Syria’s Return to the Arab League: A Step Towards Reconciliation and Reconstruction
After a 12-year absence, the Arab League has finally readmitted Syria into its membership. Damascus was initially suspended from the organization due to the outbreak of the devastating Syrian civil war and Bashar al-Assad's harsh suppression of the opposition. As the conflict evolved and Assad's government, with considerable support from Russia and Iran, gained control, Arab nations chose to pursue reconciliation. Despite objections from countries such as Qatar, a major supporter of the Syrian opposition, and the United States, which questions Syria's worthiness of rejoining the Arab League, the majority of Arab states are in favor of reestablishing connections with Assad's government. Originating from the Arab Spring uprisings, the Syrian civil war began as a popular movement against Assad's authoritarian rule. The conflict quickly transformed into a sectarian battle, with extremist organizations like Al Qaeda and ISIS seizing control of the opposition and inciting violence against Assad's minority Alawite community, [...]