Part 4/10:
Internal Weaknesses: Economic Decline and Military Corruption
Severe economic decline plagued the Assad regime, with the national currency plummeting and a soaring poverty rate affecting the majority of the population. Sustained economic deterioration produced a dire situation where basic operational funding became increasingly insurmountable for the regime. Institutionalized corruption deeply embedded in the military also led to a lack of discipline and morale, with reports emerging of troops being deprived of essential supplies and many officers engaging in corrupt practices.