Part 3/9:
To grasp the implications of this catastrophic defeat, an understanding of the geopolitical and military contexts leading to this moment is essential. The Syrian Civil War ignited in 2011 amid the Arab Spring, with the Syrian regime precariously perched on the edge of defeat, supported only by Iranian and Russian military interventions. A pivotal moment came in late 2016 when the Syrian Army managed to retake Aleppo from Rebel hands after years of intense conflict.
However, subsequent years saw a shift in dynamics as Turkish troops entered the fray with the aim of bolstering rebel factions, significantly altering the balance of power. The economy, battered by Western sanctions, coupled with the depletion of resources within the Syrian military, set the stage for disaster.