News is circulating about a military campaign that Jordan could launch to protect its national security along the Syrian-Jordanian border, in light of the increase in drug smuggling operations on this border, and the regime in Syria is accused of being involved in it, at a time when the popular movement and demonstrations continue in southern Syria and in Suwayda in particular. While the Syrian authorities and Russia took a silent position regarding this movement.
To talk about this and the Eighth Brigade, the largest local faction in southern Syria, and its role in the region, Daraa 24 met with the political advisor to the Russian Foreign Ministry, “Rami Al-Shaer,” an analyst and politician close to decision-making circles in Russia, and conducted the following dialogue with him:
In our interview last year, you told us that you did not rule out Jordan launching a military operation on the Syrian-Jordanian border, if its security was threatened, and now there are reports of closing the Nassib crossing and carrying out a military operation with the participation of the United States, whose goals are primarily to eradicate the drug threat, and secondly to remove Iran. And there may be other goals. Do you have information or confirmation of this news, and if the Nassib crossing is closed, would that be a confirmation indicator of the start of this process?
I still do not rule out that Jordan will launch a military operation along the Jordanian-Syrian border, if the situation continues as it is, and its repercussions on destabilizing security and stability in Jordan.
I reiterate here that Jordan has the right to take the strictest measures to protect its security and prevent drug smuggling and other violations. While pursuing smuggling groups and gangs, you may be forced to use some means to liquidate them within Syrian territory. However, Jordan’s participation in military operations with the US forces present in Syria illegally is out of the question. Rather, it may participate in joint manoeuvres within Jordan’s borders with the forces present in Jordan, and it is no secret to anyone that there is an US military air base in Jordan.
What is Russia’s position on this news about the military operation if it takes place? Is there communication and coordination between Russia, Jordan and/or Israel, regarding the security situation in southern Syria? There are major accusations against the Syrian authorities of supervising the drug trade. How can the Syrian authorities participate in the solution when it is the essence of the problem? In your opinion, what measures will Moscow take to help Jordan on this path, or does the matter not concern Moscow?
Russia does not interfere in the internal affairs of any country, and Jordan has the full right to act as required by the requirements of maintaining security and stability in the country, and Russia completely understands this.
There are ongoing communications at various levels between Russia and Jordan regarding the security situation, and what we might call security chaos in a number of areas of southern Syria.
According to my knowledge, Jordan appreciates the role played by Russia through the truce system, and the absence of military clashes in southern Syria, especially in Daraa and Houran in general.
The solution lies in the Syrians’ agreement among themselves, and the beginning of the process of peaceful political transition in Syria, towards a new regime in which all Syrians participate.
Only then will the new Syrian authorities be able to manage all areas of Syrian territory, especially the borders, and carry out their duty in combating the smuggling of drugs and other goods.
Did Russian mediation between Türkiye and the Syrian regime fail? What are Russia’s tools to force Assad to take more flexible positions towards his people first, and neighboring countries second?
The efforts of Russia and the Astana Group are now clashing, with great regret, with intransigence on the part of the regime in Damascus, not only with regard to the normalization of Syrian-Turkish relations, but also with regard to other issues, starting with the actual dialogue between the regime and the opposition, or with regard to making any progress in The work of the Constitutional Committee or refugee issues.
The question today, after living conditions in Syria have reached this low, even catastrophic, level is: What is the regime in Damascus still betting on? Does it want the entire Syrian people to die?
exclusive interview with German envoy to Syria, Mr. Stefan Schneck
Russia is following the events in Syria with interest and understands the peaceful popular demands to make changes through the implementation of Security Council Resolution 2254
Do you see that there is an opportunity for the regime to participate in saving the situation in Syria? What efforts can be taken to improve the living situation in the country?
