Rubio says Syria could be weeks away from ‘full-scale civil war of epic proportions’
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio blamed Syria’s renewed violence on the legacy of its toppled leader Bashar al-Assad, who hailed from the Alawite sect.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Follow topic:
WASHINGTON – US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned on May 20 that Syria could be weeks away from a fresh civil war of “epic proportions”, as he called for support to the transitional leadership.
“It is our assessment that, frankly, the transitional authority, given the challenges they’re facing, is maybe weeks – not many months – away from potential collapse and a full-scale civil war of epic proportions, basically the country splitting up,” Mr Rubio told a US Senate hearing.
The top American diplomat spoke after a series of bloody attacks on the Alawite and Druze minorities in Syria, where Islamist-led fighters in December toppled Mr Bashar al-Assad in a lightning offensive
US President Donald Trump last week on a visit to Saudi Arabia announced a lifting of Assad-era sanctions
Mr Sharaa, clad in a suit and complimented by Mr Trump as a “young, attractive guy”, was until recently on a US wanted list over Islamic militant connections.
Mr Rubio said: “The transitional authority figures, they didn’t pass their background check with the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation).”
But he added: “If we engage them, it may work out, it may not work out. If we did not engage them, it was guaranteed to not work out.”
Mr Rubio, who met Syria’s foreign minister in Turkey on May 15, said the threat came from a resurgence of militant group ISIS in areas out of the transitional government’s control. He also blamed Iran, saying it was looking to work with remnants of its fallen ally, Mr Assad, a largely secular leader who hailed from the Alawite sect.
Mr Rubio acknowledged concerns about Syria’s direction in Israel, which has kept pounding military sites in the neighbouring country.
But Mr Rubio, who has spoken twice in recent days to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said a more stable Syria that did not serve as a “launchpad for attacks” would be an “extraordinary achievement for Israel’s security”.
EU ends sanctions
European Union countries, which had already suspended economic sanctions on Syria, gave the green light on May 20 to lifting all restrictions
EU diplomats said the move would unfreeze central bank assets and help reintegrate Syrian banks into the global system, although sanctions would remain on individuals over the stirring of ethnic tensions.
Syria’s Foreign Ministry hailed the EU decision, saying it marked “the beginning of a new chapter in Syrian-European relations built on shared prosperity and mutual respect”. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, welcoming his Jordanian counterpart to Damascus, said at a joint news conference that “the doors are open” for investment in Syria with the lifting of sanctions.
The US had previously insisted on key steps from Syria’s transitional authorities, including protection of minorities.
Mr Trump’s move on Syria was encouraged by Turkey – the main patron of the Islamist fighters who had battled Mr Assad, an ally of Iran and Russia – and Sunni regional power Saudi Arabia.
“The nations in the region want to get aid in, want to start helping them, and they can’t because they’re afraid of our sanctions,” Mr Rubio said.
Mr Rubio has said Mr Trump plans to waive the Caesar Act, which imposed sanctions for investment in Syria in an effort to ensure accountability over abuses under Mr Assad. But such waivers would be temporary, and Syria remains classified as a state sponsor of terrorism, a major impediment to business dealings. AFP
