The interview offers a sober and wide-ranging assessment of Syria’s current trajectory, warning that the indicators of civil war are already present and that reckless military choices—particularly in northeastern Syria and in Suwayda—could push the country toward catastrophic fragmentation. Zedoun Al Zoubi argues that Syria today contains all the ingredients of civil conflict: deep social polarization, entrenched hate speech, economic collapse, environmental stress, external interventions, and unresolved grievances. What is most alarming, he stresses, is that societal polarization and incitement are often sharper among political and cultural elites than among the broader population, creating a dangerous gap between responsibility and influence 

Al Zoubi rejects both military escalation and separatist projects as “self-destructive” options. Armed solutions—whether imposed by the state or pursued by non-state actors—may yield short-term territorial gains but inevitably deepen hatred, reproduce cycles of violence, and undermine the possibility of a stable state. Similarly, calls for secession, whether in the northeast or in the south, are framed not as expressions of rational self-interest but as politics driven by resentment and fear of the other. In his view, there is no meaningful concept of “protecting minorities” in isolation; what is at stake is the protection of society as a whole. Fragmentation, he warns, would only open the door to prolonged instability and external domination 

A central theme of the interview is the moral and political necessity of dialogue. Al Zoubi insists that negotiation, however painful, remains the only viable alternative to prolonged bloodshed. He calls on all actors—particularly the transitional authorities and the leadership of the Autonomous Administration in the northeast—not to squander existing openings for dialogue. Military victories, he argues, do not constitute real success; true defeat lies in missing opportunities for peace and social reconciliation 

The discussion also highlights the depth of Syria’s overlapping “grievances.” Al Zoubi emphasizes that Sunni, Druze, Alawite, Kurdish, and other communities all carry real and unresolved experiences of injustice. The persistent refusal by elites to acknowledge the suffering of others fuels resentment, radicalization, and the risk of renewed violence. Without collective recognition of these pains—and without a serious transitional justice process that names violations as violations rather than euphemistic “events”—Syria risks reliving its conflicts for generations 

Finally, the interview situates Syria’s internal crisis within a complex regional context involving Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Israel, and the United States. Al Zoubi cautions that geopolitical bargains, particularly those that trade Syrian territory or social cohesion for short-term stability, would fundamentally undermine the country’s future. He concludes that Syria’s survival depends on restraint, inclusive dialogue, recognition of shared suffering, and governance arrangements—especially meaningful decentralization—that preserve unity while addressing legitimate local concerns.