Part 5/16:
The broader geopolitical contest complicates Syria’s path to stability. Iran, Turkey, and Gulf states all support different militias aligned with their strategic interests, further fueling chaos. Without a concerted effort to unify the military and establish a strong national security apparatus, Syria risks descending into a patchwork of warlords and militant groups—a scenario with potentially disastrous regional and global consequences, as jihadist networks could exploit renewed instability.