Syriana

The United States energy giant Connex faces a significant decrease in control over vital oil fields in a kingdom ruled by the al-Subaai family. This loss of control indicates the rising geopolitical tensions in the region and sets the stage for the ensuing conflict.

Tensions escalate as Prince Nasir, the emirate's foreign minister, grants drilling rights to a Chinese company. The decision ignites outrage within the U.S. oil sector and government, threatening existing relationships and interests.

To address dwindling production capacity, Connex pursues a controversial merger with Killen, a smaller firm with newly acquired drilling rights in Kazakhstan. The merger raises alarms with U.S. antitrust regulators, highlighting the precarious nature of corporate maneuvering.

A prestigious Washington law firm, led by Dean Whiting, is engaged to facilitate the Connex-Killen merger. Meanwhile, Bennett Holiday is assigned to create an illusion of thorough due diligence to appease the DOJ’s concerns about potential malpractice.

Bryan Woodman, an energy analyst from Geneva, visits the emir's lavish estate in Marbella. His plans are derailed when the emir falls ill, and tragedy ensues as Woodman’s son accidentally plunges into an electrified pool, leading to his untimely death.

In an act of sympathy, Prince Nasir grants Woodman’s company oil rights valued at $100 million. This pivotal moment begins Woodman's transformation into Nasir’s trusted economic advisor and marks a significant shift in his professional life.

As Woodman assumes his new role, he becomes embroiled in Nasir's ambitions to reform the emirate's economy and political systems. However, strains grow in Woodman's marriage as his wife questions whether he is taking advantage of the family tragedy.

Nasir, despite facing opposition from his family and particularly from his younger brother, plots a coup to take control away from their oppressive father. His ambitions put him in direct conflict with U.S. intelligence agencies that perceive him as a threat.

CIA Operations Officer Bob Barnes, initially focused on thwarting illegal arms trafficking in the Middle East, is reassigned with a new directive to eliminate Prince Nasir. This marked a dangerous shift in Barnes’ focus, influenced by intelligence about Nasir's growing power.

Barnes teams up with mercenary Mussawi to organize the kidnapping and assassination of Nasir. However, as the plan unfolds, Barnes realizes Mussawi's loyalties have shifted, leading him into a perilous situation.

After being betrayed, Barnes finds himself captured and tortured by those he once sought to control. In this moment of desperation, he realizes the depth of the agency's manipulation and the dire consequences of his mission.

In a race against time, Barnes makes a frantic attempt to warn Nasir of the impending assassination plot. Tragically, just as he reaches Nasir’s convoy, a Predator missile strikes, resulting in devastating loss and chaos.

Pakistani migrant workers Saleem and his son Wasim grapple with sudden unemployment after Connex loses rights to a Chinese competitor. They seek better opportunities in a foreign land, only to battle challenges compounded by language barriers.

In their struggle for survival, Wasim and his friend enroll in an Islamic school to learn Arabic. Unfortunately, they fall under the influence of a radical cleric, which leads them down a path of desperation and dire consequences.

With mounting scrutiny surrounding the merger, Bennett Holiday confronts U.S. Attorney Donald Farish III regarding corrupt practices tied to Killen’s operations. Holiday must navigate corporate deception while making sacrifices to protect Connex-Killen’s interests.