Issue 2245

The essays collected in this issue of the Caravan were all written prior to the dramatic developments in Syria. During the last week of November, diverse oppositional groups united to occupy Aleppo and push out the regime forces loyal to Bashar al Assad in Damascus. What happens next is unpredictable, but the potential crisis of the Assad regime demonstrates clearly the fragility of Iran's "axis of resistance." It also reflects how Russia, Assad's supporter, is preoccupied in Ukraine, and it is a direct result of Israel's war against Hezbollah in Lebanon: after the Israeli assault, Hezbollah is in no condition to rush to Assad's side. In other words, we are watching the long aftermath of October 7, 2023, and Israel's response to the Hamas attacks. A complicated process is underway that could lead to new arrangements in the Middle East. The situation presents the incoming Trump administration with opportunities to reshape the region.