On 5 April 1949, the first round of direct Syria-Israel talks were held just weeks after Husni al-Za'im's successful military coup that unseated Syrian President Shukri al-Quwatli

Israel's offensive posture in Syria and its offer to "protect" minorities points to broader ambitions that could also end up backfiring

Damascus must weigh the risks and benefits of an exclusive economic zone with Ankara against the broader implications for its international standing and reconstruction efforts

As Syria takes this important step forward, the journey ahead remains fraught with obstacles but also hope

On 29 March, 1949, Husni al-Zaim overthrew the government of Shukri al-Quwatli, sparking a vicious cycle of coups and countercoups for decades to come

Alongside the Syrians who ousted Assad in December were Chechens, Uyghurs, Arabs, Europeans, Uzbeks, Tajiks, Turks, and Albanians, to name but a few. What next for them?

If the interim government fails to deliver on promises of stability and prosperity, divisions will deepen, tensions will rise, and Syria could once again descend into violent unrest

Some predict partition, others federalism or fragmentation. Amidst the competing interests of Arab states, Russia, the US, Israel, Iran, Türkiye, and Europe, Syria treads its own path

Al Majalla spent several days talking to civilians, fighters, and the former interior minister in the province where Syria's new leaders honed their modes of governance

The legitimacy of Sharaa's government will depend on whether it upholds the rule of law or reverts to the same repressive tactics as the Assad regime that he toppled