Israel’s strategy replaces Iran’s “ring of fire” with a “ring of buffer zones,” carving out controlled spaces along its borders. This reassertion of frontiers aims to prevent cross‑border threats and solidify a post‑Axis regional order dominated by Israeli security interests.
Browsing: Syria
By positioning itself as a protector of Druze communities, Israel aims to expand its buffer zone in southern Syria. This approach contradicts broader regional stability efforts and could inadvertently revive Iranian influence—the very outcome Israel claims it seeks to prevent.
Trump’s strategy blends deepened Gulf partnerships, pressure on Iran, and pushes for Israeli-Palestinian diplomacy. While seeking a deal with Tehran on his terms, he maintains strong ties with Israel and aims to contain regional threats, leveraging unpredictability as a strategic asset.
Unresolved tensions risk an ISIS resurgence and a prolonged Kurdish insurgency. Concessions like Kurdish community police, recognizing cultural rights in the constitution, and granting SDF leaders official roles could build trust and integrate Kurds into a unified Syria.
Fighting between Syrian forces and the SDF highlights the failure of U.S. mediation to implement a lasting political and military integration deal. Stalled Israel-Syria talks further show Trump’s diplomacy lacks the detailed process needed to resolve core security disputes.
By Kheder Khaddour and Issam Kayssi As Washington reduces its presence in the country, the success of its withdrawal and…
“The northeast is the main arena where two strategic visions collide. One sees an interest in a Syria broken into manageable pieces; the other wagers on a top-down, centralized Syria. For the echoes of the northeast to become audible in the south, Damascus must prove it can consolidate its grip.”
“Lebanon’s new leadership faces the challenge of moving away from this approach to adopt one that is more proactive and preserves Lebanese interests while protecting the rights of the refugees to self-determination… hope and opportunity can pave the way.”
“Until regional states acknowledge their limitations and negotiate a regional arrangement they can all tolerate, the Middle East will remain trapped in recurring tensions… Stability is possible if regional powers acknowledge their structural limitations and recognize their mutual constraints.”
“The United States is helping Israel to consolidate a zone of its own in the Levant. But reconstituting a world in which establishing and defending spheres of interest is the operating rule will mean a much more volatile global environment.”