The Syrian War The New Regime

ISW: Iran may be betting on sowing division in Syria

There is increasing evidence that Iran is fueling conflicts in Syria that it believes it can use to create influence and gain new allies in the region. This is what the think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW) writes in a new situation update.

According to AFP, Iranian state media is also reporting that Iran's security chief Ali Akbar Ahmadian says that a "new resistance movement" will emerge in Syria. According to him, this will "manifest itself in the coming years" and participate in Iran's fight against Israel.

According to ISW, the term resistance movement has a very positive connotation for the Iranian regime. The think tank also states that Iranian-linked media have begun to describe Alawites who are critical of Syria's new regime as part of a resistance movement.

Syrian Rebels Take Over Houses from Former Commanders

The families of former commanders in Bashar al-Assad's army are being evicted from their subsidized housing, and instead commanders in the victorious rebel forces and their families are moving in. This is reported by Reuters, which has spoken to both sides.

- I am very sad, my heart is broken, it is our lives, the lives of our children, says Bodur Makid, the wife of a former intelligence officer who states that the family is now forced to look for a new place to live.

Makid's husband has reportedly been released by the new regime after signing a document recognizing the takeover.

The rebel group HTS, which constitutes Syria's de facto government, has not commented on the evictions.

Syria War  Fall of the al-Assad regime
Minister: France has bombed IS targets in Syria

France carried out airstrikes against IS targets in Syria over the weekend. This was stated by Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu on X. It is the first time France has attacked in Syria since the fall of Bashar al-Assad.

The United States has previously carried out a similar attack in Syria after the regime was overthrown in early December.

The al-Assad government fought IS in Syria, and several countries have expressed concern that the terrorist group could grow in the turmoil associated with the change of power.