The civil war in Syria, entering its ninth year, remains one of the most prominent international conflicts influencing the global system today. Over the years of the war, the challenges facing Israel have changed. Iran, which seeks to increase its influence in the region, including through military consolidation in Syria, now poses the main threat to Israel. This conference will examine various characteristics of the war in Syria and what is expected in the next few years, discussing rivalries, strategic alliances, and opportunities and risks to Israel, the Syrian people, and the entire region. Among the topics that will be addressed at the conference: Iran's consolidation in the region, the US withdrawal (or lack thereof) in parallel with Russian dominance, the Kurdish-Turkish conflict in the north, an assessment of jihadist organizations in the arena, the weaknesses of the Syrian state and the Syrian regime, the tightening alliance between Israel, the United States, and the Sunni Gulf states against the backdrop of Iranian penetration, and the security implications for Israel.
