Tough task ahead in Syrian rebuilding

Amid fast-changing developments, it will be difficult for Syria to make substantive progress in the reconstruction of its northwestern region, despite the government's restoration of some important transport links.

The highway that links the Syrian capital Damascus with the northern city of Aleppo was opened to the public for the first time in nearly eight years after government forces recently captured the parts of it that had been held by insurgents.

However, the reopening of the road could not be viewed as the start of a "complete reconstruction process" in the reclaimed region, said Li Guofu, an expert on Middle East studies with the China Institute of International Studies.

"The government forces indeed recovered some places, such as the Aleppo airport and the M5 highway, which are very important transportation hubs in Syria," he said. "But the forces have not completely recovered all sites in the demilitarized zone. There might be more conflicts in the future."

Li said it would be difficult for the government to build on these gains and continue the reconstruction work without a stable environment.

Moreover, he said issues within this area involve not only the rival groups in Syria, but also Turkey and Russia, especially when the 2018 Sochi agreement allows Turkey to retain a military presence in Idlib.

Turkey's role

Turkey has been acting tough in response to the Syrian government's gains in the formerly rebel-held areas, demanding its forces withdraw from the recaptured land and threatening a military response. "We have to say that the situation is still far from settled down," Li said.

On Monday, the Turkey-backed rebels and Turkish forces captured the town of Nairab in the Idlib countryside after eight hours of intense fighting, according to observers.

Nine Syrian soldiers were killed by the Turkish shelling, the observers said, adding that the Syrian forces fired missiles at the town later.

The town is strategically important for the Turkish forces and allied rebels given its proximity to the M4 highway, which connects Aleppo Province with Latakia Province in northwestern Syria.

The town is also considered the gateway to Saraqeb, a strategic city captured by the Syrian army recently, as the city overlooks the M5 highway that connects Damascus in the south with Aleppo in the north.

Syrian government forces have been on the offensive in Idlib and parts of Aleppo Province, the last remaining rebel strongholds in the country, since early December after they captured dozens of towns and villages from the insurgents.

Despite these broader uncertainties, the reopening of the Damascus-Aleppo highway can be viewed as one of the biggest victories for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the nearly nine-year civil war.

Aided by highway's reopening, the reconstruction efforts, if undertaken by Syria, could help expand the government's control over the reclaimed areas. Li said.

"The recent military operations and possible future reconstruction in the last rebel-held bastion will further reduce the space for them to survive," Li said.