A surge of deadly violence in Syria highlights the necessity to ensure “darker forces” don’t take over the struggling country and worsen conditions inside it, Canada’s latest special envoy there says.
Omar Alghabra, named Special Envoy for Syria last month, made the remarks during an appearance on The West Block with host Mercedes Stevenson.
Alghabra is the Liberal member of Parliament for Mississauga Centre. As a special envoy for Syria, he reports to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly.
Alghabra said the retreat of Russian and Iranian-backed militants after the Assad regime fell, and clashes between the competing interests since then highlights precisely why the world must monitor events in Syria closely.
“This weekend we saw tremendous violence, that had that many civilians pay the worth for,” he said
“This is precisely the rationale why the world needs to interact to be certain that darker forces don’t take over Syria and inflict damage on the Syrian people and on the region,” Alghabra said.
Over the past several days, clashes between Syrian government security forces and loyalists of ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and revenge killings that followed have left greater than 1,000 people dead, including 750 civilians, inside Syria.
Other dead included 125 Syrian government security force members and 148 militants with armed groups affiliated with the previous dictator Assad. Families have been displaced from several villages, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights told the Associated Press.
Reinforcement Syrian security forces deploy in Latakia, Syria, on Friday, March 7, 2025.
Omar Albam / Associated Press
“Look, after the autumn of the Assad regime, definitely Iran and Russia have been in retreat. And we want to be sure that that any external influence that’s negative, that shouldn’t be for the good thing about the region or the Syrian people, be sure that that there’s enough immunity throughout the Syrian government, the Syrian civil society to reject such, foreign interference,” Alghabra added.
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Alghabra revealed that he and Joly met with the brand new Syrian minister of foreign affairs at a conference two weeks ago in Paris. It was attended by most European and Middle East political leaders.
“We had conversations about their vision for Syria. All I can let you know is I’m hearing quite a lot of the precise things. A whole lot of the precise vision, the commitment to having an inclusive, civil society-based Syria. Having said that, we want to carry this government accountable,” Alghabra said.
The special envoy said Canada must be certain that Syria doesn’t miss this shot at having a democracy. “And the very best strategy to do that is give them a likelihood,” he added.
This may be completed by adjusting and easing a few of the sanctions against Syria, while holding the brand new government accountable for results, Alghabra explained on the show.
Canada and other nations may also offer additional support, he said.
“By determining the way to support civil society, by providing them advice on the way to construct governance and, and democracy, and be certain that, , that they’re Syrian people themselves usually are not left alone because I even have great, confidence within the Syrian people,” Alghabra said.
“Nevertheless, we’ve query marks about this government. And the very best strategy to do that is by strengthening civil society and supporting their effort in having a democratic, stable Syria.”
Ahmed al-Sharaa, who’s now leading Syria, also leads Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a bunch Canada has listed as a terrorist organization since 2013. The group was once affiliated with al-Qaida but has since denounced its former ties.
Alghabra, a Saudi Arabian born Syrian-Canadian, said Canada has a special bond with Syria and Syrians after this country welcomed over 100,000 refugees who escaped the civil war and that’s driving its diplomatic efforts.
“Tens of hundreds of Canadian families opened up their doors and their hearts to Syrian families who’re escaping violence,” Alghabra said.
“Syrians have integrated themselves in Canada. They’ve built businesses that develop into professionals, doctors, nurses, and so they’re expert employees. And there’s a special bond that exists between Canada and Syria that is actually fueling our desire to do good by Syria.”
Alghabra said Canada is working with its international partners and native allies on a multipronged effort to finish constitutional studies, develop a framework for public governance and organize elections to pick members for a brand new government.
“All that has yet to be done, and we’re maintaining a tally of it. We’re also definitely working with our partners and our allies at civil society to be sure that that it’s done for the good thing about the Syrian people.”
With a file from The Associated Press.
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