Damascus has already taken steps towards this end, but international support will still be vital. It can also draw on relevant elements from Iraq's governing model.
In Moscow, Syria's new president said he wants to restore and redefine relations with Russia—a former foe. But is this a genuine olive branch or a message to Washington?
Al Majalla spoke to natives of both sides of the river in Syria's divided, oil-rich province Deir ez-Zor over a period of several months to understand whether more conflict might be in the offing
Only 4% of 119 members selected in the indirect vote were women, and only two Christians, sparking concerns about inclusivity and fairness. Meanwhile, voting was postponed in Druze and Kurdish areas.
In a wide-ranging sitdown interview with Al Majalla, AANES Foreign Affairs Chief Ilham Ahmed lays out the lingering points of contention with Damascus and the way forward
Facing a legitimacy crisis both at home and abroad, the new Syrian administration may find that the road to full acceptance and sanctions relief will be a long one
Syria's future will hinge not on speeches delivered to international audiences but on Sharaa's ability to build durable stability and restore trust at home
The combined effect of the shocks to the Assad regime and Hezbollah's operational capacity has been to transform, rather than end, illicit cross-border economies like arms and captagon
Syria seeks balance and protection; Russia wants permanence and influence. These issues were surely discussed when Sharaa met Putin in Moscow last week.
Her task will be to balance the country's security imperatives with American expectations regarding burden-sharing, defence spending, and economic cooperation
The army and the RSF rely on the assets at their disposal to sustain governance and fund their war efforts, while trying to win over the international community by seizing larger swathes of Sudan