Part 6/10:
Historically, foreign intervention from Russia and Iran had underpinned the Assad regime’s resilience. However, the dynamics shifted in late 2024. Russia, embroiled in the war in Ukraine, was unable to divert sufficient resources to assist its ally. Reports indicated that Russian military capabilities in Syria had been downgraded, limiting air support, troop presence, and material resources. Iran's proxy forces, namely Hezbollah, also faced challenges due to increased Israeli military engagement, further diminishing Syria's external backing.