John FidanakisAn essay by Ioannis Fidanakis, former Executive Director of the American Hellenic Council.

After more than a decade of harrowing bloodshed that has displaced over 14 million people, the Syrian Civil War has finally ended, and the last vestige of Ba’athism has fallen. What began as a surprise offensive out of Idlib by a coalition of Turkish-backed Islamists, mercenaries, and Pan-Turkic supremacists led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) has successfully overthrown the Assad regime in less than two weeks, sending seismic geopolitical shockwaves throughout the eastern Mediterranean. The political fallout is sure to shape regional affairs for decades to come. As the world now watches to see what a post-Ba’athist Syria will look like, two things are glaringly evident. Russia and Iran have just been dealt a significant blow, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the leading international supporter of the armed forces celebrating in Damascus, may have just been anointed Sultan.

Since 2020, the brutal conflict had reached a stalemate, with the Assad regime controlling the majority of the country, bolstered by its allies Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah, and tentatively moving towards normalization with the international community. The Syrian opposition seemed to have been all but silenced. The only remaining forces were the Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces in the northeast and Turkey, which maintained the Islamist-held Idlib province and directly occupied parts of northern Syria. The Kremlin had even initiated efforts to mend the rift between Ankara and Damascus. However, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s refusal to engage with Turkey and its opposition appears to have been the final nail in his political coffin. Under mounting domestic pressure to resolve the Syrian refugee crisis, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan ran out of patience and seized the opportunity presented by the situations in Lebanon and Ukraine to his advantage, giving the green light to Turkish-backed forces to launch an offensive, breaking the years-long deadlock.

To the astonishment of many, the lightning-fast offensive by Turkish-backed forces, which seized Aleppo, Hama, and Homs, spurred other armed groups to launch their own separate offensives. And like a row of dominos, cities soon began to fall with little resistance from the regime and its allies. Southern Front rebels captured Daraa and Suwayda. The Syrian Free Army and the Syrian Democratic Forces marched on Palmyra and Deir ez-Zor. The Russian military presence had significantly reduced due to Russia being bogged down in Ukraine, and Hezbollah significantly weakened from its war with Israel. The Ba’athist government collapsed, and Bashar al-Assad and his family fled to Moscow.

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and its coalitionMap of Syria Dec 2024

For those unfamiliar with the current Syrian opposition, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), or Organization for the Liberation of the Levant, was the most prominent of the remaining armed opposition groups and the de facto local administration of the Idlib province. A Salafi-Islamist militia formerly associated with al-Qaeda, the HTS received substantial assistance from Turkey, most importantly in the form of drones and training in the art of drone warfare. In 2016, the group, then known as Jabhat al-Nusra, broke ranks with al-Qaeda and incorporated several other Islamist militias into its ranks before rebranding itself as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. Despite great efforts to distance themselves from their past, the United States and other Western countries designated the HTS as a terrorist organization in 2018.

The other main coalition partner in the offensive on Aleppo was the Syrian National Army (SNA). It was established in 2017 by the Turkish government and the Syrian Interim Government to create a more effective armed opposition force and to secure Turkish territorial gains in northern Syria. The SNA is a Turkish proxy that incorporates dozens of Islamists and Turkmen militias of various ideologies. It has its roots in the Free Syrian Army, which was the initial principal opponent of the Assad regime in 2011 and received direct funding, training, and military support from Turkey, which has deployed the SNA as a proxy force in conflicts outside of Syria, from Libya to Nagorno-Karabakh.

Another little-known partner is the Syrian Turkmen Brigades, or United Turkmen Army, composed of Syrian Turkmen and Turks that subscribe to a broad spectrum of ideologies from radical Islamism to secular Turkish nationalism and Turanism. Many within their ranks are Turkish citizens with connections to the Grey Wolves, such as Alparslan Çelik, the commander of their 2nd Coastal Division, who is a member of the Grey Wolves and son of Ramazan Çelik, the former Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Mayor of Keban. It was Alparslan who allegedly killed a Russian pilot shot down by Turkey in 2015.

