Part 6/9:
In an optimistic scenario for the rebels, a sustained offensive could see them reach Damascus and potentially overthrow Assad. While this outcome might please some observers, it risks plunging Syria into renewed instability, with HTS's extremist affiliations complicating post-Assad governance.
Scenario 2: The Counteroffensive
The other extreme could see Assad launch a counteroffensive, supported by additional military resources from Russia and Iran. Should this succeed, ostensibly, it could push the rebels back to Idlib, returning the situation to a status quo of government dominance over much of Syria. However, the dynamics of allegiances mean that any semblance of peace is likely to be fleeting.