Shifting sands alter balance of power in Middle East

The region’s political situation and internal relationships are changing amid the growing influence of Russia and China

The Middle East can be divided into three categories of regional alliances: allies of Iran, allies of Saudi Arabia, and allies of Turkey. The allies of Iran consist of the Assad regime in Syria, Iraq’s federal government, Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Gaza, the Houthi rebels in Yemen and Hezbollah and the Amal Movement in Lebanon. All of these groups have been embroiled in internal crises, including territorial disintegration and political upheavals, as a result of regional competition. The allies of Saudi Arabia include the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)—excluding Qatar—as well as Egypt, Sudan and, to some extent, Jordan. Saudi Arabia also wields significant influence over Sun