Russia said it was “watching the dramatic events in Syria with extreme concern.” The Foreign Office called on “all parties involved” in the Syrian conflict to “renounce the use of violence and resolve all governance issues through political means.” It also said Russian military bases in Syria were on “high alert” although there was “no serious threat to their security.”
Iran expressed its hope for “an early end to the military conflict, prevention of acts of terrorism and the beginning of national dialogue” with all sectors of Syrian society.
Turkey said Syria was now at “a stage where the Syrian people will shape their country’s future.” Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan warned that the new government “must be established in an orderly manner” and that “the principle of inclusiveness must never be compromised.”
Israel’s prime minister said the collapse of Assad’s government was a “direct result” of his country’s actions against Hezbollah and Iran. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also announced that he had ordered Israeli forces to temporarily ‘occupy’ Syrian army positions in the demilitarized zone in the Golan Heights, and said that a 1974 cease-fire agreement between the two countries had ‘broken down’ because Syrian forces had abandoned their positions. said.
The White House said US President Joe Biden and his team were “closely monitoring extraordinary events in Syria and maintaining constant contact with our regional partners.”
Iraq, whose powerful Iran-backed militias have sent fighters to support Syrian forces in the civil war, said it supported efforts to start talks in Syria “leading to the adoption of a pluralistic constitution that protects the human and civil rights of Syrians.” .
Jordan’s King Abdullah, who supported the rebels at the start of the war, said he respected the will and choice of the Syrian people. He stressed the importance of ensuring stability and avoiding “any conflict that could lead to chaos.”
The EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaza Kalas, called Assad’s fall a “positive and long-awaited development” and said the bloc’s priority was to ensure regional security.
