Part 8/9:
The response from Assad's allies, particularly Russia and Iran, has been notably muted amidst HTS's advances. Although reports suggest that Russian forces have retained their positions, the Ministry of Defense’s actions and the lack of immediate support for the regime speak volumes about their assessment of the situation.
In a security context, U.S. Central Command has confirmed recent self-defense strikes against threats posed by regime-aligned forces, demonstrating continued American strategic interests in the region, albeit unrelated to the HTS offensives.