The war in Syria, that has been raging for more than seven years now, could spread to the country’s south-western part, amid fears of a flare-up that could send jitters in the neighbouring countries as well. The international Crisis Group released a report two days ago, saying that the fighting in the south-western part of Syria matters to the region and the international community. Fighting should not be allowed to escalate because of the area’s geography. Dera’a and Quneitra share a border with Jordan and the Israeli-occupied Golan heights, respectively.
Thus, intense fighting between Syrian troops, supported by their allies from Iran and the Lebanese group Hezbollah, may lure Israel into the picture, which will not allow Iran and its allies to have their presence across their borders. Yet, Iran could still retaliate.
Jordan, which has already received waves of Syrian refugees in recent years, will find it unable to handle a new influx.
So far, the situation in the south-western part of Syria has been governed by a year-old agreement among Russia, the United States and Jordan. However, the region is still with the Syrian opposition even after government troops managed to retake opposition enclaves in all other parts of the war-torn country.
It is going to be the final countdown in the Syrian war and it is a crucial phase that could make or break the regional conflict.
Therefore, a negotiated deal between Syrian troops and their allies on one side and the Syrian opposition on the other in Dera’a is more crucial now than ever before.
Moreover, in a country that has been war-ravaged for several years, it is time to finally give peace a chance.
