Communist Party of Greece (KKE)
The intervention in Syria and the domination of the jihadists is another link in the chain of the dangerous developments for the peoples that the imperialist powers of the USA, the EU, NATO, Turkey and Israel are carrying out in the wider Middle East region. It is a continuation of the ongoing massacre of the Palestinian people, the attacks on the Lebanese people and the targeting of Iran.
From the beginning, in 2011, the KKE has taken a consistent and firm position on the developments in Syria, exposing the dangerous changes that followed the so-called Arab Spring to the detriment of the peoples. Today, the same reactionary forces, “rebranded” by the NATO member state of Turkey, are dubbed “rebels” and presented by the bourgeois media as the “liberators” of the Syrian people. The same propaganda about “the restoration of democracy" is being repeated, which was the pretext of the imperialists for the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, etc., and which today has turned the Middle East into a region in flames.
The KKE has made it clear that despite ideological and political differences with the bourgeois Syrian regime and the criticism of its policies, it condemns the plans of the USA, Israel and Turkey, which constitute interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign country.
The Syrian people are now paying the price of the capitalist path of development, the struggle between the imperialist powers for raw materials, pipelines and transport routes, military bases, geopolitical footholds and market shares.
The situation that is currently taking shape in Syria not only will not end the suffering of the peoples of the region, but also carries the risk of new imperialist wars and possible border changes, with new rounds of bloody conflicts and new waves of refugees.
The New Democracy government has welcomed the overthrow of Assad, i.e. the collapse of the country by the jihadists with the support of Turkey, Israel and the USA, and bears a great responsibility. It has welcomed the intervention of these forces in a foreign country, with all that this implies, in order not to disrupt the NATO line and the "peaceful waters" policy with Turkey. The hypocrisy of the government and the other pro-NATO parties is beyond all limits, because on the one hand they denounce 'revisionism' and on the other hand they legitimize it. This attitude is part of the dangerous policy of the government and the other pro-NATO parties, which are dragging the country into military adventurism in Ukraine, the Middle East and other regions of the world, where the interests of the capitalists of the Euro-Atlantic axis are at stake against the competing interests of the Eurasian axis that is being formed.
The KKE stands by the people and the communists of Syria and stresses that the struggle against the social impasses of poverty, the impoverishment of the peoples, the imperialist interventions and wars, in order to be effective, must target the system of capitalist exploitation and the monopolies that give rise to and reproduce these impasses.
Tudeh Party of Iran
On the morning of 18 Azar [Sunday 8 December], the world's media reported the fall of the Ba'athist government led by Bashar al-Assad in Syria, as their top news story, 11 days on from the launch of the offensive in that country by the takfiri terrorist forces of "Hayat Tahrir al-Sham" [HTS].
The news of the fall of Bashar al-Assad's government, roundly welcomed by the imperialist countries, marks a completely new phase and re-drawing of the political landscape in the Middle East. This event, which was orchestrated with the clear and direct intervention of the military forces of Turkey and Israel with the backing of the imperialist countries, should be seen as part and parcel of the strategy of US imperialism to expand its hegemony over the Middle East region.
According to reports in the international media, last week, after the escalation in attacks by terrorist groups affiliated with HTS and the fall of major cities in northern Syria, the governments of Russia and the Islamic Republic of Iran decided to withdraw their military forces, diplomatic missions, as well as citizens from the country.
The "Euronews" network reported: "Sergey Lavrov announced that the foreign ministers of Russia, Turkey, and Iran, agreed at their meeting in Doha, the capital of Qatar, that the 'hostilities' in Syria must be ended immediately. Mr. Lavrov emphasised that Moscow wishes to witness dialogue between the Syrian government and what it considers to be the 'legitimate opposition' in Syria. He reiterated that the Islamist rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham remains a 'terrorist' organisation, regardless of any claims about a change in its stance. Lavrov stressed that it is 'unacceptable' to allow 'terrorist groups' to take control of Syrian territory."
In its first reaction to the fall of Bashar al-Assad, the Iranian Foreign Ministry stated: "The determination of the fate of Syria, as well as any decision-making regarding its future, is solely the responsibility of the people of this country, free from any destructive interference or external imposition."
According to world news agencies, Bashar al-Assad, along with some of his advisers, left Damascus international airport for Russia in the early hours of Sunday 8 December. And in a statement released by the Russian Foreign Ministry it was announced that the Syrian president departed having resigned his post following negotiations with a number of "participants in the armed conflict [in the Syrian Arab Republic]" and his issuing of orders for a peaceful transfer of power. The Russian Foreign Ministry emphasised that it was not involved in the negotiations, but that it maintains contact with "all Syrian opposition groups".
