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This is Syria's opportunity to shine

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Mark Lansvin
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Israel's decisive victory over Hamas in Gaza and the crushing of Hezbollah in Lebanon, has robbed Iran of two of its main terror proxies in the Middle East aimed at destroying the Jewish state.

This remarkable shift is largely due to one crucial event: Hamas launching its war against Israel without coordinating with Iran.

This premature move by Hamas not only disrupted Iran's multi-pronged strategy to destroy Israel, but it also gave Israel the unique opportunity to act and drastically change the balance of power in the region.

Will these Sunni militias now turn their attention to Iraq or the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan? The minority Hashemite monarchy in Jordan led by King Abdullah II rules over a largely discontented Sunni population.

The successful dismantling of the Assad regime in Syria means the rebels can now look to Iraq or Jordan, or both, as their next target. With the balance of power already drastically shifted, anything is possible.

HTS's successful conquest of Syria may now have a ripple effect across the Middle East and it is possible that we will witness more uprisings in several other countries.

For instance, Iraq may soon see a dramatic change as citizens fight for freedom and yearn to escape the heavy yoke of Iran.

Iranians might see this as a segue to launch yet another mass protest to topple the Iranian regime which has been subjugating the population since 1979.

Al-Eryani expressed hope that Yemenis will now drive out the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who seized the capital, Sanaa, and much of the country's north in 2014.

In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed credit for the chain of events that led to the fall of Assad's regime.

"This is a historic day in the history of the Middle East," he said, according to Israeli media report s.

"This is a direct result of the blows we have inflicted on Iran and Hezbollah, the main supporters of the Assad regime," Netanyahu said.

"This has created a chain reaction throughout the Middle East of all those who want to be free from this oppressive and tyrannical regime," Netanyahu added, saying that Assad's downfall introduced "new opportunities".

Netanyahu also declared the 1974 separation of forces agreement between Israel and Syria effectively terminated as he visited the Golan Heights.

Referring to the agreement, Netanyahu said: "Last night it collapsed. The Syrian army abandoned its positions. We gave the Israeli army the order to take over these positions to ensure that no hostile force embeds itself right next to the border of Israel."

He added that the situation was temporary "until a suitable arrangement is found", but added that Israel would do whatever it takes to defend its borders.

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Mr. Lansvin is a strategic advisor on a range of issues for various NGOs and governments around the globe.

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