Ten days into the fall of the Syrian regime and the flight of its president out of the country, Syria’s streets are still glittering with celebrations. The majority of Syrians are joyful for being able to express their opinions freely, without fear of being persecuted or arrested by the security forces – a right they have been denied for over five decades.

Amid nationwide festivities, the interim government  issued a series of statements and directives to spread a message of security among the people. The statements asserted the need for coexistence among all societal components, irrespective of ethnic, religious, or racial identity. They further clarified that the military operations were solely focused on overthrowing the regime, and did not target any segment of the Syrian people.

Following the regime’s collapse, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, the commander of military operations, announced a set of military edicts. Among them was a general amnesty for Syrian army volunteers, accompanied by assurances of safely resolving their status. He also declared his intention to dismantle the existing security apparatus and undertake a comprehensive restructuring of the army.

Al-Sharaa affirmed plans to disband all armed opposition factions once the security situation stabilised, asserting that weapons would be exclusively controlled by the state. He also stated that Syria had no intention of engaging in conflict or war with Israel, adding that Israel’s pretexts for targeting Syria, citing the Iranian presence, were no longer valid and calling for an immediate cessation of such attacks.

On the political front, Al-Sharaa declared the triumph of the Syrian revolution, saying that victory belonged to all Syrians. He noted that his forces were “tools supplied by God for victory” over the regime, but the true credit rested with the collective effort of the Syrian people. He noted that Syria could no longer be governed with a revolutionary mindset, as the current phase required the establishment of law and robust institutions.

Al-Sharaa spoke about the importance of forging positive relations with Arab and other neighbouring countries and clarified that Syria harboured no hostility towards the Iranian people. Instead, the objective had been to dismantle the Iranian project, which posed a grave threat to the entire region. He also extended an olive branch to Russia, expressing a willingness to offer it an opportunity to reconsider its stance and build a renewed relationship with the Syrian people.

All across Syria, there is widespread satisfaction with the approach adopted by the new leadership. The public has shown optimism, a clear willingness to cooperate with the authorities, and strong approval of their decisions. However, concerns persist among some political forces regarding the potential monopolisation of power or the risk of the transitional phase being conducted unilaterally. These forces, which have endured 14 years of struggle to overthrow the regime by political means, played a significant role in advancing international and UN resolutions that isolated the regime, imposed sanctions, and culminated in the pivotal UN Resolution 2254.

The opposition argues that all legitimate Syrian political factions must play a central role in the transitional phase to ensure the realisation of a pluralistic, democratic, and civil Syria. This concern has led opposition forces to express strong support for the outcomes of the Aqaba meeting held in Jordan on 14 December. The meeting’s statement affirmed the necessity of a pivotal role for the UN in facilitating dialogue among Syrians and ensuring an inclusive transitional process.

The closing statement of the Arab Communication Committee — which includes Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Qatar, and Lebanon, alongside the Arab League, and with the participation of Turkey, the UAE, and Bahrain, as well as representatives from the European Union, the US, and the UN — stressed key principles supporting a peaceful and inclusive Syrian-led political transition. The process would include representation of all Syrian political and social forces under the joint auspices of the UN and the Arab League and the principles outlined in Security Council Resolution 2254, including the formation of a transitional governing body tasked with drafting a constitution and conducting UN-supervised elections.

The statement also stressed the role of the UN special envoy to Syria and urged the UN secretary general to provide them with the necessary resources to establish a UN mission to aid Syria. This mission would oversee and facilitate the transitional process, helping the Syrian people achieve a Syrian-led political arrangement in alignment with Resolution 2254.

The Arab Communication Committee, in the presence of Turkey, the European Union, and the US, agreed. It decided to hand over the Syrian file to the UN, entrusting it with driving all stakeholders towards implementing the provisions — or at least the essence — of Resolution 2254 and steps for its execution, irrespective of the regime’s fall or its absence from these discussions.

The Syrian Negotiation Commission, comprising seven Syrian political entities active in Syria and abroad who are internationally recognised as representatives of the Syrian opposition, welcomed the statement. Many influential secular, civil, and grassroots forces also expressed their support.

However, the statement drew criticism from supporters of the military administration, particularly those who view the military forces as the rightful liberators of Syria, arguing that they should have the authority to impose an interim government of its choosing, suspend the constitution if necessary, and draft a new constitution in line with its vision. They believe the military’s actions are justified, given the broad support it enjoys among Syrians who are celebrating the regime’s fall.

Bader Jamous, head of the commission, told Al-Ahram Weekly: “The statement issued by the Arab Communication Committee is of immense importance and helps steer Syria to safety. It is imperative at this juncture to ensure that the revolution’s goals are realised and that a civil, democratic state is established — a state free of intimidation or fear, operating in a secure and neutral environment. We view the essence of Resolution 2254 as a genuine mechanism to achieve this objective. The absence of the regime does not negate the resolution, as the ultimate goal it envisions has not yet been achieved.”

He added, “there must be a comprehensive Syrian-Syrian dialogue under UN supervision, to take place in Damascus with the participation of the interim authority in Damascus, the Syrian Negotiations Commission, revolutionary forces, civil society, and the diverse components of the Syrian people to implement the provisions of the international resolution by establishing a participatory transitional governing body. This body would convene a national conference tasked with supervising the formation of a constituent assembly, which, in turn, would create a committee of legal experts and specialists to draft the new constitution. The draft constitution would then be submitted to a popular referendum, and once approved, Syria would proceed to the election stage — a process that must be conducted under UN supervision.”

So far, the Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) administration has not included Syria’s political forces in the interim government. No consultative meetings have been convened between the two sides, and Al-Sharaa has not welcomed them as organisations, movements, or parties. Instead, he has welcomed their presence in Syria only as individuals, a stance to which they responded with reservations, feeling excluded.

Dissident diplomat Bashar Al-Hajj Ali told the Weekly, “any political transition in Syria must rest on clear foundations that ensure the independence of national decision-making and reflect the will of all Syrians. Security Council Resolution 2254 offers a practical roadmap for achieving this transition. It presents an opportunity to rebuild Syria through a combination of international and local efforts by outlining actionable steps: establishing a comprehensive and peaceful transition, forming a transitional governing body, drafting a constitution rooted in justice and equal citizenship, and organising free and fair elections under international supervision.

“The next phase,” he added, “requires genuine international partnership to support Syria’s political transition and guarantee the implementation of Resolution 2254 in a manner that fulfills Syrian aspirations to freedom and dignity.”

Since the meeting of the Arab Communication Committee, there has been speculation that the Syrian file may return to the Security Council. This could potentially lead to a new UN resolution aimed at ensuring participatory governance in shaping Syria’s future. Such a resolution might include provisions for drafting a constitution reflective of the Syrians’ collective hopes, recognising the interim government, and revisiting the designation of Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) as a terrorist organisation. The goal would be to foster genuine partnership between HTS and broader Syrian political and societal forces, ensuring the transitional phase benefits from the diverse experiences of Syrians while avoiding monopolisation or exclusion.

While the joy of Syrians over the fall of the oppressive regime has temporarily overshadowed some of the revolutionary goals pursued over 14 arduous years of oppression, torture, poverty, killing and crimes, including the vision of a pluralistic, democratic state, their suffering and sacrifices render any return to authoritarian or individual rule unacceptable. Syrians will reject any constitution that restricts their lives, curbs their ambitions, or impedes their nation’s ascent to modernity.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 19 December, 2024 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly