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Not only Russia, but also the entire world might face a dilemma: Choosing between a very sinister authoritarian regime and the Islamic State.
Since the 2011 uprisings across the Middle East, each year has proven more challenging than the last. With conflicts spreading across the region, 2015 will follow a similar pattern.
The Syrian regime sees the self-proclaimed Islamic State as a useful tool to eradicate the moderate opposition.
Over the last year the Islamic State gained control of a substantial portion of Syria's energy resources and infrastructure, providing leverage over the regime and depriving it of much needed revenue.
Hezbollah is Lebanon’s strongest political party. However, its military intervention in the Syrian conflict has put it at a crossroads.
Food security has been eroded in Syria over the last few years, with production of main crops falling by varying degrees mainly due to the impact of the conflict on fertilizers, the disruption of trade routes, and the reduction of subsidies on fuel.
With the recent capture of the city of Palmyra, the Islamic State has reasserted its anti-Assad credentials and put another tremendous economic strain on the Syrian government.
A meeting in Paris is held to debate how best to cope with the self-proclaimed Islamic State's successes.
Although political considerations are the main drivers of Iran’s policy toward Syria, economic interests are playing an ever greater role.
If Syrian rebels are to make political headway with wider social constituencies, they will have to demonstrate a far higher level of military coordination, political skills, and administrative capacity.
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