11-Day Blitz by Rebels That Ended 50 Years of Assad Rule

Wall Street Journal: “The toppling of Assad’s regime, ending 50 years of his family’s rule, revealed how badly Syria’s army had been hollowed out by years of corruption, defections to the rebellion and the country’s economic crisis. Recruitment had declined, and Syrian men dodged conscription.”

“The military since early in the civil war had depended heavily on outside forces to reinforce its lines. Iran and the Syrian regime brought in militias from Lebanon, Iraq and Afghanistan. Russia had provided warplanes, air defenses and military advisers.”

“Yet, as Assad dialed for help from foreign governments in his last hours as Syria’s leader, he found he had run out of allies and military allegiance.”

Associated Press: Who is Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the leader of the insurgency that toppled Syria’s Assad?