Opinion: The seven-year tragedy in Syria

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By the end of 2010, it became clear that Arab countries were in the eye of a severe storm.

The story began in Tunisia where a young man set himself alight in protest against the political and economic situation in the country. He ignited a revolution that toppled then President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali.

Soon after, the unrest swept across Libya, Egypt, and Syria.

'Syria differs from other Arab countries'

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad gestures during an interview with AFP in the capital Damascus, February 11, 2016. /VCG Photo

Syrians were watching what was happening in the region with mixed feelings of curiosity, satisfaction and disbelief.

When the protests turned into a destructive war in Libya, Syrians became concerned about the future. None of the well-educated Syrians expected that their country would witness the most tragic events in the country's history.

President Bashar al-Assad said, "Syria differs from other Arab countries." He believed the Syrian society enjoyed enough immunity to prevent it from sliding into a swamp of war and violence.

In fact, Syria was the most advanced Arab country, where illiteracy was virtually nonexistent and everyone enjoyed free public health care and complimentary education. The economy was strong, with no external debt and self-sufficiency in food, agriculture and pharmaceutical industries.

Moreover, Syrians, of different religions and sects, had always lived in great harmony. They wanted more political freedom, and desired to strengthen their nation, not to destroy it.

Intervention of regional and international powers

A general view shows smoke billowing in Hazeh, in the rebel enclave of Eastern Ghouta on the outskirts of Damascus during reported shelling by Syrian government forces, March 15, 2018. /VCG Photo

Unfortunately, that was all an illusion as regional and international powers played a dirty game in Syria for many reasons. Syria, once a beacon for stability, became a battlefield for others who wanted to impose their agenda on Syrian people.

Turkey, for example, wanted to revitalize its Ottoman Empire, while Saudi Arabia wanted to fight a proxy war against Iran in Syria. Israel wanted to terminate Lebanon's Hezbollah by destroying its main allies in Syria, and the US sought to control the oil- and gas-rich eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea.

To achieve their goals, these external powers used all possible means: Fake news about massacres inside Syria, psychological war, and recruitment of thousands of mercenaries from all round the world to fight in Syria.

However, using international Takfiri terrorism (ideology based on excommunication which encourages to punishment by death) as a tool to achieve their goals was the most dangerous and fatal factor in the tragic Syrian war.

This led to the destruction of the country's infrastructure including hospitals, schools, airports, railways, roads, factories and fields, as everything was within Satan's reach.

Men and women were slaughtered on a daily basis, as human trafficking spread, along with the prevalence of trade of human organs, theft and rape.

However, it is the damage to the social fabric and the effect on people's psychology that is the most extensive. Mothers have seen their sons being beheaded before their eyes, fathers received their sons' last call before they were slaughtered, and murderers sent videos of their execution to parents or uploaded them online. Kidnapping was lurking right around the corner, waiting for anyone.

Trust suffered a hit. When I scroll through my phone contact list, there are only a few names I can count on.

The cities where we lived and discovered our first love have been destroyed, so have our souls.

Syria which was once a safe haven for refugees from Iraq, Palestine and Lebanon, but turned into a land of savagery. Millions of Syrians either fled the country or are now internally displaced as a consequence of the war.

By the beginning of 2012, it had become clear that the nation was passing through the darkest hours of its history. A civil war broke out, making the future of Syria questionable as terrorism was spreading everywhere like a virus.

Rebuilding the country

People carry their belongings next to International Red Cross (ICRC) and UN aid convoys in the besieged town of Douma, Eastern Ghouta, in Damascus, Syria, March 9, 2018. / VCG Photo

Without the support of China and Russia at the United Nations Security Council, where both countries vetoed attempts to repeat the Libyan scenario in Syria, the Syrian army would not be able to defeat terrorists across the country.

When Moscow joined the war against terrorism, a wind of optimism blew across Syria.

The majority of Syrians began to understand that the bloodshed is not a civil war among themselves as much as it is a proxy war between external powers taking place on the Syrian territory.

This new understanding of the war would definitely help Syrians recover faster from the "symptoms of war" and rebuild their country and society.

Assistance from international community

A United Nations arms expert collects samples as he inspects the site where rockets had fallen Eastern Ghouta during an investigation into a suspected chemical weapons strike near the capital Damascus, August 29, 2013. /VCG Photo

The United Nations can help Syrians by adopting a balanced approach to the crisis.

Therefore, UN can work on:

1) Keeping the sovereignty and independence of Syria, which requires preventing external powers from intervening in the country.

2) Bridging the gap between Syrians instead of threatening the Syrian government which will cause additional complications to the crisis and might turn into regional or international war.

3) Removing all kinds of economic sanctions and providing unconditional help to Syria throughout its reconstruction.

Countries like China, Russia, India, Iran and Pakistan could play a special role in achieving the above-mentioned terms. Other major powers must work with these nations to hold an international conference of reconciliation in Syria.

Such a conference should be planned with great care and with a high level of responsibility. It should elect a constituent assembly which will issue a new Constitution for Syria.

Following that, and under the terms of the Constitution, Syrians can hold their parliamentary and presidential elections with a guarantee others would not interfere. This would make it extremely easy to re-stabilize the country.

Palmyra Ancient City, northeast of Damascus in Syria /VCG Photo

Syria is the cradle of major religions in the world, and the country has given humanity many bright achievements. Damascus was also the final stop along the great ancient Silk Road.

Therefore, the nation deserves, like any other nation, to live in peace and love, because it provided the greatest symbols of peace and love to all humankind.

(Taleb Ibrahim is a political analyst based in Damascus, Syria. He received his master's degree in Political Science from AIU, the US. The article reflects the author's opinion, and not necessarily the views of CGTN.)