The capture of Damascus, Syria's capital, not only ended more than five decades of Assad family rule in Syria, but also marked the effective end of the Ba'ath Party's existence [or that of organised Ba'athism] in the Middle East. The fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government, 21 years after the fall of Saddam Hussein, is one of the most significant political developments in the Middle East with profound and far-reaching consequences for the region. Progressive opposition forces in Syria have highlighted that over the past 13 years, Syria has been subjected to cycles of continuous violence and destruction across the country, which have stalled the implementation of agreements as well as the establishing of "de-escalation zones". This had led to a near-total "freezing" of the conflict by mid-2019. Subsequently, a phase of economic erosion began, driven both internally and externally, exacerbated by international sanctions as well as the brutal neoliberal economic policies and fierce domestic repression imposed by the Syrian government.
With the fall of the ruling regime in Syria in the wake of Israel's continued bloody attacks on Gaza and Lebanon, the Middle East region has been plunged deeper into a profound multifaceted crisis. The departure of Bashar al-Assad from Syria and the handover of power to terrorist forces - which operated within the framework of ISIS-affiliated forces until 2013 and then under the command of al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri until 2016 - could initiate a series of developments aligned with the strategic interests of the US, Israel, and Turkey. It is notable that the Turkish government has officially supported the forces affiliated with HTS, while the Israeli media has also alluded to specific understandings and mutual interests between the Netanyahu government and HTS.
The Tudeh Party of Iran is deeply concerned about the consequences of the events of the past few days in Syria, which could lead to greater instability and a potentially catastrophic regional war with very real global implications. We believe that the developments in Syria have not occurred in a vacuum or removed from the series of developments that stemmed from the events of 15 Mehr 1403 [7 October 2023], including the severe defeat of the regional policies of the Islamic Republic in Iran [and manifest degrading of its capabilities] along with that imposed on its affiliated forces in Gaza and Lebanon. The reality is that the direct involvement of states such as Israel and Turkey in the current developments has not only worsened the security situation in the region but could also have broader repercussions. The Syrian people demand the realisation of national sovereignty, democracy, and social justice - demands that an extremely reactionary-jihadi and terrorist force neither has the intention nor capacity to achieve or work towards.
The Tudeh Party of Iran supports all responsible and principled international calls for a comprehensive political solution to resolve the Syrian crisis. We also endorse the call of the progressive forces of the region for the immediate implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254, in which the solution to the Syrian crisis is based on the vital interests of the Syrian people, and we reaffirm our longstanding and steadfast opposition to any intervention by foreign forces.
Developments in Syria do not lend themselves to euphoria and celebration. On the contrary, they are a cause for serious concern and do not bode well for the people of Syria or for the wider Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East region. They bear the risk of new bloody conflicts, devastation and more refugees. They bring to the fore extreme fundamentalist forces. They strengthen the two occupying powers in our region, Turkey and Israel. They are paving the way for the dismemberment of Syria.
AKEL underlines that the international community must not accept the plans for the dismemberment of Syria but must defend the territorial integrity and unity of the country as a sovereign and independent state, where the people of Syria themselves will freely decide their future, away from foreign interference. The position of the Republic of Cyprus must be guided by international law, the UN Charter and the UN Security Council Resolutions.
The whole of humanity should be concerned by the developments in Syria because the outcome of the so-called "Arab Spring" and Western military interventions to "export democracy" is well known. In the case of Syria too, existing issues of democratic freedoms and human rights were instrumentalised by the West in order to destabilise the country while at the same time, extreme obscurantist forces were dubbed "liberators" and "democrats".
This makes it clear how nightmarish the scenario of Syria becoming a "new Iraq" or a "new Libya" is.
The plan put into effect by the US imperialism and the reactionary forces in the region about 15 years ago in order for the disintegration of Syria has succeeded as of yesterday. The jihadist forces mobilised by the USA, Israel, Britain and the AKP government overthrew the Syrian government in a short period of one week.
Peace and stability will not come to Syria as they claim. On the contrary, in Syria, where massacres, occupations, looting and plundering, endless conflicts have been taking place for years, the era of barbarism will be opened as the last remaining point that restrained all these, even if only a little, has been eliminated.
The winner of this picture is Israel for the time being. It has been proved once again that the Israeli issue is not a matter of religion. Jihadist groups and Israel have seized Syria by working in great harmony. The AKP government is the element that ensures this harmony.
Israel's victory is the victory of US imperialism.
