New Syrian Leader: All Weapons, Including Those of Kurds, Will Be Under Government Control

The new leader of Syria, Ahmad al-Shar' (known as Julani), announced on Sunday that all weapons in the country, including those held by Syrian Kurdish forces, will be placed under government control. Julani, who took control of Damascus two weeks ago, made these statements alongside Hakan Fidan, the Turkish Foreign Minister. Prior to meeting with Fidan, he met with Druze leaders in Lebanon and promised to end 'negative interventions' in Lebanon. The Islamic Republic of Iran had been supplying weapons to Hezbollah through Syrian territory before the fall of Bashar al-Assad. Rebels supported by Ankara played a key role in supporting the Julani-led Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham. This Islamist group, in alliance with rebels, captured Damascus on December 9 and overthrew long-time ruler Bashar al-Assad. According to AFP, Ahmad al-Shar' or Julani stated in a press conference with Hakan Fidan that Syrian armed groups 'will begin their dissolution and will join the army.' He added, 'We will not allow any weapon in the country to be outside the control of the government, whether from revolutionary groups or those present in areas controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (led by the Kurds).' The new ruler of Syria also emphasized, 'We are working to protect ethnic groups and minorities from any attacks and to prevent foreign actors from exploiting sectarian differences.' The Turkish Foreign Minister also called for sanctions against Syria to be 'lifted as soon as possible' and urged the international community to 'mobilize for the reconstruction of Syria and the return of refugees.' The nearly 14-year civil war in Syria has left over half a million dead and displaced more than half of the country's population, many of whom fled to neighboring countries, including three million who sought refuge in Turkey. While maintaining close relations with the new Syrian leaders, Turkey continues its military operations against Kurdish-controlled areas in northeastern Syria. A senior German diplomat, Tobias Tunkel, announced on Sunday on social media X that he spoke with Mazloum Abdi, the leader of the 'Syrian Democratic Forces,' about rising tensions in the Kurdish border city of Kobani and immediate steps to reduce these tensions. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights based in Britain, a woman and her child were killed due to 'artillery shelling by Turkey-backed groups' in the outskirts of Kobani, and these groups clashed with the Syrian Democratic Forces further south. Turkey considers the Syrian Kurdish group 'People's Protection Units,' which is the main part of the 'Syrian Democratic Forces' coalition, to be linked to the 'Kurdistan Workers' Party,' which Turkey and its Western allies deem a 'terrorist' organization. Global powers, including the United States and the European Union, have increased their contacts with the new leaders of war-torn Syria and urged them to protect the rights of women and minorities. Foreign leaders have also emphasized the importance of combating 'terrorism and extremism.' ISIS remains active in Syria, and the U.S. has bombed its positions even after the fall of Bashar al-Assad. Assad had long played a strategic role in the Islamic Republic's 'axis of resistance.' This axis has received heavy blows from Israel in recent months, particularly following Hamas's attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which was quickly endorsed by the leader of the Islamic Republic, resulting in the widespread destruction of Hezbollah's leadership in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza. However, Ali Khamenei denied on Sunday that these armed groups operate as proxies for his government. A report from Channel 12 highlighted Israeli officials' willingness to directly attack the Islamic Republic.