NewsBytes
    Hindi Tamil Telugu
    More
    In the news
    Narendra Modi
    Amit Shah
    Box Office Collection
    Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
    OTT releases
    Hindi Tamil Telugu
    NewsBytes
    User Placeholder

    Hi,

    Logout

    India
    Business
    World
    Politics
    Sports
    Technology
    Entertainment
    Auto
    Lifestyle
    Inspirational
    Career
    Bengaluru
    Delhi
    Mumbai

    Download Android App

    Follow us on
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Linkedin
    Home / News / World News / Syria situation poses uncomfortable question for Sunni countries
    Next Article
    Syria situation poses uncomfortable question for Sunni countries

    Syria situation poses uncomfortable question for Sunni countries

    By Ramya Patelkhana
    Dec 24, 2016
    05:25 am

    What's the story

    The current situation in war-torn Syria, particularly in Aleppo, poses an uncomfortable question, especially for the Sunni Muslim Arab countries supporting rebels fighting President Bashar al-Assad and his allies- Iran and Russia.

    President Assad's seizure of rebel regions reflects a shift in West Asia's balance of power towards Iran; the move also reflects concerns for Saudi Arabia's primacy in West Asia.

    Gulf countries

    Countering Iran, central to Gulf Arab policy

    Countering Iran is central to Gulf Arab policy; however, it isn't clear how it could be achieved amid the multiplication of other concerns.

    Beset by low oil prices, at war in Yemen, and strained ties with Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and allies are questioning how much armed help they should now give the rebels.

    President Obama's light-touch approach to the war frustrated the Gulf countries.

    Donald Trump

    Donald Trump, seen as more decisive

    Donald Trump is considered more decisive; his choices of James Mattis, a retired Marine General distrustful of Iran, as Defense Secretary and Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State have pleased Gulf Arab energy exporters.

    Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said he had spent time in the US to hear out the next administration's policy options and make the case for Arab countries' geopolitical compulsions.

    Quote

    Trump may abandon fighting the rebels

    Donald Trump may reportedly give up fighting with rebels in Syria in order to focus on ISIS. Gulf Arab states want to test that view. A Gulf state foreign ministry official described Trump as "a businessman with whom you can make a deal".

    Relief

    Gulf Humanitarian Relief will still flow

    After a war that forced five million Syrians to flee and killed 300,000; Sunni Arab societies wouldn't accept curbs of relief to the mostly Sunni state; Gulf humanitarian aid would remain, but the extent of their armed support is in question.

    A backer of rebels, similar to Saudi, Qatar said it prefers continuing military aid but also claimed it should be a collective effort.

    Quote

    GCC security adviser Sami alFaraj's statement

    Sami alFaraj said the Gulf countries "need to regroup, have a strategic pause and look at how we (countries) pursue our (the Council's) objectives in the time ahead. The Syrian case has not been closed."

    Leverage

    Political solution to the war

    Any notion of Gulf Arab leverage in future negotiations looks far-fetched, given the determination of Assad, Russia, and Iran to carve out territorial gains.

    Jubeir said if the world powers fail to constrain Assad, there would be no political solution to the war.

    He added, "If we cannot find an effective way to pressure the Syrian regime, we will not reach a political solution."

    Quote

    Bahrain Foreign Minister Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman al Khalifa's statement

    "The whole thing in Syria was because of disengagement from world powers about how to deal with the matter. So with all the changes in the political leadership (in the West) let's hope for some new commitment for Syria."

    Facebook
    Whatsapp
    Twitter
    Linkedin
    Related News
    Latest
    Donald Trump
    Saudi Arabia
    Syria
    United States of America

    Latest

    Is Matt Reeves not returning for 'The Batman 2'?  James Gunn
    This AI uses selfies to predict cancer survival chances Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
    'Nothing greater than nation': BCCI secretary amid IPL 2025 suspension  Indian Premier League (IPL)
    Meet SkyStriker, made-in-Bengaluru suicide drones deployed in Operation Sindoor Bengaluru

    Donald Trump

    What made news last week? Samajwadi Party
    ISIS calls for attacks on US voters ISIS
    Sensex falls 1,600 points on Trump's victory, Modi's new move Narendra Modi
    Donald Trump's massive mandate US Elections

    Saudi Arabia

    Sharp drop in foreign remittances Indian Government
    Iran executes nuclear scientist on the charge of treason Supreme Court Of India
    Death toll in Yemen suicide bombing rises to 60 Civil War
    Thousands of Saudis sign petition to end male guardianship Human Rights Watch

    Syria

    ISIS carries out its first successful drone attack ISIS
    UNICEF: Nearly 5 lakh children under siege in Syria World

    United States of America

    European Union to launch a big defence research plan Donald Trump
    Kashmiri boy wins Asian Karate Championship Chennaiyin FC
    Solar power cost drops to new low Gurugram
    Internet Archive plans Canada database to avoid Trump censorship San Francisco
    Indian Premier League (IPL) Celebrity Hollywood Bollywood UEFA Champions League Tennis Football Smartphones Cryptocurrency Upcoming Movies Premier League Cricket News Latest automobiles Latest Cars Upcoming Cars Latest Bikes Upcoming Tablets
    About Us Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions Contact Us Ethical Conduct Grievance Redressal News News Archive Topics Archive Download DevBytes Find Cricket Statistics
    Follow us on
    Facebook Twitter Linkedin
    All rights reserved © NewsBytes 2025