After the fast disintegration of the Assad regime, the difficult reconstruction of the Syrian state is only just beginning. Meanwhile, Europe, Israel, Russia, Türkiye, and the United States have major stakes in Syria’s complex future. Many Western leaders have expressed their relief at the collapse of the dictatorship of Syria’s …

Why did Bashar al-Assad’s armed forces fail to act, unlike those in Egypt, Libya, Algeria, and Sudan? A deluge of well-informed and credible commentary has accompanied the downfall of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, explaining how and why his regime collapsed so quickly. But we do not yet have an adequate …

On December 8, 2024, rebel forces deposed the regime of Syria’s longtime dictator, Bashar al Assad, after the insurgents stormed through much of the country, retaking various regional capitals and culminating in the capture of Damascus itself. The majority of this offensive was led by Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS), …