After Syria, is Iran next? That’s the question on the minds of peace organizations who are holding an online Canada-wide panel discussion on January 19 to discuss the drive to war and the prospects for peace in the Middle East.
The webinar features contributions from Miguel Figueroa of the Canadian Peace Congress, Jad Kabbanji from the Mouvement québécois pour la paix, and Reza Saniee, an Iranian social activist now living in Canada. The speakers will expose the aggression of US, Zionist, Turkish and Canadian imperialism in Syria and their plans for Iran, and how people in Canada can fight for peace.
People can register for the event here or email the Canadian Peace Congress for more information
Background
(From Canadian Peace Congress statement on December 20)
On December 8, 2024, the long, and dirty war waged against Syria by Washington and its regional henchman Zionist Israel entered a new phase. President Bashar al-Assad left the country after terrorist forces supported by two NATO armies (the US and Türkiye) along with Israel captured the final Syrian Arab Army positions in Damascus. Syria is now defenceless and at serious risk of being dismantled.
The mainstream corporate media have been in overdrive depicting the offensive against Syria led by Al-Nusra strongman, Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, as a “liberation movement.” In Idlib, where he was protected by Türkiye, al-Jolani was known as the emir of Tahrir al-Sham and was designated a “specially designated global terrorist” by the US with a $10 million reward on his head. Many, if not most, of the so-called liberation fighters are Islamists from outside of Syria.
Since the overthrow of the secular government on December 8, several developments have occurred. Israel has taken complete control of the Golan Heights and moved to within 24 km from Damascus. There is no indication that it will not move closer to the Syrian capital. In addition, Israel has launched over 800 bombing raids destroying virtually all stockpiles of Syria’s military assets. Under the guise of attacking ISIS, US imperialism has launched over 75 “precision air strikes” in central Syria. In northeastern Syria, US occupation forces remain in control of crucial oil and agricultural areas. For its part, Türkiye has two objectives: topple the Kurds in northern Syria and to continue its very influential role with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in Damascus.
What’s next for Syria? On the economic front, Syria will now become a weak and dependent “free market economy.” Syria was never a socialist country, but it had developed extensive services for the people, including universal public education and healthcare. These social gains, so important for the Syrian people, may now be endangered as well. In addition, the Qatar-Türkiye Pipeline which would connect Qatari gas to Europe is back on the table. This has been a key project for imperialism dating back many years.
The Canadian Peace Congress denounces the roles of the US, Israel and Türkiye in the regime change in Syria. Clearly the territorial integrity of Syria is in grave danger. With the overthrow of the secular government in Damascus there is extreme danger to the peoples of the country, especially the various minority groups including Christians, Alawites, and Shias and others. In addition, it is clear that the Palestinian liberation struggle in Palestine for national liberation is now seriously weakened by the recent events in Syria.
The Congress denounces the statement of Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly welcoming regime change in Syria. Canada has played a nefarious role in support of imperialist and Zionist aggression in West Asia and elsewhere. This continues in Syria today. Canada needs an independent foreign policy based on peace, solidarity, respect for international law and peace coexistence among nations, a policy that excludes participation in regime change operations.
[Photo of Israeli airstrike on Damascus, December 2024: Palestinian Information Center]
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