29 October 2016

By Tariq Alhomayed

When Walid Al-Muallem said that the Syrian regime was ready to participate in a national unity government, the US Secretary of State rejected that idea saying that ''the Assad regime's remarks are almost meaningless at this time''. Meanwhile, Hassan Nasrallah announced that ''There are no prospects for political solutions … the final word is for the battlefield'', and the Iranian President announced that he will continue to support Assad.

The question now is: ''What's next?'' What are next steps that need to be taken in order to deal with the Syrian crisis, from now until a new American president is elected or even until early next year when the new president will begin to undertake his duties?

Two days ago, Reuters quoted US officials as saying that ''the collapse of the latest cease-fire in Syria has increased the possibility of the Gulf Arab states arming the opposition with shoulder- fired anti-aircraft missiles to defend themselves against Syrian and Russian aircraft. A US official said that ''Washington has kept large numbers of such man-portable air defence systems, or MANPADS, out of Syria by uniting Western and Arab allies behind channelling training and infantry weapons to moderate opposition groups while it pursued talks with Moscow.''

The news agency also quoted another administration official who said, ''The opposition has a right to defend itself and they will not be left defenceless in the face of this indiscriminate bombardment.''

So what is the next step to be taken in Syria between now and the election of a new American president, especially considering that Assad has launched a ground offensive in Aleppo which is supported by Russian fighter jets and the Iranians? Nasrallah is criticising the political process there and said that the final word is for the battlefield. This is true, and we have been saying for a long time that no solutions come out of conference halls, but rather occur on battle fronts. So, what is the next step?

The answer is simple. It is necessary to ensure that Assad and those who stand behind him do not achieve real successes on the ground that will impose new developments on the new president that he will have to deal with. Therefore, friends of the Syrian people must now provide them with effective military aid, including anti-aircraft missiles and other weapons.

Now is the time to be serious and not make promises because the price of loss in Syria now is expensive. The Syrians should be supported militarily with all means available so that the new American president does not find himself in front of developments on the ground that impose positions that are not in Syria's or the region's security and political interests on him. It is time to put a real end to Iranian expansion, especially with the arrival of a new US president. For those who want to break Iran, the real battle field is Syria. If Tehran is broken there, it will be broken everywhere, internally and externally. This is because Iran's real investment, since Khomeini's evil revolution, is in Syria.

In short, do it! Arm the Syrians, as Obama's presidency has ended!

Tariq Alhomayed is the former editor-in-chief of Asharq Al-Awsat. Mr. Alhomyed has been a guest analyst and commentator on numerous news and current affair programs, and during his distinguished career has held numerous positions at Asharq Al-Awsat, amongst other newspapers. Notably, he was the first journalist to interview Osama Bin Ladin's mother. Mr. Alhomayed holds a bachelor's degree in media studies from King Abdul Aziz University in Jeddah. He is based in London. 

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