Syria

Another 70 lawmakers have been picked by the president, creating a chamber of just over 200. Are these MPs pliable and subservient, or do they have teeth? That is now an important question for Syria

If Trump's idea is implemented, it would all but certainly further undermine regional stability and US interests in the Middle East

Syrian military intervention in Lebanon is nowhere near a priority as Damascus grapples with enormous economic, social, and political obligations at home

Border security and cooperation with Washington

The two states are working closer now than they have for decades, with Hezbollah a common problem. But Syria's army entering Lebanon is not the answer.

Having the Syrian army fight the militant group will not solve Lebanon's problem—it would very likely make it worse

Ankara believes Trump's idea to deploy Syrian forces to disarm the Lebanese militant group would further inflame a volatile situation

Recent strikes show how workers are beginning to use Syria's expanded civic space to make economic and social demands. The government should see this as a warning, but also an opportunity.

Last month's floods exposed gaps in coordination and governance. Addressing them now will determine whether the next rise in the river becomes a managed risk or another costly emergency.

A relatively new government working to secure its own territory is poorly positioned to open a new front outside its borders, be it Lebanon or Iraq