Alone against a renewed insurgency, Assad may face the end of his rule without his strongest allies

Associated Press

BEIRUT (AP) — The last time Syrian President Bashar Assad was in serious trouble was 10 years ago. That was at the height of the country’s civil war, when his forces lost control over parts of the largest city, Aleppo, and his opponents were closing in on the capital, Damascus. Back then, he was rescued by his chief international backer, Russia, and regional allies Iran and Lebanon’s powerful Hezbollah militia. On Sunday, a Syrian opposition war monitor said Assad left the country as opposition fighters entered Damascus. Now Assad appears to be largely on his own as Russia is preoccupied with its war in Ukraine while Hezbollah and Iran focus on Israel.