“Syria provided so many advantages at a low cost. Losing Syria would be a big strategic defeat that would reverberate beyond the Middle East. It would have global repercussions.” – Anna Borshchevskaya
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Retreat of Syrian Forces Threatens ‘Saigon Moment’ for Russia: Sune Engel Rasmussen and Thomas Grove, WSJ, Dec. 7, 2024
Putin’s Collapsing Middle Eastern House of Cards: Owen Matthews, The Spectator World, Dec. 8, 2024
Fall of Assad Leaves Putin Powerless in Middle East: Tom Rogan, Unherd, Dec. 8, 2024
Putin Just Suffered a Huge Defeat: Hanna Notte, NY Times, Dec. 10, 2024
FOR FURTHER REFERENCE
Turkey, Iran and Russia to Meet in Doha on Saturday to Discuss Syria, Turkish Source Says: Reuters, Dec. 6, 2024 — The foreign ministers of Turkey, Iran, and Russia will meet in Doha on Saturday to discuss a lightning rebel advance in Syria, a Turkish diplomatic source said on Friday.
Trump Tells Putin to Agree to Immediate Cease-Fire in Ukraine After Syria’s Assad Ousted: Jack Phillips, Epoch Times, Dec. 8, 2024 — President-elect Donald Trump sent a message to Russian President Vladimir Putin following the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria after Islamist opposition fighters captured Damascus. He called for an immediate cease-fire in Ukraine.
From Putin to Assad’s Army – and then to Hezbollah: These Are the Russian Weapons Found in Lebanon: Oded Yaron, Bar Peleg and Yaniv Kubovich, Haaretz, Dec. 8, 2024 — Analysis of the weapons captured in Lebanon reveals that Hezbollah obtained large quantities of advanced Russian arms originally sent to the Syrian military.
Syrian Rebels Have Dealt a Blow to Vladimir Putin’s Naval Ambitions: The Economist, Dec. 10, 2024 – For 50 years Russia’s foothold in the Mediterranean has been bound up with the Assad dynasty in Syria.