With Assad gone and Iran hobbled, the time is ripe for a stable, more peaceful Middle East

Recommendable! Yes, indeed!

"... To be recognized as the legitimate representative of all Syrians, Sharaa must demonstrate the will to protect the country’s diverse minorities, including Druze, Christians, Alawites and Kurds. This is not merely about good governance. It’s about proving that Syria can transition from a sectarian battleground to a unified nation where all communities can feel secure and the ongoing cycle of internecine conflict is halted. ...

If Syria shows it can govern inclusively and protect all its minority groups — as well as provide guarantees against terrorist deployment along its borders and commit to blocking weapons transfers to fundamentalists — Israel could gradually withdraw from most of the Syrian side of the Golan Heights that the Israeli army took over in late 2024. The next phase could involve financial and civil cooperation, including Israeli backing for U.S. sanctions relief on Syria and participation in Syrian reconstruction efforts. ...

But with Iran unable to back its proxy, the new Lebanese government is finally able to take a strong stance against Hezbollah. And it’s not hard to picture Lebanon, freed from Iranian and Syrian dominance, could see its cease-fire with Israel evolve if it is able to fully disarm Hezbollah, as the government appears poised to push for.

For the first time in nearly half a century, the Iranian threat that has defined Middle Eastern geopolitics is rapidly diminishing, creating unprecedented opportunities for peace and normalization. ..."

With Assad gone and Iran hobbled, the time is ripe for a stable Middle East - Breaking Defense "Yossi Kuperwasser, a retired Israeli brigadier general and current head of the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security, charts what he says is a path forward in the region."