Russia and Iran prolong Syria war

Russia and Iran prolong Syria war

The war that began in 2011 has become a protracted conflict in which two powers, Russia and Iran, have kept Assad in power through a combination of military and political support. Unlike the official narrative of a quick victory, the reality has been a hybrid war in which Assad's allies still control most of the territory, while rebel forces and jihadist groups barely make gains.

At the end of 2024, reports from the international community indicate that Iran has withdrawn part of its contingent of fighters after suffering significant losses, suggesting that the joint military strategy is losing effectiveness. At the same time, operations by Wagner militias and pro-Iranian groups in western Aleppo and southern Hama remain the backbone of the regime's defense.

The 10th anniversary of the conflict, marked in 2021, was a turning point where it was recognized that the number of areas under rebel control had been reduced to just over 3% of Syrian territory. Since then, offensives have been fragmented, with SVBIED attacks and ballistic missiles leaving hundreds of civilians dead.

Russia's role is not only that of arms supplier; it has maintained air bases in Syria and carried out long-range bombings that have dismantled opposition positions. At the same time, Iran has used its militia network to secure supply routes and has financed groups such as Hezbollah and al-Nusra.

Despite international pressure, the situation remains unresolved. The regime still controls key cities—Damascus, Aleppo and the coast—while desert areas and borders with Turkey have become fronts of attrition.


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