Researcher Muhsen AlMustafa at the Omran Center for Strategic Studies, specializing in military and security affairs, told Enab Baladi that the Syrian state’s capacity to control weapons “appears good so far,” despite field complexities, noting that the general trend is moving toward restricting weapons to the state’s hands. He considered that the state has gradual tools to move forward, including integration programs, reconciliations, and incentives to join the military and internal security institutions, predicting the adoption of a new weapons possession law after the activation of the People’s Assembly, in line with the requirements of the phase.

He saw that the current focus on areas that were outside control or loyal to the former regime is natural given the nature of the security risks there, compared with temporary and less prioritized tolerance in traditional stronghold areas. He concluded that controlling weapons is a cornerstone for building the rule of law, consolidating decision-making centrality, ending parallel power phenomena, enhancing the state’s prestige, reducing local conflicts, and creating a safe environment for recovery, the return of displaced persons, and the launch of development.