Part 4/9:
This erosion of military cohesion reflects broader issues within the regime’s forces, which had been evident over the previous years but worsened dramatically. The question of external support also arises in explaining the regime's collapse.
The Role of Russian and Iranian Support
Russia and Iran have long been crucial backers of the Assad regime. Russia maintains critical military bases in Syria, including an air base and a naval facility in Tartus. Despite their capabilities, their response to the rapid fall of the regime’s forces appeared limited. The Russian military, constrained by its commitments in Ukraine and limited ground forces to hold key territories, conducted airstrikes but lacked the ground forces necessary to prevent the disintegration of Assad’s military.