The Dispatch Podcast Assad's Reckoning | Interview: Jonathan Spyer
44 snips
Dec 7, 2024 
Jonathan Spyer, Director of Research at the Middle East Forum and a Jerusalem Post writer, dives into the complexities of the Syrian conflict. He discusses the precarious state of Assad’s regime post-ISIS and the swift territorial advances of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. Spyer analyzes Kurdish dynamics amid American troop presence and Turkey’s strategic interests in the region. He also explores the potential ramifications of Assad's collapse for Iranian influence and the broader Middle East landscape.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Post-ISIS Syria
- After ISIS's territorial defeat in 2019, Syria split into three enclaves.
- Each enclave is backed by external powers: Assad by Russia and Iran, Kurds by the US, and rebels by Turkey.
Aleppo's Fall
- Jonathan Spyer, surprised by recent events, recounts reporting from Aleppo in 2012.
- He notes the rapid fall of Aleppo to HTS, highlighting the dramatic shift in control.
Assad's Regime in Danger
- The fall of Hama puts the Assad regime in serious danger.
- If HTS advances further south, Assad's territories could be split, requiring Iranian and Russian intervention.