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Russia's involvement in Syria is deeply rooted in history, tracing back to the Soviet era when the USSR offered support to the Ba'ath government of Assad's father, Hafez al-Assad. The establishment of a Soviet Naval Base at Tartus in 1971 provided the USSR strategic access to the Mediterranean Sea, enhancing its regional presence.
As the Soviet Union fell, Russia maintained its relations with Syria, as well as with Iran, leveraging these ties to assert regional influence, especially as its relationship with Western nations became increasingly strained.