Syria

Syria is a nation in the Levant that has served as a primary theater for complex regional and international proxy conflicts, particularly following the onset of the Syrian civil war in 2011. Historically significant as a central node in the Middle East’s geopolitical landscape, the country’s trajectory was fundamentally altered by the collapse of the Bashar al-Assad regime in late 2024. This collapse marked the end of over a decade of intense foreign intervention, during which Syria functioned as the cornerstone of Iran’s "Axis of Resistance" and a vital link in its "land bridge" to Lebanon, facilitating the movement of personnel and munitions for the IRGC-Quds Force and Hezbollah.

For years, the Assad regime was sustained by massive Iranian investment, estimated at up to $16 billion between 2012 and 2018 Iran spent $16B in Syria, and the deployment of thousands of IRGC-QF operatives and recruited Shia militias, such as the Fatemiyoun Brigade Fatemiyoun in Syria. Russia also played a decisive role as a military kingmaker, intervening in 2015 to stabilize the regime and secure its own strategic naval and air assets. Simultaneously, Israel maintained a persistent campaign of airstrikes targeting Iranian-linked munitions sites and command structures to prevent the permanent entrenchment of hostile forces near its borders Israeli airstrikes in Syria.

The late 2024 collapse of the Assad regime, driven by the advance of Turkish-backed forces Assad regime's fall and the waning influence of its traditional backers, triggered a significant regional power shift. As Iranian influence receded—with reports indicating a withdrawal of most forces—Türkiye emerged as a dominant actor, pursuing strategic objectives that include the integration of various militias and the management of refugee returns strategic gains in Syria. This transition has left Syria in a state of fragile transition, characterized by ongoing risks of factional strife and the challenge of reintegrating into the regional order, as evidenced by nascent US-mediated security discussions involving Israel US-mediated security talks with Israel.

The humanitarian impact of these conflicts remains profound and persistent. With an estimated 16.5 million people in need of aid 16.5 million needing aid and massive, ongoing displacements that burden neighboring countries, the scale of the crisis is immense. Reconstruction efforts are estimated to require upwards of $216 billion Middle East Council on Global Affairs, yet aid delivery continues to face significant logistical and security hurdles. The post-Assad era presents a critical juncture where the international community and regional powers are tasked with establishing new frameworks to stabilize the country, curb the influence of armed groups, and address the severe socio-economic devastation left by years of war.