As the first anniversary of the events of October 7th approaches, Netanyahu finds himself unable to fully achieve the three goals he set at the outset of his brutal war on Gaza: eliminating Hamas to ensure that Gaza would no longer pose a threat to Israel, securing the release of the hostages, and allowing northern residents to return home safely. Recently, a fourth objective was added to his list: eliminating Hezbollah. To date, this war has resulted in over 41,000 Palestinian deaths, the destruction of nearly 60% of Gaza’s infrastructure, and the displacement of most of its population, who now live below the poverty line.

Israel has now expanded its war to include the northern front led by Hezbollah in Lebanon. Over the past few days, this front has witnessed a savage onslaught in which Israel deployed highly destructive weapons, launching a wide-scale assault across Lebanon and parts of Syria. Thousands of pagers used by Hezbollah members exploded, followed by the detonation of a large number of wireless communication devices, signaling an attempt to widen the scope of the war. This escalation has pushed the struggle between different axes past the breaking point, leaving all parties with stark choices: either concede defeat and exit the scene, or accept an open, bloody war. The parties chose the latter, culminating in a strategic operation in which Israel claimed responsibility for assassinating Hezbollah’s Secretary-General, Hassan Nasrallah, along with several party leaders. This means that the first and second ranks of the party have been sidelined, potentially curbing Hezbollah’s claws and confining it to the role of a local political entity, thereby diminishing its criminally expansive role in the region.

The region, which has long suffered from the atrocities of Hezbollah militias—responsible for gruesome massacres in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen through its forces and affiliated militias like the Fatimiyoun and Zainabiyoun, all commanded by Iran—may see some reprieve. These crimes date back to the early months of the Syrian revolution in 2011, resulting in heinous massacres against civilians such as those in Qusayr and Madaya, along with countless other atrocities that amount to crimes against humanity punishable under international humanitarian law.

The region is experiencing a period of significant transformation, with a new Middle East emerging in which the rules of engagement are shifting. A new world order is being born out of wars and conflicts, amid fierce competition over global energy and trade projects. What is happening in our Arab region is part of a larger power struggle in which major powers and central states are repositioning themselves. This new phase necessitates the withdrawal of non-state actors from the conflict framework, to be replaced by other forces.

Amidst these major changes, the intensity of the conflict is becoming more violent and severe, with civilians from all sides bearing the brunt. Thousands of civilians have been killed in Gaza to date; thousands more have been killed and wounded in the pager and wireless device attacks in Lebanon and Syria. Dozens of civilians died in the building targeted during the operation against Nasrallah and his commanders, who were hiding among residential neighborhoods. Many others were killed in similar explosions. As Israeli bombardment escalates, the number of people fleeing their homes has surpassed two million, including Syrian refugees.

The recent developments have exacerbated the wave of racism against Syrian refugees in Lebanon. Lebanon is home to more than 800,000 registered Syrian refugees with the UNHCR, some of whom lack official documentation, making them vulnerable to deportation or unable to return to Syria. For young men, return may mean compulsory military service, arrest, or even death. As for women, children, and the elderly, most have no homes to return to, especially in areas that have witnessed major demographic changes. According to the UNHCR, tens of thousands have crossed back from Lebanon to Syria, fleeing war and shelling to a country still reeling from ongoing violence by the Assad regime and militias led by Hezbollah in various regions. Returning to Syria is not a viable option, as refugees displaced by the Syrian regime find themselves forced back to areas still under regime control, with all the attendant risks of arrest, homelessness, and death.

The Syrian Women’s Political Movement condemns the Israeli aggression on Gaza and Lebanon, which has claimed the lives of thousands of civilians, and expresses deep concern about the recent escalation by the Iranian regime. The SWPM denounces the use of Syrian land and resources as a battleground for settling scores, which also leads to more civilian casualties.

The Syrian Women’s Political Movement calls for an immediate cessation of the raging war between all parties and urges the international community to fully assume its responsibility in establishing peace and security in the region, and in finding lasting solutions for a comprehensive and just peace in line with international resolutions to guarantee a dignified life for all unarmed civilians. The Movement also warns against the worsening situation in the region, involving multiple international and regional actors, which increases the likelihood of further escalation.

The Syrian Women’s Political Movement emphasizes the need to secure safe corridors for Syrian refugees in Lebanon, protecting them from the brutality of the Syrian regime amid a deteriorating security and living situation that makes returning to Syria a perilous option. The Syrian Women’s Political Movement calls for a national Syrian dialogue to push towards a political solution that ensures a political transition and a safe, voluntary, and dignified return of refugees when a safe environment is established. Such a dialogue could fill the potential vacuum created by the major changes expected in the region. The Movement also expresses its concerns that the current war may lead to settlements that serve normalization projects with the regime, which some states are pushing for, in a way that does not align with the Syrian people’s aspirations for building a free and democratic Syrian state.

 Political Committee of the Syrian Women’s Political Movement