Syria and Iran, and pre-invasion Iraq and Afghanistan were out of control because of the collapse of the USSR. The first Gulf War was possible because of the collapse of the USSR but not allowed to go to complete occupation of Baghdad because Russia was not yet ready for that. Iran and Syria, and N Kor will be a little more cooperative rather than combative as Russia regains some of its power. New ballgame, but all that is in Russia’s sphere of influence.
Well,we need to define what being in control is,then.The Soviets played both sides w.r.t Iran & Iraq.The Israelis will always have trouble from these nations.When the Soviets were there,they could think of military options.Now it’s a proxy-war,not too different.
Wasn’t the Soviet Union still in existence(though crumbling) when the Kuwait war took place??