What does the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime mean for the future of Syria and the broader Middle East? How might the rise of Abu Mohammed al-Jolani reshape Syria’s governance and regional alliances? Can the rebel leader overcome immense challenges to stabilise the country, or will his leadership lead to further turmoil?

In this episode, Dr Shiraz Maher, Senior Lecturer, Dr Craig Larkin, Reader in Middle East Politics and Peace and Conflict Studies, and Siba Madwar, a journalist from Aleppo and PhD student in the Department of War Studies, discuss the dramatic collapse of Assad’s forces and its implications for international dynamics. They delve into Jolani’s vision for a rebuilt Syria, the power vacuum left by Assad’s departure, and how these developments could reshape alliances, challenge regional stability and alter the global security landscape.