Part 5/12:
Syria: The new Syrian leadership, under President al-Shara, has shifted the narrative. Assad, once Moscow’s client, now relies on Russia for reconstruction aid but also begins to dictate terms, signaling a loss of Moscow’s monopoly on influence.
Iran: Once considered Russia’s closest regional ally, Iran’s position appears increasingly strained. When Israeli strikes targeted Iranian military sites in Syria, Moscow's subdued response signaled a distancing, exposing the fragility of the Iran-Russia alliance and diminishing Iran’s role as a regional counterbalance.