The Middle East is very strategic in global geopolitics. The reason is not farfetched given the enormous mineral deposit in the region. The Middle East is not only rich in fossil fuel, but also numerous earth gems to the tune of several tonnes in reserve. Besides the rich mineral deposit, the region also has a rich history, religion, culture, and tradition that give it a prominent place in the global map. In contemporary terms, the several nation states that compose what is today known as the Middle East emerged following the disintegration of the Ottoman Empire after Suleiman the Magnificent golden age which saw high successes in the areas of military, culture and architecture.
It must be noted that the disintegration of the empire created states with artificial boundaries, while the discovery of oil shaped the regions political economy; geopolitics; and global relations. However, the area is facing protracted strife, conflicts amongst religious sects, and social-change induced conflicts. In this regard, one of the most prominent Middle East states that have been bedeviled by a long-drawn civil strife is the Syrian Arab Republic.
A military campaign that commenced in 2011, the Syrian Civil War can conveniently be tagged as one of the most intricate, destructive, and sight breaking crisis of the this present era. A war that was mainly inspired by the Arab Spring, civil disobedience over perceived poor governance and high handed corrupt political classes insisting on politico-economic reforms in North African countries of Libya; Tunisia; and Egypt. The immediate trigger was a street protest in Daraa in March, 2011 which eventually spread to other parts of the country. In response, there was tough government crackdown on the protesters, which scholars of Strategic Science believe only led to an escalation of the crisis. The implication was the formation of armed rebel group by disgruntled soldiers to topple the government of President Bashar Al-Assad; the rise of extremist groups including Jabhat al-Nasra and the Islamic State; intervention by international organizations such as the United Nations and foreign support for or against Al-Assad by different super powers.
The crisis created multidimensional issues in the whole of Middle East ranging from geopolitical tensions to humanitarian crisis and widespread regional instability. It resulted in huge refugee and migration crisis as Syrians struggled to exit the country in droves; there was the expansion of international extremist groups encroaching in Libya, Iraq and other Arab States. These are besides proxy wars as a result of support for different Syrian groups by the US and Russia. Mention must be made of civilian casualties; collateral damage; human rights abuses; massive destruction of infrastructure and economic instability.
In a twist of events, the government at Aleppo led by Al-Assad was successfully removed following a campaign by Syrian opposition led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, in the first week of December, 2024, leading to the exit of al-Assad from the country. Although a huge surprise globally, the development brought some sort of reprieve for Syrians as they embrace a new change. It is this new change that has sparked a glimmer of hope, not only in Syria but across the Middle East that peace may be return in the oil rich region.
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