All the ‘winners’ in Syria today are allies of the US and Israel. Maybe there will be bloody clashes between the ‘winners’, maybe the ‘harmony’ witnessed in the field for a week will be established by the US.
However, US ‘peace’ is always bloody, always prone to new conflicts. Peace, stability and tranquility in Syria can only be established when imperialism and the jihadists are defeated.
A resistance against imperialism and Zionism will certainly emerge in Syria. That this resistance acts without relying on other international powers, with a revolutionary perspective, defending secularism and being unifying, depends to some extent on the developments in Turkey.
In Syria, Israel and the USA have won a temporary victory using the jihadists.
Israel, the USA and jihadism must be defeated in Turkey.
We appeal to all our citizens. This is not a game. If we care about our country and our future, we need to talk about how to stand up and get rid of this barbarism and do the necessary.
What is happening in Syria is proof of what sectarianism, religionism, nationalism and relying on foreign powers can lead to.
Turkey must change if it is to continue to exist. There can be no unity in a country where exploitation, inequality and injustice are rife.
After the developments in Syria, it is essential to restrain the excitement of the Neo-Ottomanist circles who dream of ‘expansion’. This Neo-Ottomanist approach not only means attempting to cover up exploitation, inequality and injustice with conquestism, but also leads to the enactment of a plan that will lead to the disintegration of Turkey.
Our country and our citizens are facing a great test.
Either we will defeat the exploitative, religious, Americanist mentality that has brought our country to the brink of the cliff, or we will tumble into that cliff.
We trust ourselves, our people and humanity.
The pleasure of the pro-Israel actors will be incomplete.
New Communist Party of the Netherlands (NCPN)
Developments in Syria have led to the fall of President Bashar al-Assad.Jihadist groups are taking the helm in Damascus, something that would not have succeeded without the help of the U.S., Turkey, Israel, and other imperialist powers.What is now being presented as a “liberation” is the beginning of a new chapter in the destabilization and looting of Syria and a further escalation of the contradictions in the Middle East.
The Syrian civil war, ongoing for more than 13 years, has killed hundreds of thousands and displaced millions. US imperialism plays an important role in it. For years, the U.S. has been trying to get Assad out of the way in an effort to bring Syrian resources and market under the control of their own monopolies and away from the sphere of influence of Russia and Iran.
The same goes for the Turkish government, with its expansionist agenda and fight against Kurdish groups. Money, resources and weapons were not shunned to support jihadist “opposition,” such as the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). Turkish AKP politicians can hardly hide their joy now that their investments have finally paid off. We recall that in 2018 the Netherlands gave financial aid to the terrorist movement Jabhat al-Shamiya.They used that money to buy, among other things, pickups like the vehicles we saw the jihadists drive into Damascus today.
Israel, which has occupied Syrian territory in the Golan Heights for decades, is also the cynical winner of this outcome. While massacring the Palestinian people in the name of fighting “terrorism” and “jihadism,” the murderous Israeli regime is not averse to harmonious cooperation with jihadists in Syria to achieve its goals. Right now, the Israeli army is already carrying out attacks and is in the process of occupying more Syrian territory.
Dutch bourgeois politicians are also cheering the “liberation” of Syria by the “rebels,” as the jihadists are now called. In reality, this imperialist intervention results in the further destabilization and looting of Syria, and is far from a “liberation” of the Syrian people.
The NCPN expresses its solidarity with the people of Syria, who for more than a decade have been suffering from a terrible civil war resulting in many deaths, wounded and millions of refugees. In particular, we express our solidarity with the communists of Syria. The Syrian working class and other oppressed sections of the population are facing a difficult period, but only they can eventually free their country from imperialism and jihadism.
Solidarity with the people of Syria!
Like many others, we were surprised by the speed of the collapse of the Syrian army and the speed with which the rebels in Syria were able to seize power in the country, but unlike many others, we neither mourn the collapse of the regime nor celebrate the victory of the rebels.
The former Syrian government led by Bashar Al-Assad never represented the interests of the people and could never do so. Assad's government was never anything other than the government of the national bourgeoisie and as such it represented nothing but parts of the interests of the Syrian bourgeoisie vis-à-vis both competitors and the working people of Syria. We recognize no community of interests between the workers and capital and we are therefore convinced that there cannot be a bourgeois government or administration which can at the same time represent the interests of the workers. The fight against Assad and the national bourgeoisie was a necessity.
On the other hand, we see how the jihadist rebels have now taken power in the formerly secular Syria. It does not bode well for either the country's women or ethnic and religious minorities. It is a dark reaction that is now sweeping the country and even bourgeois observers do not believe in any democratic development. In the end, in other words, it may be that the people exchanged a secular dictatorship for a religious one, which does not change the fact that both were and are the dictatorship of capital over the working masses.
