Syria Flares Up With Russia, Iran Fighting Other Conflicts
- Rebel forces push south toward Hama after capturing Aleppo
- President Assad may not be able to rely on Russia and Iran
Smoke rises near the site of a Syrian airstrike targeting rebel forces in Aleppo, Syria, on Nov. 30.
Photographer: Aaref Watad/AFP/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
The biggest challenge to Bashar al-Assad’s regime seemingly came out of nowhere, and as the city of Aleppo fell to rebels in a matter of days, the Syrian president reportedly flew to Moscow.
Russia’s intervention in Syria’s civil war almost a decade ago turned the tide in Assad’s favor, but this time around his two biggest backers are stretched. Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine is consuming Russian resources while Iran finds itself weakened by Israel’s sustained attacks on Hezbollah, the Tehran-backed militants in neighboring Lebanon.