The Syrian civil war, which began in 2011, quickly turned into a multi-national, terrorist war. Eran Malka will try to explain who is who.

The Assad regime represents the official forces of the Syrian government, government agencies and the national army.

Main forces:

• The Syrian Arab Army (SAR): A government army with a broad military structure, but in practice has proven weak in the fight.
• The National Defense Forces (NDF): Has a paramilitary structure consisting of local militias, established by the Iranian Quds Force and financed by the Iranians.

COUNTRIES SUPPORTING THE ASSAD REGIME

• Russia: Since 2015, it has been protecting the Assad regime militarily and diplomatically. The Russian army supports the Assad regime through the air force and mercenary groups (such as Wagner).
• Iran: Supports the Assad regime with ground forces, weapons and trained fighters -Fatemiyyun of Afghanistan, Zainabion of Pakistan, Imam Hussein militia, Ansarallah (Houthi) of Yemen, Lebanese Hezbollah, Al-Khashid Al-Shaabi of Iraq with the support of the Islamic forces.
• Lebanese Hezbollah is the strongest non-governmental ally of the Assad regime.

THE MAIN OPPOSITION GROUPS FIGHTING AGAINST THE ASSAD REGIME

• The Free Syrian Army (FSA): This army was established in 2011 as the main force of the Syrian opposition, supports it and operates mainly in areas under Turkish influence (Al-Bab, Afrin, etc.). The group's weapons, training and supplies are provided by Turkey.
• Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF/YPG): A Kurdish-led group. The YPG is the main group. Mazloum Kobani is the commander-in-chief of the YPG, and this group is known as the main ally of the United States in the fight against ISIS. Turkey considers the YPG a terrorist branch of the PKK (the Kurdish underground) in Syria.
• Haredin: A group loyal to Al-Qaeda (Sunni) that competes with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. The groups are in conflict with each other.
• Hayat Tahrir al-Sham: A faction led by al-Julani (Sunni) and advocates the Islamic State theory.

INTERNATIONAL INFLUENCES AND COLLABORATIONS

• The YPG receives weapons and air support from the United States. Although the Free Syrian Army was initially supported by the United States, the focus later shifted to the YPG/SDF.
• The Americans are mainly located in eastern Syria, in oil and gas fields, with the exception of one base in the south (Al-Tanf) - their justification is the fight against ISIS.
• Dozens of gas and oil trucks leave the areas controlled by the Americans every day and are transported to Iraqi territory without financial compensation to Syria.
• Russia supports the Assad regime politically and militarily, but also cooperates with Turkey to a certain extent (within the framework of the Astana process) and is also a party involved in Syria.
• Iran supports the Assad regime through the Shiite militias and is openly hostile to the Sunni opponents of the Assad regime. Iran also supports the Assad regime economically - the estimated debt to the Iranians today exceeded the $80 billion mark this year.
• Israel attacks the militias of Iran and Hezbollah in Syrian territory in order to limit their influence and the smuggling of weapons through Iraq.

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