As Washington reduces its presence in the country, the success of its withdrawal and continued containment of the Islamic State will hinge on adopting an approach of flexible oversight built around three priorities, as well as balancing Turkish and Israeli red lines.

The UN Support Mission in the country should reassess its approach so that consensus between the warring parties becomes the eventual goal, rather than a procedural matter that dogs the negotiating process at every turn.

For settled descendants of nomadic or seminomadic communities on Jordan’s periphery, the future looks uncertain as government employment is declining, natural resources are dwindling, temperatures are rising, and traditional cross-border ties are restricted.