The Syrian crisis has taken a turn that could allow Egypt to act as a mediator in reaching a political settlement in Syria. Several Syrian and regional players are focusing on the fight against terrorism rather than on settling their political conflicts with President Bashar al-Assad’s regime and its opposing forces.

The priority has shifted away from the war between revolutionary or Islamic movements such as the Muslim Brotherhood and a regime headed by a Shiite president who embodies “tyranny” for the opposition. Now at center stage is the conflict between Syria and the Islamic State (IS), whose growing influence threatens the Arab world and the Middle East.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, whose country is part of the international coalition against IS in Syria and Iraq, reiterated this stance in a Sept. 28 interview with CNN. Sisi was vocal about his concerns — since Egypt is fighting terrorism in its territories — when he said, “I am afraid that if the Syrian Arab army falls, its arms and equipment will fall in the hands of the radicals, thus giving them an additional push.” He added, “The situation between Assad and the Syrian opposition can be dealt with.”

The intensifying crisis requires conflicting parties (Assad’s regime and the opposition) to seek a compromise or a political settlement as per the Geneva communique of 2012, which offers a perspective for the future of Syria within a firm timetable and without any further violence. The communique clearly stipulated the release of political prisoners, a transitional period capable of producing a freely and fairly elected multiparty parliament and a new constitution followed by a popular referendum. None of these steps oppose Russia’s, Iran’s and Egypt’s idea of Assad remaining in power at least until the security situation stabilizes and Assad’s hope of leaving power in a safe manner later.