War-battered Syria has emerged as an unlikely safe haven amid the regional conflict sparked by US and Israeli attacks on Iran. Ahed Badawi, who fled Syria's civil war for Bahrain, returned to Aleppo after Iran threatened Gulf countries. Syria's new government, installed after the ouster of Bashar Assad in December 2024, has positioned the country as a neutral corridor for oil exports bypassing the Strait of Hormuz.
Syria's Strategic Neutrality
Interim President Ahmad Al-Sharaa touted Syria as a secure artery connecting Central Asia and the Gulf to Europe. Since Iran blocked the strait, oil shipments have been trucked from Iraq through Syria to the Baniyas port. A key border crossing between northern Iraq and Syria reopened last month for energy exports.
Regional Dynamics
Syrian Foreign Ministry official Obayda Ghadban stated that both Iran and Israel are strategic enemies of Syria. Iran aided Assad during the civil war, while Israel has been hostile to the new Islamist-led authorities. Despite speculation, Syria avoided intervening in Lebanon's renewed conflict.
Noah Bonsey of the International Crisis Group noted that the US withdrawal from eastern Syria before the war helped Damascus stay on the sidelines. However, Syria faces economic pain as Gulf countries focus on their own defense, potentially delaying reconstruction investments.
Despite economic challenges, Badawi expressed relief at being home, stating, "There's nothing like being in your own country."
