uhsen AlMustafa, a researcher assistant at the Omran Center for Strategic Studies, believes that the security restructuring announced by the Syrian regime has nothing to do with Arab initiatives, explaining that Damascus does not allow any external party to interfere in its security structures. He considers these changes to be a natural outcome for any regime that has gone through conflict, as it later seeks to review the strengths and weaknesses that emerged over the years.

AlMustafa points out that the regime may exploit Arab and Western calls for reform to craft a suitable image for itself, enabling it to tighten its grip on the street, but without touching the essence of its security structure or management style. He stresses that Assad’s changes remain superficial, as the new security figures are no different from the old ones in terms of methodology and performance. He also notes that strengthening the position of the “Baath Party” at this stage is part of the regime’s plan, as it relies on it as a political tool that provides cover and a partisan facade concealing its sectarian nature. In this way, the party is used as a means of mobilization and control, instead of implementing genuine political reform or opening the door to structural changes in power.