Fallout from Trump’s Syria reversal


PRESIDENT TRUMP Decision to abandon U.S.-backed Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) creates power vacuum. Move is gift to Russia, Iran, and Islamic
State group (IS)

RUSSIA: President Vladimir Putin (above) has now replaced U.S. as Middle East deal maker. Russia’s naval base at Tartus projects geopolitical power

IRAN
Provides Syria with weapons and fighters. Alliance gives Iran access to border of Israel

IS: SDF hold 12,000 IS fighters. Additional 70,000 women and children are held in Syrian city of Hawl. As many as 18,000 IS fighters remain free in Iraq and Syria

ISRAEL
Technically at war with Syria since 1967. Trump’s “deal of the century” to bring peace between Palestinians and Israel is now unlikely


Incirlik: U.S. must remove some 50 tactical nuclear weapons from Turkish base


Extent of Kurdish populations


Iran-Saudi Arabia proxy conflict in Yemen


Ankara
TURKEY
Tartus 
LEBANON
ISRAEL 
EGYPT
JORDAN
Hawl
SYRIA
Damascus
SAUDI ARABIA
Baghdad
IRAQ
Tehran
UAE
OMAN
YEMEN

400km 250 miles


Sources: Bloomberg, Brookings Institution, WWS
Pictures: Associated Press
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