The experiences of Tunisia, Egypt, Sudan, Libya, and others teach us that the mere collapse of a ruling authority does not necessarily mean the fall of the ruling regime in its socioeconomic dimension – that is, the manner of distributing wealth and dealing with the country, its economy, and the rights of its people, whether in the national, democratic, or social sense. Those experiences also teach us that the collapse of a tyrannical and plundering regime cannot turn into a true and complete victory for the oppressed and plundered people unless it is complemented by building of a radically different new system – one that is socioeconomically just, democratic, and patriotic. One that preserves the sovereignty and wealth of its country, and through which the people can govern themselves.

Since Assad fled – nearly six months ago – we have, through Kassioun, repeatedly said:

US sanctions will not be lifted anytime soon, and let’s work to relaunch the Syrian economy, whether the sanctions are lifted or not, while continuing to demand lifting them.

Over the past week, media reports, mostly in the West, have discussed the possibility of Syrian normalization with “Israel”. This discussion has taken place within several contexts, including Trump’s visit to the Gulf states and the link between lifting US sanctions on Syria and normalization with the Zionist entity.

Over the past 14 years, based on the state of war and total chaos, “Israel” has been able to achieve widespread penetration and infiltration within the ranks of a large number of Syrian sides, through active and dormant cells that carry out multiple tasks ranging from monitoring and gathering information, to spreading rumors and sectarian and nationalist incitement (including via social media). The tasks also include direct tangible roles that involve assassinations, killings, and sabotage operations, not to mention the overt military role of the Zionist entity’s army, and the overt political role calling for partitioning and ending Syria altogether.

The special weekly Kassioun issue (last Thursday, April 24) devoted an article by the political editor to discussing “The Possibility of ISIS’s Return?” Events and statements that evening quickly confirmed the validity of the assessment Kassioun had presented at the time, which was reinforced over the following days.

The trend of decline and retreat among Western powers in general, and the US in particular, is rapidly growing at all levels: economic, political, military, and cultural. This is something that Kassioun has repeatedly emphasized, proactively, over the past 25 years. It has now become a tangible reality, the effects of which are constantly being revealed. Its major impacts, in the historical sense, are still only a few steps away, and have significantly affected and will continue to affect our Syrian situation.

Syria is enduring a series of complex and intertwined crises, the complexity of which increases with each additional day of delay in beginning a comprehensive solution. Perhaps the most significant of these crises are the following:

The clashes Syrian heroes in Daraa province waged against the Zionist incursion, and the accompanying and subsequent solidarity, sympathy, mutual support, and appreciation from all Syrians inside Syria and abroad, prove that the Syrian people themselves are the ones capable of resolving the various problems facing Syria, most notably the issues of sovereignty, livelihood, dignity, and civil peace. This is not only because they are first and foremost concerned with their right to self-determination, but also because the actual implementation of this right can only be achieved by Syrians themselves, through getting together, dialogue, consensus, and cooperation. The solution was not and will not be external, rather, it is necessarily internal. Furthermore, the solution will not come at the hands of “supermen” and extraordinary heroes, but rather at the hands of the Syrian people, united as one unified people who take control of their own destiny and solve their various problems through cooperation and solidarity.

The new government was announced yesterday, Saturday, March 29, during a ceremony held at the People’s Palace in Damascus. The 23-member government is headed by Mr. Ahmad al-Sharaa, President of the Republic during the transitional phase, in accordance with the Constitutional Declaration.

It has been 10 days since the UN Security Council issued its statement on Syria on March 14. This statement came after closed-door deliberations in response to a joint Russian-American invitation, due to the dangerous situation facing Syria, with waves of rebellion, violence, and massacres taking place in Syria’s coastal area.