Beirut: During the years of Syria's civil war, President Bashar al-Assad relied heavily on Russian and Iranian support to fend off rebel forces, yet never fully defeated them. This left him vulnerable when his allies were engaged elsewhere, and his enemies began to gain ground. The rapid advance of rebels through western Syria represents one of the greatest challenges to the Assad regime, threatening decades of family rule in Damascus.

In cities taken by the insurgents, statues of Assad's father and brother were toppled, and images of the president were destroyed or defaced. Despite this, the Syrian presidency issued a statement denying that Assad had fled the country, confirming that he was continuing his duties in Damascus.

Assad came to power in 2000 following the death of his father, Hafez, and quickly solidified the dominance of their Alawite sect in a Sunni-majority country. Under his rule, Syria became an ally of Iran, often opposing the West and Israel. However, the outbreak of the 2011 Arab Spring and subsequent civil war dramatically reshaped his rule.

Although Assad's early response was marked by confidence, calling for harsh retaliation against rebels, years of conflict left much of Syria in ruins. The regime was sustained by Russian airstrikes and Iranian-backed militias, regaining significant territory, but large areas of Syria, especially in the northwest, remained beyond Assad’s control. Despite this, Assad's regime continued to claim a degree of stability, particularly in areas under his control, while much of the country endured economic hardship due to sanctions.

Assad's policies during the war fueled sectarian tensions, especially with the involvement of Iranian-backed Shiite fighters and Sunni-led rebel forces, backed by countries like Turkey and Qatar. His government faced international condemnation for alleged war crimes, including the use of chemical weapons, though Assad denied these accusations. He remained defiant, often portraying himself as a victim of foreign-backed conspiracies aimed at dismantling his regime.

Despite his standing as a pariah in the West, Assad managed to regain some legitimacy, with several Arab nations reopening diplomatic ties. He presented himself as a leader committed to Syria’s sovereignty, but critics argue that his rule has increasingly relied on sectarian and authoritarian tactics.

The Assad regime’s survival, in large part, has been due to the strategic backing of Iran and Russia, as well as his focus on portraying the conflict as a defense against foreign interference. However, the situation remains fragile as the country's infrastructure lies in ruins, and millions of Syrians remain displaced.