Jordan facilitates talks on Syria with Damascus and US officials
Representatives from Syria, Jordan, and the US met on August 12th to explore ways to support stability and security under the new government in Damascus, according to The New Arab via AP.Â
These representatives included US envoy for Syria Tom Barrack, as well as top diplomat from the Syrian foreign ministry Asaad al-Shibani, and Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi. They discussed “ways of strengthening cooperation and coordination between the three sides” for the purpose of Syria’s stability, “sovereignty and regional security.”Â
Damascus has said that the sides were on the same page in regards to forming a working group “to support the Syrian government’s efforts to consolidate the ceasefire in the Suweida province, and work to find a comprehensive solution to the crisis.”
The August 12th meeting continued from discussions held between the officials in Amman on July 19th, where deadly clashes in the Druze-majority Syrian province of Suweida were spoken about. These clashes killed 1,400 people, before a ceasefire was announced. Syrian defense minister Murhaf Abu Qasra, declared the ceasefire between local Druze militias, government forces, and Bedouin tribes. Abu Qasra stated that this was “after agreement with the city’s notables and dignities.”
Minority communities in Syria have communicated their concerns for safety since December 2024, which is when an Islamist-led offensive overthrew longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad, who was a figure that posed as a protector of minorities.
The new Syrian authorities have repeatedly stated their intent to protect these minorities, claiming that all of the country’s ethnic and religious groups will be unharmed. However, the killing of more than 1,700 civilians who were mostly Alawite in March, as well as the violence in Suweida, has cast doubt on the authorities. The violence in Suweida has caused 145,000 people to be displaced, as announced on July 23rd by the UN. Some have had to relocate to Daraa, and the rural part of Damascus. Concerns have been raised about the ability of Syrian authorities to manage sectarian tensions.
According to a statement from Syria, the foreign ministers’ meeting welcomed Damascus’s efforts to “restore basic services, hold perpetrators of violations to account, and prepare the conditions for the return of displaced people to their homes.”
In Jordan, King Abdullah II met with Shibani and Barrack separately also. He expressed his “support for Syria’s efforts to preserve its security, stability, sovereignty, and territorial integrity,” in a royal statement.
The New Arab via AP, Maghrebi.org
Want to chase the pulse of North Africa?
Subscribe to receive our FREE weekly PDF magazine
