Before his ouster, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad reportedly informed Iran that Turkey was actively supporting rebel forces in their efforts to unseat his regime. This claim highlights the complex web of alliances and rivalries that characterized the Syrian Civil War, which saw numerous international players involved in the conflict, each with their own strategic interests.
Turkey, a neighbor to Syria, was one of the most vocal opponents of Assad’s rule and provided significant support to various opposition groups throughout the conflict. These rebel groups included a mix of moderate factions and Islamist extremists, many of whom sought to overthrow Assad’s government. As Turkey shared a border with Syria and had a significant ethnic and political interest in the outcome of the war, it aimed to weaken Assad’s regime by supporting these insurgents.
In turn, Iran, a close ally of Assad, strongly opposed any efforts to remove him from power. Iran’s support for Assad was driven by its strategic interest in maintaining a foothold in the region, particularly to preserve its influence over the Levant and its access to Hezbollah in Lebanon. Iran’s support of Assad included military aid, financial backing, and the deployment of fighters to bolster the Syrian army.
The situation reflected the larger geopolitical struggle in the Middle East, where rival powers vied for control and influence over Syria, each maneuvering to achieve their respective goals at the expense of the Syrian people’s suffering.
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