The Role of Turkey

No matter how you slice it, the overthrow of the Assad regime could not have been achieved without Turkey’s military training and logistical support. Heavily involved in organizing the Syrian opposition since the outbreak of civil unrest in 2011, Turkey began by providing military assistance and training to defectors of the Syrian Arab Army under the supervision of the Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MIT) and eventually directly intervened militarily in 2016, leading to the ongoing Turkish occupation of northern Syria.

Turkey initially supported the opposition as a way to weaken Assad but later found it necessary to target Kurdish opposition forces that had established an autonomous enclave in northern Syria across the Syrian-Turkish border. In recent years, Ankara’s primary objective has been to achieve a political solution to the conflict to facilitate the return of Syrian refugees and prevent the possibility of Kurdish statehood or autonomy. This is why, since Assad’s fall, Turkish proxies, with support from Turkish airstrikes, have continued their offensive on the Syrian Democratic Forces. Already resulting in the loss of Tell Rifaat and Manbij and advancing toward Kobani.

Regime change in Syria, in many ways, is a coronation of Erdogan and his Neo-Ottoman foreign policy, a victory that strengthens Turkey’s diplomatic clout in the region and throughout the Islamic world. It also signals to the United States and the incoming Trump administration that Turkey is a regional power and can counteract Russian and Iranian influence in the Middle East. With Assad gone, Erdogan now has the opportunity to reshape Syria in a way that benefits Turkey’s strategic interests. By asserting influence on the new political order of Syria, Erdogan could secure Turkey’s southeastern border, end the refugee crisis, and even challenge Greek and Cypriot interests in the eastern Mediterranean.

Greece, Cyprus, and the Levant

Whether Greece or Cyprus admit it or not, the fall of the Assad regime is going to affect their interests in the eastern Mediterranean directly. With Russian and Iranian influence diminishing in the region, Turkey is poised to fill the vacuum, making it a dominant regional power that has just secured its interests in the east and can focus westward towards the Aegean. No longer held down in Syria, and with a possible new regional ally, Erdogan could pursue his Blue Homeland policy with even greater vigor, especially if the new government in Damascus decides to adopt pro-Turkish positions, like legitimizing the Turkish occupation of northern Cyprus or challenging Cypriot EEZ rights in the Mediterranean. Since Cyprus and Syria never formalized their EEZ borders.

Even worse, Russian military bases in Syria lie directly across from Cyprus. The Tartus naval base and the Khmeimim Air Base in Latakia are among the Kremlin’s most strategically important military outposts. Moscow is trying to engage with the new interim government to reach a favorable agreement allowing Russia to maintain its access to these two facilities. Should the new Islamist government decide to end Russia’s military presence in the country, it isn’t out of the realm of possibility that these two bases could find themselves under new Turkish management. As the closest ally of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, who else would the new Syrian government feel comfortable leasing these facilities to?

In the end, Erdogan’s gamble in Syria paid off, and Turkey is on the rise. If Moscow decides to withdraw from the region, Greece cannot afford to allow Turkey alone to fill the vacuum. It must demonstrate to its European and American allies that it, too, can play a crucial and stabilizing role in the void left by Assad’s downfall and Russia’s retreat from Mediterranean affairs. If not, Greece and Cyprus could find themselves out-maneuvered by a hostile adversary bent on regional domination. Greece can no longer afford to be absent in regional events. It must seek to make itself the West’s chief partner and meditator in regional affairs. There are over a million native Greek Orthodox and Melkite-Greek Catholic Christians throughout the Levant waiting for Greece to engage with them. Throughout the recent offensive in Syria, several Levantine Rum diaspora groups urge Greece to diplomaticcally intercede on their behalf to safeguard them from possible Islamist retaliation. It’s time Greece and Cyprus answered their pleas and stepped up to assume the role of protector of the Levant’s native Rum minority.

