A resurgence of Islamic State (ISIS) is likely following the fall of the Assad regime in Syria, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has warned.
Blinken made the comments following around 75 separate US air strikes on suspected Islamic State compounds in the country, with similar strikes also being carried out by Israel.
Speaking on December 9, Blinken argued that the attacks were required to prevent Islamic extremists from capitalising on the fall of the Syrian government.
“History shows how quickly moments of promise can descend into conflict and violence. ISIS will try to use this period to re-establish its capabilities, to create safe havens,” Blinken said at a State Department event.
“As our precision strikes over the weekend demonstrate, we are determined not to let that happen.”
Shares in Turkish construction and cement companies surged on December 9, buoyed by expectations they will benefit from rebuilding in Syria after rebels overthrew President Bashar al-Assad.https://t.co/ddlR68KKe4
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) December 10, 2024
Experts from other Western countries shared Blinken’s concerns that Assad’s fall could benefit Islamic extremism.
British terrorism expert Jonathan Hall highlighted the number of Islamist fighters currently in prison camps in Syria and noted they could escape or be intentionally released over the coming weeks.
He added that fighters in these camps who have their origins abroad could be deported back to their home countries, some of which are located in Western Europe.
“The … thing that could happen is a new democratically elected Syrian government with a mandate to govern may turn round and say: Why is Syria still the place in which all of these foreign fighters are being held?,” he said.
“And they, the legitimate government in [the capital] Damascus engaged with their Western allies, might turn around and say: ‘Enough. Time for you to take back your foreign fighters.'”
Others have expressed fear that Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) — one of the key rebel groups now in control of Syria — was too friendly with known terror groups, with the faction itself seen as harbouring an extremist interpretation of Islamic theology.
German terrorism expert Hans-Jakob Schindler told T-Online on December 4: “HTS is made up of fighters who used to belong to Al-Qaeda. Already, HTS accepts into the areas under its control individuals and groups who clearly have a terrorist agenda that goes beyond Syria.”
“Therefore, similar to the Taliban in Afghanistan, HTS-controlled areas can become a hub for international terrorism. New resources could be mobilised from Syria to plan attacks. The geographical proximity to Europe makes this danger all the more real.”
The European Union has hailed the fall of Bashar al-Assad in Syria, with the EU’s chief foreign affairs official calling it “a positive and long-awaited development” that “also shows the weakness of Assad’s backers, Russia and Iran”. https://t.co/dqDuy3ye3C
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) December 9, 2024
