Syria in the throes of the crossing test

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It is natural that the Islamic world is overwhelmed by serious concern about the future of the West Asia region, given the circumstances in the Levant and Palestine.

The peoples of this region have had, and continue to have, a decisive role in shaping the political destiny of the Islamic world. For centuries, they have been exposed, as has been the case for decades, to violent blows resulting from the crisis of Judeo-Christian Europe, which was transferred to our region after World War II, particularly due to the disregard for the sovereign rights of the peoples of this region.

Throughout my years as a diplomat, the dialogue was based on the Palestinian crisis. I was always confronted with this argument from my European colleagues who would repeat the refrain that “the German people feel ashamed and responsible for the Nazi government’s massacres of the Jews.”

This is correct, because the brutal behavior that prevailed during that dark period in Europe’s history left deep wounds in the bodies of the people of that continent, and left behind a number of malignant sores on the bodies of the rest of the world’s countries.

My country, Iran, despite its neutrality, was occupied due to the repercussions of that great war, and my people and my country suffered the bitterness of irreparable losses due to that occupation.

Throughout the diplomatic talks, the other parties expressed their shame and declared their responsibility for what happened. A direct question came to my mind related to our situation today: Who bears responsibility for the shame and embarrassment caused by Israel’s crimes? It occupies the lands of the Palestinians, constantly violates all international resolutions, and practices aggression against the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the countries neighboring occupied Palestine. It continues to harass the people, obstructs the path of sending humanitarian aid, and carries out airstrikes against civilians. It is enough to point to the latest example, where a terrible “Holocaust” was committed in the “Shuhada Al-Aqsa” Hospital on October 14, 2024, and where the contemporary model of genocide carried out by the Nazi government is embodied in the Gaza camp?

Today, the circle of these barbaric crimes is extending, and Israeli brutality is expanding to Syria. Which prompts me to add a new question: Who is responsible for Israel’s aggression against the lands of a country in the throes of the collapse of a government and the emergence of a state?

Expressing regret and concern is one of the simplest expressions, and sometimes one of the most trivial words used in the literature of a number of “countries responsible for changing the fate of the peoples of West Asia.”

There is an opportunity to respect the views of all components and intellectual trends present in Syria. There are challenges resulting from the Zionist attacks, supported by America and their allies who have committed unforgivable mistakes.

 

Today, more than 75 years have passed, and “resistance” remains the only way available to the people of this region to confront the blatant attacks of the Zionist entity, and to confront the public support of countries that evade responsibility for the ongoing disasters.

 

“Resistance” has crystallized in the minds of fathers and mothers, and has been manifested in the strong arms of the sons of the resistance, and has been expressed in various and diverse forms. The image of resistance has remained throughout this period, according to the requirements of time, ability and potential, but it has built a culture of its model according to the trilogy “Children of the Stones” as drawn by the Syrian poet Nizar Qabbani. It is true that he did not live in the current days of Gaza, but he drew it accurately in the horizons of his imagination:

 

O students of Gaza,

teach us

some of what you have, for we have forgotten,

teach us.

He is the poet who drew the image of the solidarity of Shiites and Sunnis, and the formation of a common front between the peoples of Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Iran and the rest of the countries of the region, an image that represented a lifeline for the Islamic world when it faced the aggression of “ISIS”.

I named you the South,

O you who wear the cloak of Hussein

and the sun of Karbala,

O rose tree that is a professional at sacrifice,

O revolution of the earth that met the revolution of the sky,

O body from whose soil

wheat and prophets rise, I named you the South,

O moon of sadness that rises at night from the eyes of Fatima,

O fishing boats that are a professional at resistance...

O frog of the river that

reads the Surah of Resistance all night long.

 This literary product indicates the steadfastness and integrity of the people of the Levant against the Zionist entity, as it reflects their affection and sympathy for “Hezbollah”, which increased in speed and intensity like no other during the July 2006 war. These were feelings that were not imported or a tool pumped in by the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Syria is going through a difficult test, and there is a threat resulting from the movements of terrorist movements such as “Al-Qaeda” and “ISIS”, and this increases anxiety in the region, and there is fear that terrorists will make Syria a safe haven for them

 

It is naive to imagine that changing the color of a country's flag will change the social visions and aspirations of that society. The Syrian people are represented by those brave men who wrote the epics of resistance in the October War of 1973. The point of view of the free sons of Syria in defending the Palestinian cause was a major reason for the enemies' hopes of Syria's separation from the resistance front, despite the former Arab Baathist regime joining the ranks of the participants in the Madrid Conference.

From my point of view, I believe that the recent events in Syria should not lead to a violation of sovereignty, nor an attack on the unity of the territories, nor the defeat of the national regime in this country. Perhaps it is appropriate to take Adonis's wisdom and his call on his citizens to wait before issuing a verdict. He was right when he said, "The Syrian people, in the essence of their existence, do not reject change, but rather reject behavior and methods that lead to results that contradict the change itself."

Therefore, the recent events constitute a golden opportunity to show respect for the opinions of all national components, and respect for all intellectual trends present in Syria.

Syria is today going through a difficult test. There is a threat from the movements of terrorist movements such as Al-Qaeda and ISIS, which has exacerbated the anxiety in the region. There is also a fear that terrorists will make Syria a safe haven for them.

On the other hand, there are challenges resulting from the attacks and military intervention of the Zionist entity and behind it America, and their regional challengers from abroad. They have committed unforgivable strategic mistakes in their calculations, which cannot be hidden. The clear goal of the attacks and intervention is to demolish Syria's social structures, scientific wealth, economic infrastructure, and defensive capabilities.

Despite the difficulties that beset this path, resulting from the strikes caused by the foreign armies' attacks on Syria, it is possible to clearly see the existence of a people who are of the same nature as the Syrian people and live next to Syria. A defenseless people, but armed with high morale and firm faith. And here we see them in the small Jabalia camp, resisting the land and air attacks of the Zionist army for two months with all courage and bravery.

The way out of the current impasse, preserving the banner of independence, respecting the pride of the Syrian people, and keeping its flag flying high, is through maintaining harmony and coexistence among the people of this country. Also, through free elections, within the context of determining the future of this country by all its people.

Respecting the opinions of the people is achieved through free and fair elections that reflect the will of the Syrian people and lead to the formation of a political system chosen by all components of society. This constitutes the building block and direction of the foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran within the framework of UN Security Council Resolution 2254.

* Iranian Foreign Minister