With the Arab Spring setting in, dictatorships have tumbled in different regions surrounding Syria. Syria remains an exception with the Bashar-al-Assad regime holding out in the face of popular discontent. It has not shown the slightest regret about the relentless persecution of the people of the country and has thrown a challenge to the Arab League and the world. The Arab League’s pressuring on Assad has produced no results. The President refuses to bow out. The Arab League has threatened to take the Syrian issue to the UN Security Council but Syria remains unfazed. It knows that whatever happens, Russia and China will veto any action against the present regime. The Assad regime considers the Arab League to be a front for international players. It may not be a wrong assessment. The US and Israel have major stakes in the situation. Syria is hand in glove with Iran. The US and Israel want Assad to be removed so that Iran is cut down to size. However, the non-Arab powers have decided to keep out of any direct confrontation. Arab League members like Qatar, Turkey and Saudi
Arabia are backing the Sunni majority in Syria. With the Arab League moving in, Syria is in for a serious crisis. It may become a cockpit for major powers. Naturally the people of Syria do not want such a development. The rebel forces in the country are divided and therefore not all that powerful. But the Syrian people would like to pick their way out of the growing thicket of conflict.