Author: Issam Chehadat

Syria borders two powerful regional actors. To the north lies Türkiye, with which it shares deep historical ties; from the very onset of the Syrian popular uprising against the Assad regime, Ankara provided support to the Syrians, a stance it has continued to uphold to this day. To the south, Syria borders Israel, an occupying force in Palestine and the Syrian Golan Heights. Israeli officials have openly lamented the fall of Assad’s regime. In February 2025, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remarked that Israel did not receive flowers at the fall of Bashar Assad. Worse still, Israel escalated its military operations…

Every year, as Eid approaches, many in the Arab world, especially Syrians, recite the famous line by the poet Al-Mutanabbi: “O Eid, in what state have you returned? With what has passed, or with something renewed?” This verse has been used to express the sorrow and miserable conditions – whether economic or social – that have coincided with the arrival of the holiday. However, this year, the situation is entirely different. Syrians will not mourn their Eid today nor repeat the lament of Al-Mutanabbi, a grievance they have echoed for 14 years. The Eid approaching this year is a true…