Alex Mizan

Alex Mizan has blogged 80 posts

Dr James & Virginia Kallins

Dr. James and Virginia Kallins

Longtime stewards and servants of the Greek Community and Hellenism, Doctor James and Virginia Kallins have never forgotten their roots and an appreciation of blessings.

Doctor Kallins was the youngest of five children. He grew up on a small farm in the mountains of Arcadia in Greece, surviving multiple occupations during World War II. Seeing his village’s doctor caring for so many ill and injured inspired Doctor Kallins to study medicine at the University of Athens.

Hoping to become a surgeon, James then sailed to the USA and settled in Chicago, training in OB/GYN, surgery, and pathology at the University of Illinois School of Medicine, where he also served as an associate professor.

At a Greek Orthodox Church party, Dr. Kallins met his beloved wife, Virginia, nee Evgenia Lambropoulou, whom he married in 1957. Growing up in Chicago during the Great Depression, Virginia had lost her father and her older brother. Her mother spoke only Greek and supported herself and Virginia by knocking on doors, holding up a needle and thread to let people know she could sew. Fortunately, Virginia’s mother met and married Nicholas Mannos, loving stepfather to Virginia. Virginia’s mother encouraged her education, spurring her to become a Master Teacher mentoring others.

Dr. Kallins and his wife moved to California in 1959 where he launched his own medical practice. James encouraged his family to preserve their Greek culture, and honor charitable organizations in both the United States and Greece, which he fondly calls his “two countries and two mothers.” James and Virginia became the parents of three children (Barbara, George, and Nicholas) and now have five grandchildren (Anastasia, Evgenia, Dimitri, Nicholas and Eston).

Doctor Kallins retired from medicine in 1997, and continued the couple’s charitable initiatives, including serving as stewards for St. Sophia Cathedral in Los Angeles, Assumption in Long Beach, and as co-founders of St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Downey, named after Dr. Kallins’ father George Kallinteris.

Doctor Kallins was a member of the Cathedral’s Parish Council and a founder of the Hellenic Medical and Dental Society. He also founded the Alpha Beta Society – the Greek School – in Downey, and supported the Hellenic Library in Bellflower, California. Virginia worked closely with parents at St. Sophia Cathedral to reenergize the Greek Orthodox Youth of America.

When Turkey invaded Cyprus in 1974, Dr. Kallins joined the Save Cyprus Council, flying to DC to advocate for safety and justice for Hellenes in Cyprus and Greece.

The tragic and untimely passing of the couple’s son, Nicholas, was a time of great sadness. However, James and Virginia used that difficult time as an opportunity to honor Nicholas’ life by establishing the Greek Orthodox Memorial and Cultural Foundation of Southern California, and the Saint Nicholas Chapel at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier, California.

The philanthropy of James and Virginia Kallins extended to the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco, the Archdiocese, and the Ecumenical Patriarchate. As an Archon Exarchos in the Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle, Doctor Kallins served as the Regional Archon Commander. He has been a member of the Metropolis and Archdiocesan Councils and served with the Pan Arcadian Federation on a local and national level. He was elected as Supreme President of the Pan-Arcadian Federation, helping to raise funds for a hospital in Tripoli, Greece. The couple was honored with the Metropolitan Anthony Humanitarian Award at the FDF Festival in 2013.

The American Hellenic Council takes great pleasure in honoring Doctor James and Virginia Kallins with the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award. Doctor James Kallins and Virginia Kallins, thank you for your unwavering love and support of humanity and Hellenism, and for the promotion and preservation of our Greek culture and community in America.

Arianna Papalexopoulos

Yes, Hello, Hi! Arianna Papalexopoulos is a Greek-American actor, writer, producer, and comic based in Los Angeles, California. Both Arianna's undergraduate theatre degree from UCLA School of Theatre, Film and Television and masters degree in Digital Media from USC Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism have synergized to expand her lifelong comedy skills into rewarding content.

