Brahimi, Syria’s Next Hope?

This content, written by Paula Mejia, appeared on The Majalla on August 14,2012

Conditions in Syria have taken important turns in recent weeks. For one, fighting has intensified in the country’s two main cities, with some experts calling this a new phase in the conflict. According to recent coverage by the BBC, rebel fighters have heavily embedded in Aleppo’s Salah Al-Din district. The rebels also control several other districts, including some east of Aleppo.

Most recently, the Rebel Free Syrian Army has claimed that it has shot down a military aircraft near the Iraqi border. Though the government has argued that the plane crash was due to technical difficulties, the event, in conjunction with the trends in fighting in Aleppo, suggests that rebel forces in Syria are becoming stronger.

While militarily the rebel army may be gaining ground, the priority for most Syrian civilians remains establishing peace in the country. It is unlikely that despite recent advances the rebels will be able to overtake the military, rendering peace elusive for the time being.

Making matters worse, last week, former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan announced that he was unable to fulfill his position as envoy for the UN-Arab League in the country. Citing conflicting interests among the members of the Security Council as well as broken promises by both rebels and the Syrian government, Mr. Annan made it clear that the peace-plan he had created for Syria would remain ineffective unless conditions changed drastically.

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