- The terrain here in northeastSyria is rolling hills.

Even in the background you cansee the mountains of Turkey

but in the past few weeksthis area has become

some of the most strategicground in the Middle East,

following the announcement

of the pullout of U.S. troops from Syria.

The surrounding nationswanna fill that vacuum,

Turkey to the north, Iran from the east,

Syrian and Russia to the west.

For the time being U.S.boots are still on the ground

but who eventually wins this tug of war

will dramatically shape thedestiny of the Middle East.

Syrian leaders of thisregion are telling CBN News

they have two major fears,

first the prospect of aninvasion of Turkey from the north

and the second the possibility of Iran

coming in from the east.

They're caught in the middle of Russia

and the Assad regime are trying

to pull these Syrians into their orbit.

Some are saying they wouldrather deal with Assad

and let Iran in than deal with Turkey.

That would increase the dangerto Israel exponentially.

Without the presence of U.S. troops,

they feel they'd be at themercy of all these major powers.

In addition to the west isa new level of open warfare

between Israel and Iran.

It's all part of a newemerging Middle East.

We'll have more reportshere from northeast Syria

including what these new developments mean

for Christians in the region.

Some are openly talkingabout the possibility

of another genocide.

Chris Mitchell, CBN News, northeast Syria.