Is Syria descending into renewed civil war?

In recent days, Syria suffered the worst violence since the toppling of the regime of Bashar al-Assad last December. Deadly clashes erupted last week in former Assad strongholds between Syria’s new Islamist rulers and insurgents loyal to the former president, resulting in sectarian massacres and hundreds of deaths over four days, rehashing past tragedies of civil war in Syria. The interim Syrian government claimed the successful completion of the military operation, but what impact will these sectarian clashes have on the course of Syria’s transition and the perceived legitimacy of the country’s interim leaders?

This on-the-record virtual briefing featured MEI’s Charles Lister, Senior Fellow and head of the Institute’s Syria Initiative. Lister recently returned from a trip to Syria. The briefing also featured Syria native Hassan Hassan, the founder and Editor-in-Chief of New Lines Magazine and co-author of the New York Times bestseller ISIS: Inside the Army of Terror.

Our experts discussed the stability of Syria’s current leadership and its ability to rule; the impact on Syria's other minority communities; the future of the pro-Assad insurgency; foreign interference in Syria’s politics, including from Iran, Turkey, Russia and Israel; the current US policy toward the country; and the potential for Syria to again descend into civil strife.

[Samad-dq]

Islamist government?! That’s what you saying yeah! Wasn’t Asad Muslim ? Why his religion never bolded when he massacred tens of thousands innocent during the civil war?

[WagesOfDestruction]

Charles Lister has totally missed the point of the Israeli moves in Syria.

[arzuardakosar]

Of course a person who’s been out of the country will remember what happened 40 years ago, that’s where time stopped for them

[eitanaltman]

Lister exposes himself with his vicious criticism of Israel as the “only foreign state” mucking around in Syria while giving Turkey a complete pass.

The irony is they spent the previous 30 minutes essentially making Israel’s case by analyzing the problems with rogue jihadi factions, potential for sectarian violence etc. If you just listened to the first part you would come away thinking that it’s eminently reasonable for Israel to destroy heavy weapons, protect Druze allies, and maintain a buffer zone near its borders.

[DswbootsBoots]

I don’t want a holiday in the sun, I just want to go to the new Syria.

[jemalabdunasir]

There are no innocent assadist or alewite

[navylaks]

I care for neither side those 1000 christians were inocent

[wadedavies]

Jewlani is only doing what his handlers want him to do. It's as simple as that, no spin needed.

[danielshellaiah]

Every one must watch
Truky export terorr
Iran export terorr
Qatar 🇶🇦 export terorr
They waited how to destroy Syria 🇸🇾???

[BM-ymik]

Perhaps mr Hassan Hassan should have explained to his friend who was posing a question of what if Bibi Zainab’s AS shrine was bombed by the new set up? That he was referring to the much beloved granddaughter of his prophet, did he know that? Whose side do you think your prophet would be

[amosshapiro]

I have heard that as many as 10000 have been massacred by the Syrian regular army and the Alawites have written a letter begging help from Israel.

[PorcoRosso]

Lots of smarts in the video. Lots of dumb in the comment section.

[SueDalot-jl]

Camp's are from the wars so who is responsible, held with out charge

[youssef]

lol the kurds and druzs agreed to joing the goverment yesterday

[naimo]

This incident happened because of incitement from Israel and Iran to set up a Alawite state in Latakia and Tartus districts, a state which supposedly could be protected by Russian forces in the two bases there. Israeli officials recently mentioned this plan to US to get approval. The overall Israeli plan was to balkanize Syria with a Druze state in the south between Damascus and Golan heights, an Alawite state as above and a Kurdish state in PKK-YPG-SDF controlled northwest. Curiously, so called axis of resistance leader, Iran, supports this Israeli plan. SDF unfortunately made a deal with Ahmed Al Shara causing extreme disappointment in Tel Aviv and Tehran. In Trump's world nowadays, absurd is the new normal.

[danielshellaiah]

Alawite must have full authority over Syria 🇸🇾