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The war in Syria continues with the main players being Turkey and Israel as the country’s new government struggles to gain legitimacy.
On January 12, the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) renewed its attack on the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the direction of the town of Kobani in the eastern Aleppo countryside in northern Syria.
The clashes broke out near the Tishreen Dam and Qara Qozak Bridge on the Euphrates River, with Turkish fighter jets and combat drones carrying out airstrikes against the nearby towns of Tell Taffaha and Tell Barkal as well as Sarrin Airport in support of the SNA.
SDF fighters held onto their positions, inflicting some serious losses on the SNA. By January 13, at least 20 Turkish-backed fighters had been killed, according to the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR). The SDF’s drone units were responsible for many of the casualties.
The SNA has been launching attacks against the SDF in the direction of Kobani for nearly a month now, with no success whatsoever. Nevertheless, a much larger attack with direct Turkish participation is to be expected in coming weeks if Ankara reaches an agreement with the United States, the main backer of the SDF which is currently keeping some troops in the region.
While Turkey is actively working to expand its control in northern Syria, Israel continues to widen its area of operations in the south of the country.
On January 11, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) advanced in the western outskirts of the town of Malgah in the southern al-Quneitra countryside.
Israeli military bulldozers paved a road from Malgah to the al-Dar’iyat point on the border with the occupied Syrian Golan Heights before withdrawing. This unusual move by the IDF is likely meant to prepare for future operations in the region.
On January 13, the IDF escalated again, launching strikes against an unofficial crossing between the Syrian town of Matarba and the Lebanese town of al-Qasr in the western countryside of Homs. It is still unclear if the strikes caused any casualties.
On the political side, the new Syrian government led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham continues to make efforts to gain legitimacy with help from Arab countries.
The Saudi capital, Riyadh, hosted on January 12 an Arab ministerial meeting and another featuring the foreign ministers of Arab and Western countries to discuss the situation in post-Assad Syria.
The meeting brought together foreign ministers and representatives from Bahrain, Egypt, France, Germany, Iraq, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Spain, Syria, Türkiye, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the U.S., as well as the Secretary-General of the Arab League, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, and the UN Special Envoy for Syria.
“Discussions centered on steps to support the Syrian people during this critical period, aiming to rebuild Syria as a unified, independent, and secure Arab state for all its citizens. Participants emphasized the need for a Syria free from terrorism, external aggression, or breaches of its sovereignty and territorial integrity,” a joint statement said.
It added that the “attendees expressed their support for a Syrian-led political transition process involving diverse political and social forces that safeguard the rights of all Syrians. They highlighted the importance of dialogue to address challenges and concerns while respecting Syria’s sovereignty and independence. Stressing that Syria’s future lies in the hands of its people, they reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the Syrian people’s choices and will.”
The meeting also addressed concerns over Israel’s incursions into the buffer zone and neighboring sites in Mount Hermon and Quneitra Governorate. Participants underscored the need to respect Syria’s unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
On the sideline of the meeting, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani held a series of bilateral meetings with Arab and foreign counterparts.
The Syrian Foreign Ministry said Shaibani met with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan, Jordan’s Ayman Safadi, and Bahrain’s Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani.
The top diplomat also held talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, and UN envoy to Syria Geir Pedersen, according to the same source.
All in all, Syria’s future remains uncertain. Foreign interventions and the challenges facing the new government could lead to years of war.
