Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Turkish President Recep Tayyib Erdoğan are both concerned about Kurdish separatism for slightly different reasons. What will they do about it?

In an interview with Al Sharq, Türkiye's FM pledges to 'work closely' with regional powers to build a better Syria and hopes Iran will seize the opportunity to recalibrate its approach to the region

Control over Syria's oil and gas reserves comes with major economic and political benefits. Both Israel and Türkiye will be lobbying the US to sway events in their respective favours.

Damascus needs to incorporate the YPG into its new national army, but Ankara is keen to disband the US-backed group. Cue the diplomacy.

Ankara had a role to play in the fall of the Assad regime, though the full details are yet to emerge. It will have a role in its state-building too, albeit with some big difficulties to overcome first

After over two decades of rule, following three decades of his father Hafez al-Assad's rule, Bashar has fled following a lightning rebel offensive that swept the country

Ankara and Damascus have been at daggers drawn for years but now have reasons to talk. Syria wants Turkish troops gone, while Turkey wants its Syrian refugees to go home. Let the bargaining begin.

Even though it would be good for the region and efforts toward resetting ties have regional and international backing, major challenges and even non-starters are blocking the path to rapprochement

Muhammad Shia al-Sudani is hoping to help Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Syria's Bashar al-Assad mend fences, yet it is precisely the issue of fence security that means he will struggle.