Peace be upon you, Damascus

The protection of Syrian lives and the prevention of harm to innocent civilians of any sect represent fundamental rights for all Syrians — a country historically defined by its ethnic diversity and cultural mosaic. This right doubles as an obligation that now rests on the shoulders of armed group leaders who, in a swift and almost seismic upheaval lasting just a few nights, toppled Syria’s Baathist regime that had clung to power since 1963. The pressing question now emerges: will these new leaders prove they have come to establish genuinely different governance or will the coming days reveal that what they revolted against has merely been reborn with different faces and names?

This question is not without merit. A quick glance at examples like Iraq, Libya and Sudan shows a common thread. In all three cases, despite their distinct circumstances, a significant portion of the population found themselves in an ironic position — comparing the fallen regime they once celebrated overthrowing with a disappointing present reality that delivered the opposite of their hopes, particularly regarding stability, the bedrock of national security and social peace. These comparisons are not about taking sides. If you were to ask people across the globe a simple question: What do you want from life? The answers would largely echo the same theme: physical well-being, peace of mind and inner security. When any element of this triad is uprooted, achieving security within any society becomes nearly impossible.

Now that the page has been has turned on Baathist rule, Syria’s future, its people’s fate and the entire region’s trajectory remain uncertain

Bakir Oweida

Now that Syria’s history — and the region’s with it — has turned the page on Baathist rule, with all its merits and flaws, Syria’s future, its people’s fate and the entire region’s trajectory remain uncertain. A crucial question resurfaces: Are we witnessing a replay of Iraq’s example and Libya’s fragmentation or will global power centers and major regional players prevent such a scenario, which could ignite new conflicts within Syria — conflicts likely to spill across borders? Political analysis naturally favors the second scenario. However, uncertainty surrounds the position of Israel’s far-right movement under Benjamin Netanyahu’s leadership. This faction might see an opportunity to dismantle Syria’s state institutions and eliminate its military presence entirely, unless the incoming Trump administration takes a restraining stance against Israeli hard-liners in line with White House priorities.

The phrase “Peace be upon you, Damascus” in the title of this article is thus a heartfelt greeting directed first and foremost to Syria and its people, who stand at the center of attention. But the country’s geographical resonance extends to the greater Levant, from Gaza to Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, across the Jordan River and the banks of the Tigris and Euphrates. Truly, has the time not come for real and lasting peace to bless these lands?

• Bakir Oweida is a Palestinian journalist who pursued a professional career in journalism in Libya in 1968, where he worked at Al-Haqiqa newspaper in Benghazi, then Al-Balagh and Al-Jihad in Tripoli. He has written for several Arab publications in Britain since 1978. He worked at Al-Arab newspaper, Al-Thadamun magazine and the international Arabic newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat. He has also worked as a consultant at the online newspaper Elaph.

This article first appeared in Asharq Al-Awsat.