For a country that needs to include all its varied elements if it is to heal, there are some worrying early signs in the recruitment of a new army. The region offers many lessons in what not to do.
Many agreements were one-sided in favour of Damascus, with some never ratified, implemented or even known about at all. Calls are now mounting to rebalance the relationship.
The Ba'ath movement was a big part of the Arab world for almost 80 years. Its demise in Iraq after 35 years in power—and in Syria just recently—comes with important lessons.
During the French Mandate, Syria's women's movement went from grassroots protest to established force, setting up schools, helping the poor, and calling for rights and votes
An army chief who impressed both at home and abroad in recent years was handed a six-year term to fill the void in this important but largely ceremonial role. Who is he, and what is on his to-do list?
While Trump's rhetoric doesn't always match his actions, there are more signs than not that the US will draw down its forces in the region, leaving room for other actors to step in
Netanyahu did not realise his goal of ending Iran's nuclear programme and regime change, and Iran stood alone in its war with Israel, as global and regional allies left it to fend for itself
For decades, Iran's supreme leader—first Khomeini, then Khamenei—pursued a strategy of backing regional militias to fight Israel, but with the 'resistance axis' in tatters, Iran is left to fight alone