US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned on Tuesday that Syria is just weeks away from a devastating civil war and potential partition. He urged the US to engage with the country’s transitional leadership to avoid further instability.
Rubio attributed the looming threat to the resurgence of the Islamic State in areas outside the transitional government’s control, as well as Iran’s involvement. Speaking at a US Senate hearing, he stated that the Syrian government could collapse within weeks, triggering a civil war and the fragmentation of the country.
This warning follows a series of violent attacks on Syria’s Alawite and Druze minorities. The attacks came after Islamist-led forces ousted former president Bashar al-Assad in December, ending a brutal civil war that began in 2011.
Last week, US President Donald Trump lifted Assad-era sanctions during a visit to Saudi Arabia and met with Syria’s new transitional president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, who had previously been on the US wanted list for jihadist ties.
Rubio, acknowledging Israel’s concerns over Syria’s instability, emphasized that a stable Syria—one that does not serve as a base for attacks—would be a significant boost to Israel’s security.