The Syrian religion is NOT the same as the Iranian religion. The Iranians brought their apocalyptic religion with them and were busy supplanting the milder Syrian religion. One of Iran’s former presidents began and ended every speech with a prayer for the return of the Mahdi. When the Mahdi returns, he’ll destroy the Middle East with fire (nuclear weapons anyone?) and leave the Iranians in charge of what’s left. (That’s the back-of-the-bubblegum-card version.)
Assad’s control of Syria is being challenged by the ongoing radicalization of his citizens into the Iranian faith. There are no good outcomes in the Middle East, only less horrible ones. Assad is, and has been, one of the less horrible ones. As a journalist who spent time living with each of the various radical factions said, “The difference is, one faction wants to burn you alive in a cage and the other just wants to kill you.”
“The Syrian religion is NOT the same as the Iranian religion.”
Maybe what you meant was - Muslims in Syria have different views/priorities with Islam than the Mullahs in Tehran.
That is true but more true than you stated.
Assad is of a particular minority within Islam, the Alawites, which split off from the Shia Muslim branch long ago. The Shia Muslims, like those in Iran actually consider the Alawites as something of a blasphemous sect.
And for Assad it gets worse. Most of Syria is Sunni Muslim, not Shia and due to that fact the “Syrian Opposition” was dominated by the Sunni Muslims and with that the largest portion of the Syrian population. If that majority ever again gets the means and sees an opportunity, it will be large scale Syrian slaughter all over again.