Behind this struggle are of course also the bigger players. In the immediate area there is Turkey, which has kept the rebels under arms for several years, and Israel, which has armed them. Iran and Hezbollah, for their part, have supported the previous government together with Russia, while the US and the EU have attached themselves to both the Kurds and the rebels. For them, the fight in Syria is part of a bigger fight, where the imperialist blocs are forming and where they are constantly trying to beat their competitors. In this struggle, no side hesitates to sacrifice the people.
As communists, we do not choose any other side than that of the working people, and their interests are not represented by either the former government or the rebels. We are fighting for socialism, which stands in opposition to all the different expressions that the dictatorship of capital takes, be it secular or religious.
In this difficult period, we therefore stand in solidarity with the working Syrian people, who are facing great trials, and the Syrian communists.
The Workers Party of Ireland expresses grave concerns at the recent developments in Syria and the Middle East. These developments take place within the context of increasing imperialist aggression in the region and Israel’s genocidal, aggressive and expansionist policies which in addition to its murderous attacks in Palestine and Lebanon now involve massive military intervention in Syria. The dangerous role of Turkey, which despite its rhetoric actively engages in cooperation with the Zionist regime in Israel, further poses a major threat to the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Syria.
The EU, NATO, the UK and the US together with the bourgeois media in these countries which have previously designated these groups which have taken control in Syria as “terrorist” now welcome their role.
The people of Syria who have suffered years of aggression and war now confront an unstable and dangerous road ahead under the jihadist forces mobilised by the USA, Israel, Britain and the AKP government in Turkey as part of the plan hatched by imperialism in the region and the position of the murderous state of Israel has been strengthened with the real prospect of propelling the region into further and bloody sectarian slaughter and war and disaster for the peoples of the area.
A secure and safe world can never be created by imperialism which has ravaged, divided and d destroyed Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya to the detriment of their peoples and workers who are always the losers.
The Workers Party of Ireland expresses its solidarity with the people, workers and the communists of Syria.
Imperialist war is no solution! Capitalism can never serve the interests of humanity and peace!
The grave developments in beloved Syria, following the takeover by armed extremist groups on December 8th, represent a complex tragedy that intertwines the suffering of the Syrian people with the interventions of foreign powers seeking to advance their interests at the expense of Syria's unity, stability, and resources. In this context, we reaffirm our solidarity with the Syrian people and its progressive forces, and we strongly condemn the imperialist and Zionist interventions aimed at fragmenting and weakening Syria. We also denounce the Turkish Muslim Brotherhood intervention, which served as the spearhead and poisonous claw of NATO in facilitating the takeover by terrorist groups in Syria.
Turkish interventions, under the umbrella of American imperialism and disguised as support for the opposition, have revealed expansionist ambitions aimed at advancing a new Ottoman project exploiting the region's chaos. Through its support for armed factions tied to the Brotherhood ideology, Turkey seeks to impose political and security agendas that serve its regional interests, disregarding the well-being and suffering of the Syrian people.
At the same time, the Syrian regime bears significant responsibility for its failure to recognize the major risks threatening the country, relying on an individualistic approach to confront them without involving national and progressive forces. It also failed to mobilize and effectively engage the people in addressing internal challenges and external threats that jeopardize the nation's future and stability.
The fall of the Syrian capital, Damascus, in such a suspicious manner further reveals the imperialist struggle over global and regional spheres of influence. Russia's ambiguous and questionable stance points to a potential deal between the rising Russian capitalism, seeking its share in the world, and American imperialism. The oppressed and marginalized peoples always bear the brunt of such imperialist re-divisions, and the Syrian people have paid the price for the intersection of imperialist interests.
This confirms the Palestinian Communist Party's view that President Putin's regime cannot be equated with the Soviet Union. Many communist parties worldwide and in the region have aligned themselves with the Russian capitalist regime's anti-communist stance, particularly during the Ukrainian crisis.
We recognize that Syria's fall into the hands of armed groups backed by Western imperialism and global Zionism will have profound repercussions for the entire region. The specter of partition looms over Syria more than ever. The Zionist entity has dismantled the Syrian army and its military arsenal, assassinated Syrian scientists, and begun penetrating deep into Syrian territory, occupying various areas, sometimes reaching the outskirts of Damascus. All of this occurs under the watch of extremist and reactionary groups, who remain passive.
