I think we need to stop talking about Syria, as if it exists as a nation state anymore.
Given the multiethnic and multisect nature of Syrian society (even though the clear majority was Syrian Arab Sunnis), the best chance of survival they had as a state was a secular government with a strongman. Whether that strongman was a Sunni, Alawite, Christian or a Martian.
Sorry to say it, but increasingly its turning out to be that way.
Syrias Sunni was by and large influenced by a kind of spiritualism or Sufism, from the day of the Ottoman empire.
But now we are witnessing that Jolani is replacing Sufi Sunnis in religious institutions with Salafists. So he is changing the nature of Syrian society, that is not inducive to a sustainable nation state.
The country is occupied from several angles, and the new "leader" is unable to govern. Not to mention the fact that Syria is now an area with different rival rebel groups controlling different areas. How can one impose state authority and order, and give state services under such circumstances?
Last but not least, the Syrian arab army is completely dissolved and with the air defences gone, they are a sitting duck.
We need to accept the reality that Syria is no more.
We'll see how much chunk Israel bites off, but dont be a suprised that within a year they will conquer more land to protect the newly acquired "buffer zone", which will become a part of greater Israel, and they will rinse and repeat the cycle.
@Persian Gulf
