Syria has been rocked lately by sectarian violence, something that’s not only putting the country’s minorities on edge, but is also posing a challenge to ongoing US efforts led by Ambassador Tom Barrack to push for the Syrian Kurds’ full integration into the Syrian government. Amberin Zaman, Al-Monitor's chief correspondent covering major stories on the Middle East and North Africa, joins Thanos Davelis today as we dig into this story.

You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:

Suwayda violence boosts Kurds’ leverage as US Syria envoy, SDF chief meet

US envoy urges Syria's Sharaa to revise policy or risk fragmentation

Greece unveils five-pillar plan to tackle growing water scarcity

Turkey nears Eurofighter jet purchase after UK, German agreements

Athens not surprised by Turkey’s Eurofighter acquisition