Moreover, the threat of partition is gradually extending to Iraq and Lebanon and may engulf the entire region. This aligns with the "New Middle East" project, which seeks to undermine national states in the region, deepen divisions and weaknesses, destabilize regional stability, and keep the region captive to the interests of imperialist and Zionist powers.
The Palestinian Communist Party rejects all forms of foreign intervention, whether imperialist, Zionist, or Turkish Brotherhood, and calls for prioritizing national solutions that preserve Syria's unity and independence. The true solution lies in the hands of free Syrians themselves, through an inclusive dialogue encompassing all national parties, free from external dictates.
We also express our solidarity with the Communists of Syria and all its progressive forces, upon whom the burden of thwarting imperialist and Zionist schemes targeting Syria and the broader Arab region falls. We call on all Marxist-Leninist communist parties worldwide and in the region to denounce the events in beloved Syria and to support its communists, who now stand at the heart of the storm.
A new victory has been achieved by American imperialism and its allies
in the Middle East. The government of Bashar al-Assad in Syria has been
overthrown, and a jihadist regime has been imposed. Earlier this year,
the government of Sheikh Hasina Wajid in Bangladesh was also toppled, a
development lamented by progressive forces worldwide. The fall of these
governments is indeed regretful, as reactionary forces continue to gain
ground. These developments bring triumphs to American imperialism, which
has long exploited reactionary forces to dominate Muslim-majority
countries. This has resulted in repeated defeats for progressive,
secular, and democratic forces. However, it must be acknowledged that
the policies and conduct of the rulers in these countries have largely
contributed to these outcomes.
These were not socialist
governments. Despite references to socialism in their party programs,
they neither adhered to socialist principles nor advanced a socialist
agenda. Socialism was merely a superficial inclusion in their political
platforms. The recent developments in Syria are a joint operation by the
United States, Turkey, Israel, and Ukraine. The incomplete agenda of
the Arab Spring has now been fulfilled. The timing of this offensive was
strategically chosen—while Iran is embroiled in direct conflict with
Israel, and Lebanon and Palestine are entangled in war. Simultaneously,
Russia remains bogged down in Ukraine. Taking advantage of these
circumstances, this offensive was launched. If Russia or Iran had
deployed their forces to defend Bashar al-Assad’s government in Syria,
it could have provoked Israel into attacking Iran, while NATO forces
might have seized the opportunity to invade Russia through Ukraine.
Militarily, the United States united various groups to carry out this
operation.
While Bashar al-Assad’s government may have been
patriotic, it cannot be considered progressive or democratic in the true
sense. A government that suppresses the opposition, lacks democracy,
and exists in a society deeply divided along tribal and sectarian lines,
where different religious sects are in constant conflict, cannot be
regarded as a truly patriotic government. Assad’s family has ruled Syria
for 54 years under the guise of nationalism and socialism, but instead
of addressing deep-rooted contradictions, they were suppressed through
force. The consequences have been catastrophic. The fall of Assad’s
government and the establishment of a jihadist, U.S.-backed regime is
both tragic and disastrous for Muslim-majority countries. This will
further embolden jihadist forces in other regions. The unfortunate
reality is that the end of dictatorship has not resulted in the rise of a
secular or democratic government but has instead handed victory to
reactionary forces. New power games, dictated by American and Zionist
strategies, are now unfolding in the Middle East. Israel has already
launched an offensive toward Lebanon and reportedly occupied the Golan
Heights in Syria. After the jihadists’ victory in Syria, their assurance
of not harming Russian bases or interests raises questions: did Russia
facilitate this transition? The answer will emerge in the coming days.
However, it is a fact that since the U.S.-backed civil war from 2011 to
2016, America had already seized control of Syria’s oil reserves under
the pretext of keeping them from falling into the hands of ISIS. These
reserves remain under U.S. control, economically crippling the Syrian
government and depleting its military capabilities. Out of an army of
350,000, only around 130,000 demoralized soldiers remained. When a
country’s own army is incapable of fighting, how long can foreign forces
defend it?
With the jihadist seizure of Syria, Russia’s influence
in the region will significantly diminish, resulting in a defeat for the
Russia-China bloc and a victory for the U.S.-led bloc. Religiously, one
sect has faced defeat while another has gained power.
Our
party believes that these developments will have dire consequences for
the Syrian people in the coming days. The Communist Party of Pakistan
expresses its solidarity with the Syrian people and progressive forces.
Communists must refrain from rejoicing or lamenting the battles between
imperialist blocs or reactionary forces. Instead, they should focus on
strengthening their work, organizing struggles based on the real issues
of the people, training party cadres, and intensifying efforts to lead
the masses toward a people-friendly transformation—a socialist
revolution
To be updated...
