The Fall of the Assad Regime

The rapid downfall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria has taken many by surprise, particularly due to the lack of external support from Hezbollah and Iran, which had previously been crucial in propping up Assad. General David Petraeus notes that the decline in Russian air power significantly contributed to the swift collapse of the regime, allowing rebel forces to advance quickly from Aleppo to Damascus. This change in power dynamics raises critical questions about the future governance of Syria, especially under the new leadership of HTS, which now faces the challenge of unifying various factions within the country. The potential for a more inclusive and secular governance model remains uncertain, given the complex landscape of multiple competing groups controlling different territories in Syria.