Kurds and Alawites Are Victims of Violence In Syria

 

After the fall of the Baathist government, Alawites have been subject to violence. Kurds throughout the Syrian civil war faced attacks. The removal of Bashar al-Assad did not create an improved condition for the war torn country. The Latakia massacre killed an estimated 1,300 people. The new regime of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham claimed that they were only fighting loyalist to the Baathist government. HTS is using terrorism and violence to impose its will upon a population that rejects it. HTS views Alawites as collaborators of the Assad government. Turkish involvement is going to grow. The excuse for occupation of Syrian territory is to prevent more refugee traffic. Syrians and Kurds have been fleeing to Turkey since the civil war broke out in 2011. Alawites are now seeking safety in Lebanon. The condition of Syria can only be described as ethnic cleansing. The sanctions imposed during this civil war undermined Syria's standard of living. The Alawites are facing a similar condition to Sunnis in Iraq after the fall of Saddam Hussein. Death squads emerged inflicting violence based on ethnicity and religion. The difference with Syria was that terrorist organizations and armed groups were funded by the West and Gulf monarchies. Iraq was invaded by the United States and terrorist organizations went their to fight . ISIS was a product of the Iraq War and the desire to depose Bashar al-Assad. When a country is destabilized racial and ethnic tensions are exploited. President Ahmed al-Sharaa is not seeking to share power or create a federal system. Certain ethnic groups are going to see more violence directed at them. The civil war never stopped, but went through an evolution. Yazidis and Syrian Turkmen might might no longer be welcomed in the HTS regime. Syria is going through ethnic conflict and balkanization. Alawites and Kurdish refugees are only going to increase in number.   

Israel Declares War On The Gaza Strip

 

Israel has declared war on the Gaza Strip. This is in response to a surprise attack and the capture of hostages. The motivation for violence can be revealed in Likud Party policy. The desire to expand territory and settlements explains the Israeli aggression. Hamas attacked due to the fact most Palestinians live in a prison like atmosphere. The real fear is that another Intifada is on the horizon.   Subject to a blockade and occupation means there is no possible way to live as an equal. The Benjamin Netanyahu government makes it clear Arabs are not welcomed in the Zionist state. This is not a war against Hamas, rather against Palestinians. The current conflict could be a pathway to annexing both the Gaza Strip and West Bank. These will not be areas under occupation, but full absorbed into the Zionist framework. The recent aggression has caused reactions in the region. Saudi Arabia is reconsidering normalizing relations with Israel. Jordan was expressing its frustration with Israel prior to the conflict. There have been claims that Iran was the instigator in the recent Gaza war. No evidence has been provided for this assertion. If the conflict continues it could escalate into a regional war. Such a conflict could be on the scale of the Six Day War or Yom Kippur War. The policy  settler colonialism has created more conflict and instability in the Middle East. If the West Bank and Gaza Strip are to be fully absorbed, this means more refugees will come into Jordan. The Golan Heights might also face a similar threat of being merged into Israel. A possible intervention of Hezbollah could change the situation. Israel probably not be able to fight both Hamas and Hezbollah simultaneously for a long war. The war also has another consequence in Israel's internal politics. The Gaza war provides Prime Minister Netanyahu a convenient distraction for his criminal trials and the efforts related to judicial reform.  

The Min Aung Hlaing Regime Extends Aung San Suu Kyi's Jail Sentence

 

The military government of Myanmar has extended Aung San Suu Kyi's jail sentence. The Min Aung Hlaing regime wants to remain in power and to do so it requires to stop all political opposition. The National League of Democracy won the elections, but the military objected to the results. Since 2021 Min Aung Hlaing has manipulated the State Administration Council. Combined with being commander-in-chief of the Defense Forces, this gives him vast amounts of political power. Suu Kyi is the victim of political persecution. The National League of Democracy leaders also face imprisonment. What is going on is nothing more than a show trial. Myanmar has again become a pariah, with certain countries imposing sanctions. This has done little to undermine the military regime. Hlaing might be using Suu Kyi as an example to frighten the people resisting his rule. A resistance has been ongoing with certain ethnic groups taking up arms against the government. Min Aung Hlaing wants to crush revolts and eliminate armed groups. The desire became so extreme that this resulted in the violence against the Rohingya. The crisis can be described as ethnic cleansing and some would argue possible  genocide. Hlaing's involvement has been extensive in the human rights violations of Myanmar's ethnic groups. Suu Kyi's situation has reverted back to what it was in the 1990s. Arrest and detainment due to her political beliefs. The attempt to build a democratic system has failed. Just like in Thailand, Pakistan , Nigeria, and Egypt the military has too much control over the government. Myanmar continues to struggle with the military taking over government. Suu Kyi will either need to find a means of escape or live the rest of her life imprisoned.