Commentary
As negotiations with Iran and Lebanon continue, chaos is at the heart of the Netanyahu government’s calculations.
Michael Young
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Source: Getty
In The Media
Can Syrian Rebels Unite Against Assad?
An alliance of opposition forces has seized control of a second strategic city from government troops.
Published on Apr 26, 2015
Source: Al Jazeera’s Inside Story
A loose alliance of rebel groups in Syria is claiming a second significant victory against government forces in less than a month. The opposition offensive in northern Idlib province was spearheaded by al-Qaeda’s affiliate in Syria, Nusra Front. Fighting under the banner, “Army of Conquest,” rebel allies seized control of the provincial capital Idlib at the end of March.
A broader union of fighters says it has now overrun nearby Jisr al Shughur. The city was one of the first places to take up arms against president Assad, when security forces cracked down on protests.
The fight for Idlib province comes ahead of UN-backed talks in Geneva on May 4.
So can opposition groups present a united front in the push for peace? Or will the pursuit of different agendas eclipse the fight against a common enemy? Carnegie’s Mario Abou Zeid spoke with Al Jazeera’s Inside Story.
This interview was originally broadcast by Al Jazeera’s Inside Story.
About the Authors
Mario Abou Zeid
Former Research Analyst, Middle East Center
Abou Zeid was a research analyst at the Carnegie Middle East Center, where his work focuses on political developments in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Iran.
Mamoun Abu-Nowar
Kamel Wazne
Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.
More Work from Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center
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The country’s armed forces have been reorganized as an emergency measure to prevent national fragmentation, however their diffuse structure on the ground may, in the future, serve only to reinforce fragmentation.
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- A Geographic and Social Reconfiguration in LebanonCommentary
Israel is encroaching on the country’s territory, while the Lebanese look askance at one another.
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- Pushing Beirut into an Armed Conflict With Hezbollah Is InsaneCommentary
The party’s domestic and regional roles have changed, so Lebanon should devise a disarmament strategy that encompasses this.
Michael Young
