Russia will likely manage the political blow of the Assad regime's collapse by redirecting resources to Ukraine, but in the long run, Moscow will struggle to replace its military facilities in Syria, which could eventually impede Russia's ability to project power in the region. After fleeing Damascus as rebels captured the capital city, longtime Syrian President Bashar al Assad and his family arrived in Moscow on Dec. 8, where he was granted political asylum in what the Kremlin said was a personal decision by Russian President Vladimir Putin. By later that night, the new flag of the Syrian opposition government was already flying over Syria's diplomatic facilities in Russia. Russian state media outlets had also stopped referring to anti-Assad forces as terrorists, instead calling them Syria's “armed opposition.” Russia's apparent shift toward accepting Syria's new authorities is likely part of Moscow's efforts to secure its diplomatic and military facilities in...
