Syria’s Endgame
Syria could become a patchwork of Russian, Turkish and American-backed enclaves.
Syria could become a patchwork of Russian, Turkish and American-backed enclaves.
Now comes the time for battle against the remaining jihadists, coupled with Turkey’s war against the Kurds.
Donald Trump’s pact doesn’t make sense. Neither Assad nor Russia is interested in defeating the Islamists.
Age-old stereotypes about the Middle East do little to help us make sense of the war in Syria today.
Russia and the United States have short-, medium- and long-term interests in pacifying Syria.
Turkey’s first priority is stopping Kurdish separatism. Longer term, it is looking at gaining regional influence.
Why did Turkey chose this moment to drive a wedge between Islamic State and Kurdish militants in Syria?
The Syrian dictator has so far left the Kurds alone. What changed his mind is anyone’s guess.
Neither Turkey nor the United States will panic if Aleppo falls. Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, might.
The urge to “do something” is understandable. It’s also not going to change the president’s calculation.
The Syrian regime launches an attempt to retake the opposition’s last remaining stronghold in the north.
The intervention managed to keep Bashar Assad in power, but Russia is not out of the woods yet.
The Russian leader starts to pull his troops out of Syria after six months.
Relatively moderate and well-educated rebels weren’t numerous enough to lead the Syrian opposition.
Russia is worsening the refugee crisis out of Syria in order to break Europe’s political will.