In June 2025, I was able to gain valuable insight into the current situation in Syria after the fall of the Assad government by spending almost two weeks travelling and doing field research in the cities of Damascus, Maʿlūlā, Ṣaydnāyā, Aleppo, al-Raqqa, al-Qāmishlī, and al-Ḥasakah. With its rich Islamic and Christian heritage and complex mosaic of religious minorities, Syria is a unique destination for all of us who love and appreciate the Middle East. From the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus to the Christian monasteries and Aramaic heritage in Ṣaydnāyā and Maʿlūlā, the ancient monuments of Aleppo, and diverse communities around the country, Syria remains a captivating if fragile country.