The Middle East’s New Jigsaw Puzzle

By James M. Dorsey

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Decimating Hezbollah and ousting President Bashar al-Assad were the first steps in a Middle Eastern power struggle that is likely to define not only who wields the most influence in Syria but also who will emerge as regional hegemons.

Turkey, Israel, and Iran are prime candidates, with countries like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar playing catch up, at least in Syria.

The line-up in Syria reflects the likely longer-term divvying up of influence regionally in a complex jigsaw puzzle.