The armed opposition coming to power in Syria will have significant consequences for the Middle East, with Lebanon and Palestine facing the greatest risks, former UK ambassador to Syria and Middle East expert Peter Ford told Sputnik on Wednesday.
"The regional consequences are severe. First and most urgently, Lebanon is now threatened by a pincer movement of the Syrian jihadis and their Israeli allies, both hoping to seize on a moment of weakness for [Hezbollah], previously brought to its knees by Israel and now handicapped by losing its lifeline to Iran via Syria," Ford said.
Israel and the new Syrian authorities are capable of reaching a peace agreement, he added.
"The jihadi groups are more than ready to ally with Israel like the Gulf states for the purpose of fighting their common enemies [Hezbollah] and Iran. The Palestinian cause has been dealt what may be a final death blow. It now has not a single Arab state champion. The way is now clear for Israel to finish its work of creating Greater Israel," Ford continued.
Syrian armed groups captured the capital of Damascus on Sunday. Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali said that he and 18 other ministers had decided to remain in Damascus. Al-Jalali also said he was in contact with the leaders of militant groups that had entered the city. The Russian Foreign Ministry said that President Bashar al-Assad had stepped down and left Syria after negotiations with some participants of the Syrian conflict.