The fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime is a significant blow to Moscow’s influence in Syria, according to BBC’s Russia correspondent, Steve Rosenberg.
For nearly nine years, Russia’s military support played a crucial role in keeping Assad in power. However, in just a matter of days, it appears that the Kremlin’s project in Syria has failed, leaving Moscow seemingly powerless to reverse this outcome.
The downfall of Assad is a major hit to Russia’s reputation. In 2015, Russia deployed thousands of troops to support Assad, marking its first significant challenge to the Western powers outside the post-Soviet space. The intervention seemed successful at the time, with Russia securing a 49-year lease on Syria’s Hmeimim airbase and the Tartus naval base, establishing a key presence in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Assad, who had been Russia’s most loyal ally in the Middle East, was supported heavily by the Kremlin through financial, military, and political investments. However, as Assad’s regime collapses, it becomes increasingly difficult for Russian authorities to portray his removal as anything other than a major defeat for Russia.
