Panorama of the week: Tensions grow in Syria, Iran under Pressure

This past week witnessed significant geopolitical developments across the Middle East, drawing wide attention from Arabic media. Chief among them were escalating tensions between Turkey and Israel in Syria, heightened friction between the U.S. and Iran, and growing concerns over the Trump administration’s foreign policy posture.

 Syria: A Regional Chessboard

 According to An-Nahar (Lebanon), the protracted conflict in Syria has transformed the country into a battleground for regional power struggles. The latest flashpoint is the intensifying competition between Turkey and Israel, driven by diverging strategic ambitions in the power vacuum left by a weakened Syrian regime.

 Ankara seeks to consolidate its military and political footprint in northern Syria and position itself as a central actor in post-war reconstruction. Israel, however, views Turkey's growing influence as a direct threat to its national security, particularly amid reports of Turkish forces nearing the Israeli-controlled buffer zone.

 The report highlights U.S. efforts to mediate and informally structure spheres of influence across Syria: Turkish expansion in the north, an Israeli buffer zone south of Damascus, a sustained American presence in the east, and continued Russian control along the coast. The recent Israeli airstrikes on the T-4 airbase near Palmyra are seen as part of a broader strategy to deter Turkish advances — reflecting a complex triangle where Washington attempts to balance its NATO alliance with Ankara and its strategic partnership with Tel Aviv.

 Asharq Al-Awsat outlines Iran’s increasingly constrained regional posture. Once seeking to unify Arab arenas under its ideological and strategic umbrella, Tehran now finds itself isolated, negotiating under pressure with Washington. While U.S. officials describe the talks as direct, Iran insists they remain indirect. Regardless, the Islamic Republic’s regional proxies are faltering.

 Hamas is reportedly suffering heavy battlefield losses and international isolation. In Iraq, militias have shifted focus from confrontation to electoral maneuvering, hoping to secure limited political gains without provoking U.S. retaliation. Hezbollah’s strategic bet on southern Lebanon appears to be unraveling, as the group clings to its arms, potentially awaiting another opportunity in Syria. The Houthis, facing dwindling Iranian support, fear a repeat of the Syrian regime’s precarious survival after losing backing from both Tehran and Moscow.

 Meanwhile, in Lebanon, the visit of U.S. Deputy Envoy Morgan Ortagus was interpreted as a firm message: international aid will hinge on the disarmament of Hezbollah.

 Al-Ittihad critiques the declining efficacy of U.S. soft power under the Trump administration, warning of long-term strategic consequences. The paper argues that confrontational policies toward Canada and Mexico have strained relations with traditional allies, and even raised the specter of renewed nuclear competition.

 Trump’s threats — whether directed at drug cartels, the Panama Canal, or the Danish territory of Greenland — are cited as symptoms of a broader volatility in U.S. foreign policy. The resulting uncertainty is said to be driving traditional partners to reevaluate their security alignments and distance themselves from Washington.

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ANHA