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Militias could push the Syrian president towards Iran

Location:

SYRIA

President Bashar al-Assad does not control most of the local and foreign militias that operate in his name in Syria. Some of those follow the policies of Iran’s Islamic Revolution…

Islamic State action in Syria and Iraq will be low key

Location:

SYRIA/IRAQ

SYRIA/IRAQ: Islamic State attacks will be low key

Rivals will use tribes to destabilise Syria’s Raqqa

Location:

SYRIA

Some 80% of the city, which was the de facto capital of Islamic State (IS) until its capture by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), was ruined in fighting and…

Syria’s Deraa will see chronic instability and poverty

Location:

SYRIA

This came as Damascus blamed a former rebel leader for the May 4 abduction and killing of nine policemen in the nearby town of Muzayrib. The security situation in Deraa, which…

Struggling Mideast states will call on Arab identity

Location:

MIDDLE EAST

The League itself has long been a talking-shop with minimal influence, and Arabism has declined sharply in salience since its heights in the 1960s. Nonetheless, references to…

Syrian Kurds face a possible loss of autonomy

Location:

SYRIA

After the outbreak of civil war in 2011 and the rise of Islamic State (IS), the US-backed SDF managed to establish an autonomous administration in northeast Syria. However, it…

Prospects for the Levant in 2021

Location:

PROSPECTS 2021

However, in 2021 they will all face two common challenges: recovering from major economic shocks in 2020 and reorienting to US policy shifts under a Biden presidency. From…

Middle East’s Druze may solidify Damascus relationship

Location:

MIDDLE EAST

A previous deal saw six captives released on October 20. IS had taken women and children from Suweida’s Druze community in July. Damascus has faced widespread anger over the July…

Syrian currency collapse will drive food shortages

Location:

SYRIA

The Syrian pound's exchange rate fell by 40% in the first week of June before recovering slightly. After nine years of ruinous conflict, the struggling economy has been brought to…