Assad’s Downfall: A Power Shakeup That Left Russia and Iran Screaming
In a twist that felt less like a diplomatic coup and more like a blockbuster movie ending, the Syrian dictator Bashar al‑Assad was finally taken out of power after 24 years of a reign that awed some, disgusted others, and baffled a few foreign leaders on the sidelines.
What Kaja Kallas Thinks of the Whole Mess
European Union’s High Representative of Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, floated a hopeful message: the fall of Assad is a “positive and long‑awaited development.” She added that the collapse truly underlines how flabby the regime’s backers, Russia and Iran, have become.
Russia and Iran: The Wet Dream Who Lost Their Afterglow
- Russia had been a loyal sidekick. In 2016, Vladimir Putin leased the Tartus Naval Base and the Khmeimim Air Base from Assad—finger‑crossed, the plan was to hold onto them while they mounted a hard‑pressed assault on the city of Aleppo. That push brought the regime a belated political boost.
- Now that Assad has wormed his way out, Russian warships and other military assets have started to pack up, as reports from Ukraine’s HUR intelligence suggest.
- The frigate Admiral Grygorovych and the cargo vessel Inzhenier Trubin have quit the Tartus base, leaving a bare‑bones signature of Soviet influence in the Mediterranean.
- Meanwhile, Russian aircraft are loading up supplies from Khmeimim to be used presumably in Putin’s fight against Ukraine—hence why Ukrainian scouts see this as a major blow.
Trump Says Russia Is a Strained Sponge
In a quick press‑release, former president Donald Trump echoed that the regime’s collapse indicates the fragility of Russia’s foreign policy. It’s like Russia tried to hold a party in Syria’s backyard, only to find the knocking‑down counterparty was far stronger.
UK’s Priti Patel: “We Need a Peace Plan, Not a War Plan”
The former Home Secretary, Priti Patel, reminded everyone on the news that the situation matters for the Syrian people. She questioned how an international response could safeguard minorities and other disparate groups, calling for an immediate peace strategy.
“We all need to look very carefully about how we respond,” Patel told Sky News, “because I think realistically now, we have a responsibility to look at how we can structure a potential peace plan.”
In Summary
- Assad out, Russia faint, Iran flabbier.
- Ukrainian spies spot Russian ships ditching Syria.
- Priti Patel pleads for a peace deliberation.
- Trump snarked about toppling Russia’s sponge.
It’s a turning page in the Middle East’s long saga — one that’s unlikely to be softened by parchment or peace talks alone. The world watches closely, hoping the reverberations stop before the next big act.
