Germany’s Foreign Ministry urges Syrian parties to prevent violence after 200+ deaths in recent clashes between Assad loyalists and government forces. Calls for peaceful solutions are made, highlighting the need for national unity and minority protection. The interim president also encouraged pro-Assad fighters to surrender their arms to promote stability.
Germany’s Foreign Ministry has urged all parties involved in the ongoing conflict in Syria to prevent a “spiral of violence,” following the deaths of over 200 individuals in a recent two-day clash. The fighting, primarily between government forces and supporters of ousted President Bashar al-Assad, was particularly intense in the coastal regions, a historical stronghold for Assad loyalists, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).
The German Foreign Ministry expressed shock at the casualties and called for peaceful resolutions, emphasizing the importance of national unity, inclusive political dialogue, and transitional justice to mitigate ongoing violence and enmity. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, during a January visit to Damascus, outlined Germany’s conditional support to Syria, contingent upon the government’s commitment to safeguarding minority groups.
The recent violence erupted from a series of assaults targeting transitional government security personnel, largely attributed to Assad’s supporters. Reports indicate that the death toll includes more than 140 individuals from revenge attacks, alongside at least 50 government forces and 45 Assad loyalists. Despite the Syrian government’s lack of an official death toll, unnamed officials acknowledged retaliatory actions in response to prior assaults on security forces.
The Syrian Defense Ministry has reported significant advances by government troops, regaining control of regions impacted by these attacks. Anas Khattab from Syria’s General Intelligence Service implicated former military leaders associated with the prior regime in orchestrating these violent confrontations.
Simultaneously, Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa has called for pro-Assad fighters to relinquish their weapons, highlighting the need for regulated arms possession and an end to the presence of ungoverned weaponry. This recent surge in violence marks the most significant unrest since the ousting of Assad’s government by insurgents in December, led by the Islamist faction Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). The new administration aims to foster national unity following 14 years of devastating civil conflict, which has resulted in over half a million fatalities and displacements of millions.
In summary, Germany has expressed grave concern over the recent intensification of violence in Syria, which has resulted in over 200 deaths. The call for peaceful dialogue and national unity underscores the necessity for resolution measures amidst escalating tensions. The Syrian interim government has similarly emphasized the need for arms regulation among pro-Assad factions in a bid to re-establish order and stability within a fragmented nation after years of civil strife.
Original Source: www.dw.com
