Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
US Ambassador to Tel Aviv Mike Huckabee: Israeli attack on Iran without US greenlight is unrealistic scenario.
Iranian media: Documents indicate that Merav Zafary-Odiz was tasked with stoking confusion about Iran's peaceful nuclear program
Iranian media: The documents indicate that Merav Odiz was tasked with diverting world opinion away from "Israel's" non-peaceful nuclear program
Iranian media: Documents reveal direct coordination between the Zionist entity's representative, Merav Zafary-Odiz, and Grossi
Iranian media: One document reveals that Merav Zafary-Odiz, "Israel's" representative at the agency, requested an immediate meeting with Grossi on May 10, 2016
Iranian media: One document reveals coordination between the [Israeli] entity and Grossi to incite tensions against Iran just five months after the nuclear agreement was concluded
Iranian media: Documents confirm that Grossi began his cooperation with the entity in 2016 and coordinated reports against Iran's peaceful nuclear activities
Iranian media on released documents seized from "Israel": The special relationship between the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Zionist entity began upon the arrival of the current IAEA Director General, Rafael Grossi
Fars: The released documents show that IAEA chief Grossi has been completely coordinating with "Israel" and has been carrying out "Israel's" orders
Fars News Agency publishes first batch of documents that the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence seized through its intelligence operation

Rubio cautions Syria could be weeks away from 'full-scale civil war'

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 20 May 2025 21:18
  • 1 Shares
3 Min Read

The US Secretary of State warns that Syria may face a full-scale civil war within weeks if international support for the transitional government fails, amid rising sectarian violence.

Listen
  • x
  • Rubio says Syria could be weeks away from 'full-scale civil war'
    US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks during a Kennedy Center Board dinner in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on May 19, 2025 (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP)

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned on Tuesday that Syria may be just weeks away from descending into a new civil war of "epic proportions" unless urgent support is provided to the transitional government.

"It is our assessment that, frankly, the transitional authority, given the challenges they're facing, are maybe weeks -- not many months -- away from potential collapse and a full-scale civil war of epic proportions, basically the country splitting up," Rubio told a Senate hearing.

His comments follow a wave of violent attacks targeting Syria’s Alawite and Druze minorities. 

Last week, US President Donald Trump visited Saudi Arabia, where he announced the lifting of sanctions from the al-Assad era and met with Syria’s new transitional president, Ahmad al-Sharaa.

Al-Sharaa, recently removed from a US wanted list for al-Qaeda ties, was praised by Trump during a meeting, while Rubio acknowledged concerns about the transitional leadership’s background but argued that engaging with them offers at least a chance for stability.

"The transitional authority figures, they didn't pass their background check with the FBI," he stated. 

Related News

US imposes sanctions on ICC judges over Netanyahu arrest warrant

Medinsky leads Russian delegation to Istanbul despite sabotage attacks

Trump plans to waive Caesar Act sanctions on Syria

Rubio, who also met with Syria’s foreign minister in Turkey, attributed the country’s renewed violence to the legacy of former leader Bashar al-Assad.

Regarding the lifting of sanctions, the secretary of state said it was to allow other nations to bring in assistance. 

"The nations in the region want to get aid in, want to start helping them, and they can't because they're afraid of our sanctions," Rubio alleged. 

He said Trump plans to waive the Caesar Act sanctions on Syria to encourage investment, but noted Congress may need to fully repeal the law for long-term impact.

EU lifts all economic sanctions on Syria

Meanwhile, the EU approved lifting all economic sanctions on Syria, including those targeting its banking system, while keeping individual sanctions related to ethnic violence in place.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani praised the lifting of international sanctions as a "historic opportunity" for Syria to rebuild, inviting global investment and cooperation.

At a joint press conference, Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi echoed the sentiment, calling this a "new phase" for Syria that deserves a chance to succeed.

  • Syria
  • US
  • Marco Rubio
  • Damascus
  • United States
  • Ahmad al-Sharaa

Most Read

The logo of the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence (wikidata)

Iran acquired thousands of sensitive Israeli documents: Exclusive

  • Politics
  • 7 Jun 2025
Iranian demonstrators walk on a caricature of the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the annual Quds Day rally in support of Palestinians, in Tehran, Iran, Friday, March 28, 2025 (AP)

Iran hits 'Israel' hard without arms; intel breach lays Tel Aviv bare

  • Politics
  • 7 Jun 2025
Iranian Intelligence Minister Esmaeil Khatib in an undated photo (Nournews)

Iranian security minister reveals major intelligence haul on 'Israel'

  • Politics
  • 8 Jun 2025
IAEA leaked to 'Israel' confidential communications with Iran: Fars

IAEA leaked to 'Israel' confidential communications with Iran: Fars

  • MENA
  • 10 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
U.S. National Guard are deployed around downtown Los Angeles, Sunday, June 8, 2025, following a immigration raid protest the night before. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
US & Canada

ICE raids in LA trap families in harsh conditions: Lawyers

Colombia's President Gustavo Petro speaks at a rally to garner support for a referendum on labor reform, in Cali, Colombia, on June 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Santiago Saldarriaga)
Politics

Petro slams US-linked coup plot, signs decree for popular consultation

President Donald Trump speaks as he signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House on April 17, 2025. (AP)
US & Canada

World sees Trump as ‘arrogant’, ‘dangerous’ as ratings sink: Poll

he Department of Defense logo is seen on the wall in the Press Briefing room at the Pentagon on, Oct. 29, 2024 in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf, File)
Politics

Future of $240bln AUKUS deal in doubt as Pentagon launches review

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS