Iran proposes splitting Syria into mini-states to fight IS

Tehran says Assad regime, rebels should set aside hostilities to combat jihadists; each would keep captured territory

By Avi Lewis 11 August 2015, 2:50 pm

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A general view taken from Aleppo's Syrian regime-controlled neighborhood of Karm al-Jabal shows heavily damaged buildings on July 30, 2015. (AFP/George Ourfalian)

Iran has suggested suspending the Syrian civil war in order to allow all sides to unite in battling the larger enemy of Islamic State.

According to a report (Arabic link) in the London-based Arabic daily al-Araby al-Jadeed Tuesday, Tehran proposes carving up the embattled country into multiple mini-states, with each faction administering territories currently under its control.

Under the plan, all sides would uphold a mutual ceasefire, while uniting to take up arms against the Sunni terror group that has quickly conquered about one-third of Syria and Iraq.

Meanwhile, negotiations will begin toward establishing a national unity government, drafting a new constitution and, eventually, holding elections under international supervision.

Saudi Arabia has also floated its own initiative for resolving the conflict, which does not expressly call for Syria’s splintering but does demand that Iran and Lebanese-based proxy Hezbollah withdraw from the country.

The Arab world has been polarized for years amid ratcheting tensions between Iran and the Gulf powers, particularly Saudi Arabia, fueling the Sunni-Shiite divide and inflaming existing conflicts.

In Syria, Iran’s support has ensured the survival of Assad against Sunni rebels backed by Gulf nations in his country’s devastating civil war, which has claimed some 250,000 lives since 2011. The Islamic Republic, for its part, is currently engaged in a proxy war with the Islamic State on two separate fronts: in western Syria through Hezbollah, and in Iraq through a number of Shiite militias under de facto control of Tehran.

Tariq al-Shammari, a Saudi analyst and president of the Council of Gulf International Relations, told the Associated Press last month that following the deal on Iran’s nuclear program, Gulf Arab countries will work to try to keep Tehran isolated politically and economically, noting that Saudi Arabia in particular has already moved to improve ties with Russia, a strong ally of Iran.

Last week, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem met with Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif in Tehran to discuss the civil war, now in its fifth year, Iran’s Tasnim News Agency reported.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.