The readmission of Syria into the Arab League as well as steps towards rapprochement with Turkey appear as foreign policy successes for the Assad regime. Have we thus reached a point where we must accept the idea that the Assad regime holds sway over Syria, that it has regained regional recognition and that the conflict has been decided in its favour? Such an assessment is wrong for a number of reasons, which are further detailed in this article.

This article is part of a 46-pages Syria dossier of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in the Middle East magazine zenith. The 2023 winter issue sheds light on current developments in and around Syria. Although from afar, the conflict appears to be frozen and Assad's position in power stable, a closer look reveals that the country and its inhabitants continue to face profound hardships. This dossier goes beyond a superficial analysis and takes an in-depth look at the complex dynamics that significantly influence the situation in and around Syria.

This article is only available in German. Please refer to the German page for access