Syria stands at a pivotal moment as recent events highlight both the dangers and potential for unity under interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa. After more than a decade of civil war and the fall of former ruler Bashar al-Assad, the new leadership faces the daunting task of unifying a fractured nation. Over the past week, deadly sectarian violence threatened stability, but a landmark diplomatic agreement has sparked hope for national reconciliation.

Tensions flared last Thursday as clashes between government security forces and Assad loyalists spiraled into violent sectarian revenge attacks. Hundreds of civilians, predominantly Alawites—a minority sect linked to Assad—were killed.

By Monday, government reinforcements had restored order, and calm seemed to return. That same day, al-Sharaa signed a historic agreement integrating Kurdish-led forces in northeastern Syria into the national army—a major step toward unifying the country’s fragmented factions.

Despite the agreement, Syria’s national army remains far from cohesive. Most armed factions that fought to overthrow Assad pledged to merge into a single military force, but in practice, they continue to operate under their own leadership structures.

“This is not yet a professional army,” said Issam al-Reis, a military adviser with the Syrian research group Etana. “There are plans to merge under the Ministry of Defense, but on the ground, every group remains under its own command.”

The challenge is further compounded by thousands of unemployed former Assad-era soldiers, making them vulnerable to recruitment by local and foreign groups seeking to destabilize Syria.

Amidst the turmoil, al-Sharaa’s government struck a significant deal with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The agreement places border crossings, airports, and oil fields in the northeast under central government control by the end of the year. However, unresolved issues, including the management of prisons holding captured Islamic State fighters, remain critical points of discussion.

The timing of the deal suggests it was politically motivated. “Al-Sharaa needed a diplomatic win after the weekend’s violence,” said Syrian researcher Ahmed Aba Zeid. “The SDF saw an opportunity to gain more leverage by supporting him at this moment.”

The deal was facilitated by key international players, including the United States and Turkey. Washington, a longtime supporter of the SDF in the fight against ISIS, reportedly encouraged the agreement. Meanwhile, Turkey, which has historically opposed Kurdish autonomy, appears to have accepted the deal under the condition that SDF expels foreign fighters linked to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a Kurdish separatist group.

“This wouldn’t have happened without Turkey’s approval,” a senior U.S. defense official noted. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirmed this sentiment, stating, “The full implementation of this agreement will ensure Syria’s security and peace.”

Despite this diplomatic breakthrough, Syria still faces numerous hurdles:

• Israeli Territorial Claims: Israel has seized portions of southern Syria, citing border security concerns.
• Economic Struggles: U.S. and Western sanctions remain in place, hindering economic recovery and reconstruction efforts.
• Ethnic and Sectarian Divides: Alawite and other minority communities remain skeptical of the new Islamist-led government, especially after recent attacks.

The success of Syria’s transition depends on its leaders’ ability to unite the country, curb violence, and reassure all ethnic and religious groups of their security.

“The government must take strong action against those responsible for civilian attacks,” said al-Reis. “Only then can Syria move toward lasting peace.”

As Syria navigates this critical period, the world watches closely to see whether this week’s violence marks a turning point toward stability—or a warning of deeper divisions ahead.

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Palestinian officials have announced that Fatah and Hamas are close to reaching an agreement on forming a committee of politically independent technocrats to govern Gaza after the war. This move would effectively end Hamas’ rule over the region and could help push forward ceasefire negotiations with Israel.

The two factions, which have been at odds since Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007, have made several unsuccessful attempts at reconciliation. Israel, meanwhile, has ruled out any future role for either Hamas or Fatah, which leads the Palestinian Authority and is backed by Western powers.

A Palestinian Authority official confirmed on Tuesday that a preliminary agreement had been reached following weeks of talks in Cairo. The committee would consist of 12 to 15 members, most of whom would be from Gaza. The committee would report to the Palestinian Authority, based in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, and coordinate with local and international groups to oversee humanitarian aid and reconstruction efforts.

A Hamas official added that while the general terms of the agreement had been settled, some details and the identities of committee members are still under discussion. The final agreement is expected to be announced after a meeting of all Palestinian factions in Cairo, although no specific timeline has been provided. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak to the media.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue military operations until Hamas is dismantled and all hostages are returned. He also stated that Israel would maintain long-term security control over Gaza, while local Palestinian administrators unaffiliated with Hamas or the Palestinian Authority would oversee civilian affairs in the region.

No Palestinians have publicly volunteered for such a role, and Hamas has warned anyone cooperating with the Israeli military. The United States has called for the Palestinian Authority to govern both the West Bank and Gaza as part of a future Palestinian state, although Israel opposes the creation of such a state. Israel is reportedly in talks with the United Arab Emirates, a country that normalized relations with Israel in 2020 and supports a rival faction of Fatah.

A Hamas official suggested that the emerging Palestinian agreement would achieve one of Israel’s war goals—ending Hamas’ rule in Gaza—but it is uncertain whether Israeli officials would view the agreement in this way.

Previous attempts at unity between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas have failed, often due to power struggles between the two factions. There is also opposition to the current talks within Fatah. Jibril Rajoub, secretary-general of Fatah’s central committee, criticized the agreement, calling it a “mistake” to even discuss such an arrangement. He argued that it would only deepen the division between Gaza and the West Bank and that Hamas should allow the Palestinian Authority to retake control of Gaza.

The Palestinian Authority, which governs parts of the West Bank, cooperates with Israel on security matters, a policy that is unpopular among many Palestinians who see it as collaboration with the Israeli occupation. Israel has criticized the Palestinian Authority for not doing enough to combat militancy or prevent incitement.

According to the Hamas official, the committee would take over Gaza’s administration once a ceasefire with Israel is agreed upon. U.S. and Arab mediators have been working on securing such a ceasefire for nearly a year, but talks have stalled multiple times.

Hamas sparked the war on October 7, 2023, when it launched an attack on Israel, killing around 1,200 people—mostly civilians—and taking around 250 hostages. Israel’s retaliation has resulted in over 44,000 Palestinian deaths, many of them women and children, according to local health authorities. The conflict has also displaced most of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents.

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