I previously wrote about the HTS leader, Abu Mohammad al-Golani, and his rise to power in Syria’s 12-year revolutionary war. Currently, the new transitional government has to tackle post-Assad violence and chaos, as it tries to maintain order and rebuild. What is the latest? Can al-Golani’s new direction for a new Syria succeed?
Not a straightforward question to answer. I’ve noted weaponized false narratives been circulating on social media, which falsely depicts Syria as the likely trigger for World War 3. Like all great cons, disinformation carries a kernel of truth to convince their target audience that their false narratives are actually true.
The world is indeed on the road to a major war, as we continue to be distracted by malicious disinformation and misinformation over various mediums.
From Terror to Valor: Echoes and Shadows, available at your favorite digital bookstore
Syria Rising Threatens Tyranny
The muddy waters of digital tyranny aside, Syria’s ability to recover from its brutal revolutionary war is under some threat. January 2025 has not been a good month. The map of Syria is under strain from Israel to the south by Mount Hermon, as they build three military bases there. Islamic State related fighting intensified in the northeast around Aleppo, Al-Hasakeh and ArRaqqa, seeing about 250,000 people flee.
In addition to this, basic services for the citizenry across the country are lacking in basic ways. The opportunistic nature of Islamic State, aka. ISIS/ISIL, has once again come to the fore. In Syria, it has directly fed their predatory nature, resulting in much of the current violence there. They appear determined to bring down the new Syria under al-Golani’s protection.
The resulting instability not only threatens the average Syrian, it threatens the new religious coexistence narrative from al-Golani. That said, victories like the thwarting of an Islamic State attack on a Shiite shrine carry much significance. It bears a clear vision for a war ravaged people, so they may see better days ahead.
Syria As A Crossroads
While such attempts persist to destabilize al-Golani’s direction for Syria’s transitional phase, external help is also coming from the EU, Turkey, and some middle eastern nations. External influence applied from several quarters is to be expected. Even at the UN where Russia has stirred so much chaos, support for Syria’s transitional plans is remarkably strong.
The moves by Israel in Syria’s south seem to be enabled by Trump’s input into middle eastern affairs. It is encouraging Israeli aggression. Syria’s EU adjacent location makes her a strategic priority for several regional and global players. Some have self interests driving aid and help such as that coming from the EU.
Conversely, the self interests of others will try to block and hurt the resilient nation. Under Assad, Russia has interfered with Syria in so many ways, I cannot fathom a means to define it. Despite the despotic terror inflicted by the Russians, Syria has revoked Russian rights to its strategic naval port at Tartus.
This is telling as to Syrian resilience, courage, and vision for their own path ahead. Banning imports from Russia, Iran, and Israel points to a democracy friendly future. This ongoing contest is about dominance over a country with strategic value. So far, it sees al-Golani’s alliance defend this new secular orientated vision.
War and Peace Is In Our Nature
In war, as in peace, we cannot do it on our own. We can only succeed together. This inherent aspect of our group-psyche is being used against us by those who mean us harm. Hostile nations have designed digital subversion to stuff weaponized false narratives down our throats.
As Syria cannot do it alone, neither can we. While nations, and regions like the EU, take a helping hand to aid Syria through her most vulnerable state, we also must do our part. By identifying misinformation linking Syria as the trigger for World War 3, we are helping Syrians and also ourselves.
I remember the protests which sparked Syria’s revolutionary war as part of the ‘Arab Spring’. Assad’s people picked on a teenager who dared answer back. The hand of digital subversion over social media did the rest with our help. Then, we accepted clever false narratives as truth. Now, we must be ensure we are not mistaken for a second time.
About the Author
As I move onto my next authoring project, I will post less frequently on the real-world issues linked to my novel, From Terror to Valor: Echoes and Shadows. My next project, Hindsight Station, will initially be a progression science fiction, web-novel delivered via Patreon and eventually Royal Road.
John is a versatile author known for his gripping fiction narratives in the thriller, action, and suspense genres. With a background as a journalist since 2016, and expertise in cloud technologies as an engineer; John brings a unique blend of storytelling prowess and technical acumen to his work.
