Assad’s New Strategy: Moving Away from Iran

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is strategically distancing himself from Iran to reconcile with neighboring countries, notably Turkey. This shift follows Assad’s recognition of Iran’s destabilizing presence in Syria and Israel’s threats targeting Iranian arms in the region. As Assad navigates competing pressures from Iran and Russia, his recent maneuvers, including a surprise visit to Moscow, signal his diminishing political stature.

Despite being wanted by the International Criminal Court for chemical weapons use, Assad faces a narrowing set of options in this treacherous political landscape. With entrenched interests from Iran, Russia, and the US, the Syrian conflict appears intractable, with potential changes on the horizon in 2024 according to Turkish writer Serhan Erkman.

The pressing question remains: will Syrians awaken to Assad’s failures and embrace a comprehensive solution to address the complex web of interests at play? Until then, the Syrian crisis will persist, with no clear end in sight.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.