eli5: Why is Assad family still ruling Syria since years now? even after all those wars and conflicts in syria, No one was able to harm him
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As with all authoritarian regimes as long as rhe military is fed and loyal and not opposed by a superior foe, they will stay with you.
Assad was supported through Russian means, his military didn’t go without pay.
That’s how it survived the beginning of the war, when there were loads of secular, democratic rebels.
Nowadays, most areas directly and actively opposing the Assad controlled regions are virulently Islamist.
No sane person living in Assad controlled areas would want to risk toppling Assad, when the only ones who could take over are those Islamists.
The secular revolution has long failed, the Islamist one is still going.
There’s no ‘side’ to turn to for regular people living in Assad controlled areas that could remotely promise to make their lives better.
So by comparison to other rulers in the area Assad seems outright benevolent.
Hence no risk of him being ‘stabbed in the back’ by the regular guys living in Damascus.
The secular politically motivated people looking for more egalitarian future were mostly made to flee and became refugees elsewhere, the ones left in Syria want to just go to work, have food on their table, and a home in safety.
The ones in Islamist controlled areas mostly hope the Islamists I’ll just disappear; but won’t speak up as to not lose their head.
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