On July 10th, 2024, the U.S. Congress Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the U.S. Helsinki Commission, held a hearing to discuss Russia’s pernicious influence in Syria and the catastrophic consequences of Putin’s military support for the Assad regime.
It is a fact that Russia’s military intervention at a critical time during the Syrian people’s revolution not only kept Assad in power, it also enabled the regime to intensify its already brutal campaign against Syrian civilians. The purpose of the hearing was to detail specific instances of war crimes, including indiscriminate bombings, chemical weapon attacks, and the systematic torture of detainees. The details of the crimes committed were supported by the testimony of experts who provided insight into how Russia’s support not only strengthened Assad but contributed to creating a dire humanitarian crisis that continues to demand international intervention and justice.
During the hearing, Syrian human rights activist Mohammed Alaa Ghanem testified before a packed chamber along with Mouaz Moustafa, Executive Director of the Syrian Emergency Task Force, and M. Night Shyamalan, a well-known American film director, producer, and screenwriter.
One of the comments posted after the hearing by Moaz Moustafa on X declared: “If it was not for Putin and Iran, keeping the genocidal narco-trafficking animal Assad in power, Syria would be an emerging democracy.”
the hearing hoped to send a clear message to the international community that it should not tolerate such violations of sovereignty and human rights
Ghanem commented on social media saying: “I shared insights from my firsthand experiences on the Syrian frontlines and over a decade of engagement in US-Syria policy. The bipartisan participation of Senators and House members, who were deeply engaged, and asked incisive questions, enriched this crucial discourse.”
During the hearing, the link between Russia’s actions in Syria and its war against Ukraine was also explored. By highlighting how Russia’s imperial ambitions in Syria are being mirrored in Ukraine, the hearing hoped to send a clear message to the international community that it should not tolerate such violations of sovereignty and human rights. The issues addressed during the hearing are crucial not only for the stability of the Middle East but also for the security and sovereignty of Ukraine.
“One of the things Russia did to prepare for Ukraine was to test over 400 different weapons & internationally banned weapons on Syrian civilians. They perfected the double tap attack, which is you hit a place, wait for first responders to show up, & hit it again,” stated Moustafa.
Any response must include holding both the Assad regime and Russia accountable for their crimes as well as a plan to implement measures that counter Russian influence in Syria
The U.S. Helsinki Commission has determined that Russia’s intervention in Syria and its war in Ukraine are intertwined crises that require a response by the international community. Any response must include holding both the Assad regime and Russia accountable for their crimes as well as a plan to implement measures that counter Russian influence in Syria to weaken its capacity to pursue similar strategies in Ukraine.
The hearing was broadcast live on C-Span and the full proceedings can be viewed on this link.
Hi SYRIAWISE, I’m reaching out because Syriawise could get featured in digital newspapers in August, this is the time when newspapers get the most traffic.
Being mentioned by digital newspapers not only boosts the reputation of your business, it also helps to enhance your search engine rankings and gives you more credibility and trustworthiness.
I’d like to explain how it works and how you can get publications free of charge. What phone number can I reach you at?