Syria’s Breakup Would Trigger Domino Effect

A lawmaker warned that the interference of other countries in Syria could compromise the Arab country's integrity and trigger a "domino effect" that would soon plague other regional countries.

"All states should respect Syria's territorial integrity," Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh also told ICANA on Friday, noting that Turkey's military intervention or deployment of Jordan's troops in Syria would lead to the disintegration of the war-torn country.

Since March 2011, the US and its regional allies, particularly Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, Turkey and the UAE, have been conducting a proxy war against the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who is allied with Iran and Russia. The years-long conflict has left hundreds of thousands of Syrians dead and half of the country's population of about 23 million displaced within or beyond its borders. The US military has so far spent over $11.5 billion on its intervention in Syria, including the training and advising of local militants, aimed at overthrowing Assad's government.

Falahatpisheh said if Syria is partitioned, or if terrorist forces take control of the country, it will have direct consequences for other regional countries.

"The fallout from Syria's disintegration, like other security threats, would not be confined to [geographical] boundaries and will soon bedevil all those involved," he said.

Jordan's stance toward the ongoing battles changed after US President Donald Trump's recent meeting with King Abdullah.

A joint military force of US, British and Jordanian troops, equipped with tanks and helicopters have reportedly been deployed in the war-torn country's southern border areas from Jordan's northern region.

The lawmaker said the Syrian government would not stay silent on any such violation of its territorial integrity and Jordan is certain to suffer the consequences, as insecurity at its border with neighboring Syria would undermine its own national security.    

Referring to the recent deal on de-escalation zones signed on May 4 by Turkey, Iran and Russia, the three countries behind peace efforts in Syria, during the fourth round of the Syria peace talks in the Kazakh capital, Astana, Falahatpisheh stressed that political negotiations are the only way to end Syria's crisis.

"Positive points were agreed upon during Astana talks … If Turkey and Jordan are concerned for their security over Syria's war, they should help implement what was agreed in Astana talks," he added.