Analysis

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal at an Arab League foreign ministers meeting to discuss the situation in Syria on January 22, 2012. The Saudi Foreign Minister rejected an Arab League decision to extend its observer mission in Syria and said Saudi Arabia will withdraw its personnel from the mission because Syrian President Assad has broken his promises to the League. (KHALED DESOUKI/AFP/Getty Images)

Syria: Bolstered by Iran and Russia, Assad Remains Defiant

January 23, 2012

| Security

| Middle East and North Africa

Summary

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s defiant rejection today of a new Arab League peace plan indicates he remains firmly entrenched and has no intention of negotiating an end to the violence or stepping down as president. Assad is being encouraged by Russian and Iranian efforts to help Syria evade U.S. and EU sanctions.

Yesterday, the Arab League called for Assad to step down and form a unity government in anticipation of parliamentary and presidential elections. Assad quickly denounced the plan, calling it a violation of Syrian sovereignty. The Arab League also announced that it hopes to extend its mission in Syria and increase the number of observers in the country. However, Saudi Arabia simultaneously announced that it is removing its representatives from the mission to protest Assad’s failure to comply with an Arab League plan to halt the violence.

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