The regional dimensions of destroying Aleppo

The human tragedy in Aleppo has become beyond description. It represents the climax of the Syrian crisis. Standing without inaction would give the aggressors a carte blanche to do what they like in our region. Aleppo would stir Iran and its allies’ appetite to launch a wide scale aggression. This would be certainly the outcome of the regional and international failure to address the Syrian cause. 

As for Syrians themselves, the aggressors would be able to destroy the remaining few things and commit more atrocities but for sure they won’t achieve their goal in restoring Assad’s power on Aleppo and other liberated areas. 

When the Russian intervention started, it has been said that Aleppo will be recaptured by Assad, but that goal hasn’t been achieved. The Iranians who came to Syria two years earlier than the Russians couldn’t also make any progress.

Although Russian warplanes enjoyed their supremacy in the Syrian airspace, because Syrian opposition didn’t have air-missiles, they couldn’t achieve anything but more destruction in many of recaptured neighborhoods and areas. 

Assad still can’t leave his palace given that many areas in Damascus countryside are still held by Syrian opposition. 

The outcomes of the Russian intervention are still substantially limited even if we consider the Russian ongoing efforts to cut opposition supply lines and the UN’s silence about the regime’s atrocities against civilians. 

The annihilation carried by the Russian-Iranian- Assad alliance will continue unless regional powers move and continue their support for the Syrian opposition since it has become unlikely possible for any regional power to intervene directly.

The indifference of the regional governments towards the Syrian tragedy will make them pay a heavier price later since Iran will be encouraged to repeat its crimes in other areas.  

Abdulrahman al- Rashid in Asharq Al-Awast