In 2018, after seven years of devastating civil war, President Bashar al-Assad managed to re-establish his control over most of Syrian territory, thanks to decisive armed support from Moscow and Tehran. Since the entry into force in March 2020 of a ceasefire signed by Russia and Turkey in the rebel pocket of Idlib (northwest), the front lines have stabilised. The country, however, remains divided into four zones controlled by four entities: the Damascus regime, the Islamist-dominated armed opposition in Idlib, Kurdish forces in the north-east and the pro-Turkish armed opposition in the north. Several regional actors continue to intervene directly in Syria: Russia and Iran, which provide the al-Assad regime with the military means to maintain itself; Turkey, which established a buffer zone to keep Kurdish autonomists away from its borders; The United States, which maintains ground troops as part of the fight against the jihadists of the Islamic State (IS) organization; Israel, which periodically attacks pro-Iranian combat units near its borders. Back on maps to this fragmented country and the myriad of actors that weigh on its destiny.
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