Arianna has produced and starred in numerous short films that have premiered at various festivals around the globe. Her latest short films, Como, Ti Amo and Greek Enough display the tradition of excellence in filmmaking. Building on this success, she produced and acted in her first feature film, Jaunt, which took home the Audience Award at the 2024 Los Angeles Greek Film Festival.

Arianna is currently fresh off a Canadian, Midwest, and Florida stand up comedy tour where she opened for fellow Greek comic, Angelo Tsarouchas. In addition, she performed her comedy set and hosted the 18th Annual Los Angeles Greek Film Festival Orpheus Awards. Arianna recently received the Greek America's Forty Under 40 award in New York City and was also selected as a “Modern Muse” speaker at the

Hellenic American Women's Council in Los Angeles, which celebrated Contemporary Hellenic American Women in the Arts.

Arianna's popular digital content celebrates both her roots and the experiences of American immigrants and their first-generation children. Arianna’s most notable character, Greek Mom, has garnered her almost 1 million followers collectively across all her social media platforms and continues to generate dozens of millions of views.

Apart from performing, you can find Arianna on the islands or mountains of Greece, cheering on the Golden State Warriors, or getting lost off the 101 Freeway.

Instagram & TikTok: @ariannapapalexopoulos

Hon. Ambassador of USA in Greece, George Tsunis

Hon. Ambassador of USA in Greece, George Tsunis

Mr. George J. Tsunis was the United States Ambassador to the Hellenic Republic for 3 years. During is successful term, Greek officials/partners speedily approved American requests critical for U.S. and NATO operations in Greece. With the signing of a $3.54 billion agreement for 20 American F-35 fighters, Greece was able to modernize its military. Following multiple collaborations with governments in Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova, Greece became a leader promoting energy connectivity and resiliency in the EU. Mr. Tusnis efforts promoted the Greek Prime Minister’s almost two-year political rappochement with Turkey, enhancing peace and stability in the region. Mr. Tsunis was awarded the Order of Phoenix by the Foreign Minister to The Hellenic Republic, George Gerapetritis during his three-year tenure as Ambassador.

Mr. Tsunis is the Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Chartwell Hotels as well as an attorney, developer, philanthropist and public policy advisor with a strong interest at the intersection of economic and foreign affairs. Chartwell Hotels owns and manages Hilton, Marriott and InterContinental Hotels Group franchises across the Northeast and Middle Atlantic states. The firm also focuses community renewal, supporting tourism, business travel and investment dollars.

Mr. Tsunis’ public service includes time as a Legislative Attorney at the New York City Council, Special Counsel to the Town of Huntington (NY) Environmental Open Space Committee and Counsel to the Dix Hills (NY) Water District. He was appointed by Senator Alfonse D’Amato and served as an advisor to the United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Mr. Tsunis served in the cabinet of the Governor of the State of New York and served on the Board of Directors of four New York State Public Benefit Cooperations.

Mr. Tsunis was a director of the New York Convention Center’s (Jacob Javits Center) Operating Committee and Director of the New York Convention Center’s Development Committee. Mr. Tsunis’ tenure as director came at a seminal time – during a 1.5 million sq. ft. expansion – transforming Javits into one of the world’s most modern and beautiful convention centers.

