otherwise isolated insurgent splinter groups can rally.” Because these Taliban fighters are willing to join ISIS, and make them even stronger, the Afghanistan government is willing to open peace talks with them.

Russia has also attempted to hold peace talks with most of those involved in the Syrian conflict but it has been in vain. In fact, according to a WashingtonTimes article by Anne R. Pierce titled “Beware ISIS strategy that fortifies Russia, Iran, and Syria,” ISIS, Russia, Iran and Syria are allies in this conflict and so peace talks seem hypocritical to a point. In many cases, there are people who believe ISIS is only assisting these three countries advance their own agendas. This includes “allowing Assad to stay in power, legitimizing Russian-sponsored “peace conferences” that buy Assad time and raise Putin’s stature, accommodating the Iranian nuclear program, and giving Iran the lead in the battle against ISIS and in the Levant.” 

As stated before, ISIS has never had a problem recruiting fighters but the difference this time is that these are semi-trained fighters who have been in a war before (for the most part). This means that the Islamic State is even stronger than ever but what makes it even stronger is its close allies. These allies which include Russia, Iran, and Syria (mainly Assad’s regime) have been using ISIS to pursue their own agenda and so the growing power of ISIS only means more power and control for themselves.

Two Turkish guards at the entrance of the tomb. (Click the picture to access my Diigo account)

The fighting in Syria has yet to stop and with many different nations included in its fighting, Turkey seems to be one of the most affected. The Turkish government had a tomb of a major historical figure, Suleyman Shah, the grandfather of the founder of the Ottoman Empire, in the midst of the fighting and while at first the war posed little to no threat to the tomb, recently the war had been creeping closer and closer. In a recent article in the New York Times author Sebnem Arsu stated that the Turkish government saw the tomb as a “point of vulnerability for Turkey” but with the removal of the tomb, and the guards, it see’s that threat as being eliminated. Tensions between Syria, its rebel groups, and Turkey have been tight since the fighting started and the removal of this tomb marks a major turning point in their relations. The Syrians were not happy about this mission calling it a “flagrant aggression” because Turkey did not wait for permission from Damascus to mount it.

In related news, when the tomb was moved, the Turks retreated to a safer location still within Syrian borders. Whilst stationed there, the Turks raised the Turkish flag which was seen as a threat by local rebel groups, as stated in an article in the Daily News Egypt by Mahmoud Mostafa. This again just raises tensions between the two countries who are dangerously close to each other. For now Turkey only seems to be concerned with the removal of the tomb and really does not want to get involved, more than it already has, in the civil war that has been tearing at Syria for nearly 4 years.

Turkey has assisted in various UN missions to try and end the civil war in Syria but nothing to the extent that would disrupt the delicate relationship between these two countries. Since these two countries border each other, and they have long-term connections to each other, any super aggressive notion could very well disrupt the delicate balance between the two. It is difficult to say wether Turkey will get anymore involved in this conflict than it already it.