Panorama: Suwayda faces full-scale assault as terrorism evolves

 Arabic newspapers published last week addressed the situation in Suwayda, Syria, the global terrorist threat, and the nature of the conflict between Iran and Israel.

Suwayda Invasion

The newspaper "Independent Arabia" stated that what happened in Suwayda was not just a security clash or a limited military operation but rather a systematic aggressive act targeting minorities, revealing a transformation of "maintaining security" into an "invasion" resembling past atrocities on the Syrian coast.

The newspaper described it as a "full-scale invasion" accompanied by documented videos of atrocities, indicating undeniable boasting. It added that the most dangerous aspect is not just the uncontrolled weapons but the "Salafist mindset" driving those who carry these weapons, even within the ranks of the official authorities.

 The newspaper questioned: Is the Sunni majority still in control, or has decision-making fallen into the hands of a Salafist jihadist faction dominating the state's institutions? Where is the representation of Syria's diverse sects in the new administration?

 It further noted that the absence of a national project that includes everyone, and the transformation of Syria into a regional "battleground" for conflicts, has left the state unable to protect its minorities. Meanwhile, Israel's claims of protecting the Druze are merely pretexts for overt interventions.

The newspaper argued that what protects everyone—majority and minorities alike—is a just, democratic state, not security apparatuses, uncontrolled weapons, or sectarian rhetoric.

In turn, the newspaper "Asharq Al-Awsat" shed light on the persistence and evolution of the threat posed by armed Islamist groups, whether Sunni or Shia, in various parts of the world, debunking the idea of the "end" or decline of these groups.

The newspaper emphasized that betting on the end of extremist groups like ISIS or armed Shia factions is naive or based on a partial view of the situation.

The newspaper also observed the potential formation of cross-sectarian alliances between politicized Sunni and Shia fundamentalist groups, despite their ideological contradictions, with a shared goal of confronting America and the West.

Iran and Israel: Approach to War Option

The newspaper "Al-Khaleej" views the relationship between Iran and Israel as one that can only be understood through the lens of the balance of power, with each representing a model of a state seeking to enhance its influence in the Middle East, particularly in the Arabian Gulf, which is considered the heart of regional balance.

According to the newspaper, the recent war, along with the preceding mutual escalation and military threats, reflects a deep struggle to reshape the balance of power, amid Iran's pursuit of nuclear capabilities that threaten Israel's monopoly on such power.

The newspaper notes that Israel, with support from the United States, seeks to impose a model of "peace through strength" that prevents the emergence of any regional nuclear rival, keeping the war option open in what is termed the "Thucydides Trap"—the fear of the rise of a new power that could threaten the dominant one.

a.k

ANHA