In 2021, His Eminence Elpidophoros, Archbishop of America, appointed Mr. Tsunis as the Vice-Chairman of the national coordinating committee for the 200th anniversary of the Greek revolution of 1821, organizing nationwide festivities and commemorative events to be held throughout the year to honor the revolution’s bicentennial. Mr. Tsunis was a founding trustee of the Hellenic Initiative, a global movement of the Greek diaspora, investing in the future of Greece through direct philanthropy and economic revitalization. The Hellenic Initiative empowers people to provide crisis relief, encourage entrepreneurs and create jobs. Mr. Tsunis was also a founding member of the Hellenic American Leadership Council, a national civic advocacy organization, and until recently served as the organization’s National Vice Chairman. HALC comprises a national network of Greek American community leaders to encourage an active form of citizenship committed to the Hellenic American ideals of democracy, rule of law, and philanthropy. Mr. Tsunis has also served on the Board of Directors of the Coordinated Efforts of Hellenes (CEH), a national umbrella organization for the major Greek-American advocacy organizations.

Mr. Tsunis was recognized by His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios with the Saint Paul’s Medal, the Greek Orthodox Church of America’s highest recognition for a layperson. Mr. Tsunis is a member of the Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle, an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the highest ecclesiastical honor that can be bestowed upon a layman by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

Mr. Tsunis was the recipient of the Cyprus Federation’s Justice for Cyprus Award, which was personally awarded to him by the President of Cyprus, Demetris Christofias, in 2010. In 2012, President Christofias presented Mr. Tsunis with a plaque of sterling silver olive branches, signifying peace. This award is traditionally reserved for heads of state. In 2013, the new President of Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiades, similarly honored Mr. Tsunis for his philanthropic efforts on behalf of the children of Cyprus.

In 2017, Mr. Tsunis was the recipient of the Athens-Wishner Award jointly presented by the American Jewish Committee (“AJC”) and Hellenic American Leadership Council (“HALC”) for his dedication to Greco-Israeli-Cypriot relations.

Mr. Tsunis received his Juris Doctor from St. John’s University School of Law. Mr. Tsunis established the James and Eleni Tsunis Endowed Distinguished Academic Scholarship at Hofstra University, the George J. Tsunis Scholarship at the Maurice Deane School of Law at Hofstra University, the James George Tsunis Memorial Scholarship at Pennsylvania College of Technology and the George James Tsunis ’92 and the Karloutsos Scholarships at St. John’s University’s School of Law and created the James and Eleni Tsunis Endowed Scholarship at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Mr. Tsunis also underwrote the James and Eleni Tsunis Library at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Hamptons in honor of his parents. In 2019, the Hellenic Lawyers Association of New York named Mr. Tsunis as its honoree for his dedication to professional development in the Hellenic community.

Mr. Tsunis and his wife, Olga live in Matinecock, NY, with their three children. It is a great honor for the American Hellenic Council to welcome Ambassador Tsunis to Los Angeles and our Annual Gala and award him the AHC Aristeion Award.

Christos Vassilopoulos

Christos Vasilopoulos was born and raised in Athens, Greece. He started acting at the age of 17 as a stage actor and graduated from the "Iasmos" Athens Drama School. Christos was one of the few young actors who worked professionally during his drama school years.
Two years after his graduation, he became a member of the National Theatre of Greece, where he performed for four years. After seven years of continuous work in theatre and TV commercials, Christos landed a series of regular roles on one of the biggest daily shows of that time, taking his career to the next level.

During the first 14 years of his career, having worked on major TV shows and collaborated with some of the most renowned theatre directors in Greece, he decided to transition to the United States. His credits in the U.S. include films, campaigns, commercials, recurring roles on the hit shows Banshee (created by Alan Ball) and The Last Ship, as well as guest-star roles on The Closer, Blindspot, Whiskey Cavalier, Warrior, and Kabul.

Christos holds a 3rd dan black belt in Tae Kwon Do and a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He served in the Greek Special Forces as a marine and attained the rank of sergeant. He rarely uses a stunt double.

Alongside his fellow actor and friend Yorgos Karamichos, Christos translated Ivana Chubbuck’s The Power of the Actor into Greek—one of the most influential books on modern acting techniques. He is also the only Greek-certified acting coach trained by Ivana Chubbuck.

For the past five years, Christos has been working as a creative producer on films and TV shows.