I see that there is still one opportunity for the regime in Damascus that allows it to participate in saving Syria and its people, and that is by responding immediately to what will result from the meeting of the foreign ministers of Russia, Turkey and Iran in New York, and starting the initiative and responding to all the efforts that were made in the Geneva and Astana meetings, the most important of which today are settling relations with Turkey without any conditions, because restoring relations with Turkey today is the key to beginning to stop the deterioration of living conditions in Syria. It must also immediately respond to the advice given by Arab leaders at their recent summit, because only Arab countries will help Syria. Let it be known that Syria today needs no less than US Dollars 500 billion to begin the process of economic recovery and reconstruction, and there is no hope for any assistance except from the Arab countries, and everything else, even a visit to China, will not lead to any result in saving the Syrian people.
What is Russia’s position on the demonstrations in southern Syria and in Suwayda Governorate, and is it possible for the Syrian government to respond to the demands of the protesters, such as Resolution 2254, for example, and what are your expectations regarding its results?
-Russia is following the events in Syria with interest and understands the peaceful popular demands to make changes through the implementation of Security Council Resolution 2254.
If the Damascus authorities do not respond immediately to what I have indicated, this simply means that the regime in Damascus has decided to commit suicide, because no one will tolerate more than that, including Russia and Iran, in my estimation. As for the Syrian people, they have begun to express this, and everyone is witnessing the masses coming out to express this in some Syrian cities.
There have been reports about the intention of some international parties to support the establishment of an autonomous region and a safe zone with American support in Suwayda. Can this news see the light and come true?
Everything that is being circulated about the establishment of autonomous regions and the conspiracies being hatched against Syria are baseless and aim to find justifications for certain goals and agendas. Therefore, I repeat that there is only one way for Syria to protect its territorial integrity and sovereignty over the entire Syrian territory, which is to implement Security Council Resolution No. 2254 in full, which is what all the Geneva and Astana meetings, the Sochi Conference for the Syrian-Syrian dialogue in 2018, and the efforts of the United Nations have confirmed and aimed for.
Despite the continuation of peaceful protests in Suwayda, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad will begin a visit to China tomorrow, Thursday. What is Russia’s position on this visit? Do you see in this visit a breakthrough for Assad’s internal impasse after the continuation of the protests and the disruption of the Arab initiative?
Regarding Assad’s visit to China, Russia considers that this decision belongs to the Syrian President, and he is the one who has the right to decide how to act and with whom to develop and build his relations, whether with China or others.
But my personal opinion: If the leadership in Damascus believes that China’s visit can give some kind of hope to the Syrian people that living conditions will improve, then it is completely wrong, because the Syrian people in general have lost confidence in the current regime, and the Syrian people are conscious people, and will not accept the continuation of the regime in its current form without effective participation of the Syrian opposition in power, restructuring all Syrian state institutions, including security, and holding democratic elections in every sense of the word, parliamentary and presidential, accompanied by a constitutional amendment. There is a firm conviction among all Syrians that this is the only way to save Syria, preserve its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and begin economic recovery.
What is the role of the Eighth Brigade faction, which was supported by Russia in the south, and is currently affiliated with the Military Security Service? Has its role been limited during the recent period? Has Russia abandoned it completely, or will it and its leadership have a role in Syria’s future?
-Russia stopped the financial aid it was providing to the brigade to secure pensions, and it was agreed that the Damascus authorities would finance it, so the Damascus authorities decided that Military Security would supervise that.
This does not mean that the Eighth Brigade is subject to or affiliated with Military Security, and despite the attempts of the Damascus authorities to subject Members the whole members of the Eighth Brigade for Military Security, but these attempts failed because the majority of those who joined military service in the Eighth Brigade are opposition and are fighting for another future for Syria that satisfies all components of the Syrian people.
They are keen on the unity of Syrian territory and respect for its sovereignty, and they accepted to join the Eighth Brigade through mediation carried out by Russia to avoid Syrian-Syrian fighting.
Therefore, I repeat, they refuse to be affiliated with any body affiliated with the Syrian regime in its current state. The majority of its members are fighters from the south, who played major roles in fighting terrorist organizations, and the calm that prevails in the south today and the absence of fighting among the people is thanks to them. There is continuous coordination between the Russian officers supervising the truce system and the leadership of the Eighth Brigade, and assistance is provided to it according to available capabilities.
Interview link: https://daraa24.org/?p=33788
