The rapid downfall of Syrian leader Bashar Assad has touched off a new round of delicate geopolitical maneuvering between Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The Middle East's regional powers had been pursuing reconciliation. Syria's post-Assad transition will put that to the test. The post Post-Assad Syria Will Test Turkey's Thaw With the Gulf States appeared first on World Politics Review.

Replacing the dominant roles of Russia and Iran exerting influence over Syria, following the downfall of President Bashar al-Assad, Turkey and Israel are best positioned to divide up their respective roles on the territory of the shared neighbor.

Turkey-backed forces are aiming to capture more territory in northern Syria from Kurdish groups, according to Turkish officials familiar with the matter, a move that could stir tensions with the US.

Two U.S. senators are preparing to introduce sanctions against Turkey unless its government forces Turkish-backed fighters to agree to a ceasefire with Kurdish groups in Syria. This move comes as tensions grow in northeast Syria,