After nearly 50 years of Assad family rule and 13 years of brutal civil war, Syrians are free from the Assad regime. The Syrian people — who have endured the nightmare of chemical weapons attacks, prisons, and barrel bombs — deserve a new start with a voice in their government and a reality in which they can live and prosper without fear. The end of former President Bashar Assad’s rule is indeed good news, but there is no way to know what happens next; it could go either way, good or bad.
The end of the Assad regime did not happen by accident. U.S. sanctions, championed by many of us in Congress, hollowed out Assad’s military machine. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s preoccupation with Ukraine combined with Israel’s relentless actions against Iranian proxies meant Assad’s allies could no longer support him. If Israel had followed President Joe Biden’s demand to come to a unilateral ceasefire with Hamas and Hezbollah months ago, Iran would never have been weakened enough to set the stage for the Syrian regime’s disintegration and ultimate failure. Despite significant Russian and Iranian investments, both of their interventions in Syria ended in spectacular catastrophe in the span of a few days. These developments foreshadow massive change in the region.
While this is a time of opportunity for the Syrian people, it is unfortunately a dangerous time for the region and the world. The main rebel force Hayat Tahrir al Sham, or HTS, remains a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization for good reason. This group did what many wanted to see done years ago, but that does not mean it is a virtuous entity. The world will watch closely to see whether HTS has moderated its radical views or will fall victim to its worst impulses and the influence of other terrorist organizations or malign regimes. HTS’s terrorist designation cannot be removed until this group proves it will be able to govern appropriately, respect all Syrians, and show it does not threaten the U.S. and our allies. This cannot and will not happen overnight.
After all, the U.S. has clear national security interests in Syria. It is in our interest to help block Iranian weapons that flow through Syria to threaten Israel, and we must account for Assad’s chemical weapons stockpiles in addition to working to prevent terror threats against Americans; these remain primary goals. While America must see that our counterterrorism goals are assured, we can do this without deepening U.S. involvement in Syria. Getting involved beyond safeguarding U.S. interests is a mistake that I cannot support, just as I do not support additional U.S. troops being sent to Syria.
Regardless, the U.S. must take this opportunity to account for Americans. One of our government’s most important roles is ensuring the safety of our citizens abroad, and our fellow American Austin Tice has spent 12 years in captivity. With his captors defeated, we must ensure he is found and brought home to his loved ones. We must also ensure that Christian minorities are protected during and after any transition.
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These next weeks and months are critical as the Syrian people rebuild their own government. Before the dust has even settled, a lot of countries are jockeying for influence in Syria. Countries such as China, Russia, Iran, and others, those I call the “no-goodnicks,” will attempt to reestablish influence and undermine the chance to build a better peace in the region for Israel and our other allies.
The future leaders of Syria must listen to their people and grant them a new future of stability and security. It is my sincere hope they will, but the “no-goodnicks” are never far from a power vacuum. The U.S. would do well to secure our interests in Syria and empower our allies and friends in the region to defend themselves and work together to help Syria rebuild, as only Syrians can decide their own future.
Jim Risch is the junior U.S. senator from Idaho. He is a ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
This article was originally published at www.washingtonexaminer.com
