The Rise and Fall of Syria’s President Assad | Aleppo: A History of Struggle, Resilience, and Geopolitical Complexity, Part-3

Welcome back, everyone, to another episode of [The Briefing Desk], with Jason Obaid, where we break down the most complex geopolitical issues happening around the world. Today, we're diving deep into the Syrian conflict and its tumultuous history, focusing on some key events that have shaped the present-day struggle. To help us unpack this, we have an expert guest, who has spent years studying the dynamics of the Syrian war.

Welcome to the show, Mr. Jarius Khokhar. Thanks for being here!

Let's start with the roots of this conflict. Many people know about the ongoing Syrian war, but fewer understand the origins. Can you explain how the Muslim Brotherhood's rebellion in the 1980s against Hafez al-Assad set the stage for the current situation?

That’s horrific. So, this event left a deep scar on the Syrian Sunni population. How did this shape the Sunni community’s view of the Assad regime?

So, it’s really a long-standing grievance that goes all the way back to that brutal crackdown in the 1980s. Moving to the present day, we see that different Sunni groups are aligning with groups like Tahrir al-Sham. But there's also a significant Kurdish presence in northern Syria. How does the Kurdish situation fit into this picture?


It’s a lot more complex than just a Sunni-Shia divide, isn’t it?

Now, the future of Bashar al-Assad is still uncertain. Do you think the Assad regime is on its way out, and if so, what happens to him and his family?

That sounds like the end of an era. But, if Assad’s regime falls, who will fill the power vacuum? Could we see another wave of fighting, or will the different factions manage to come to some sort of agreement?

It sounds like the situation is far from stable. Now, regarding the external powers involved, Russia and Iran have had a significant role in supporting Assad. What happens if Syria falls under the influence of the West, particularly the U.S. and Israel?

And speaking of Russia, could we see Assad seeking refuge in Russia? There have been reports suggesting that this could be a possibility.

Very interesting. Before we wrap up, let’s focus on the leader of Tahrir al-Sham, Abu Mohammad al-Jolani. Who is he, and what role does he play in all this?

It seems like the end of Assad’s regime would only open the door to even more complicated power struggles in Syria. Well, [Guest Name], thank you for sharing your insights with us today. There’s clearly a lot more to this story than meets the eye.

That’s all for today’s episode of The Briefing Desk. Stay tuned for more in-depth analyses of global conflicts and their far-reaching impacts. Until next time, take care and keep questioning.