Several Arab neighbors have grown weary of efforts to isolate the regime.
The Feb. 6 earthquake in Turkey and Syria is a formidable and complex humanitarian crisis. The death of more than 47,000 people and destruction of homes and infrastructure have devastated the region, particularly war-torn Syria, where access to basic services, humanitarian aid and financial assistance was already hampered.
Regional neighbors have rushed to respond to the crisis, sending resources, rescue teams, equipment and financial aid. And the Syrian regime, in a rare move, allowed humanitarian assistance to cross two additional border crossings. But these decisions came with political strings attached. While the Assad regime has sought to use the devastation as an opportunity to secure sanctions relief, neighboring states that have been toying with engagement for years are flooding Damascus with phone calls, new commitments and high-level engagements, creating greater momentum for normalization with Syria.
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