The rise of anti-regime rebels in Syria could lead to a significant shift in governance, potentially favoring a federal model akin to that of Iraq, according to Gabriil Charitos, an international relations professor. He noted the rebels’ attempts to project a positive image to the international community despite earlier congratulatory messages from the Taliban. Charitos also highlighted Russia’s surprising abandonment of Bashar al-Assad, suggesting that Turkey’s support for rebel forces signals a changing political landscape in the region, with Israel increasingly aligning with Kurdish and Druze minorities.