Even as Israel bombarded Syria, officials say the U.S. and Gulf countries were working to weaken its president’s alliance with Tehran. Rebels’ shock advance has dampened those hopes.

Time and time again the Assad dynasty has survived internal and external challenges and lived to fight another day. But nothing lasts forever.

In just a few days, a patchwork of rebel forces has seized control of a broad stretch of land in the west and northwest of Syria. But it’s unclear just how much support Syria’s weakened allies can provide.

Hundreds of fighters from Iran -backed Iraqi militias have crossed into Syria to help the regime of Bashar al-Assad fight off an insurgency across much of the northwest of the country, which has seen the seizure of the second city of Aleppo.

The foreign ministers of Iran and Russia voiced support for Syria on Saturday during a major attack by rebel groups, Iranian state media reported.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran is open to the possibility of sending troops to Syria to help President Bashar al-Assad's forces after a major offensive by rebels. "If the Syrian government asks Iran to send troops to Syria,

Iranian foreign minister has said that the country is ready to send troops to Syria and is awaiting official request from president Bashar Al-Assad. This comes as Iran's ally Russia is already helping the government forces fight Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham rebels in Syria.