Fragile Peace in Syria’s Set Zaynab: A Test of Enduring Stability

The fragile peace in Syria’s Set Zaynab has become a benchmark for the new government’s ability to ensure stability and security across the war-torn country. Locals are cautiously optimistic, but fears rooted in a decade of brutal conflict still linger over daily life.

For years, Set Zaynab was protected by Iranian forces, Hezbollah, and other Shia groups backed by Tehran. However, when the Assad regime fell in December 2024, concerns emerged that the shrine to Sayyida Zaynab might come under attack after a war that increasingly took on a sectarian element.

Set Zaynab has been spared the worst of the sectarian violence that ravaged other parts of Syria. The new government has thwarted attempts by ISIL (ISIS) to attack the area and recently arrested a cell accused of planting bombs during French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Damascus in July. Yet, despite these efforts, locals remain wary.

Mohammad Sallouta, a 47-year-old shop owner, encapsulates this sentiment: “Security-wise, the area is 90 percent very good, but people are still afraid. Security is not 100 percent, so we are still waiting.” His words echo the sentiments of many in Set Zaynab who fear that stability is still an elusive goal.

The tourism industry has largely dried up since the fall of the Assad regime, with only a trickle of visitors from Oman, Bahrain, and Kuwait making their way to the shrine. Iraqis, once a mainstay of pilgrims, now visit in small numbers or not at all, unless they are married to Syrians. This has had a devastating impact on local businesses.

One shopkeeper spoke candidly about his struggles since the fall of al-Assad. As a Shia Muslim, he painted a complex picture of life under Syria’s new government, where sectarian divisions still simmer just below the surface. His fears are not unfounded; a decade of brutal war has left deep scars on Syrian society.

The shop owner is particularly concerned about the impact of the war on his community: “I’m afraid of their sons,” he says, referring to young men who left Syria during the conflict and returned with a deep-seated hatred for Shia Muslims. This is a worry shared by many in Set Zaynab, where security sweeps have been conducted in recent months.

The new government must continue to prioritize stability and security across Syria, particularly in areas like Set Zaynab that are home to religious minorities. This will require a sustained effort to address the deep-seated sectarian divisions that still plague Syrian society. The fate of tourism in Set Zaynab hangs in the balance; without the return of tourists, local businesses will struggle to survive.

Sallouta is clear: “The most important thing is security. If that’s fixed, then the rest will return.” As Syria slowly rebuilds from the ruins of war, the peace in Set Zaynab serves as a barometer for the country’s progress towards stability and security. The new government must continue to prioritize these efforts, lest the fragile peace in this once-thriving town give way to renewed violence.

Set Zaynab’s story reflects the broader challenges facing Syria’s post-war recovery. As the international community looks on, the future of this war-torn country hangs precariously in the balance. Will the new government succeed in its efforts to ensure stability and security across Syria? Only time will tell.

The fate of Set Zaynab, and indeed all of Syria, rests on the ability of its leaders to address the deep-seated sectarian divisions that have ravaged this country for far too long. The clock is ticking; will they rise to the challenge?