Syria’s Fragile Fall: What Assad’s Collapse Means for America’s Security and Global Order

Exactly one year ago, Syria’s infamous Saydnaya prison doors swung open amid an unexpected rebel advance toward Damascus—a grim symbol of the regime’s unraveling after decades of repression under Bashar Assad. Mohammad Marwan, a former detainee suffering from the brutal legacy of six years behind bars, represents just one painful facet of Syria’s ongoing struggle to heal.Has Washington Learned from Syria’s Collapse?While the world watched Assad’s grip on Syria dissolve in late 2024, few in Washington seemed prepared for the rapid unraveling that followed. Islamist factions like Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) seized key cities with little resistance as Assad fled...