THE HAGUE, December 25. /TASS/. The change of power in Syria ushered in a "chaotic and violent" period in the Middle East, Dutch journalist Joost Niemoller told TASS.

"The Syrian state with the new Islamic government is very weak, so it’s a new opportunity" for the terrorist group called the Islamic State (banned in Russia), he said.

According to Niemoller, Israel is the main winner from the changes in Syria, while Iran seems the biggest loser. The situation could also benefit Turkey, as its President Recep Tayyip Erdogan nurtures dreams of a revived Ottoman Empire, the analyst said.

"The problem is that Turkey is also relative weak, so this could be the beginning of an endless war between Turkey and the Kurds," he said. "Iraq will move further to non-existence, falling into three parts: the Shiite south, the Kurdish north and the Suni middle, getting more extreme."

"So, total chaos for a long period, which is bad for the people, but also dangerous for the ruling elites," Niemoller warned.

For Europe, the changes in Syria mean "a lot of new illegal immigrants from the Middle East," according to the journalist.

"I don’t think Syrians will go back. The situation is too dangerous. But more Syrians will come," he said.

This will be bad news for a Dutch government that is doing its best to tamp down the inflow of refugees, according to Niemoller.

Syria’s armed opposition units started a major offensive on government troops at the end of November. On December 8, they entered Damascus while government troops withdrew from the city. Bashar Assad resigned as president and left the country. Mohammed al-Bashir announced on December 10 that he will lead a transitional cabinet in Syria until March 2025. He had previously headed the opposition’s Salvation Government in Idlib since January 2024.