The collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria could reshape the Middle East, according to Virginia U.S. Senator Mark Warner, as WFIR’s Ian Price reports.
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Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, spoke yesterday about the ongoing situation in Syria, emphasizing its potential for regional and global impact.
Warner called Syrian President Bashar Assad a “brutal dictator” responsible for the deaths of more than 500,000 Syrians during the country’s 14-year civil war. Warner highlighted Assad’s use of chemical weapons and barrel bombs, as well as support from Iran and Russia, two of the United States’ chief adversaries.
“The civil war in Syria literally drove 14 million Syrians to leave the country,” Warner said. “That puts enormous burdens on other nations in the Middle East and has led to mass refugee movements toward Europe and even some here to America.”
Warner noted the emergence of a “new chance for a new beginning in Syria” following the accelerated decline of Assad’s regime, but he cautioned against potential challenges.
“The rebel forces were previously called al-Nusra, which was affiliated with al-Qaeda. Now they are trying to represent themselves as reformed. But we’re going to have to watch this very carefully,” he said.
The senator also emphasized the importance of protecting minorities, women’s rights and ensuring Syria’s diverse population—including Alawites, Christians, and Druze—has representation in the country’s future.
Warner discussed U.S. involvement in the region, mentioning the 900 U.S. troops stationed in Syria and the detention of ISIS prisoners guarded by Kurdish allies. He warned of the risks if those prisoners were to be released.
He attributed Assad’s swift downfall, in part, to Israel’s recent actions against Hezbollah and Iranian defense systems, which weakened Iran’s influence in the region. Warner said these efforts “exposed the vulnerability of Iran.”
Looking ahead, Warner expressed optimism about the potential for a “complete realignment” in the Middle East. He said nations such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are increasingly aligning with the U.S., which could lead to Saudi recognition of Israel.
“This is going to be a volatile time,” Warner said. “But if we can end the conflict in Gaza, there’s a chance for a realignment that would be good for peace in the region. Playing this out and getting it right over the next few months is going to be critical to our national security and to our intelligence community.”
