Seth J. Frantzman

Other trends emerged from 2021 to 2024, including the expansion of economic blocs (BRICS, SCO), growing Russian and Chinese influence, and US allies hedging by working more closely with Beijing.

Will the women who played such a heroic and key role in defeating ISIS receive new roles in Syria's new security force, or be left behind?

The deal to dissolve the SDF is expected to pave the way for several key decisions in the next phase, including political appointments and developments involving Turkey.

This shift is not lost on Jerusalem. Increasingly voices in Israel and supporters abroad are depicting Turkey as an emerging threat, one similar to Iran.

This month tensions exploded into view with Israeli airstrikes in northern Syria. Barrack, who has been playing an important role in Syria for the last year is now front and center.

From the Strait of Hormuz to sanctions and diplomacy, the US-Iran conflict is broadening into a struggle that is reshaping regional security and the global balance of power.

The SDF was the key force that helped defeat ISIS. It was backed by the US. Now it is integrating into the new Syrian security forces.

Now Iraq appears to be backtracking on the deadline for placing militia weapons under state control.

Now, the warnings of a crisis in Syria between Israel and Turkey, two key US allies, may help lead to some kind of positive outcome.

According to SANA, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani announced that Syria is beginning “a new phase” in dealing with the country’s chemical weapons legacy.