Part 5/7:
Assad's fall is tantamount to a strategic defeat for Russia, as it compromises their influence in the region and threatens vital military bases along the Mediterranean coast.
Implications for Future Payment and Militias
As Western powers observe these developments, the fate of the "Free Syrian Army" and allied Kurdish groups like the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) comes into question. The Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) may escalate operations against the SDF, who have allied themselves with U.S. forces. The U.S. stance towards Syria, particularly post-Trump inauguration, remains uncertain, exacerbating the precarious situation for the SDF.