Arab League to the Islamic Republic: Do Not Fuel the 'Conflict' in Syria

On Thursday, January 6, the Arab League urged the Islamic Republic to refrain from fueling the 'conflict' among the Syrian people following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad, the former president of Syria and a long-time ally of the Iranian government. Although the Arab League's statement did not mention a specific figure, Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, claimed on Sunday that after Assad's downfall, 'a strong honorable group' would emerge and that Syrian youth have nothing to lose. The Arab League, which welcomed Assad's return after a decade of isolation last year, emphasized the need to 'respect the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and stability of Syria, limit weapons to the state, dissolve all armed groups, and reject any destabilizing foreign intervention.' The ruling groups in Syria launched a military operation on Thursday to confront what they call 'militias aligned with Bashar al-Assad.' The Arab League added in its Thursday statement: 'It is following with concern the ongoing events in several cities and regions of Syria aimed at igniting sparks of conflict.' Ismail Baqaei, the spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, dismissed reports of Iranian intervention in Syria as 'baseless' and claimed that Tehran is committed to 'supporting the territorial integrity and national unity of Syria and establishing an inclusive political system' in the country. The new rulers of Syria have repeatedly criticized the Iranian government's support for Assad's regime in recent days and weeks, emphasizing the need for the Islamic Republic to respect the will of the Syrian people and the sovereignty and security of the country. Opposition groups to Bashar al-Assad's regime succeeded in controlling Damascus, the capital of Syria, on December 9, following rapid advances, ending over five decades of dictatorship by the Assad family. Bashar al-Assad's government was a key player in the Iranian-led coalition known as the 'Resistance Axis,' and Assad's downfall followed heavy and deadly Israeli attacks on Hamas and Hezbollah, two proxy groups of the Iranian government. Discussions between the defense ministers of the United States and Turkey regarding developments in Syria after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad, the expansion of unrest in Syria to Homs and Tartus, resulted in the deaths of 14 police forces. Clashes between ruling Islamists and Assad supporters in Syria left several dead. The new Syrian government has demanded $300 billion in compensation from the Islamic Republic and warned the leaders of the Islamic Republic: Do not plunge Syria into chaos.