Iraq has announced its plan to start the repatriation of Syrian soldiers who deserted during a rapid offensive that led to the removal of president Bashar al-Assad from power.
“Starting today, the Iraqi authorities will begin the process of returning Syrian soldiers home after coordinating with the relevant Syrian officials,” stated Miqdad Miri, spokesman for the interior ministry.
President Assad fled Syria as a swift assault led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) advanced towards Damascus, occurring over 13 years following his violent crackdown on pro-democracy protests that ignited one of the most devastating wars in modern history.
The Islamist-led fighters captured city after city in just a few days, encountering minimal resistance before reaching Damascus on December 8.
According to Mr. Miri, the soldiers will be returned via the same entry point.
A senior Iraqi official, who requested anonymity, mentioned that the repatriation will be conducted “under the oversight of international organizations.”
The new leaders in Syria have called on military personnel and police to surrender their weapons and register with the governing bodies.
Lieutenant General Qais al-Mohammadawi, Deputy Commander of Joint Operations, informed Iraqi media on Wednesday that the soldiers’ “names, equipment, and weapons have been meticulously documented.”
Members of the United Nations Security Council listened as Geir Pedersen spoke via video link during a meeting discussing the Middle Eastern situation.
Previously, the UN envoy for Syria urged for “free and fair” elections following the ousting of president Bashar al-Assad, expressing optimism for a political solution in areas held by Kurdish forces.
President Assad fled following a lightning-fast offensive led by HTS, occurring more than 13 years after his violent response to pro-democracy demonstrations escalated into one of the century’s most lethal conflicts.
The prolonged civil war has rendered Syria reliant on aid, highly fragmented, and in dire need of justice and peace.
During a briefing in Damascus, UN special envoy Geir Pedersen expressed optimism, stating “there is much hope for the dawn of a new Syria.”
“A new Syria that… will adopt a new constitution… and we can expect free and fair elections after a transitional period,” he remarked.
While calling for immediate humanitarian aid, he also expressed hope for the lifting of international sanctions imposed on Syria due to Mr. Assad’s actions.
UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher urged donor nations to significantly increase aid provision in response to “this moment of hope” for the Syrian populace.
“The needs across the country are enormous. Currently, seven out of ten people are in need of support,” Mr. Fletcher stated in a telephone interview with AFP during his visit to Syria.
Addressing challenges in Kurdish-held regions
Mr. Pedersen pointed out the significant issues arising in Kurdish-held areas in northeastern Syria, amid concerns of a potential escalation between the US-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and groups supported by Turkey.
Turkey accuses the main faction of the SDF, the People’s Protection Units (YPG), of having ties to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militants in Turkey, which both the US and Turkey classify as a “terrorist” organization.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan cautioned Syria’s new leadership regarding the situation with Kurdish forces in the nation.
In a response to an inquiry from Al Jazeera regarding speculation that Turkey might launch a military operation in the Kurdish-held border town of Kobane (Ain al-Arab), he stated, “There is a new administration in Damascus now. I believe this is primarily their concern.”
“If they handle this matter appropriately, there should be no reason for our intervention,” he added.
Celebrations erupted in Homs as people gathered to mark the ousting of Syria’s president Bashar al-Assad.
Fidan dismissed US President-elect Donald Trump’s assertion that Assad’s removal equated to an “unfriendly takeover” of Syria by Turkey.
Transitional governance
HTS, which is rooted in Syria’s Al-Qaeda faction and designated a terrorist organization by numerous Western nations, has worked to soften its discourse by promising protection for the nation’s numerous religious and ethnic minorities.
The group has put in place a transitional leadership that will govern until March 1.
In his interview, Mr. Fidan asserted that the international community should remove HTS from its terrorism watchlists.
HTS has pledged to pursue justice for the atrocities committed during Mr. Assad’s regime, which included the disappearance of countless individuals into a complex network of detention centers that silenced dissent for decades.
“We want to know the fate of our children and our brothers,” stated Ziad Alaywi, 55, as he stood near a ditch in the town of Najha, southeast of Damascus.
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This location is believed by many Syrians to be a burial site for prisoners who were tortured to death—an act that international organizations argue may amount to crimes against humanity.
“Were they killed? Are their remains buried here?” he questioned.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports that over 100,000 individuals have died or been killed in custody since 2011.
