In eastern Libya, Khalifa Haftar had close ties with the Syrian dictator, and has now lost a soulmate. 

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.

Bashar al-Assad’s fall from power has created an opportunity for the political and economic reconstruction of a key Arab state. But the record of efforts to stabilize post-conflict societies in the Middle East is littered with failure, and the next few months will most likely determine Syria's political trajectory.

A conversation about the fallout following the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria, what’s next for the power balance in the Middle East, the role of the United States going forward, and more.

Why did Bashar al-Assad’s armed forces fail to act, unlike those in Egypt, Libya, Algeria, and Sudan?

The SDF has expanded its control over Deir al-Zor, but may soon find itself overstretched and facing Turkish allies.