The End of the Assad Regime

This week we saw the end of one of the world’s most brutal dictatorships with the swift and unexpected fall of the Assad Regime in Syria. The Syrian rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a former Al Qaeda affiliate that broke with the group years ago, has formed a transitional government that is pledging inclusivity while emphasizing accountability for former regime abuses. Meanwhile, Israel launched extensive airstrikes targeting military assets, while Turkey clashed with US-backed Kurdish forces in northern Syria. And in the midst of a presidential transition, the US seems solely focused on combating an ISIS resurgence. Matt Kaminski, Catherine Philp, and Gideon Rachman join Ivo Daalder to discuss what may happen in Syria, what it means for the region, and the impact on the US, Russia, Iran, and other outside powers. They’ll also dig into what’s happening in Romania. After first-round elections were annulled last week amid alleged Russian interference, Romanian pro-European parties have now agreed to form coalition government and could run a single candidate next year.