Syria's new leadership poses challenges for US Middle East strategy after Assad's fall

Syrian rebels have overthrown President Bashar Assad after a 13-year civil war, significantly changing the region's power dynamics. U.S. President Joe Biden acknowledged this as a historic opportunity, but analysts caution that the U.S. must navigate the situation carefully to avoid chaos. With Assad's removal, Iran's influence in the region has weakened, presenting a chance for the U.S. to diminish Iranian power. However, the U.S. has limited diplomatic relations with Syria and has primarily focused on combating ISIS, which may restrict its role in the new landscape. The future leadership of Syria is uncertain, with Abu Mohammad al-Jolani of the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham emerging as a key figure. The U.S. faces challenges in determining how to engage with him, given his group's past ties to terrorism and the potential for further instability in the region.