Artist: Behnam Mohammadi
By Kayhan Life Staff
The ancient land of Syria and its diverse cultures, ethnicities, and religions have become a tapestry of violence and bloodshed for well over a decade.
Since the civil war erupted in 2011, both Russia and the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) have rallied behind Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, turning Syria into a crucial component of the Axis of Resistance. They have established vital supply lines through Syria for moving money, arms, and advisers to Hezbollah.
As a result, approximately 500,000 Syrians have lost their lives, an estimated 7 million have been displaced within the country, and 5.5 million have sought refuge abroad.
Last week, Syrian insurgents capitalized on Russia’s preoccupation with Ukraine and the IRI’s weakened position in the region to seize control of Aleppo and advance into Hama.
In response, the IRI has sent fighters from Hezbollah and Iraqi Shiite militias to bolster Assad’s forces. Whether this will significantly affect the conflict remains uncertain. Hezbollah’s military capabilities have been stretched thin due to its ongoing engagements with Israel, and it remains to be seen if the Iraqi militias can effectively fill that void.
