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The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) has faced a grim deterioration since the war's inception. While originally numbering around 300,000, estimates by 2014 suggested that only 110,000 to 125,000 remained, with a mere 70,000 deemed reliable. The forces’ effectiveness was stifled by years of attrition and mismanagement.
Although the National Defense Forces were established with Iranian backing to support Assad’s military efforts, this militia was primarily composed of local fighters with limited experience and resources. Over time, external assistance from Iran and Russia began to diminish, particularly as these countries focused elsewhere, such as on their commitments in Ukraine.