Such opportunities could “exponentially” improve Syria’s regional standing, said Karam Shaar, director of Karam Shaar Advisory Limited and a non-resident senior fellow at the New Lines Institute. Lebanon, which quickly became a major flashpoint in the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, is particularly important in this regard given its deep connections with Syria. Iran’s reach into Syria On July 17, Iran carried out an attack on eastern Syria, claiming to have hit a U.S. special operations command center. As the U.S. has threatened escalation against Iran, Iran has demonstrated that it can also widen the circle of pain, striking ever more countries,” Landis said. As the U.S.-Israel-Iran war continues, the Syrian government is therefore intent on avoiding actions that could further inflame tensions with its nuclear-armed neighbor.