Part 4/13:
Institutional Rot and Demoralization: Assad's military forces exhibited signs of collapse, with strategic indicators such as the Syrian Arab Army’s retreat and ineffective military tactics, like aircraft bombing a bridge rather than destroying it, signaling deep breakdowns in command and morale.
Limited Russian and Iranian Support: Although Russia maintained key bases in Syria—an air and naval facility—their ability to bolster Assad’s forces was hampered by resource constraints and the swift succession of rebel advances. Iranian forces, including Hezbollah and Iraqi militia, attempted to reinforce the regime but arrived too late to stem the tide.