DAMASCUS: A week after a lightning rebel offensive toppled longtime leader Bashar al-Assad, the United Nations special envoy for Syria on Sunday called for justice to prevail, not revenge.

Syrians are only now beginning to scratch the surface of the atrocities committed, after the former despot fled the country for Russia. “We need to see of course justice and accountability for crimes,” UN envoy Geir Pedersen said after arriving in Damascus.

“And we need to make sure that that goes through a credible justice system, and that we don’t see any revenge.” Pedersen also called for “increased, immediate” aid to war-ravaged Syria, saying it had been through “an enormous... humanitarian crisis”.

Back to school

Calm is slowly returning to the streets of Damascus, with dozens of children streaming back to school for the first time since Assad fled. An official at one school said “no more than 30 percent” were back on Sunday, but “these numbers will rise gradually”.

On the diplomatic front, US State Secretary Antony Blinken said Washington had “been in contact with HTS and with other parties,” without specifying how.

After meeting in Jordan, Western and Arab states along with Turkiye — a key backer of anti-Assad rebels — called for a united peaceful Syria.

In a joint statement, diplomats from the United States, Turkiye, the European Union and Arab countries called for a Syrian-led transition to “produce an inclusive, non-sectarian and representative government formed through a transparent process”, with respect for human rights.

Turkiye help

Turkey was ready to provide military support to the new government set up by rebels if it requests it, Defence Minister Yasar Guler said on Sunday. Guler said the new leadership should be given “a chance” and that Ankara was “ready to provide the necessary support” if needed, in remarks reported by Turkish media.

Published in Dawn, December 16th, 2024