Recent developments in Syria saw the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad, who fled to Moscow following a swift rebel advance into Damascus, ending his family’s 50-year rule. Assad, now in Moscow—a recurring sanctuary for failing autocrats—claimed he had no intention of leaving Syria, yet here we are. Russia’s foothold in the Middle East now hangs in uncertainty, as the Kremlin scrambles to frame its failure to protect a key ally as inconsequential and a job “well-done”.
We look at the implications for Moscow, the propaganda spin, and what this means for Russia’s military influence in the region moving forward.