Syria isn't the only hot flashpoint in the Middle East right now.
The situation in
Per data from the UN, deaths in the country have risen sharply over the course of the year.
UN
The increased level of violence has caused oil production to plummet, and fears to rise about the country's overall political stability.
Nomura geopolitical guru Alistair Newton identified Iraq as one of the main things keeping him up at night, in a new production.
Nomura
Bottom line. It's not just Syria.