At a Senate hearing, Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized the urgent need to support Syria's transitional authorities, asserting that the country is on the brink of a full-scale civil war following recent deadly sectarian clashes. His comments followed President Trump's decision to lift sanctions, highlighting the complexities of the evolving situation in Syria.
Rubio Warns of Imminent Civil War as Sectarian Violence Escalates in Syria
Rubio Warns of Imminent Civil War as Sectarian Violence Escalates in Syria
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio cautions that Syria is nearing a potential collapse with civil war looming amidst rising sectarian violence and political turmoil.
Article Text:
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has issued a stark warning that Syria could be just weeks away from a "full-scale civil war of epic proportions" as sectarian violence escalates. During a hearing with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Rubio recommended that the international community provide support to Syria's transitional authorities, noting the dire outlook for the country marred by political instability and strife.
Recently, over 100 individuals were reportedly killed in violent confrontations between pro-government forces and the Druze minority, escalating fears of further unrest. The U.S. government, under President Donald Trump's administration, recently lifted sanctions imposed due to the atrocities committed during Syria’s 13-year civil war, which resulted in over 600,000 deaths.
Rubio defended this controversial decision, highlighting the need for aid to flow into the region without the fear of sanctions preventing assistance. His rationale was that other nations sought to help the new leadership under Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former al-Qaeda commander whose administration succeeded Bashar al-Assad last December.
The violence in Syria has reached alarming proportions, with two significant outbreaks of sectarian clashes affecting both the Alawite and Druze communities in recent months. The ongoing hostility is a marker of the deep-seated divisions within the country's various religious and ethnic groups, which have been exacerbated by the Assad regime’s strategies to pit these communities against one another.
As concerns about the sustainability of the transitional government grow, Rubio stated, “The bad news is that the transitional authority figures... didn't pass their background check with the FBI. But engaging with them may offer a chance for stability.” He further remarked that the transitional authority is facing potential collapse in a matter of weeks unless immediate action is taken.
Additionally, European Union officials have indicated plans to follow suit with the U.S. by lifting some economic sanctions, expressing a desire to support a peaceful rebuilding of Syria. This has been echoed by the Syrian foreign ministry, which interpreted the actions as a fresh chapter in Syrian-European relations.
Rubio concluded with the need for a unified international approach to help mitigate the conflict, stressing that overcoming policy apprehensions regarding the transitional authorities could pave the way for restoring peace in a nation still torn apart by war.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has issued a stark warning that Syria could be just weeks away from a "full-scale civil war of epic proportions" as sectarian violence escalates. During a hearing with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Rubio recommended that the international community provide support to Syria's transitional authorities, noting the dire outlook for the country marred by political instability and strife.
Recently, over 100 individuals were reportedly killed in violent confrontations between pro-government forces and the Druze minority, escalating fears of further unrest. The U.S. government, under President Donald Trump's administration, recently lifted sanctions imposed due to the atrocities committed during Syria’s 13-year civil war, which resulted in over 600,000 deaths.
Rubio defended this controversial decision, highlighting the need for aid to flow into the region without the fear of sanctions preventing assistance. His rationale was that other nations sought to help the new leadership under Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former al-Qaeda commander whose administration succeeded Bashar al-Assad last December.
The violence in Syria has reached alarming proportions, with two significant outbreaks of sectarian clashes affecting both the Alawite and Druze communities in recent months. The ongoing hostility is a marker of the deep-seated divisions within the country's various religious and ethnic groups, which have been exacerbated by the Assad regime’s strategies to pit these communities against one another.
As concerns about the sustainability of the transitional government grow, Rubio stated, “The bad news is that the transitional authority figures... didn't pass their background check with the FBI. But engaging with them may offer a chance for stability.” He further remarked that the transitional authority is facing potential collapse in a matter of weeks unless immediate action is taken.
Additionally, European Union officials have indicated plans to follow suit with the U.S. by lifting some economic sanctions, expressing a desire to support a peaceful rebuilding of Syria. This has been echoed by the Syrian foreign ministry, which interpreted the actions as a fresh chapter in Syrian-European relations.
Rubio concluded with the need for a unified international approach to help mitigate the conflict, stressing that overcoming policy apprehensions regarding the transitional authorities could pave the way for restoring peace in a nation still torn apart by war.
